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You know a movie has reached a certain iconic status when nearly 50 years later, the guys upstairs at Hollywood HQ want to make a film, on the making of a film. Well, this is exactly what’s happening with Francis Ford Coppola’s genre-defining The Godfather.

We are in deep this month, with not one but two retrogrades (Mars and Mercury) keeping things very interesting. If you ignored the “slow down” memo last month, there’ll be no avoiding it once Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio on 14 October. With our mental and physical faculties operating at half speed, the time for introspection is upon us. All the “re” words are your October mantras. Reflect, reassess, review and recalibrate. Resist the urge to make drastic changes and use the time to figure out what it is you really want.

It is no longer a painful task for vegetarians to find something to eat on a menu, in fact, the options are growing more and more by the day. Auckland has an array of amazing eateries that not only cater to plant-based diners but actually specialise in them. 

 The definitive OG line-up.

Saddle up people, because Saxon + Parole is here—and you're going to want to come along for the (culinary) ride.

You won’t find these experiences anywhere else. 

Sex should be fun. For everyone involved. But it should also be safe. Knowing your way around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) keeps you healthy whether you’re hooking up randomly, in a relationship, or trying to get laid in case we get put back into lockdown.

Summer is on the horizon and that can mean only one thing—soaking up the sunshine with an ice-cold bevvy in hand. And top of our list once said season arrives is DB Breweries' brand new beer seltzer—Club Setter—which hits shelves early October.

 Just pack your bags already.

QT Hotels & Resorts know we don't want to leave our pets behind on holidays—so they're letting you bring them with you. 

If you, like us, have been waiting all lockdown for news of when overseas travel restrictions would lift, you’re going to want to hear this. According to reports, international travel to Australia and the Pacific, aka the New Zealand/Australia travel bubble, is likely to reopen before Christmas.

Say hello to Antheia’s Loft, a charming new eatery that is dishing up all the goods. 

The Auckland street food is changing every year with new faces and dishes to tempt your taste buds. Whether you’re craving tacos, Indian, hot wings or just dessert, we’ve scoured the food truck scene in conjunction with the legends at The Food Truck Collective to bring you 10 of the  most delicious food trucks you need to hunt down this spring.

Sure, we’ve had to put the idea of international travel on the backburner, and while we might be waiting a while longer yet, we can’t live our life in limbo forever. It’s time to make tentative plans to cross the pond by adding to your must-see, must-do and must-stay lists—if you’re struggling for inspiration, get started with Sweden’s Mirrorcube treetop hotel.

Renowned for being New Zealand’s boutique wine region and home to charming towns and award-winning restaurants that showcase local produce, the Wairarapa is an hour's scenic drive north of Wellington and an ideal destination for a weekend—or midweek—escape.

We’ve put together a great tour of the best sustainable spots Welly has to offer and even better, we’ve got the perfect mode of transport to do so. Mevo is a Wellington-based car-share company that lets you rent luxurious Audi A-3s and Volkswagen Polos (#cargoals) for as long as you may need them through their app, similar to Lime.

Lush's 2020 Christmas range has just dropped, and you're going to want one of everything.

2020 has been a peculiar year. In March, Uranus started leaking gas (literally), a bird called the Aldabra rail re-evolved itself back into existence, and back in January Poland accidentally invaded the Czech Republic. And now, this year is throwing one more into the mix—a blue moon on Halloween.

“That’s hot.”

Anyone patiently waiting for the sequel to 1977 indie horror, Grizzly, will rejoice in the good news that Grizzly 2. Revenge is set for release after being filmed almost 40 years ago. For the few who may not have been twiddling their thumbs in anticipation for the past several decades, the cast—which consists of a young Laura Dern, George Clooney, and Charlie Sheen—should be enough to catch your attention.

The film basically culminates with her insane wind-powered voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to speak at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City and to be honest, we’re still very much lost for words.

Get excited, Auckland—because local peanut butter brand, Fix & Fogg have just opened their first-ever store in the city of sails and it is EPIC.

As we weather the COVID storm, some of the best attractions around town are coming up with cool new ways to see our glorious city of sails with new eyes. We’ve scoured town to bring you the most unique experiences in Auckland to help reignite your love of the big smoke.

Auckland’s not a big place but there’s still so much to see and do here that it can be overwhelming. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to ease your burden by rounding up some of the best places to visit in Auckland. These are must do’s that you absolutely can’t miss, whether you’re a visitor or a local. From rugged beaches to lofty landmarks to islands overflowing with wine, this list will make sure you don’t miss a thing.

"Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya."

As Wellington enjoys its first day back at Alert Level 1 we’ve stumbled across some news that will really put the cherry on top of the good vibes. The OG purveyors of damn good ice cream—Ben & Jerry’s—are setting up a permanent home in the windy city. 

You won’t find these experiences anywhere else. 

And it tales the most infamous case in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

It caters for anyone with physical limitations or the likes of vaginismus and endometriosis.

In the competitive stakes of which city boasts the best coffee, Dunedin could be mistaken for being the underdog. But with a seriously cool collection of cafes and boutique roasteries, this is a place not to be underestimated. Check out 10 of the best coffee spots in the city and stand by to savour some of the smoothest brews around.

You may have seen the buzz about town for Netflix’s book-to-film adaptation of The Devil All The Time, a grim small-town thriller bloated with more than a few trending Hollywood names. At the helm is Robert Pattinson, who’s joined by the likes of Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Jason Clarke along with Aussies Mia Wasikowska and Eliza Scanlen.

