When Air New Zealand wanted to tap a known fashion entity to make their new uniforms, one name immediately and definitively came to mind: Emilia Wickstead. The now London-based designer spent her childhood in an idyllic suburb just outside of Auckland, New Zealand called Ellerslie, where her mother ran a popular boutique. Although she moved to the continent to pursue her artistic ambitions, New Zealand will always be both home and an inspiration. “Its wild beauty, powerful surf, and dramatic cliffs have been a constant source of awe since my childhood,” she says of the Oceanic nation.
As she finally debuts her line for New Zealand, Vogue asked the Kiwi designer to share her guide to the capital city and then some. Below, Emilia Wickstead’s guide on where to stay, eat, and shop—as well as what to do—in Auckland, New Zealand and its surrounding areas.
Hotels
I always stay in the Owners Cottage when we visit, and it’s the most therapeutic seaside holiday (only accessible by ferry!) It feels like a second home to me.
Located a short Air New Zealand flight away on the Waikato River, just outside Taupō. This luxury lodge has an interesting history as a fisher’s camp, but today provides beautiful riverside views and a serene escape that’s restorative to my creativity.
Restaurants
A cozy and delicious restaurant centered around a woodfired oven. Plates are meant to be shared here, so it’s the perfect spot to bring family and friends.
This pasta shop and restaurant is located in Ellerslie, where I was raised and my grandparents had a home. This neighborhood is incredibly special to me, and we always visit for homemade pasta when we go back to Auckland.
My favorite spot for Greek cuisine in Auckland, especially after an afternoon spent shopping and browsing art galleries on Ponsonby Road.
A rustic Italian restaurant that focuses on seasonal and sustainable produce from local Kiwi farmers. Don’t skip their bakery!
The best fish and chips shop just outside of Auckland. It’s worth the hour-long drive.
Shops
One of my favorite places to shop in New Zealand, and they also carry Emilia Wickstead. Simon James is a hub for contemporary designers across fashion, jewelery, furniture, and homewares.
The best spot for vintage. The store has been open for 25 years, and everything is handpicked in New Zealand and the United States.
Their showroom specializes in handcrafted jewelery, sculptures, and other taonga using pounamu, also known as New Zealand Jade, through traditional Māori customs.
Auckland is home to quite a few galleries, but I feel this one, which specializes in contemporary art, has the best curation of New Zealand artists.
Things to Do
Piha Beach
Of the many New Zealand beaches, I always return to Piha Beach. Its wild beauty, powerful surf, and dramatic cliffs have been a constant source of awe since my childhood.
Waiheke Island
The perfect day trip from Auckland (only a 40-minute ferry ride away). My preferred itinerary includes a vineyard lunch and swimming at one of the island’s beautiful beaches.
New Zealand is rich in cultural history, and there are many museums and galleries that celebrate the Māori heritage. If you’re visiting for the first time, the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington is a must-see and only a short Air New Zealand flight from Auckland. It’s the national museum and an extraordinary place to immerse oneself in the country’s history and culture.
