Looking for the best gift shops in Taupo? The town centre around Te Heuheu, Horomatangi and Tongariro Streets has a handful of independent stores within a few minutes’ walk of each other. Between them they cover NZ-made art and homewares, crystals and souvenirs, kitchenware and pottery, and hand-carved pounamu, so a gift shop in Taupo can suit anything from a birthday present to a keepsake of a North Island holiday. Spacecraft and Stardust Creations are good places to start.
1Spacecraft
Spacecraft is a boutique gift and lifestyle store on the corner of Te Heuheu and Ruapehu Streets, run by Jo and Sue. It started in a garage, spent five years in Suncourt Plaza, and moved to its current store in October 2020. The range leans towards New Zealand artists, handcrafted objects and sustainable products, and suits anyone after a quirky or considered gift rather than a souvenir.
Services
- Gift boxes, wedding gifts and baby gifts
- Kiwi art prints, homewares, candles and plants
- Jewellery, bags and women’s fashion
- Toys, games and puzzles for babies and kids
- Gift vouchers and online ordering
Highlights
- Stocks handmade products from New Zealand makers and actively takes on new ones
- Carries brands including Maileg and Frank Green
- $10 local delivery within 3330, plus click and collect
- Courier orders placed before 10am are dispatched the same day
Location & Contact
Name: Spacecraft
Address: 47 Te Heuheu Street (corner of Ruapehu Street), Taupo 3330
Phone: 07 378 2041
Website: spacecraftcreative.co.nz
2Stardust Creations
Stardust Creations has been trading since 1986 from a retail gift store on Horomatangi Street. The shelves cover a very broad mix, from crystals and sterling silver to 21st keys, wall art, lamps and souvenirs. It suits shoppers who want plenty of choice across price points, and those after something with a spiritual or crystal theme.
Services
- Crystals, tumbled and raw, plus salt lamps
- Sterling silver, gem and fashion jewellery
- 21st keys, cards and books
- Incense, soy melts, candles and oils
- Souvenirs, wall art and New Zealand photography
Highlights
- In business since 1986
- Offers professional body piercing in store
- Large range of table lamps, dream catchers, chimes and water features
- Online shop alongside the Taupo store
Location & Contact
Name: Stardust Creations
Address: 46 Horomatangi Street, Taupo
Phone: 07 378 5884
Website: stardustcreations.co.nz
3Collaboration
Collaboration describes itself as a retail store with a modern eclectic vibe, working with its suppliers to bring together design pieces and gifts. The store at 9 Te Heuheu Street is laid out as a browsing space of homewares, décor and gift lines, and suits people shopping for a present for the home or for a new baby.
Services
- Home décor, vases and faux florals
- Mugs, drink bottles and kitchen gifts
- Cushions, throws and sheepskins
- Soft toys and baby gifts
Highlights
- Open seven days, including Sunday afternoons
- Range chosen in partnership with its suppliers for design-led gifting
- Also stocks statement furniture pieces and wall décor
Location & Contact
Name: Collaboration
Address: 9 Te Heuheu Street, Taupo 3330
Phone: 027 276 4244
Website: collaboration.net.nz
4Replete Cafe & Store
Replete was established in 1993 by Chris and Kathy Johnston and combines a cafe with a kitchenware and gift store on Te Heuheu Street. The store has grown beyond kitchenware into New Zealand pottery, curated gifts, treats and gadgets, many from small makers and “suppliers with a story”. It suits anyone buying for a keen cook or looking for a food-themed gift.
Services
- Kitchenware, knives and tableware
- New Zealand ceramics and pottery
- Edibles, coffee, tea and chocolate
- Books, stationery and homeware
- Made in Aotearoa gift range
Highlights
- Family owned and operating since 1993
- Signature gift wrapping in upcycled hessian coffee bags and twine
- Stocks makers such as Driving Creek Pottery and Foundry Chocolate
- Cafe on site
Location & Contact
Name: Replete Cafe & Store
Address: 45 Te Heuheu Street, Taupo
Phone: 07 377 3011
Website: replete.nz
5Jade Centre
Jade Centre is a greenstone jewellery specialist with its Taupo store on Tongariro Street, alongside branches in Napier and Auckland. Its pieces are handmade by the company’s own craftsmen in traditional New Zealand designs. It suits visitors wanting a lasting New Zealand keepsake and locals buying a pounamu gift with meaning behind it.
Services
- Jade pendants in koru, tiki, manaia, twist, toki, fish hook and whale tail designs
- Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bangles and rings
- Jade carvings and figurines
- Charms, keyrings and cufflinks
Highlights
- Jade products handmade by its own experienced craftsmen
- Design meanings guide explaining each traditional form
- Also carries jade pebbles, stone off-cuts and a small bone collection
- Shop online as well as in store
Location & Contact
Name: Jade Centre
Address: 83 Tongariro Street, Taupo
Phone: 07 378 9828
Website: jadecentre.co.nz
Gift Shops in Taupo at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft | Stocks handmade products from New Zealand makers and actively takes o... |
| Stardust Creations | In business since 1986 |
| Collaboration | Open seven days, including Sunday afternoons |
| Replete Cafe & Store | Family owned and operating since 1993 |
| Jade Centre | Jade products handmade by its own experienced craftsmen |
How to Choose the Right Gift Shop in Taupo
- Match the store to the person: art and handmade pieces, crystals, kitchenware and pounamu are very different gifts, and most Taupo stores lean one way.
- Look for New Zealand-made: if the gift is going overseas or marks a visit, ask which lines are made locally and by whom.
- Ask about gift wrapping and vouchers: many stores wrap in store and sell gift vouchers when you are unsure what to buy.
- Check delivery options: some stores offer local delivery, click and collect or courier dispatch, which helps when you cannot hand the gift over in person.
- Know the returns policy: ask whether exchanges are offered for change-of-mind gifts, and keep the receipt for the recipient.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taupo Gift Shops
Where are most gift shops in Taupo?
Most sit in the town centre, on or near Te Heuheu Street, Horomatangi Street and Tongariro Street, all within a short walk of the lakefront.
Can I find New Zealand-made gifts in Taupo?
Yes. Several Taupo stores carry work by New Zealand artists and makers, including art prints, ceramics, pottery, skincare and handmade jewellery. Ask staff to point out the locally made lines, as they are often mixed through the wider range.
What souvenirs are popular from Taupo?
Pounamu (greenstone) pendants in traditional designs such as the koru, manaia and toki are a long-standing favourite, along with New Zealand photography, wall art and crystals. For something less traditional, homewares and pottery made by New Zealand makers travel well.
Do Taupo gift shops offer gift wrapping?
Many do, and some have their own recognisable style of wrapping. It is worth asking at the counter, especially around Christmas when stores get busy.
Can I order from a Taupo gift shop online and have it delivered?
A number of gift shops in Taupo run online stores alongside their shopfronts, with courier delivery around New Zealand and in some cases local delivery or click and collect. Check each store’s website for dispatch times.
What are my rights if a gift is faulty?
Goods bought from a New Zealand retailer must be of acceptable quality and match their description under the Consumer Guarantees Act, whether they were a gift or not. Consumer Protection explains how to ask for a repair, replacement or refund on its Consumer Guarantees Act page. Change-of-mind returns are up to each store’s own policy.
What should I ask when buying a pounamu gift?
Ask where the stone was sourced, who carved it and what the design represents. Traditional forms such as the koru, manaia and toki each carry their own meaning, and a knowledgeable seller will explain it so the gift can be given with the story attached.
How We Chose the Best Gift Shops in Taupo
Every business in this guide was found by searching for gift shops in Taupo, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Taupo, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.