Big Deck Energy.

Your worst lockdown fears just came true.

The Park Hyatt Auckland Hotel—which opens today—has turned the idea of the traditional high tea right on its head. Two years in the making and the baby of executive pastry chef Callum Liddicoat, the high tea you’ll sit down to at the stunning waterfront Living Room—one of four epic restaurants in this ‘true’ five-star hotel—is unlike any other you'll find in Auckland or beyond.

Private butler and sandbank workstation included.

And it’ll be directed by Olivia Wilde.

There’s no need to fork out on tickets to East Asia to see cherry blossoms in full bloom. Nope, you only need to head to Hamilton! 

Forks at the ready—a classy new eatery has landed in Eden Terrace.

No one can deny that New Zealand is gifted in the looks department. From rugged, rolling hills to breath-taking beaches and waterfalls, here are Auckland's best scenic drives.

Market-fave Good Habit Ice Cream has just put down roots in an enviable position just opposite summer hotspot Heard Park in Parnell and the timing couldn’t be better.

It’s been praised as the best drama of 2020, and as with many good things, New Zealand has had to wait a little longer for its release compared to other western countries. The good news is that all 12 episodes of HBO’s I May Destroy You are available to stream in New Zealand right now.

Scroll any Instagram feed and you’ll realise the indoor plant trend is here to stay. No décor gram is complete without lush foliage and cute pots.

You’d be kidding yourself if you said you weren’t interested in seeing the Aurora Borealis in all its magnificence. There are several ways to realise that dream, but one of the easiest, and more pleasant, is to book yourself in at one of the completely transparent Buubble Hotels in Iceland.

Bigger isn't always better but when it comes to burgers, it most definitely is. And we've found some of the biggest yet at Browns Bay's hot new burger joint, The Flaming Onion.

Just in case you needed another listing saved in your Airbnb wishlist, a private island is now for rent in Italy, and if you can round up 16 mates, it’ll only set you back about $77AUD per night, per person.

North Shore peeps, you're in for a real treat because Grownup Donuts have officially moved into the neighbourhood. The market faves—who also have a shop in Henderson—have set up a sweet new store in Wairau Valley and you're going to want to get there for your doughnut fix, stat.

A weekend in Westeros anyone?

Asexual, deadname and biromantic are just some of the new additions.

Lush’s dreamy bath bombs are pretty much the best at creating that perfectly steaming, sweet scented tub—which is why we can’t wait to sink into a bath with their latest number, the IRL Bomb. 

A wise man by the name of John (last name, Farnham) once said…“Take the pressure down…‘Cos I can feel it, rising like a storm". There’s every chance Farnsy was having a premonition of September 2020 when he penned those fateful words. Whichever way you look at it, this month is tricky. On 10 September, Mars turns retrograde, which means all the things Mars rules (aggression, motivation, desire, assertiveness) will be a bit unwieldy. The vibe is intensified by another bit of difficult astro weather (Saturn square Mars) which peaks around 29 September. It all adds up to major frustration. The lack of progress and/or inability to get on with things will really start to grind your gears. 

Famed for its exceptional Vietnamese cuisine, Café Hanoi has been on the scene for more than a decade and has recently moved into a bigger venue which some Aucklanders may remember as the old 1885 nightclub.

Some restaurants are good, others are great. Then there are those that totally change your life. Gochu is one of these.

In case you missed it, 2020 is also an election year for New Zealand.

If you Google it, the official happiest city in the world is Helsinki, but Copenhagen is hungry for that accolade, so hungry that they’ve just opened the first happiness museum, aptly named The Happiness Museum.

We’ll admit it. We’re straight up obsessed with all things mystical, magical and spiritual. We live and breathe our horoscopes and with 2020 being the absolute rollercoaster that is it, we reckon we could all do with a bit more guidance in our lives right now. Which is why we’re launching our very own astro hub led by astrologer, mindfulness meditation teacher and co-founder of The Wayward, Emma Vidgen.

Darkfield, famous for their FLIGHT multi-sensory shipping container experience, have crafted a new experience specifically tailored to the socially distanced era.

First it was Perky Nana, then it was Snifters—now Pascall are teaming up with old mate L&P for their most winning Lumps combo yet. That's right peeps, your fave fizzy from small-town NZ has joined forces with the lolly-making giant to create the Kiwi collab you didn't know you needed—L&P Flavour Lumps.

Shell yeah.

Lucy Macdougald, Dermal Specialist at Biologi, lets us know how to get your glow back and treat the effects of maskne.

Holy Taco, A Delicious Mexican Joint Has Just Opened in Queenstown.

Jump on this hop-on-hop-off bus tour, taking you through 18 countries in 70 days.

The new boardwalk now carefully circumvents these features so that we can visit the mountain, and see the ancient tūāpapa (terraces) and (pits) without causing damage. We can get behind that!

​Auckland is a mecca for hair salons and when it comes to choosing “the one”, selecting a hairdresser to entrust with your precious locks is a big freakin’ deal.

And will see Courtney Cox reclaim her role as journalist Gale Weathers, as well as David Arquette to play Sheriff Dewey Riley.

It’s level 2.5 friends! If you missed an important celebration over lockdown or you’re just itching to get back out and about and are keen to avoid the crowds (aren’t we all) we may have found the perfect solution for you. 

