Best and Worst Big Shopping Centres in OZ (i.e. Westfields, GPT and similar)

roderigo on 06/09/2014 - 16:32

Just did a Lap of Burwood Westfields. Here are my tips:

  1. this place has the worst car parking facilities of any Westfields, if you must go there choose the roof carpark only. The underground carpark has many bottlenecks with multiple traffic streams required to merge / cross over to enter AND exit.
  2. there are heaps of hair waxing shops.
  3. the EB games has some cool pac man interior house lights.

But thats all, there really is nothing exciting to see at Westfields Burwood - Vote 1 for worst Westfields

General Discussion

Comments

  • victorwilson on 06/09/2014 - 17:27
    +15

    Lol if you think Westfield Burwood is bad, try Westfield North Rocks.

    • abc on 06/09/2014 - 19:08
      +4

      Im surprised Westfield hasnt sold that off. Probably cant find a buyer lol.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 14:25

        Let them know that I'm a serious buyer, and that I'll buy it for a dollar.

    • mrjames on 08/09/2014 - 13:12
      +2

      The computer markets was the only sweetener at north rocks westfield

      • jace88 on 08/09/2014 - 17:55
        +4

        Emphasis on 'was' lol.

    • uggugg on 08/09/2014 - 14:39
      +3

      I like Westfield North Rocks. I can always get a park and I don't have to battle my way through a crowded space.

      • goraygo on 08/09/2014 - 22:54
        +2

        Actually, depends when you go, most of the time I go in the weekend I can't find parking easily.

        Funny though, when I eventually find parking in the crowded car park, there weren't a lot of people inside, where the hell are those people??! :O

    • parcus on 08/09/2014 - 16:34

      A guy literally slapped me once at Westfield North Rocks while I was out campaigning there for a particular political party… Also got verbally abused by the Subway guy for supposedly blocking the "view" to their store. Fun bunch of people out there.

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 08/09/2014 - 19:31
        +33

        If it was a campaign for the libs, I fully support the slap.

        • parcus on 08/09/2014 - 22:53
          +1

          Won't disclose, but one thing to note is that WNR happens to be inside the safest metropolitan liberal seat in the country.

    • Olga on 11/09/2014 - 10:57

      With the worst Coles store I have ever been to….

  • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2014 - 18:20

    They've improved the traffic issues at Burwood Westfield over the years, and it's still crap. About 5 years or so ago, I was stuck on the roof carpark there for over 45 minutes - waiting in completely jammed traffic queuing up to get out. It was unbelievable.

    After that, I made sure to park in the surrounding side streets and walk to the Westfield.

    Another bad one is Macquarie Centre (when I went there in 2012). I was so confused by the loops and ramps rather than clear floors/levels. lol

    • grasstown on 06/09/2014 - 21:15

      Burwood has nsw police force directing car traffic on road to give way to cars leaving westfoeld. Wesrfield staff also direct cars down the up ramp at closing time - entries between levels become exits.

    • KBZ on 07/09/2014 - 19:45
      +4

      Maquarie has improved quite a lot and is still in construction phase. If you're not shopping at Woolworths the roof parking is quite convenient for general shopping.

      • roderigo on 07/09/2014 - 20:01
        +1

        yep always go straight for the roof at Macquarie Centre

      • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2014 - 20:10

        Will keep that in mind next time :) Thanks

      • mousie on 08/09/2014 - 12:14

        Macquarie Sucks at the moment with the renos - Top Ryde is my fav

        • pull the lever on 09/09/2014 - 10:44

          Yeah, Top Ryde is very quiet and most of the stores in Macquarie can be found in Top Ryde (that is until H&M, Uniquo, David Jones, GAP opens). THEN it will be chaos at Macquarie Centre = even more reason to go to Top Ryde.

      • mrjames on 08/09/2014 - 13:17
        +8

        Macquarie centre is awesome due to one of the boom gates being short enough to drive around. I park there all day for uni ;)

        The renovation hopefully will make it better, the layout is horrible. Its clear they have had no real planning in the past with all the past extensions being slapped together creating a maze.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2014 - 17:12

          Macquarie centre is awesome due to one of the boom gates being short enough to drive around. I park there all day for uni ;)

          lol

        • amkssg on 08/09/2014 - 22:32

          which gate is this?

          I know how to get in for free, but not get out.

