Welcome to the first part in this series, where I rank all the malls in Auckland! This part will cover all malls in North Auckland (north of the Harbour Bridge), and Western Auckland (west of, and including New Lynn). Part 2 will cover South and East Auckland, with Part 3 covering the Isthmus, as well as an overall ranking of what is truly the best mall in Auckland.
To start this series off, we need to define what really counts as a mall. According to a quick google search, a mall is defined as "a large, often enclosed, commercial building or complex containing various stores, restaurants, and businesses, typically with a shared parking area". While this is a perfectly adequate definition, there are a few things that could do with more detail. First of all, what really counts as large? While us Aucklanders will refer to Sylvia Park as a large mall (largest in the country even), its approximately 120,00 square meters of retail space pales in comparison to the largest mall in the world, Iran Mall in Tehran, which boasts an enormous 1.95 million square meters of retail space. Even Australia's biggest mall, Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, features over 230,000 square meters of retail space, and over 500 stores, with Sylvia Park having just over 200. It's clear from this that for a country like New Zealand, large isn't a great word to use, so for this we will ignore it. The rest of the definition all seems fine, except now there is another problem. By completely disregarding size, we now have an issue of small, sometimes disappointing arcades being included. Including these would balloon the number to rank and could make it frankly unachievable. To remedy this, I am going to add that in order for a mall to be ranked in this, it must feature some sort of anchor tenant. This could be anything from a simple Woolworths or New World, to a multi-storey Farmers, really anything that draws people to a mall, and takes up a significant chunk of the space. According to this definition (and a few exceptions, which will be covered in later parts), Auckland has 31 malls, with 11 being located in Northern and Western Auckland, and therefore in Part 1!
Now that we have a definition for a mall, what actually makes a good mall? Is it the shops, eateries, or how creative the owner is with empty shops. For this series, each mall will be ranked on 4 different categories. The first is Transport, which will be focused on how easy the mall is to access without a car. Yes a car-free life may seem scary to some, but for many people (including me!) it is just reality. Secondly these malls will be ranked on the Variety of shops. Is it simply just full of two-dollar shops, or does the mall have it all? The third category will be Atmosphere. What is it like to be in the mall? Is the mall a ghost town or a city in its own right! Finally these malls will be ranked on Facilities. Things such as clean bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and seating. There will also be an overall comment at the end, and please note that even if one mall receives a higher score, overall comments are weighed higher so for example a mall with a score of 16 maybe be lower than one with 14 due to overall comments. Now that that's all cleared up, we can finally start our journey to find the best mall in Auckland!
Kelston Mall (11th)
Transport (4/5) - Kelston is relatively easy to get to without a car, with the frequent 14 along Great North Rd towards Henderson, Lincoln Rd, and New Lynn. There are also less frequent routes to Glen Eden, Sunnyvale and Glendene. If you like to switch it up, the mall is also only about a 5 minute walk away from Fruitvale Rd Train Station, from where you can get the Western Line to Swanson, Newmarket, Britomart, and many other places in the inner west and west.
Variety (2/5) - Kelston is essentially a Woolworths with extra steps. It is very much a sister to the next mall on this list, however it has the noticeable absence of a food court (there are some food places around the outside with outdoor seating). Other than the Woolworths, there is a Chemist Warehouse, medical centre, and some two dollar shops. It is also worth noting that Kelston is the host of a weekly night market in the undercover carpark.
Atmosphere (3/5) - Inside the mall is quite dim, however there are some interesting ramps down to the carpark, which are very useful for people with trolleys (the majority of people I saw), the main entrance is quite nice, with some large plants outside.
Facilities (3/5) - While it has no wifi, Kelston has a large amount of parking, and possibly the cleanest toilets that I have seen yet in this series. As I walked in however there was a very strong smell of chlorine, which faded slightly once I left, the floor was also very shiny, however it was slightly slippery.
Overall (12/20) - While being the lowest on this list, Kelston has what you need for a quick bit of shopping, plus some extras to poke your head in once you are done. It is easy to get to, and is a handy stop if you need to pick up something from the supermarket on your way out west.