2020 is officially the year of the staycation, and we can't think of a better spot to spend our next getaway than in the heart of the city itself, at the newly revamped Britomart precinct.

This lockdown I’ve tasked myself with broadening my horizons by challenging my taste buds. To this end, I’ve created a list of weird but wonderful foods that are a mandatory lockdown trial. You’ve literally got nothing to lose and everything to gain—who knows, you might find your next food obsession.

You can only ride the emotional rollercoaster that is The Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills so many times.

Need to escape reality for just a moment? Take a look at this piece of holiday-porn in Norway, close your eyes and pretend you’re there for a minute or two. What you’re looking at is called Svart, it’s a hotel that’s currently in the works at the foot of a giant glacier just above the arctic circle.Note 

When it comes to bucket list trips, chucking on an Akubra and checking out an African safari is definitely up there with our top must-dos. But considering we won’t be doing much overseas travel in the near future (cheers COVID), wanderlust-seekers have been turning to virtual experiences to keep the travel bug at bay. And while we’ve road tested many since corona hit, we’ve discovered our favourite one yet—and it's a whole lot cheaper than the original holiday you were planning.

While Duck Island has been available at various supermarkets and Moore Wilson’s in Wellington, we’re beyond excited to announce that they’re opening one of their fabled ice cream stores in the heart of the Windy City.

Save more with less effort? Sounds good to us. Budgeting has a long-standing reputation as the restrictive, boring antithesis to your best life; but what if we told you we’d found a way to save big with less effort? Keener than a Bachelor contestant in a penguin costume? Say hello to budget cycling.

And eyes are on Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Robert De Niro And Al Pacino to fill the rest of the cast.

Wellington is the first city in the world to host the sell-out exhibition in the great outdoors.

With grim lockdown and border restriction news dropping on the daily, sometimes you just need to turn the telly off and plug into a good playlist. It’s amazing what a solid dance sesh around your lounge room can do for your soul, which is why our mates Boo Seeka decided to create a collection of absolute bangers for Urban List readers to take your day from a two to a 10.

Rhythm and Vines have just dropped their stellar line-up and boy, are we in for a treat. 

While it’s been nearly two decades since the first Harry Potter flick hit the big screen, our love for the teen wizard and his magical world runs deep so we’re absolutely buzzing that a brand new Harry Potter world is set to open in Tokyo. Before you cry, ‘but we can’t fly anywhere’ the “Making of Harry Potter” attraction isn’t expected to be completed until early 2023—aka when we will hopefully be back to normal overseas travel.

The sustainability sphere is a rapidly evolving one, and alternatives are cropping up for everyday items left, right and centre. From using organic cleaning spray to drinking carbon-zero beer, read on for some greener versions of lockdown essentials you’ll want in your virtual cart.

The legends over at The Iconic have our backs, because they’ve extended their massive 25% sale, which rakes in almost everything on site, until midnight on Sunday 23 August—giving you the whole weekend damn to peruse, because no one likes to rush these things.

We chatted with investment platform Sharesies, who revealed the five must-know investing terms that’ll not only give you a new dinner table topic to impress your friends with, but also some tricks to get started. It might just be as rewarding than a morning hazelnut FW from Orphan’s Kitchen.

From Ima Cusine’s Hot Cross Buns to flavourful dinner dishes, give these recipes a whirl and you might just emerge from self-isolation a culinary butterfly.

Sometimes, pressing play on a mind-numbing comedy is absolutely necessary, and ol’ faithful Netflix is coming in hot with a new addition to the American Pie franchise, American Pie: Girls’ Rules.

And Greta Thunberg makes a cameo too.

Filmed around the world in the US, the UK, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Belgium—and featuring the likes of Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o and Pharrell Williams—this album is Beyoncé’s biggest triumph yet.

Remember those epic Caramilk-inspired mallow puffs from our friends at Kookie Haus? Well now you can get your hands on a whole host of other treats made from the same delicious choccy used to coat these incredible cookies.

Ok so it might feel like every other day there is a new streaming service popping up and to be honest, it can be a smidge overwhelming. Right now however we’re digging Apple TV+ thanks to it's all-star packed casts and juicy new shows. So, to sign up or not to sign up? To make things a little easier we’ve raided the catalogue of Apple TV+ and have found a slew of epic shows worth your time.

Prepare to have your mind blown fam, arguably one of NZ’s finest chocolate makers, Whittakers have been busy brewing up a collaboration with Aussie’s old guard, Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Be still our beating hearts. Behold the Brewed Ginger Caramel Block. 

For someone who has designed sneakers for the likes of NBA legend James Harden, Macklemore and supermodel Ashley Graham, Vince Lebon is one down to earth dude. As the founder of shoe company Rollie, Lebon’s career has taken him from the western suburbs of Melbourne to Adidas' creative studios in New York, and yet he remains one of the most humble creatives I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with.

Check out its new release date and juicy plot.

Follow a few of these gems to fill up your feed with sustainable, original and drool-worthy fashion. 

Say what you will about The Blair Witch Project, that flick was scary as all hell, and a significant piece of cinema that brought the ‘found-footage’ genre into the mainstream. Sure, a lot has changed since hand-held video cameras and that scene with the loose ear, but the candid horror of the genre still has the ability to scare the sh*t out of one’s self. Just take indie film Host for example, a hyper-current horror that’s filmed almost entirely on a Zoom call.