        • Food on 08/09/2014 - 22:44
          +6

          @bsmksg: Get in for free? Drive straight through the boom. Get out for free? Drive straight through the boom

        • mrjames on 09/09/2014 - 00:28
          +2

          @bsmksg:

          I park in the section near to the back dock of woolworths, the exit with the short boom gate is the one near to the bus stops. Simply drive up on to the gutter and you have yourself free parking for the day.

        • pull the lever on 09/09/2014 - 10:44
          +1

          @mrjames:
          'Hack' of the day.

        • roderigo on 09/09/2014 - 11:01

          @waterlogged turnip: Which boomgate?

        • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 13:07

          @roderigo: That wasn't my post, I just quoted mrjames :)

      • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 10:26

        Can someone tell me what's happening at Macquarie?

        I heard on the news it is being rebuilt and when complete will be the largest shopping centre in Australia?? That seems impossible given it's tiny footprint.

        • skimp on 09/09/2014 - 10:51

          They bought some of the properties next the centre.

    • Serapis on 08/09/2014 - 21:51

      Burwood Westfield carpark ramp + traffic jam = Nightmare in manual car…

  • firedragon on 06/09/2014 - 21:57
    +2

    I don't like the parking setup at Castle Towers.

    • ProjectZero on 08/09/2014 - 14:51
      +3

      Yeah, there is just not enough space if you ask me…

      • Sharp on 09/09/2014 - 11:39
        +1

        because it's free. people come and never go.

        • Olga on 11/09/2014 - 10:52

          It wont be free for long, they have added those lights on each spot to show green/red and setting up exit lanes….. charges coming!!!!

  • firedragon on 06/09/2014 - 21:58
    +8

    Whoops double post

  • snoopgrl on 07/09/2014 - 01:04
    +2

    Just go to the one in Liverpool. Then all the rest will seem like a magical oasis.

    • aurotaro on 08/09/2014 - 15:16

      not really, pretty easy to navigate once you know which exits and entrance to take.

      • kerfuffle on 08/09/2014 - 15:50
        +1

        The majority of people who use the carpark at Westfield Liverpool don't seem to know where they're going though …

    • OzJD on 09/09/2014 - 09:15

      I live in the Bankstown area at the moment. Bankstown Square/Centre/Central (whatever it's called today) is much closer, but takes a while to get even near the carpark due to traffic.

      But Liverpool; I can go from inside my house, to inside the shops in under 10 minutes.

  • lord henry on 07/09/2014 - 03:48
    +8

    I'm absolutely certain Westfield Bondi Junction was designed to disorientate you. I can never work out where I am or where I have to go to get where I want.

  • wabster on 07/09/2014 - 07:43
    +3

    I think Hurstville Westfield has to be the worst for parking I've ever experienced. And I live there.

    There are multiple levels that all run into each other when trying to exit and gridlock is usual.

    Also there are areas of parking they keep closed until 9.30am which is a hassle for early shoppers like myself.

    I walk to Hurstville and shop at the grocers, butchers, greengrocers and seafood places along Forest Rd.

    If I need to go to a supermarket I go to Woolies at Riverwood, I never drive in Hurstville or try to park at Westfield.

    • DeWalt on 08/09/2014 - 08:15
      +1

      Seriously, I can name many worse than Hurstville. It's not too bad compared to say UPark Brisbane. That's mind boggling!?!?

    • ddxsamx on 08/09/2014 - 15:42
      -1

      Hurstville, in general, is disgusting. :(

      • parcus on 08/09/2014 - 16:25

        Neat train station though. At least that's the only thing I seem to remember, haven't visited in years.

  • Sweetnsour on 07/09/2014 - 08:57
    +3

    I have been to all the above. It aint too bad, its just expectations of how long to find a carspace is too high. I would expect to wait on average 15-25 mins and avoid mornings and lunch time to minimise frustration. Saturdays are worse, so why choose that day? I am all for ticketed parking to ensure good turnover of car spaces. But eg free extra hours if you spend over $150.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2014 - 19:06
    +11

    Car parks with those lights above each space, to tell you if they're occupied or not, are freaking brilliant (even if there are the occasional spaces with lights that don't work properly).

    Makes life so much easier. Rouse Hill and Top Ryde have these.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2014 - 19:10
      +4

      This would be good to get rid of the "Is that a space or a short car coming up?"

      • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2014 - 19:34
        +1

        Definitely. Saves you from doing laps of the whole car park too since you can just quickly glance down each aisle rather than drive down them all.

