2 Best Places to Shop in Auckland, New Zealand

For many years people from all over Auckland have headed south on a Saturday morning looking for bargains to the sounds of hip-hop beats and island music. Vegetable stalls groan with produce such as taro, yams, and coconuts. More Asian food stalls are joining the traditional Polynesian tapa cloths, paua-shell jewelry, greenstone, and bone carvings, reflecting the city's increasingly multicultural profile, but sadly some junky stuff is creeping in. The market opens around 6, and stalls come down around midday. Exit the Southern Motorway at the East Tamaki off-ramp, turn left, and take the second left.

The Takapuna parking lot comes alive on Sunday morning from 8 am to 1 pm with vendors selling organic cheese, meat, vegetables, homemade jams, small goods, and a slew of sweet and savory items from boutique bakers. There's also clothing from young designers, bric-a-brac, and retro china. Takapuna is about 6 km (4 miles) north of Devonport.