If bread, pastry or just carbs in general are your thing, have we got news for you. A number of top bakeries are continuing to share their dough-liciousness with us throughout the lockdown, and the best bit is, you don't even need to leave home to get some (cya later, supermarket).

The award-winning sea cabins have been built just above the ocean and give you panoramic scenes of rocky mountains and surrounding islands. 

Slasher fans—and Aucklanders who’ve exhausted every other streaming platform available—can rejoice in the news that New Zealand now has another content service available called Shudder. It’s a fright-focused affair streaming only horror and the sub-genres that fall under the category.

And the range doesn’t stop at kicks.

Bike sales are currently going through the roof and it’s not hard to understand why. Neighbourhood walks are great and all but if you’re looking to up your exercise and basically get from A to B a hell of a lot faster, a bike’s your best bet.

Do you feel like your skin needs extra love in winter? From dryness to breakouts, winter can make your skin crazy. The solution? Change up your skincare routine. Here’s what to do differently in winter, and which products we think make all the difference.

Life is about to slow down a whole lot, so why not spend your time inside discovering a hidden talent. Paintvine has you covered with virtual art classes to keep you going and give you some contact with the outside world.

When we last drooled over, sorry, saw Paul Mescal he was making us feel all the things in Sally Rooney’s popular book to TV adaptation Normal People. Well, we hate to burst the beautiful bubble you’ve concocted but in Mescal’s latest show, The Deceived, he takes a serious detour.

Now, this is a story all about how The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air got flipped-turned upside down.

Hatched during lockdown by Le Chef’s founder, Ed Le Goff, The Foodies is a new gourmet food delivery service that couldn’t be timelier. 

Crack open a two-litre bottle of Pepsi, sink some NERDS and dive into the ultimate movie marathon night.

Despite being kinda relieved that the sweaty palmed, suited and booted reality of in-person interviews is paused for a while, navigating a virtual interview can be equally daunting. Here are our top tips on nailing a video job interview and landing that dream gig without a single awkward handshake.

Late last week, a trailer dropped for a new murder-mystery series called The Undoing, and there are at least a few early signs that this one’s going to be a cracker. You’ve got the creator of Big Little Lies on writing duties, our own Nicole Kidman front of screen alongside Hugh Grant—whose career is experiencing something similar to a McConaissance—and, it’s an HBO series.

Dirty John is dropping this Friday 14 August and it’s going to be an absolute ripper of a series.

No trip to a Disney World anywhere around the globe is complete without eating a ridiculous amount of the over the top food available at the park—and the cookie fries are a must.

​Morocco is a magical country to explore with mountains, desert and the ocean all at your feet, but before you even think of launching into any of that, you have to pay a visit to the heart of Morocco, Marrakech. With its winding medina, maze-like souks, palaces, mosques and gardens, you’ll never be finished exploring this red city.

Exciting news today fam, Quibi has just launched in New Zealand and Australia and it’s totally free.

Cake now on your mind? Sorry about that. To help you fulfill those fluffy, frosted cravings, we’ve compiled this life-changing list. Get ready for a sugar-overload because here are the best cake spots in Auckland.  

From the shores of blue-jewelled lakes and idyllic coastline spots to elegant buildings and rustic barns, here are 11 of New Zealand's most beautiful wedding venues where you can marry the love of your life. We’ll raise our (champagne) glass to that. 

International travel is still a ways away but that doesn’t mean you can’t lust over what possibilities 2021 might hold. Here are 8 under-the-radar destinations you’ll want to consider for your potential travel plans in 2021.

Just this morning we were delivered some very pleasing news—Mulan is bypassing the cinemas and is instead heading direct to the Disney+ streaming service. That’s right, you can catch the epic flick from the comfort of your couch so all you need to do is figure out how to make choc tops at home and fire up the popcorn machine. 

Unlike other sneaker-streetwear collabs, rather than only producing a pair of limited-edition kicks to covet and shop, this creative meeting-of-the-minds is more about sharing design know-how in the name of sustainability, and skilling up in all things DIY-style in the era of iso.

Resume, résumé, curriculum vitae? The thing plays an essential role in getting noticed when hunting down your next gig, and with that in mind, you need it to stand out. Think of it like peacocking—a technique made famous by Parks and Recreation's Tom Haverford and that film 17 Again with Zac Efron—but for your CV and less creepy. 

Have you ever looked at the skincare in your bathroom cabinet and just wished for a fairy wand to make everything natural, ethical, and sustainable—as it should be? Maybe you've even given yourself a retinol burn, or seen a depressing Vice article on what really happens to the plastic you think you've dutifully recycled.

Move over monopoly, escape rooms are our new favourite way to get competitive and tackle some good old fashioned problem solving with our friends. Here are the best escape rooms in Wellington. 

A tasty tidbit of news this cold winter’s morning had us leaping out of bed because the legends at Krispy Kreme have just unleashed a limited-edition collaboration with the king of decadent chocolate spreads, Nutella.

Great food at a great price? That, my friend, is the way to an Aucklander’s heart. Restaurant Month is officially here for 2020, bringing with it culinary creativity in the form of set menus and events from our favourite inner-city establishments. 

IKEA has just released the recipe for the amazing meatballs, and now you can make them at home for yourself.

Let's get real, a lot of us see our KiwiSaver as a pesky thief which takes handfuls of our hard-earned paychecks every week, but do we really know why or how this is working for us?

