Auckland is teeming with shopping hotspots! All promising the best experience and the biggest array of stores. With sale season in full swing, it might just be time for some retail therapy in the best malls across Auckland. So whether you’re visiting one or driving to them all, the world is now your oyster when it comes to shopping. The only problem is you might have to hire a bigger car to fit in all those bags!
Commercial Bay
Shopping at Commercial Bay in the CBD is as enjoyable as it gets. The elevated terrace offers great views of the surrounding glass skyscrapers and the harbour, the shops are a great mix of luxury brands and boutiques, and there are plenty of cute cafes to take a break and unwind in. There are many opportunities to buy things other than clothes and many shops that you won’t find anywhere else in Auckland. Famous Dutch clothing store Scotch & Soda have opened a flagship store here, as did Australian shoemaker R.M. Williams and American Calvin Klein. Commercial Bay, Auckland’s newest commercial, hotel and shopping district, is the shopping centre of the future.
Sylvia Park
The hallmark of Sylvia Park is the open-air offshoot known as Dining Grove, where you can “dine from all over the world”. There are several restaurants to choose from, creating a scorching energy uncommon of Auckland’s other suburban malls. Built-in the early 2000s, Sylvia Park is huge and is home to most of the chains you’d expect, but it also has office buildings and train station access. It opened as a trendy place and is still known today as a mecca for traditional brands, with more than 200 stores.
Dress Smart
While many of Auckland’s finest shopping malls are focused on attracting luxury boutiques and high-end brands, Dress Smart does one thing better than anywhere else: discount brand names. Located in Onehunga, Dress Smart is New Zealand’s largest shopping mall with over 80 brands to choose from, from apparel and footwear to suitcases and home furnishings. This isn’t where you go for a brunch or a drink with friends, but if you’re looking for a new trendy top for your next big night, a new pair of sneakers, or a new outfit to wow your coworkers. – and I want a deal – this mall is for you. There are many international fashion brands such as Mi Piaci and Cue, as well as well-known sports brands such as Adidas, Nike and Puma. You’ll also find Kiwi favourites such as Glassons, Barkers, Hallensteins, Huffer and Rodd & Gunn.
Westfield Albany
If you live across the harbour bridge, Westfield Albany is the finest shopping mall on the North Shore. Westfield Albany opened in 2007 amid a lot of hype with its new approach, one step away from the introspective shopping malls built in New Zealand in the 1990s. Fueled by huge population growth in the surrounding area, Albany has achieved instant success, and has gained momentum in previous years by offering a good mix of recreation and entertainment with a focus on public spaces. It is a very suburban but pleasant mall, home to some of New Zealand’s most popular retail stores, including Farmers, Kmart and JB Hi-Fi, as well as Event Cinemas and some 140 other stores. There are play areas for children at both ends of the mall, making it a favourite for the whole family, as well as a wide selection of pubs, takeaways and a selection of restaurants.
Shopping and public transport don’t always go hand in hand, so rent an affordable vehicle today and we’ll be more than happy to help.
