I love the vast selection of shops and there are lots of parking spaces in the garage. The best…read morepart is the free parking. There are many restaurants in this huge shopping center so one can spend all day in this beautiful mall.

Many people will complain about how big it is and how hard it is to get around. I love it. The big…read morespace is annoying to travel around but on days where your goal is to relax and just go with the flow. I went there for a movie with my oldest friends and came out laughing with drinks in hand. Big shops and places you can make bookings are put in massively convenient places. I will admit that the toilets need some work, they smell like sewerage, but what public bathroom doesnt.

Just a heads up, everyone, there's an Ishka outlet store at the DFO in Cheltenham! Like any other…read moreIshka store, I always go in for the clothes and am surprised by how little of the store is given over to selling them. This is because it's actually a homewares, gift, and "look at my pretty things" store. I forget that. Lots of pretty things, lovely staff, and a huge selection of incense and scented oils. Probably better than in some city stores. The clothes selection is small, but unlike city stores it seems to be mostly dresses and tops made in different styles from the same fabric. Strange. For those of you who skip to the bottom of the review, I repeat: There is an Ishka Outlet Store! In Cheltenham!

It's exactly what it says on the box. This is a huge shopping centre. Now with its own train stop,…read moregetting there is much easier. If you can't find what you're looking for in this giant centre then perhaps it doesn't exist.

The first time I saw this shopping centre I was literally blown away. Then again, that is probably…read morebecause I have never seen a shopping centre that stretches across a major road, and the cars always travel underneath it. Yeah, that was what really impressed me with it. On the otherhand, this shopping centre is pretty much what you get with most shopping centres, except that it is absolutely massive. Like, you can spend ages wandering around here, though fortunately you won't actually get lost, which is pretty cool. Like, while I'm not a particularly big fan of shopping centres, this one is still pretty impressive.

Shopping centres by and large are a necessary evil that over the years we attend because 'one does…read moredon't you know!'. Cenro Oakleigh fits that bill nicely but I have also come to appreciate the smaller local businesses that have called Centro home for the many years I have worked along-side it. Coles Woolies and the ubiquitous hot bread offerings are there... because, but it is the clothes shops, eateries and bargains galore centres that dominate in a suburb that has placed a premium on BLING combined with cost minimisation. Centro is also a cosmopolitan nirvana where scores of characters stir their coffees while issuing vocal cues that require hands gestures to punctuate every line. It is a Black and White portrait photographers daydream as the individuals inhabiting the centre show their ethnic and social history on their faces. This is also a mature gathering that know their coffee and food, and expect it to be just so. The establishments that inhabit this centre and indeed the surrounds offer some of the best brews and cakes in the state because of it. To do less is to invite instant closure as droves of customers abandon ship for sunnier climes of which there are numerous iterations.

Centro is smack dab in the heart of Oakleigh which is predominantly a Greek district. The food…read moreshopping offering reflects this well. Apart from quite a few great food shops including a bakery, deli, fruit and veg, a few takeaways you also have two supermarkets in the complex. Woolworths and Coles. Personally I prefer Coles. There's more on offer and more varieties of everything. I'm bad at comparing prices so can't tell you which is better in that respect but Coles does seem more popular generally. There a good parking garage under the centre although sometimes, like on weekends it seems quite dimly lite (saving money??) which makes it feel a little unsafe. But maybe that's just me. Also a very easy walk from Oakleigh railway station. It does get busy here on a Saturday morning. If you have time it's also worth stepping out of The centre into Portman street. You'll find heaps of butchers and fishmongers and plenty of other things to keep you occupied.

A bit more up-market than the average suburban shopping centre, but given the area, that is not…read moresurprising. The major tenants are Woolworths and the recently opened David Jones, with lots of smaller specialty shops such as: Bakers Delight, Bed Bath & Table, kikki.k, Terry White Chemists, Feathers, The Athletes Foot, OPSM, to name a few. Plenty of underground car parking, though it can be tough to get a park at peak times. There is a hand car wash service if your car needs a shine while you shop. Lots of wide aisles and escalators make this a favorite for parents with pushers. There is free WiFi in the food court on the top level so you can add your Yelp reviews while having a coffee. And if the centre does not have what you want, the Glenferrie Road shopping strip is right outside.

Malvern Central is like a training course for prams and strollers…read more Usually filled with mummies and babies, it has a ton of parking and so I suppose it's a pretty easy option for most new parents to duck into the supermarket. The big anchor stores here are Woolworths and Target, with a few bedding, clothing and other fresh produce stores. They offer free wifi near the cafe areas, and there's a car wash service in the carpark.

Snowgum sells amazingly high quality outdoor gear. Here is the shop that sells "last season" and…read more"out of fashion" Snowgum gear at half the price. Yes, hiking gear goes out of fashion. For those of you who raised their eyebrows at that statement, join my club. We all find great bargains at this shop. There's no aircon, they prefer you to pay in cash, and it's not well lit, well sorted or well signed. But who cares? Cheap polar fleece!

This place is amazing and the best place to go for a great bargain on outdoor wear. I bought the…read moremost amazing hooded winter coat here that even kept me warm in Tasmania in the middle of winter. It's basically laid out like a warehouse with heaps of polar fleece, gloves, tops and all weather jackets. I bought the greatest lightweight raincoat here too. Most jackets are 40 - 60% off ... Sometimes more. Well worth a look.

One thing that I really love about Melbourne is that you do not need to be in the CBD to get a…read moretaste of bustling nightlife. In virtually every suburb, you have a miniature "CBD" - busy, loads of shop, and architecturally beautiful. Acland Street in St Kilda. Bridge Road in Richmond. High Street in Northcote. But out of all the iconic busy streets that Melbourne has to offer, I do have to say that Chapel Street is high up the list for me. No matter what time of day or night it is, there will always be somewhere to eat, somewhere to party, and something to do. There's nothing better than a walk along Chapel Street with no real idea of where you're going but a faith that you'll stumble upon a place you end up really enjoying. Visiting Melbourne? Put this spot on your list for sure. Seriously - check out Chapel Street's very own website to see upcoming events as well as nightlife favourites. A must-go.

Probably one of the most under-rated sports brands and over looked in comparison to many other…read moreoutlets around Melbourne. What do Nike & Addidas have the New Balance doesn't? Nothing.... Probably a few less sweat shops. New balance has the best range of running tights, full length and and a great range of yoga pants. They also have quality trainers that tend to fall in the same category as Asics when it comes to fitting a narrow athletic foot that likes to run! New Balance is now one of Fitness First supporting brands and you can fined a similar range of products in most Fitness First across Australia.

I love this place as they have my size. 14 4E !!!!! They even go up to size 22 6E for the real big…read moreboys out there. And prices are great. Online store has everything and will post as well. Also a shop in Smith Street Collingwood. Troy was awesome and did not laugh when I asked for 2 pairs of 14's.