Get excited as the Auckland Fried Chicken Festival is back for its fourth year. That's right, some of Auckland’s finest food trucks will be gathering to bring you their best fried chicken-inspired dishes for an entire day.

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

While Tiger King proved to be the MVP of iso-life viewing, Where The Crawdads Sing absolutely took out the top spot for the book world. And now, fans can rejoice because it’s being adapted for the big screen and we’re pumped!

If you thought garden mythology didn’t exist, think again.

If you’ve got an Instagram account, chances are you’ve seen the sublime works of Paul Milinski at least a few times in your feed. The Melbourne-based graphic designer and creative director has gone from 300 to 300k+ followers in a matter of months, and with good reason. 

Winter has arrived but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some H2O action. You may have to forego the salty seas for some chlorinated water. Green hair, don’t care. But at least they’re heated right?

It feels like an age ago since we devoured fantastical thriller series The Witcher and lowkey drooled over Henry Cavill’s transformation as a sword-wielding hero. And while season two might be a while away, we’ve got some good news to tide over all you beast-lovers out there—a prequel is coming to Netflix.

Your kitchen countertop is about to receive the glow up it deserves after all that lockdown cooking. Kenwood have released a limited-edition range of kMix kitchen machines in rose gold, chrome, black chrome, and yellow gold.

If you, like us, devoured The Kissing Booth 2 over the weekend and were left reeling with the cliffhanger ending then you’ll be absolutely buzzing with this bombshell news… TKB star Joel Courtney, aka the absolute honey Lee Flynn, revealed in a YouTube event with the cast that a third movie in the teen romance franchise is in the works. And even better, it’s already been shot. Take that COVID!

It’ll explore Marvel’s rich legacy of storytelling and shine a light on how its team found ways to tell stories of representation and inclusion.

With so many eateries dotted all over Christchurch, it’s hard to know where to start but we’re here to point you in the right direction. From cheap and cheerful to fine dining establishments, here is where to find the best restaurants in Christchurch, as well as a handful just outside the city as well.

While the release of her last album, Lover, involved an international Easter egg hunt, in true 2020-style Swift has delivered the news of her surprise eighth studio album in the form of a mic drop. Simply posting a black and white pic of herself on Instagram, Swift informed her legion of adoring fans (ok we’re kinda one of them) that her new album Folklore, will be dropping in the US at midnight tonight—which fortunately is 2pm AEST for Australian and 4pm for NZ. 

Prep yourself for a rollercoaster of relatable teenage emotions, because the director of Call Me By Your Name, Luca Guadagnino, is about to drop a mini-series with HBO called We Are Who We Are.

Not that you need reminding, but during lockdown cocktails were DIY, you couldn’t nip to Bunnings for craft supplies and life was neither funny nor fabulous. Paintvine is here with the antidote to all of the above—Dragvine. 

While epic views and sun-soaked beaches are a bonus, let’s be honest, the real reason we travel is hands-down for the food.

Sip on this bittersweet tipple in style. 

The Alice In Wonderland antics are set to be very real at this boozy Mad Hatter Tea Party coming to Auckland this September.

The world's largest lamington is being attempted at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, and you could nab yourself a piece of the action—literally.

During the winter months all we want to be is niiice and toasty. And there’s no better way to achieve said goals than dining by a crackling fireplace.

We love a good mash-up, especially the kind that involves food. Enter Bluebird, who've just dropped a range of one-of-a-kind chippies that will blow your mind (and your tastebuds), including a legendary lamington flavour.

Twin Peaks fans had to wait almost three decades for the follow-up series of the same name to be released. Lynchian die-hards can again rejoice in the announcement of a documentary in the works centred around the murder of New Yorker Hazel Drew, which heavily inspired the OG Twin Peaks.

And it’s adults only.

Sweet Axe Throwing Co have been hucking axes in downtown Auckland for a year now and are inviting you to celebrate their first birthday in axe-flinging style.

These days, it’s almost as if every person and their dog has a podcast. If you really wanted, you could piece one together with the voice recorder on your phone and some shoddy, free-to-download software. 

In case you missed it, the dream holiday escape is right on your doorstep. Only three hours by car or a short flight from Auckland, the breathtaking Bay of Islands is calling you. 

Well played Paris, well played.

 *drops everything*

While International travel is still off the cards for the forseeable future, there's no reason to miss Bastille Day celebrations this year. Le Chef has a phenomenal fondue savoyarde recipe for you to cook in the comfort of your own kitchen. If you can't make it into Le Chef anytime soon, it is the perfect, most delicious Winter warmer for you to try at home. 

What you do for work has a huge impact on your quality of life, whether you’re career focused or not. We spend a huge chunk of the waking day at work, so it pays to check in with whether your job is still serving you. Taking the time to regularly audit (or Marie Kondo) your career can help keep you out of stagnant mindsets and work environments where you’re not truly thriving.

We gotta hand it to the Frenchies, they’ve got it goin’ on.

As we start the new year and we’re all trying to suss out what 2021 has in store for us, we’re furiously reading up on our star signs to see how we’ll get that promotion at work, find our soulmate and survive the next retrograde.  To help you become a zodiac master, we’ve rounded up the best astrology books for you to check out. 

As far as sustainable fashion goes, activewear seems to be the category most regularly pushing boundaries in the quest for earth-friendly fashion. Because your next sweat sesh shouldn’t have to cost the earth—here are five of our favourite sustainable activewear labels. 