    • roderigo on 07/09/2014 - 19:42
      +1

      I vote +1 for the new Rouse Hill shops (they are about 2 years old) that is a fantastic complex

      • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2014 - 20:01
        +3

        I like their carpark, but I dislike the shopping centre itself. I keep getting lost in it - though I don't shop there very often at all, so I'm still not used to it enough to get a good sense of direction to navigate it easily lol.

        Blacktown Westpoint is pretty good in terms of parking-lot-arrangement and ease of navigating the centre itself. Reasonably tidy design, IMO. Not a rabbit warren type of design lol

        • ProjectZero on 08/09/2014 - 14:55
          +3

          I agree, never had any issues at Blacktown Westpoint… there is always space towards the Myer side of lvl Upper 3 (just below the roof tops).

          Heck there are always car spots over that side on all lvls…

        • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2014 - 17:17
          +1

          @ProjectZero: The only time parking is a real nightmare or impossible is if you're go in the evening for a meal/movie/takeaway from level 4. Don't even think about trying to get a spot on the roof. Seems to be that way every night, not just weeknights.

          I was foolish enough to take the gamble in finding a roof spot at around 6:30pm one weeknight because I wanted to grab some Mad Mex take-away for dinner. So foolish. It was bogan city, too. lol

        • ProjectZero on 09/09/2014 - 10:43

          @waterlogged turnip: I completely agree with the roof parking, but for me, I generally don't like the roof parking much anyway lol.

          I still love my park spots at lvl upper 3 though XD.

          There are so many spots there and hardly anyone parks there, the walkway leading to the roofs come up just outside of Genesis and Playtime.

    • parcus on 08/09/2014 - 13:22

      These are godsend. Westfield parra is another one that does these well.

    • bhm133 on 08/09/2014 - 15:03

      Agree with the lights, but hate when you have arrows pointing down the parking aisle saying there are "x" amount free only to find the signage on the road shows no left hand turn (or right hand turn) to get to that parking spot. I'm looking at you Chatswood Chase.

    • donedeed on 08/09/2014 - 22:55
      +1

      Not quite if you're colourblind…
      Like myself… :(

      • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 00:08

        Oh, damn. Didn't even think of that! :(

  • kristo on 07/09/2014 - 23:55
    +3

    In Melbourne, outside of the central city, Westfield Doncaster is easily the best shopping experience, followed by Chadstone, Knox, then Southland — unfortunately parking availability is inversely proportional to the shopping centre itself, with Doncaster having probably the most inadequate (yet most technically advanced systems) parking for the number of customers, followed by Chadstone, and so on. This may be a contrived situation by Westfield to create a kind of subconcious nightclub queue, or it could just be a popularity and poor planning. In the city area, there are many great shopping centres but parking is always a downside.
    However, Westfield doesn't have the worst shopping centres in Melbourne — that crown goes to Knifepoint in Maribyrnong.

    • BiotBargin on 08/09/2014 - 10:30

      reckon Northland would give Knifepoint a run.
      for parking, Burwood One and Donvale are two of my favourites…..want to teach people how to drive, see if they can survive 30mins in there looking for a spot.

    • mistralton on 08/09/2014 - 12:06

      If I had to pick between Chadstone, Fountain Gate Westfield and Southland I'd pick Fountain Gate. Parking is usually easier meaning it's not as hectic as Chadstone. Also one time I got a fine for parking at Southland so now I hate it.

      • BiotBargin on 08/09/2014 - 13:18
        +1

        almost forgot about fountain gate …. one of the worst arranged shopping areas i have seen.

        • sparkles on 09/09/2014 - 15:49

          It's no worse than Southland or Chaddy. I still get lost at Chaddy and I've been going there for ever.
          The new parts at Fountain Gate actually do have some logic ie. all the kids clothing shops are in a row, all the ladies clothing shops are in a row. It's the older sections which are all muddled.

  • Azn310 on 08/09/2014 - 00:02

    Burwood westfield parking is good for those wanting to park for free while visiting Burwood. Try not to park at side of the park on burwood rd, there are some ticketed areas, I thought Burwood street parking was all free and got a fine. Yes there are plenty of 2hr free parking about 20 meters away that lead me to thinking the park was free :(

  • sparkles on 08/09/2014 - 00:11

    Some of the car parking at Chadstone has illuminated signs advising you how many car parks are available in the row. Problem is, it's never ever accurate. You'll go "two! yessss!" and there will be none.