Highbury Shopping Centre (10th)
Transport (4/5) - Getting to Highbury by public transport is very easy, with two frequent routes stopping right outside on Mokoia Rd and Birkenhead Ave. For those coming from the city the 97B and 97R combine to provide a service every 15 minutes, and routes 95B and 95C stop on Onewa Rd, before going up to Glenfield and Bayview. Route 94 also serves Highbury, giving it a frequent link to Beach Haven, Northcote, Akoranga Bus Station and Takapuna. However, route 917 which provides an important link up the western shore, only runs every 30 minutes, and route 966 to Newmarket only runs on weekdays!
Variety (3/5) - When it comes to variety, Highbury leaves a lot to be desired. It has a Woolworths, Chemist warehouse, games arcade (which was under repair when I visited), a gym upstairs, and not much else. Aside from a few two dollar shops there is not much else left at Highbury. A look on their website indicates they have 24 stores, however when walking through it felt like there were barely 20 in the mall. The food court has been redone recently, however only has a few places in it, and when I visited was mostly empty.
Atmosphere (3/5) - While the mall features a somewhat large skylight in the middle, as you look down towards the Mokoia Rd entrance you can't help but see darkness. As you walk through it slowly fades back to brightness as you approach the exit. When I entered through the northern entrance from Highbury Bypass, I was greeted with construction on both sides of me, and the arcade was closed for repairs and looked in not a great state. The mall is however brightened up by a decent number of potted plants, and a very nice and modern (albeit small) food court.
Facilities (4/5) - Highbury has some of the cleanest and nicest mall toilets I've been to, and has a nice colour scheme and scent through them, however the toilets I used had a slightly ominous entrance, and I had to double check that I was in the right place, even with the sign pointing this way. I was quickly reassured by a large number of people I assumed to be regulars, just walking straight through. When I went to check for Wi-Fi there was a public network, but it did not seem to be related to the mall in any way.
Overall (14/20) - Highbury has its nice parts, and some not so nice parts, but overall if you want to get the basics and live in the area, Highbury will do you just fine. Lots of other shops around the area so could (and probably already does) complement any general shopping you have in Birkenhead.
Shore City Shopping Centre (9th)
Transport (5/5) - Shore City is well connected to the public transport network, with the Takapuna Bus Interchange being located right outside the main entrance. There are buses all over the shore from here, including Devonport, Akoranga, North Shore Hospital and Browns Bay. It is served by 3 frequent routes, and route 82 connects it to the city quickly and frequently.
Variety (3/5) - The main entrance leads you into Shore City's main anchor tenant, Farmers. Once you get through the Farmers, you enter the general mall area. Many of the shops seemed either closed completely or just not open, however down the other end was (somewhat) busy. This was the end that featured the food court and the New World Metro. The food court had a few options, and there were some other food retailers scattered around the mall. There is also a gym on the top floor, and one of the vacant shops I saw was being used to display someone's fashion collection.
Atmosphere (3/5) - Just like Highbury, Shore City also features a large skylight in the middle, and this lights up the main area of the mall very well. Once you get past the skylight however it is quite dark, and the closed shops certainly don't help. It wasn't super busy when I visited, but wasn't a ghost town either. Most people seemed to be walking up and down, or just popping in for the New World. The atmosphere is also not helped by the wayfinding signs, which seem to be in the same style as Westfield, who sold the mall in 2012.
Facilities (5/5) - Shore City has good facilities, including clean toilets and Wi-Fi that seemed to have posters promoting it every few steps. There was seating scattered around the mall, and plenty in the food court area.
Overall (16/20) - Shore City is almost a sister to Highbury, it has some of the bigger brands, but ultimately is good to complement the other shops in the area, which there are plenty of in Takapuna, including a very attractive section of Hurstmere Rd, where traffic is only one way and pedestrians are actually thought about. I assume some of the shops along here were previously in the mall, but moved when the road was re-done a few years ago.