Arguably Planet Earth’s most-loved human, David Attenborough, has been working on a new show called Perfect Planet, which he’s been finishing in lockdown.

One of the many things COVID-19 has taught us is that we’re suckers for a board game or puzzle with mates. Basically anything that keeps our hands occupied while our latest Netflix binge plays in the background is a winner for us. Well, whip out your credit card because LEGO—your childhood fave—has just dropped a new adult’s range so you no longer need to steal your old set from your nieces and nephews (guilty).

Calling all wine lovers! Ponsonby has gained a new wine bar. 

Flights to New York might be off the table for now but here's your chance to see the ground-breaking hip hop musical, and you don’t even need to max out your credit card for it. Hype up, because Hamilton the movie is coming direct to your lounge.

Let’s get poli-TIK-al.

It's 2020 and here's what we know for sure—plastic of any kind is seriously bad for the environment. And yet shamefully, Australia and New Zealand rank up there as two of the most wasteful countries in the world according to an international survey of countries that produce the most municipal waste. We use an estimated five billion plastic bags a year and they take zillions of years (true, scientific data) to break down.

Big changes are on the horizon and they’re set to impact your work sooner than you think.

With nothing but wintery weather ahead of us, here’s what I’m shopping for to embrace the big chill, indoors and out. 

Tanning has certainly had a ‘glow-up’ of its own in recent years. In the last decade, we’ve said toodles to tanning beds and hello to a brand new era of bronzing. No longer are we taking a tangerine-toned gamble when stepping into the tanning booth. Nope, tanning has taken a far more natural turn (both in colour and ingredients), and Auckland’s salons are testament to this. 

From raw and rocky coastlines to stunning lake and alpine ranges (did someone say Southern Alps?) and some of the world’s most accessible glaciers, we can’t help but fall in love with what the west coast is putting out. But if you still need a little convincing that west is best, we’ve put together a list of five must dos that will be sure to make up your mind. 

When it comes to winter desserts, there’s no place for raw cheesecakes, chia puddings or—God forbid—fruit platters. An Auckland winter calls for rich, decadent winter desserts, soft-centred and self-saucing, pumped full of molten chocolate, swimming in a pool of cream and caramel.

It's crunch time, people! Everyone's favourite golden choccy—Cadbury Caramilk—now comes in a mouthwatering new hokey pokey flavour, and it's hitting shelves from today.

Book it in, we’ve found your next local escape and we promise, it’s going to be a trip you’ll never forget.

Prepare to see Zac Efron like never before. Actually, scratch that, he’s often shirtless in his new show, Down To Earth, too…not that we have a problem with that.

Sumthin Dumplin has joined Ponsonby’s strip with their new beer garden Midnight Gardener. 

In what could be known as the creative triple-threat of year, decade, century or maybe even ever, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and visual artist Takashi Murakami are coming together for an animated series titled Kids See Ghosts. 

It was tough saying goodbye to Breaking Bad after its five-year reign on our screens. Fortunately, we’ve been able to revisit Walter White’s universe with spin-off series Better Call Saul and Netflix film El Camino, and we’ll soon be able to jump straight back in with docuseries The Broken and the Bad.

We decided to catch up with the guy behind it and chat all things about the making of Search Engine Sex, how sex is represented in today’s pop culture and the weirdest phrase he knows for “wanking”. 

If you, like us, have devoured every true crime documentary on Netflix then we have some excellent news for your cold, creepy hearts—a chilling docu-series is coming and it’s putting you in the detective’s seat. 

It may seem a strange time to be enthralled by a Netflix movie in the midst of a global pandemic, racial injustice riots and a climate crisis, but Will Ferrell’s latest comedy is the sort of brilliance that kicks back at the world’s divide right now. 

Currently preparing to take visitors is one cool creature, usually found hanging around Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands.

From helping the local flora and fauna, reducing your carbon footprint or getting around to finally recycling that stuff, here are six places you can get involved to do your bit.

Oh, queen Bey, how we have missed you! In news that the world truly needs right now, Beyoncé has announced she’s finally dropping a new visual album next month. Black Is King will premiere on 31 July on Disney+, right on the heels of the one-year anniversary of The Lion King reboot.

Korean food is more popular now than ever before, with OCKHEE the latest eatery to put its stamp on this flavoursome cuisine. Nestled in a prime position on Ponsonby Road, it's set to become your new go-to for good times, good vibes, and seriously good Asian grub.

We're bringing the best of Italy to your own backyard.

The new episodes will be set 40 years on from where the show left off.

The new true-crime podcast series Chasing Charlie is about as juicy as they come. The seven-part series follows an eight-year chase of New Zealand con artist Paul Bryan Gill, it involves six-figure cash sums, intercontinental escape acts and it’s told by the private investigator who worked the case from day dot, Julia Robson.

From spa days and hot pools to romantic dinners and garden strolls, these are the most romantic things to do in Queenstown.

We know you’re itching for a holiday overseas as soon as possible—us too. But with countries shutting their borders for months now, the possibility of a European summer felt further and further away. Fortunately, after what feels like an eternity, several coveted holiday spots are preparing to welcome visitors again.

We headed out around Wellington to document some of our favourite stargazing places, capturing the beauty of the cosmos as gorgeously documented in these stunning photos.

