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!

If you have time to walk around aimlessly looking then Westgate mall is the place for you. I…read moreactually can't even call it a mall it's more like a disorganised shopping centre with everything scattered all over the place. It can be stressful if you are after a certain something and you have to walk around but if you are looking for nothing in particular and are after some retail therapy then this is the place for you. Of the top of my head the shopping outlet has the warehouse, farmers, bendon and shanton. All the shops you find at a Westfield mall just with cheaper prices.

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.

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!

Oh the clearance shed! This place right here is bargain heaven, it is the place you find all the so…read morecalled rejects st a ridiculous price. You can buy makeup, cds, dvds, books, pillows, sheets, electronics and bean bags! It's s place you find everything that you didn't think you needed. If you are ever stuck for a present the clearance shed is the place to go. I blame this place for the countless pilates, yoga ane aerobics dvds that I have. At the same time I owe this place a massive thanks for helping me with my Bob Marley collection. These cds are usually $5-$10 at clearance shed. Plus if any unwanted or unexpected guests invite themselves over and you don't have any clean linen, you now know where to go.

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!

If like me you are absolutely obsessed with the Black Box Boutique and the gorgeous clothing they…read moresell from the likes of Bassike, Ksubi and (my absolute fave) Stolen Girlfriends Club, you're going to love their little outlet store at the top of Ponsonby Road. All of the clothing in here has a discount of between 50 and 70% off of its original price. What's great about it is that, unlike outlet shopping in malls like Onehunga Dress Smart, this store is actually full of really great clothes. I recently bought a really cute pair of Ksubi denim shorts for way cheaper than their original price. Also unlike most outlet stores, the clothing is still really well merchandised, with everything sectioned off into styles, making it really easy to shop. There are few places (in fact, I can't really think of any) like this in Auckland so make the most of their great selection of labels and even better prices.

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.

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.