Avondale Market

This market was founded in 1972 and lays claim to being the largest one-day market in the country. If you’ve never been here before, you’re in for a revelation. Walk past the discount DVDs and underwear stalls and you’ll soon be in the market proper, selling every conceivable fruit and vegetable in a multitude of colours and varieties. But what this market offers aside from quality, is Pacific and Asian produce at half the price of what you can get it for from the supermarket. There are taro, papaya and watermelon the size you remember as a child, a huge array of Asian greens, chillies, plump eggplants of various shapes and sizes and fresh tofu. The pungent aroma of coriander hits you at every corner.

This is the mecca of fruit and vege markets in Auckland. Parking costs $3 but considering how much you save on the food, it's a bargain. It gets really packed though so I'd recommend arriving at around 8am to 9am.