Growing up I never really spent much time out west, but over the last few years I've slowly become…read moremore and more familiar with what is out there. But it was only really recently that I discovered the outlet mall at Westgate. Located right behind the Westgate shopping centre, this little strip of stores includes the likes of Bendon, a Nike factory store, an all-things-USA shop, and Jet Couture to name a few. The Nike and Bendon stores were two places I was ecstatic to find. Both had a wide selection of products available and everything was pretty reasonably priced. If it is outlet shopping you're after, I would still definitely recommend trying Dressmart in Onehunga first, but if you're already out west and just need new running shoes, lingerie or boardies then the Westgate Outlet will be able to take care of you without breaking your bank! Tip: There's plenty of free parking available both at Westgate shopping mall and in front of the outlet strip!

Not to be confused with the main shopping mall at Westgate, this is selection of outlet shops at…read morethe back on Fernhill Drive. There's not much to it really - just a random collection of outlet stores which attracts the bargain hunters on the weekend. I guess the best stores are the Nike and Bendon outlets as you can get some good deals here. There is nothing over $20 in the Bendon store and my wife comes here to stock up on underwear from time to time. There is a hairdresser called Vivo which my wife had a bad experience in - the sink was really high and she had a crick in her neck for days. Overall, it's not all that exciting or stimulating but that comes with the terroritory in West Auckland. Good for a few bargains but not what you would call great retail therapy.

The Westgate Shopping Centre is difficult to define; it is a strip mall that goes around itself…read more This is possibly the best strip mall, in the sense that you can walk around without having to repeat on yourself. You've got all the major fast foods here, KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds. There is a Warehouse and a Noel Leeming, plus nightlife in the form of Miss Q's and Origins Bar, and there is a medical and holistic health area. Looking at it in this perspective, you soon realise that it is much better than it appears. It is a pity it is likely to die a horrible death when the new shopping mall opens across the street, but until then, many other shoppers will continue to frequent this shopping landmark. I know I will.

At the end of the Western motorway is this rather odd mall I actually hesitate to call a mall. It's…read morean interesting, rectangularish strip of shops (mostly chain stores), cafes, takeaways, a bar, a medical centre and another Event movie theatre. Can't say I've spent a lot of time here, but when I have done, it's actually been pretty good. Ample parking and you can see all the shops there are, so can't get lost really. There's also a nice park at the back of it. I remember grabbing some food from the Hollywood Bakery and venturing out with my friends on a cloudy day to picnic there. Unfortunately, the ultra violet rays were not that friendly, causing me to get a tad burnt and crispy. Woops.

This a quaint small mall with all the essential amenities and few fashion stores. You can find a…read morevery well stocked supermarket called New World which attracts most of the customers. Outside there is a post shop, key cutting service and dry cleaners and inside a stationary shop. Feeling sporty? Hot the upstairs gym 360 which has just been refurbished. Health wise there is a medical centre attached and large Unichem pharmacy. The Health 2000, eyewear store and walk in massage store are always busy as well as the low cost hairdresser and the more upmarket Rodney Wayne's. You can get low cost mani and pedis with free wifi at ProfessioNail. There is one clothes and accessories store for infants called Hatch opposite an older ladies fashion shop and even a DVD store. Great handy mall close to the beach!

A great place to shop and could add a lot more shops including Zara home and H&M to make it more of…read morea shopping destination.

Pretty decenly laid out Westfield mall. You can find the usual ammenities here such as the big…read morescreen cinemas, food court (with the standard food court offerings), indoor playgrounds on both levels, the parking lot 'while you shop' carwash & various cafes littered throughout the complex. Also a few restaurants just past the foodcourt on the outside. Three stars for the very limited under cover car parking. A mall this size needs more covered spaces for the erratic Auckland weather.