We sat down with stylist and fashion photographer Nicole Ku to chat all things personal style. 

If you’ve spent lockdown mourning the loss of live music and having a damn good boogie fear not. The Good Vibes winter tour is locked and loaded and will be hitting major cities around New Zealand from July until August.

This special New Zealand peninsula is a playground of land, water, drinking, eating and general happy activities—and there’s an abundance of beauty to discover during the cooler months. 

Vegan food is big business these days, with whole eateries dedicated to a cuisine that was once actually quite hard to come by. This is especially true where sweet treats are concerned, with a raft of drool-worthy goodies now readily available to curb those sugar cravings and without so much as a single speck of butter, egg or milk (unless, of course, it's the non-dairy kind!).

If you're looking for a cheap—and in most cases free—way to keep your fitness levels up now that restrictions have eased, look no further than the humble outdoor gym. Forever a truly Los Angeles cliche, the outdoor gym fad is already well underway in New Zealand, but hopefully minus the public heavy grunting. 

We’ve all been waiting with bated breath for Coronavirus restrictions to finally lift so we can do what we do best—travel. With lockdown easing just a little bit more every single day, it’s time start to planning your next—seriously overdue—adventure, and as always we have just the thing.

Yes, restrictions are easing and we’re heading outdoors more, but we reckon you can never have too many Netflix binges under your belt for a Friday day night on the couch—and trust us when we say our latest find is an absolute must watch. Curon, which dropped on the streaming service worldwide last week, has already got people talking, mainly because it’s scared the absolute sh*t out of them.

If you’ve been pining for a new messed up crime show to keep you awake at night, rejoice, because The Sinner season three is about to hit Netflix and it promises to be as deliciously dark as we’d hoped.

Think your DIY homemade taco game is strong? Think again my friend, because the king of the taco world is opening their second outpost in Auckland and we cannot wait.

Love burgers and ice cream? Who are we kidding, of course you do! Well now you can enjoy the best of both worlds all in one drool-worthy bite thanks to an epic new treat from the legends at Ben & Jerry's.

COVID-19 may have meant goodbye to this year's Euro-trip, but it's now the perfect time for us to explore our beautiful country without the 3.5 million-plus tourists that visit each year. We've put together a list of well-known (and a few more secret) spots around the South Island you need to check out now that tourist numbers are down—and the best part is, a lot of these places are free.

We have some sunrise spots that are so good that even the bedheads will get up for.

If lockdown was good for one thing it was the new financial habits we seem to have picked up, so we asked a serious suit—aka David McLeish from Kiwisaver provider Fisher Funds—to help us out. 

It’s hard to believe, but Iceland wasn’t always every influencer’s dream destination.

I don’t know about you guys, but Sri Lanka was sitting at the top of the 2020 bucket list for just about everyone I know. But then COVID-19 came along and the thought of checking out the jaw-droppingly beautiful island seemed like a distant possibility. But, with so many countries recording fewer cases of corona these days, borders are slowly beginning to re-open and—insert happy dance here—Sri Lanka is one of them!

Everything from juicy burgers to hoppy craft brews, unique local wines and breathtaking fine dining.

Commercial Bay will not only be home to some of the city's hottest new bars and eateries, there's also a tonne of top-notch retailers joining the ranks. Mixing up brands new and old, from here and abroad, one thing's for sure—you're going to want to bring along a whole lot of self control with that wallet.

Check out of work and on to the next available flight with Jetstar’s epic Hello NZ sale. 

Whether you're after some new inspiration or you've had enough of instant noodles and beans on toast—it's time to call in the professionals. We've trawled the bookshelves to bring you the 8 best Kiwi cookbooks, authored by some of our fave local foodies and celebrity chefs.

There’s no denying it, 2020 has been one rollercoaster of a year. With the bush fires, COVID-19 and long overdue international outrage over the treatment of people of colour—emotions are running high, and rightly so. So, although you might be feeling emotionally exhausted right now, we’re going to ask you to dig deep because today is World Oceans Day, and your help isn’t just needed, it’s essential.

Hamilton’s burger scene is having a shake-up (pun intended) with the opening of Shake Out. The Hamilton East newcomer prides itself on serving good, honest burgers—without any unnecessary fuss. The no-nonsense menu features the essentials: burgers, fries, shakes and sundaes. What’s not to love, right? 

Here at Urban List, nothing's got us more hyped right now than the news that after four long years in the making, the billion-dollar retail and hospitality development, Commercial Bay, will finally be opening its doors on Thursday 11 June.

The death of African American man George Floyd, while being arrested by Minneapolis police, has sent shockwaves around the world. The horrific footage of his killing has resulted in protests across the US and have caused more of us to speak up about the injustices and abuse our Māori, Pacific Island, migrant, or any person of colour (POC) endure every single day in our country.

While there’s a lot of grief and hurt across the world at the moment, which by no means should be ignored, we're here if you're in need of some respite. 

Believe it or not, some of us are clocking the three-month mark of work from home (WFH) life and let’s be honest, the shine has well and truly started to dim. Now we’re keen to get out, change up our work space and are basically looking for any excuse to put some pants on. While heading back to the office for most people is out of the question, the uber cool QT hotel is offering up their luxurious hotel rooms as your socially distanced work space.

Brow lamination is an innovative brow shaping technique that’s taking the beauty world by storm—here's what you need to know.