Westfield Albany (8th)
Transport (4/5) - Despite being located in the area with the stupidest road layout known, Albany doesn't do too bad when it comes to getting there without a car. There are bus stops outside the entrance by the food court, with the frequent 83 and buses to other places on the Shore. The mall is however around a 7-10 minute walk from the bus station, so for some they may have to change buses for the last one or two stops from the Northern Express routes.
Variety (5/5) - Albany was very busy when I visited, and it's not hard to see why. It has multiple anchor tenants, including Farmers, Kmart, and the New World with the largest sign I think I've ever seen. The food court has lots of options, and there are plenty of other chain and independent shops scattered around. It is also located near to a Pak n' Save, and lots of other big box retail in the Albany area.
Atmosphere (3/5) - Unlike variety, Atmosphere is where Albany lacks. It is quite a big mall, but in my opinion is not set up in a very good way to handle large crowds. It is very noisy and busy, and many parts seem quite outdated, and could do with a touch up. The area outside the food court is very nice, and good if you need a break from the chaos outside.
Facilities (4/5) - Albany has good Wifi and lots of parking, however the toilets were not the cleanest. The toilets themselves were not too bad, but there was some shredded paper around the floor and someone left a note on top of the toilet paper dispenser. There was also lots of water around the sinks, but in general the bathrooms weren't too bad.
Overall (16/20) - While Albany has a large range and is easy to access, it is pretty chaotic when busy, so I would definitely not recommend coming during busy periods, especially Christmas and Boxing Day as I imagine it would suck out your will to live. Putting that aside it is an alright mall, and you should be fine if you are just popping in to get a thing or two.
Coast Plaza (7th)
Transport (3/5) - While Coast Plaza has services to Gulf Harbour, Stanmore Bay, Silverdale and Hibiscus Coast Bus Station, none of the routes serving it are frequent, and during the day services may be up to 30 minutes apart. This is set to change however, as once NX2 services are extended up Penlink, Coast Plaza will be served by the 99, travelling down the whole peninsula to Hibiscus Coast Station and Silverdale.
Variety (3/5) - This mall is not quite a Woolworths with extra steps, but it is not far off. Other than the Woolworths the mall features some cafes, hairdressers, second hand shops, a chemist warehouse, and Scandinavian re-seller Re-Circle, which occupies a large space in the upper level. The mall also features a Chipmunks Playground, and a Mitre 10 outside.
Atmosphere (4/5) - While walking through the mall, there is very much a theme of nature in this mall, with lots of fake plants and polished wood wayfinding signs. There is a large skylight in the area outside the Woolworths, and another as you walk towards the escalators, however some of the parts away from the skylights are somewhat dim.
Facilities (5/5) - Coast Plaza has very nice toilets, and is one of a few malls to have a community noticeboard in it. Next to the noticeboard there was also a stand for the local newspaper in Hibiscus Coast. The mall also has Wifi, and lots of parking.
Overall (15/20) - Even though Coast technically is rated lower than Albany and Shore City, it is a very nice local mall, and it is very modern and clean throughout. It serves its local community well, and if people need anything else Silverdale is not too far away, with its own mall, and several big box retailers.
Glenfield Mall (6th)
Transport (4/5) - Glenfield Mall is well connected to its area, with services to Bayview, Hillcrest, Busway Stations and the City, however other than towards the city, all these buses run at 30 minute frequencies for most of the day, with the bus to Windy Ridge and Wairau Valley being every hour! There is also a bus linking it to Beach Haven and Takapuna, however this also only runs every half hour.
Variety (5/5) - This mall features many chains, from the only Warehouse left in the southern North Shore, a Woolworths, and a Briscoes where there was once another Woolworths (back when it was Countdown). It also has a large food court, and several other options around the mall. It also has a farmers, and lots of other shops for all you need.
Atmosphere (4/5) - While the mall has a very nice colour scheme in my opinion (the teal is not ugly), some parts inside are slightly dim, and some areas could do with a bit of a touch up. That being said there are some skylights, and the plants on the wall help. Glenfield Mall is also very proud of its past, with many posters around the mall referencing this, including that it used to feature an aviary when it first opened.