I visit the Downtown Shopping Centre on a regular basis for work related issues, and every time I…read morego there, I wonder what the point is in having a shopping mall on Queen Street, and not even a good shopping mall. But I guess it makes sense, there is a Warehouse and a food court, and not everybody can afford to buy their groceries at Smith and Caugheys... As a mall it is no good, there are few A-List stores, and unless you're getting your hair done or buying a mobile phone, there is not much to see there. You can get good sushi though, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, so not all bad really. Hopefully the new owners will bring new life to this mall, because as a Westfield it just didn't work.

This place just seems terminally unnecessary to me. Why do suburbs have malls? To collect all the…read morechain branches they need in one place so people can do their shopping without having to go to town. What suburb doesn't need that? Town. Queen Street is just one long mall already, why would you bother to put another one at the bottom of it? And not even a good mall. Tiny, crowded, it feels like there wasn't enough room for it to lie flat so they sort of piled it on top of itself. With the possible exception of the Warehouse (and it'd rank low on a list of Warehouse branches, ordered by range and quality), there is nothing here that you can't get at multiple other places in town. And town has sunlight, which very few malls can boast, especially not this one.

Oh Lordy! Black Box has an outlet store! Why did I not know of this before now, I ask you…read more I originally first fell for the Black Box brand on my first foray into The Department Store in Takapuna. Now that I know they actually have their own store,and things are actually cheaper than where you would buy them originally I am hooked. It helps that they had a babe'n sales assistant on the day when I went in there, all dark hair and tatts and well dressed and oh my god did I tell you I love this store! He was actually very helpful. This isn't your typical outlet store, they actually have stuff that is being sold at other places at the same time, its not end of lines or just stuff that no one bought. It's cheap AND its not last seasons. As well as great clothes, they also do amazing shoes too. Sales assistant guy: call me!

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING. This place is dangerous with a capital D. It's got all the top brands…read moreyour could ever want at cheap prices. It's so good, but oh so bad. Every time I go there they've got something I desperately want and can easily justify to myself why I should have it. The clothes are good looking, good quality and are a good bargain. I'd go there especially if you want jeans because they have heaps of them and jeans can be really expensive. The staff are really helpful and being in such a good location, the shop is really handy for all those wardrobe emergencies. My biggest recommendation is that you go there before you go anywhere else because there's nothing worse than buying something only to see it way cheaper later on! Save yourself the pain and heartbreak by going there today.

Waitakere Mega Centre has KMart, Briscoes, Rebel Sport and a range of outlets and retailers that…read morehave suited my needs on many occasion. There is access to an ASB ATM on site. Brilliant. The installation of a few more payment machines at KMart, could be reviewed. I would stop off there more often, if I could pay and leave, as quickly as I arrived. Other than that suggestion, I appreciate that I can obtain a car park nearby and I enjoy Waitakere's decent customer service, which is efficient and often hearty. Kind regards, Maria Cooper

A rather dreary little shopping mall just across from the main Westfield mall in Henderson. I guess…read morethe only thing that would lure you here are some of the stores such as Kathmandu, Trade Aid and the Cheesecake Shop. I guess if you wanted something from these, you can drive in and out as parking is usually available. The only spot to have a coffee is BBs cafe and the last time I went there, it smelt badly of raw onion. I probably would have got a coffee there as I have got it here before and it's ok but the smell in the shop drove me out of there. The Long John Silver shop does a good fish and chips at a reasonable price and there's a Subway if you want a sandwich. The whole vibe of the place is depressing in a West Auckland sort of way - overweight people with sour faces puffing on cigarettes. It's the sort of place you pick up your cake from the Cheesecake shop and drive straight out of there again.

With a few friends calling Kumeu their home, I often stop over at the Waimauku Village centre to…read morepick up wine, beer, flowers or gifts. It is a small centre, and there is normally enough open to get whatever you'll need. What I love about this centre is the quirky little shops that you don't find anywhere. What I hate about the centre is that those quirky little shops have closed down by your next visit. Maybe this is a village market that should restrict itself to the necessities. In other words, a small supermarket, liquor store, hairdressers and a small restaurant. More than that, and you're taking a risk, a risk history has shown doesn't work.