  • lippy on 08/09/2014 - 00:26
    +2

    Top ryde shopping centre carpark is a nightmare. Their exit signs direct you to make a whole lap around the carpark lot before actually exiting. There are also numerous levels leaving your head spinning. Very poor design.

    • Azn310 on 08/09/2014 - 01:28

      Not just lap around the car park, it will direct you to go down a level or two before you can exit, because engineer logic.. mind you they probably did their best, it is a tricky area underneath civic centre

    • Rodo on 09/09/2014 - 10:08
      +1

      Top Ryde is extremely frustrating. I can never work out which exit to take to get out. I don't know the names of the roads around the shopping centre so why do they only put signs up which say what road the exit will go to. It would be far better to put the direction (eg. N or S) or suburb (eg. Eastwood, Homebush) that the exit direction will take you on the exit signs. Too many times I have had to do u-turns after exiting the car park.

    • pull the lever on 09/09/2014 - 10:52
      +1

      Yep, Top Ryde parking sucks. The shopping centre is fine (and it's new) but due to its interesting layout (or bad planning) you really have to make laps around. It's not logical and believe me I know the streets around it yet I still become disorientated. Maps or 'Homebush-bound', 'Eastwood-bound' or 'City-bound' would help, as suggested.

  • Azn310 on 08/09/2014 - 01:30
    +10

    Suddenly the discussion is all about parkings

    • pull the lever on 09/09/2014 - 10:52
      +3

      Parking forms the first and last impressions for any shopping centre.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2014 - 06:58

    The only way these places will survive will be to offer services and food to get people into the centres e.g hair,nail,gym and a food court but most I have found are light on actual stores to buy goods from usually just the same generic stores. I don't see these places getting any better merely becoming more of a lifestyle facility with more click and collect options to cater for online purchases.

  • kati on 08/09/2014 - 07:36

    Westfield Burwood isn't too bad for parking personally (however I always avoid peak weekend times). Once you figure out your preferred entrance and exit it's pretty easy to get in & out. I usually head for rooftop (some parts of rooftop are undercover so it's not actually rooftop).

    My vote for worse carparks than Burwood Westfield goes to Burwood Plaza or Ashfield Mall.

  • djones145 on 08/09/2014 - 08:11

    come to Hurstville westfields
    at least burwood had a refresh

    Hurstville hasn't had one fore 20 years
    terrible carparks (sat afternoon takes 1 hour to leave)
    cinema are terrible (old, small and smells and dirty)
    food court are small

    myer is a dump and old

    kmart and target are terrible
    there is around 20 cafes but no shops!
    wollies is small

    most of the shops are closing down

    and its small as

    Hurstville is so bad that westfields have created a separate company to hold it!

    • DeWalt on 08/09/2014 - 08:45

      Wouldn't surprise me. It's difficult to expand Hurstville - it reminds me a bit of Greensborough (except far less violence at Greensborough). Last time I went to Greebsborough, I thought it was ready for condemnation ;)

      • djones145 on 08/09/2014 - 09:51

        yeah the property prices around Hurstville is too high, all just develop apartments!

        at least the train station got an uplift o.O

        I cant believe we didn't get the refresh, Hurstville was the first to get one (new foodcourt) like 20 years ago, then they went around and refresh others, now Miranda is getting their second refresh and Hurstville is being left behind!

      • djones145 on 08/09/2014 - 09:52

        and Hurstville is suppose to be the south hub for Sydney (all trains get funnelled through there)

    • ynot1985 on 08/09/2014 - 09:42

      That's true about Burwood Westfield

      I still remember going to old Burwood Westfields when I was a kid.. That was pretty bad

    • Rodo on 09/09/2014 - 10:11

      That's why I always shop at Miranda Westfield even though I can drive to Hurstville in a quarter of the time.

      It's too small and way too crowded.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2014 - 14:27

      "It's small as"

      Hello fello kiwi ;)

  • love2buy on 08/09/2014 - 08:28

    I think westfield is only good on a rainy day for kids.

