FujiFilm postcards in motion: Tia Harris’ city guide to Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau

Model-approved eats, vintage finds, and underrated city gems with Tia Harris

All image are shot on FUJIFILM X half. A lightweight, vintage-inspired digital camera designed for creators on the go—perfect for capturing stylish, film-like moments with vertical shooting, in-camera edits, and instant sharing wherever life takes you.

There’s something about Auckland that feels like a friend—you just need to get to know it. It’s the city where we live, work, and explore endlessly, and there are so many cool spots that makes it feel like home. Whether you’re here for a few days or a lifetime, here’s your guide to making the most of it. For our first Postcard Series, we asked Model Tia Harris on her favourite places to dine, shop & cool things to do in the city.

DINE/(Wine hehe)

Bodega – Ponsonby Road
Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Bodega. Not only are the vibes just immaculate (my fav in Auckland) but they have great staff, great wine and great food! I love how they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the options available are amazing. I highly recommend going for lunch and getting the Chicken Club, that sandwich is so yum!

No. 7 – Pitt Street
I’m not just saying this because they are my work neighbours, I love this place for both my morning dirty matcha’s, chocolate chip cookies or after work drink. Also, don’t even get me started on the focaccia. They also do Pasta nights which are always amazing. Again, vibes are unreal, that’s a massive pull for me when it comes to loving food/drink places. Lovely staff, lovely intimate vibes too.

Lilian – Grey Lynn
I think this is a lot of peoples’ favourite but places are popular for a reason. I haven’t had one bad meal here. Perfect spot for date night or a chill dinner with the girls. Like I said before, lovely staff is something that takes a good restaurant to a great one, and Lilian is no exception to this.

SHOP 

SaveMart – Onehunga and Northcote
I love thrift shopping. SaveMart is so great because you can spend hours in there. Whenever I go I always find something that is so affordable but also so cool and I think that’s the best part about it, there’s something for everyone. You’re not only shopping ethically, but you are saving money!!

Crushes – Karangahape Road
The cutest shop to buy pretty little nicknacks and also stocks some really pretty clothes. I love going here to buy gifts, I feel like there’s lots of things to look at here. It’s also very close to my work, so that’s fun on lunch breaks.

Tattys and Little Tattys – Ponsonby Road
I love Tattys!! Second hand shopping is amazing. I like being able to find things that are vintage, not being made anymore, or just designer for much cheaper than it would typically retail for. Special mention to little Tattys, I have found some really cool designer pieces there.

3 cool things to do in Auckland

Waterfront Walk
I swear every man and his dog (literally) already does this, but its genuinely one of my favourite non-food related things to do with my friends. Walking around The boardwalk under the bridge is such a gorgeous inner-city walk to do and also if you want to take it easy as more of a stroll, its great because it’s not hilly like the rest of Auckland! Haha

Gigs
Auckland has a lot of small to medium sized gigs on pretty often, you just got to know where to look for them. I feel like not a lot of people know things are on because they aren’t open to going to see artists that they don’t know/aren’t super well-known. Looking on Facebook events, Bandsintown app or simply just saying yes to your friends who invite you to things even if you don’t know what/who it is, is a good way to not only have fun but also become a fan of new artists and also meet people in different circles than you usually run in! I have discovered so many artists and met some cool people just simply by being open-minded and going to things. It also brings the vibes up and makes you realise people saying “nothing happens in NZ/Auckland” is so false!

Markets
I have only just started getting fully into this, but going to Sunday markets is my new favourite thing to do. I love looking at what people are selling at stalls. My bestie and I recently went to the Clevedon Farmers Market and there was so much fresh produce, yum food and lots of cute dogs! Also people were so nice. It’s a really fun wholesome activity. Very excited to keep checking out all the different markets available.

FUJI FILM X HALF CAMERA HIGHLIGHT BELOW :

• Half-Frame Inspired Design:
  A nod to vintage film cameras, it gives you a retro feel in a digital format—perfect for those who love the look of analogue but want the ease of digital.

• 3:4 Vertical Composition:
  Designed with social media in mind, the rear LCD screen is optimised for vertical shooting, making it a dream for creators shooting Reels, Stories, and TikToks.

• 2-in-1 Shooting Mode:
  A unique feature that lets you combine two stills or two video clips into a single in-camera composition—ideal for creative storytelling without needing editing apps.

• Film Simulation + New Filters:
  FUJIFILM’s iconic Film Simulation modes (plus new ones like Light Leak and Halation) give your shots the timeless look of film, straight out of camera.

• Film Camera Mode:
  Recreate the feel of shooting film by using the optical viewfinder, “advancing” your shot manually, and “developing” it digitally via the app. It’s the vintage experience—digitally remixed.

• Compact & Stylish:
  Weighing just 240g, it’s light enough to carry all day and beautiful enough to make a statement. It’s both form andfunction.

• App Connectivity:
  Pair it with the X half app to transfer content, explore layouts, or print directly to your instax™ printer.

All images were shot on FujiFilm x Half camera, and supplied. Thanks Tia for your guide <3