The beat goes on in Wellington’s Cuba St

23022002 Cuba St Carnival Parade. One of the many fire peformers on show.
Photo Haana Howard © DOMINION

With a day to explore New Zealand’s capital and hardly enough time to see it properly, I’m wandering along bohemian Cuba Street before a favourite pastime happily sidetracks me.

The lure? Independent record stores.

They might be disappearing around the world, but they are alive and kicking on the grooviest street in a city that seems that have it all, from sandy beaches and waterfront promenade, to arts scene, cafes and night life.

Here are Cuba Street’s best.

SLOW BOAT RECORDS

This store is a must visit for anyone who loves hunting for music.

Slow Boat Records is literally swimming in new, second-hand and collectable vinyl as well as loads of CDs, DVDs, videos and books. It’s a kaleidoscopic collection which nearly overwhelms me as I walk along the aisles.

I discover a plethora of New Zealand indie pop/rock albums which were never released in Australia and while looking over these, I spy some Kiwi “classics” from acts like The Straitjacket Fits, The Chills, The Bats and The Clean.

There’s way too much to explore and I could spend most of the day flicking through countless racks of albums, singles and rarities.

Slow Boat is also a store for musicians. Robert Plant, The Beastie Boys, Johnny Marr, The Foo Fighters and Radiohead are among the celebs who’ve paid a visit to New Zealand’s longest running independent record store.

Neil Finn played an in-store gig for Record Store Day in April.

During the show, Finn paid Slow Boat the ultimate compliment by describing it as one of the last true record stores operating in New Zealand.

“There’s not many left and they should be supported. They’re a place run by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts …”

Slow Boat Records: 183 Cuba Street. Details: slowboatrecords.co.nz

ROUGH PEEL MUSIC

Where Slow Boat’s store is shabby chic and old school, Rough Peel Music (RPM) is a total contrast. It’s smaller, well laid out and very easy for browsing.

There’s a new releases section near the entrance, but it’s the right hand side wall that catches my eye, displaying new and used vinyl offerings like a colourful collage in a gallery. Nice touch.

There’s also an excellent selection of new and used CDs and DVDs, in addition to t-shirts and books.

RPM is a relative Cuba Street “newcomer”, emerging from the ashes of Real Groovy in Christchurch before the business relocated after the 2011 earthquake.

As a sideline, Rough Peel also boasts a record label to release music, that “floats our boat by artists that do the same no matter what genre”, as the website proudly states.

Rough Peel Music: 173 Cuba Street. Details: roughpeel.co.nz

VANISHING POINT

The wildcard in the pack is Vanishing Point which gloriously celebrates rock/pop memorabilia, curios and everything in between.

The store’s discreet entrance owes much to its former life as one of Cuba Street’s longest running sex stores, but don’t let that deter you because there is a goldmine to discover here.

The bookshelves are stocked titles like The Goodies, Star Trek, Star Wars and the long-forgotten Max Headroom, while the walls feature posters of acts like The Ramones and The Damned.

And yes, there is a wealth of collectable vinyl to spend an hour or more rummaging through. Expect the esoteric rather than the predictable.

Vanishing Point: 251 Cuba Street. Details: facebook.com/vanishingpointshop

IF YOU GO:

GETTING THERE: Air New Zealand flies daily to Wellington from Australia’s major cities. For prices and flights see: airnewzealand.com.au

STAYING THERE: CQ Hotel is located at 223 Cuba Street, Te Aro. Room prices start from $169 per night. Details: www.hotelwellington.co.nz

* The writer travelled as a guest of Positively Wellington Tourism.

Image: Stuff.co.nz

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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