Facilities (4/5) - The toilets at Glenfield Mall are very clean, however the mall does not have a public Wifi network (some stores like 2degrees have their own but this doesn't reach through the whole mall). There is also multiple levels of parking for mall customers.
Overall (17/20) - I would highly recommend coming here instead of Albany if you can, as Glenfield offers a more quiet alternative, while still having a decent range and many of the same shops. Glenfield Mall really does have it all!
Silverdale Mall (5th)
Transport (3/5) - Silverdale Mall is well connected to the rest of Hibiscus Coast, but in a slightly strange way, and one that involves no frequent routes. All routes that pass the mall stop at it on their way towards Orewa, Whangaparaoa and Gulf Harbour, but towards Hibiscus Coast only the 983, 984 and 985 stop at the mall, with the 981 and 982 going straight past on the Hibiscus Coast Highway.
Variety (5/5) - This mall has a variety of options, and complements the nearby Silverdale Centre (featuring a Woolworths and some big box retail) very well. It features a Farmers, Kathmandu, and a food court with two places, and once that has closed, but still had about half of its signage up. It also has several other shops and food outlets spread across the mall.
Atmosphere (5/5) - Inside the mall is very clean and modern, and is well light throughout (unlike most malls). There is some greenery around the mall, and nice big windows, especially around the food court. When I visited it had some people, but was relatively quiet.
Facilities (4/5) - The toilets at Silverdale Mall were very nice and clean when I visited, and the Wifi was quick and easy to join. There was also lots of parking, which I couldn't tell if it was just for the mall or for the other shops around.
Overall (17/20) - Silverdale Mall is in my opinion, the underdog in this ranking. Many people may not have heard of it, or simply may not be bothered to go all the way up to it. While it doesn't have many unique stores, it is very nice and modern, and worth visiting if you live or are in the local area.
WestCity Waitakere (4th)
Transport (5/5) - WestCity is very accessible without a car, being located right by the Henderson Train Station, with the Western Line linking people as far as Swanson to the mall. There is also a bus interchange here, with several frequent routes to Westgate, Lincoln Rd, Te Atatu and New Lynn, and less frequent routes to places like Western Heights, Ranui, Glen Eden and Sunnyvale.
Variety (5/5) - This mall has lots of stores, and is just a very large space in general. Anchor tenants include Woolworths, Farmers and The Warehouse. There is also a massive food court, with options from multiple cuisines. WestCity is very clearly a hub for West Auckland, as it has many retailers sole West Auckland location.
Atmosphere (4/5) - While WestCity has large skylights and a cool wooden roof through the main section, it is quite dark in the downstairs area, and some of the parts downstairs and near the cinema feel quite outdated. Many parts in the mall are however brightened up by greenery, and some of the entrances are nice covered walkways over the Oratia Stream.
Facilities (4/5) - The Wifi at WestCity worked well, but was somewhat tedious to join. The toilets were alright however there was a fair bit of water on the floor, and they had signs at the entrance that are from it's Westfield era! The mall also features several levels of parking.
Overall (18/20) - Like I said earlier, WestCity functions as a hub for West Auckland, and has lots of options for food and shopping. While some parts are slightly outdated, WestCity is still very popular and easy to get to, and has been busy all the times I've visited.
LynnMall Shopping Centre (3rd)
Transport (5/5) - LynnMall is just a two minute walk away from the New Lynn Train Station, with Western Line trains and a plethora of bus routes going all over West and Central Auckland. Many of these routes are also frequent, and some also stop by the Brickworks, at the other end from the station.
Variety (5/5) - There are plenty of options here, including Woolworths, Farmers, and Reading Cinemas, which have very reasonable prices for a cinema nowadays. The food court has several different options, and the mall is mostly one long strip, meaning that you won't get lost, even though it is a decently sized mall.
Atmosphere (4/5) - While some malls in this list have skylights for the entire length, LynnMall is much more modest, and just has a few down the main part. This does mean some parts are a bit dim, but for the most part it is fine. There is also some greenery, and some patterns on the floor which while cool, feel slightly outdated.