    • DeWalt on 08/09/2014 - 08:47
      +4

      Or on a hot day :) a true OzBargainer wouldn't use their own air conditioning ;)

      • bargainfinder on 08/09/2014 - 09:49

        This is me. I only go to Westfield on hot day to hide from the heat

        • pebee47 on 08/09/2014 - 11:08

          Yup. Darwin Shopping Centres have weekend peak hours from 11am 'til 4pm. Plenty of time to cruise the aisles of Woolies/Coles and have a free feed, Try-on/leave-on clothing, and help tidy up free fishing tackle that fell out of packaging while "having a close look" at it.

  • xyron on 08/09/2014 - 10:52
    +1

    Marion Westfield has a bit of a reputation for being a shit mall to find a car park in (I remember this was the sole reason why the family always avoided it when they first re-vamped it in the late 1990s) but I find it pretty easy to get in and out these days. My pro-tip is to always pick the roof top car park next to the Hungry Jacks.

    • treeman on 09/09/2014 - 16:18

      Yeah agreed, never had an issue with the carpark there! Always a spot on the roof.
      I don't go there often though.

  • pebee47 on 08/09/2014 - 11:03
    +3

    There is no such entity as a "good" Shopping Centre/Mall

    • silverrat23 on 08/09/2014 - 19:10

      Werribee Plaza right now.

      Enough said.

  • Eivad on 08/09/2014 - 11:49

    Getting in and out of Chatswood on a Saturday is painful. Parking in Westfield or Chase is atrocious. Mandarin Centre is where I would normally park.

    • bhm133 on 08/09/2014 - 14:58

      Not sure who negged you but I have rectified.

      Getting out of Wesfield is easy if you know which exit to get to and where to park in the first instance. I used to go straight up to the roof and when leaving exit via Devonshire street. In fact, always enter from there.

      On the other hand, Chase is a basketcase. Whoever designed that should be shot. Enter from Victoria Ave good luck getting out as to exit you have to cross over everyone else coming in.

      Rooftop from Archer is usually easier to get in and out, but don't go onto the top roof during peak periods. Last summer I was stuck (with 3 month daughter) on roof. Was gridlocked for 25 min before I parked again and went to explain to conscierge. They were great and gave me a day pass. Walked home with daughter and came back early evening. Never again. The problem was to get out, you have to cross over everyone getting in. Instant gridlock if there is a crowd. Chase was designed by an idiot.

      • Eivad on 09/09/2014 - 11:21

        Good advice bhm.

        Is there a separate entrance straight to the roof? I've been using the one on Albert Ave that takes you up to the Purple level and going up from there.

  • teximushin on 08/09/2014 - 12:02

    Emporium in Melbourne CBD probably has the best food court.

    • parcus on 08/09/2014 - 13:28
      +4

      Also noticed they had surprisingly good toilet paper (well, for a shopping centre toilet at least) while I was down in melbs last week.

      • 11112007 on 08/09/2014 - 14:22
        +5

        +1 for the best toilet paper. My personal choice for a lunch time No.2.

        • pull the lever on 09/09/2014 - 10:54
          +1

          I should make that my next place of visit when I'm down there. Oh, the Emporium food-court was pretty impressive, too.

  • mousie on 08/09/2014 - 12:15

    Centro Roselands is my pick

    • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2014 - 17:19

      For best or worst?? lol

      • mousie on 09/09/2014 - 10:23
        -1

        You decide :)

  • ronnknee on 08/09/2014 - 12:23

    Burwood Westfield: I know what you mean with the underground parking. I tend to find the Wilga St entrance to be congested sometimes. There's usually someone trying to park very close to the entrance and that causes all the cars behind to hold up. There's also hardly any free spaces on the P2 blue level. You'd be be better off going down one more level to P1 purple level.

    Chatswood Westfield: I really hate this Westfield. They have a 2 hour limit parking but you can extend it to 3 hours by having your ticket validated at the concierge. Why don't they just make it 3 hours by default?

    Hurstville Westfield: So much traffic here.

  • gibspmuh on 08/09/2014 - 13:40
    +1

    Westfield Warringah Mall is quite pleasant both to park in and to wander around. The car park between Myer and Big W used to be an easy park pretty much any time any day, but it currently has construction works going on. There's rarely much of a queue to get out either, unless you try to leave right on 5pm on a Saturday.

    • Vallani on 08/09/2014 - 14:57
      +1

      Warringah mall has to be one of the best. Multiple entry and exit points and parking is rarely full, even in the run-up to Christmas. It is also partially open-air, so it is far less claustrophobic than most other shopping centres. I was disappointed when it became a Westfield recently.

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