To shed a little light on assisted conception and fertility, we’ve partnered with Genea to share three different stories from three brave and honest women on what they wish they knew before they embarked on their fertility journey

It’s a big breakthrough for LGBQTI+ representation and has already been dubbed a Pixar legacy.

There are times in life when you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and treat your body and mind to a little TLC.

The Kiwi foodie collab we truly deserve.

Restrictions are easing and with that, our favourite local hot spots are coming back to life. Cafes, restaurants, bars, gyms, hairdressers, salons and boutiques—to name just a few—have been doing it tough and they all deserve the extra support right now.

The legends at The Pie Piper have moved into some seriously delish new territory, adding savoury dishes to their line-up of famously sweet American-style pies.

You would’ve heard of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons If you’re even remotely plugged into pop-culture. But what’s with the hype? And why does the hype keep building?

Over 70 home-owners, hotels and baches are giving up their spaces for one glorious weekend in June where the rental fee will be converted into Waiheke dollars for you to spend during your stay on the island. Winning!

Sink your teeth into Mr Hao—a modern Chinese eatery nestled into the heart of Dominion Road. 

There’s about 1,000 reasons why we’re so obsessed with Japan. The food, the culture, the people, the snow, the food… you get it. With Japan being so close to us, it’s always been a favourite holiday spot, but with a little thing called COVID-19 tearing up our getaway plans the thought of a trip the Asian island seemed unlikely.

Think you can’t train yourself to switch off and chill out? Guess again. Sleep Specialist Olivia Arezzolo hit us up with four easy ways to ditch the insomnia and train our bodies to consistently get a good night's sleep.

Considering we’ve spent the last few months couped up indoors, we’ve been incredibly fortunate with the epic offerings from our favourite streaming giants. We’ve had our collective minds blown thanks to Tiger King, we’ve been floored by Unorthodox and we’ve cried into our pillow during Normal People. Thankfully, despite all this viewing goodness, there is still more to come.

Making its way to The Birdcage Tavern near the Auckland CBD this September, prepare your body, soul and laugh track to revel in nostalgia, because this is The One Where Everything Went Back To Normal Brunch. 

According to Dr Addie Wootten, CEO of not-for-profit organisation Smiling Mind and a clinical psychologist by background, While the opportunity to see our friends and socialise again seems like something we’ve been eagerly awaiting, it’s completely normal to feel anxious about leaving lockdown.

Because we are all lazy at heart, here at The Urban List, there is nothing we like better than a venue that offers private dining. 

Normal People—you’ve read the book, watched the show, followed all the Instagram accounts and you’re one step away from rocking a silver neck chain. You’re asking yourself what can possibly fill the void that Marianne and Connell left in your life. Fortunately, there’s a stack of book adaptations floating around on Netflix, and we’ve found some of the best for you to get absorbed in. 

Recipes include “Sourd’Ohhhh” and “Pump Her Nickle”.

The Instagram-perfect yogi image of meditation may seem like the opposite of pounding pavement, but science backing the parallels between the two disciplines is mounting.

We've never been to V.T. Station (a.k.a Victoria Terminus, a.k.a India's busiest train station), but we reckon the Newmarket version—actually a charming new restaurant serving up authentic Indian street eats—is probably a pretty good substitute.

Channel the suite life.

There’s been rumours swirling for years about a potential third instalment of the cult classic Legally Blonde, though nothing seemed legally binding (Elle taught us that!). But just this morning, we’ve woken to news that the comedy queen Mindy Kaling has signed on to co-write the script for Legally Blonde 3. Even better, she’s joining forces with Emmy award-winning Dan Goor AKA a Parks and Rec alum, so you know this flick is going to be seriously LOL-worthy.

Caramilk fans, have we got news for you—the coveted golden choccy has inspired an epic new bickie from the crew at Kookie Haus and we cannot WAIT to try it. What are we talking about exactly? A caramelised white chocolate mallow-puff, that's what.

We’ve all dealt with the surplus of time we’ve found ourselves with in our own ways. People baked copious amounts of sourdough with varying success, others have tried their hand at pottery, and plenty of us hit up Netflix or played video games until our retinas vanished. Some, however, have taken a less traditionalist route by joining a near 2 million member strong Facebook group where everyone pretends to be ants.

So you want to be one with the ocean but you’re a) not into standing up for hours and b) not the best of swimmers?

We love the “F word”.

Here is a list of great, or potentially not-so-great, films you might not have realised were filmed in god’s zone.

If you, like us, have spent hours scrolling through old holiday pics wondering when you’ll have your next big adventure, then listen up we have big—scratch that—huge news for you. 

Like everyone else during this period of isolation, the Urban List team has been cooking up a storm.

​It’s been the number one question on many of our minds lately. Sure, we’re pumped to be able to eat in a restaurant again and sink a beer at the local pub (eventually), but the wanderlust-seeker in us is aching to know when we can book that overseas holiday again.

So Alert Level 2 is here, bringing with it a whole lot of newfound freedom (remember that word?). Naturally, one of the most exciting parts about this for us Urban Listers is the chance to eat out again.

Green thumbs at the ready. As much as you're loving reconnecting with your family, flatmates and workmates post-lockdown, there's something truly heart-warming about meeting new people in a positive space, and what better place to do that than volunteering at your local community garden.

A group of leading designers, retailers and businesses are uniting to host a one-night-only, online shopping night on Thursday May 14 in an effort to lend a boost to the local fashion industry.