Best Treasure Crammed Secondhand Shops in Whangarei
Whangārei might be famous for The Hundertwasser Museum and its subtropical climate but as a treasure hunter I cannot visit the winterless north without mapping out an updated opshopping and secondhand shops trail. I went back to see what has changed since my last visit in 2020. From furniture to boutique consignment fashion, ophops and more, there is a variety of secondhand shops in Whangarei crammed full of treasure.
I’ve popped all the ones I visited on a map, so if you’re planning your day it makes it easier to pick a few and build your route around them.
Secondhand Shops in Whangarei
Here’s the list of secondhand shops I visited:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Kioreroa Road)
Whangārei Re:sort (The Last Re-Sort)
The Piggery Bookshop
SPCA Op Shop Whangārei Central
New Zealand Red Cross Shop
Northhaven Hospice Shop
Salvation Army Family Store
Bank Street Traders
Worn Label Society
SPCA Port Road
SPCA Kamo
Eleven stops sounds like a big day, and it can be, but several of these are grouped really well together which makes the driving manageable – or split them over a few days. A couple are quick browse stops, while others, especially if furniture or vintage homewares are your thing, are the kind of places where you could easily lose an hour without realising it.
|Related: Things to do in Whangarei
Best For..
- Furniture & Mega-Browsing – Northhaven Hospice Shop is a huge store. If you love a warehouse-style hunt, this is your spot. It is loaded with great furniture, clothing racks, and endless shelves of homewares and bric-a-brac. The Salvation Army is another choice, with an excellent selection of furniture and a thoroughly impressive book section.
- Upcycling Projects & Salvage Art – If you are an artist or a DIYer, make sure you hit Habitat for Humanity on Kioreroa Road for large household items and project pieces. Right down the road, Whangārei Re:sort takes reusable items straight out of the refuse to support a circular economy.
- Curated Vintage & Styling – Head directly to Bank Street for the boutique end of the hunt. Worn Label Society is an incredible local consignment boutique offering beautiful, curated quality secondhand and designer garments. Right next door, Bank Street Traders features stylish secondhand pieces, with some very nice retro and vintage choices.
- Books & Quick Stops – For a dedicated literary browse, The Piggery is a legendary local book sanctuary. If you are crunched for time in the central city, the SPCA Central and Red Cross within walking distance.
Where to Fuel Up
All that op shopping works up an appetite, so it’s worth having a plan for a break. Whangārei has a great variety of cafés and eateries around the Town Basin and the CBD, which makes it easy to slot in a coffee stop between runs. A great lunch stop is Bocky Boo Gelato they don’t just serve gelato, I had a bacon and banana waffle. And at the end of the day I stopped in at Cheeky Chooks for some loaded fries – my accomodation was in Whangarei heads.
Tips for Secondhand Shops in Whangārei
- Group your stops: Habitat for Humanity and the Re:sort centre sit along the same industrial stretch. Do these two together to save driving back and forth.
- Don’t skip the outer hubs: It is easy to stay central, but making the quick drive out to SPCA Kamo or down to SPCA Port Road often means less-picked shelves and some fantastic hidden pieces.
- Save Bank Street for when you have time: Worn Label Society and Bank Street Traders both reward a slow browse. Don’t rush these two or you will miss what makes them special.
- Go early for the best picks: Like most op shops, restocking tends to happen in the mornings, so earlier in the day generally means fresher stock on the shelves.
- Bring cash: Some smaller stores prefer it, and a few may add a surcharge on card payments.
- Look for art reference as well as product: The vintage print frames at Bank Street Traders and the book shelves at the Salvation Army are excellent spots to gather design inspiration even when you are not buying.
Secondhand Shopping Whangarei Videos
will include travel
Final Word on Secondhand Shops in Whangarei
Whangārei is a fantastic base for a Northland secondhand shopping trip. With eleven stores across a reasonably compact area, you can cover a number of shops in a full day without feeling too rushed, especially if you focus on the shops grouped together. There of course other things to do in Whangarei, from waterfalls, to walks and more.
If you’re continuing further north, the Northland region has more to explore. Check out Kerikeri it has a good variety of opshops worth exploring too.
Did I miss any secondhand shops in Whangārei, or do you have a favourite? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
Happy shopping, Jenny – follow me on Insta or Youtube
(video/images taken at time of visit not current)
