Handmade 2012: Visit Petone

Petone is The Best. It's especially good for nice cruisey days of wandering around, browsing, drinking coffee and eating great cake.

If you're visiting Wellington for Handmade, or are a Wellingtonian that doesn't get out to Petone often, here's our pick of the best (and instructions on how to get here)

Best Brunch:

Go Bang
182 Jackson Street

If only I could pick Go Bang up and move it next door to the shop. They serve the BEST grilled haloumi in town, make great coffee and ENORMOUS cakes.

Second best brunch:

Caffiend
233 Jackson Street
The closest and best coffee in relation to the shop, Caffiend has happy staff, great food (we love their salads and afghan cookies) and very good coffee. It's only a block away from us...if you make it past Sweet Pea on the way, that is.

Best Cupcakes & High Tea

Sweet Pea
259 Jackson Street

WE LOVE SWEET PEA. The best cupcakes, amazing range of tea, cabinet food, and incredible High Tea. If you are hoping to have High Tea here during Handmade weekend, we recommend you attempt to make a booking now - word is they are booked out for High Tea on weekends four weeks in advance, but it's still worth giving it a go.

Sweet Pea High Tea

Best shopping:

Wanda Harland
148 Jackson St

I used to work here! A bright and happy shop full of beautiful design and fun home wares. Also great clothes from Chalky Digits, bags by Saben and the ever-awesome Babylicious range of kids clothes.

Gloria's Treasures
Next door to Go Bang, i'm not even sure if that's the proper name of this shop: my favourite second hand store on the street. But it's owned by Gloria, and she has an excellent eye for great second hand treats.

St Vincent de Paul
opposite Holland Road Yarn Co

The best charity shop (we reckon) - great furniture, loads of good quality clothes and all the other things you find at charity shops.  They close at 12.30pm on Saturday so you need to get in early.

Best way to get to Petone:
Catch the 81 or 83 bus to ANZ Jackson St for $5 or $3.50 on a Snapper (bus is purple and orange and will say to Eastbourne) from anywhere on Courtenay Place, Willis St or Lambton Quay
OR the Flyer to ANZ Jackson St about $10 (bus is orange and will say to Queensgate or Upper Hutt)

The bus will go on the motorway and turn off at Petone. It’ll turn right at the train station on to Jackson St. The ANZ stop is about the third stop along, just past the clock tower on your left.

Once you’re off the bus, keep walking in the same direction as the bus was driving for another 2 blocks. You’ll see the National Bank on the corner and we’re right next door - keep an eye out for our knitted leafy power pole :D