Shopping in Petone

The centre of Wellington is not really a shopping destination. There are lots of shops, it’s true. But somehow you would be very unlikely to say to a friend, “Let’s go to the city centre for a bit of retail therapy.” High shopping points are:

Lots of bookshops, both new and second hand (excellent Arty Bees)
Moore Wilson’s fresh food/deli
Small designer clothes shops (run I assume by local Fashion graduates)
Outdoor clothing shops

But the centre of the city is really about servicing the office workers and students in the day with an astonishing number of cafes. And entertaining the populace at night with theatres, cinemas, restaurants, bars and clubs.
For the first time today I visited Jackson St, which is the shopping street of Petone, fifteen minutes drive around the harbour. A much more pleasant destination for a little light gift shopping and nosy browsing. It is a typical NZ main street, built about a century ago, lined with small shops, including gift shops, interior design supplies, a nice toy shop, a great army surplus store (anyone for a new hat?) and, as they say, Much More. And of course there are a few cafes. How much coffee can a nation consume? Is there no limit?
I bought a jig saw for a one year old – it really is a better toy shop than Wellington can muster – and an enamel pie dish from a nice old-fashioned ironmonger.
Oh and an hour’s free on-street parking is an added bonus.