Facilities (4/5) - Despite having been to this mall many times, I could not remember the last time I used the toilets (other than the ones inside the cinema), so I was pleasantly surprised at how nice they were. They had a bright entrance with greenery, and inside were very nice and clean, however there was a fair bit of water on the floor. The Wifi was good, however it is quite annoying to sign up for the first time you use it, however once you do, you just need to put in your email any other times you try to connect.
Overall (18/20) - LynnMall is a nice mall, that draws people in from many of the surrounding areas. While it is one of the oldest malls in Auckland, it certainly doesn't feel like that for the most part, and inside it is busy, but bearable, and it is modern and clean.
NorthWest Shopping Centre (2nd)
Transport (4/5) - NorthWest is well connected to both the North, and the West. It is the terminus of the Western Express, which whisks people away to the city in around 20-30 minutes. It also has several services to Hobsonville, Royal Heights, Massey and Huapai, with an hourly service to Helensville, Riverhead, and Whenuapai. The one flaw however, is to get to the route 12, which travels to Henderson and over to the North Shore, you must walk around 7-10 minutes, including crossing the major road that separates Westgate, to the newer development on this side.
Variety (5/5) - There are lots of options at NorthWest, including Woolworths and Farmers, plus several other small shops, and a very modern and nice food court, with several different options. There are also lots of shops in the town square area, and Maki St, which is all part of the NorthWest precinct.
Atmosphere (5/5) - Inside the mall there is a skylight along almost the whole length, and the mall is very clean and modern. Outside the main entrance, there is the town square and Maki St, which is a very nice outdoor area, with lots of plants and people. Despite it being a shared space, I encountered many more people in the space than cars, meaning maybe eventually the town square could become completely pedestrianized.
Facilities (4/5) - The toilets weren't too bad, however there was some paper bits on the floor. The Wifi worked, but I had to attempt joining multiple times before it would connect. There was a large amount of parking on the rooftop, and the surrounding area.
Overall (18/20) - Despite being located in possibly the worst area for both cars and pedestrians (the amount of traffic lights with horrible phasing oh my gosh), NorthWest gives a break from all that, and is quite a relaxed shopping experience. With all the new development popping up, NorthWest is sure to become an even busier place, and there will be even more options in the general area.
Milford Centre (1st)
Transport (4/5) - Getting to Milford is easy for the most part, with the 82 linking it to the city every 15 minutes. There are also buses to Smales Farm, Sunnynook and the East Coast Bays, however these run at 30 minute frequencies for most of the day.
Variety (4/5) - It is very clear what kind of area Milford is located in, being filled with mostly independent (and very expensive!) shops. The mall also benefits from its more compact size, as the largest demographic by far is people over 65. The mall has a very good range, and is sure to be very helpful for the people who know what they want, but don't want to travel very far.
Atmosphere (3/5) - Inside the mall, Milford is very nice, with an array of lighting types throughout the mall. It also has a fair bit of greenery through, and as you walk through you will notice the newer area, which used to house the Warehouse. While there isn't much in this area currently, it is very nice and will be sure to fill up quickly I would say.
Facilities (5/5) - Milford has good Wifi, and clean toilets, all you can really ask for when it comes to facilities. It also has lots of parking, which whenever I have come in that way has been pretty full.
Overall (18/20) - Milford is at the top of this list, and for good reason. It is a very nice and modern mall, has all you need but not all the extras, and gives you variety between several independent retailers, and a few chains. It is also located in a very nice town centre, with several other shops along it. All in all, Milford is the best mall on the shore, and in part 1 of this series. Share in the comments if you agree, or what you think deserves the top spot! If you want to see how it stacks up with the other malls around Auckland, stayed tuned for Parts 2 & 3.
Inspired by The Spinoff (This is simply just inspiration for the idea and all ideas and opinions are my own and not influenced by this story)
Thanks for reading, this is Part 1 in a 3 part series. Part 2 will be released in around 2 weeks time (Monday 18th May), with Part 3 following after that.
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