This is like an edible Aladdin's cave of treasure - you can get lollies from the USA like Reese's Peanut butter cups and Hershey bars, from England - "flying saucers" and proper jelly babies and chocolate fish from New Zealand - as well as drinks like Dr Pepper, Cherry Coke, Tab and L&P.

You can easily spend $20 or 30 and come out with a bag of amazing and hard to find sweets and treats. Lollies you haven't seen since you were a kid. Remember Sherbert Fountains with the real liquorice straw?

They also have a selection of flavoured ice cream and make Ice cream cakes to order and the milkshakes are wonderful.

Special treats themed for Easter or Christmas and then afterwards you can get some bargains.

Don't go there with the kids, it's bad enough on your own. If you're looking for that special something to add to a birthday gift to surprise someone, this place is a must. It's not really cheap but the things you get here you can't find anywhere else. Often open outside normal business hours.

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun
11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM–9:30 PM
Sat
10:00 AM–9:30 PM

Located in a busy little strip of shops, parking is rather limited out the front and it's also near a pedestrian crossing.

Treat yourself and just go.

Approximate cost: $3 - 3.50 for lolly bags, various prices on other things.

I've finally found a place where both my boys (big and little) are comfortable to get their hair cut. This small shop is tucked away in the Central Square shopping centre. They're not big or flashy, but they do a wonderful job.

My youngest son isn't keen on hair cuts at all - no surprise, and the eldest won't go to anything which looks like it's "for girls". But he also didn't want a "short back and sides" from the old guy up the road.

There is a woman and man team in here, both very friendly and welcoming but not overly gushing if you know what I mean.

The cuts they did on both boys were wonderful, nicely shaped, well trimmed at the neck which is what some people forget to do. My eldest has hair like a sheep, so they literally had to shear it off. Hey presto - a personable young man was under all that. And he loves it! Now he wears his cap in comfort and everyone says how neat and nice he looks, but still trendy.

Only one problem I ever had was one time the lady would not cut the youngest' hair as she said he had nits. But it was not, it was just dandruff. I showed her how it brushed out, but she wouldn't consider it. I suppose in their business you can't be too careful. I ended up cutting his hair at home myself.

The price is $25 for man or older boy. $12 for the younger.

Of course they do ladies too, but I haven't had mine done here.

Nice, no nonsense work. Engaging staff - they even let the eldest one text on his phone while cutting. I wouldn't have stood for that.

They are open late some nights to 7.00 pm and on the weekend. Not sure of exact days, best to ring.

Very happy with two cool headed sons for summer.

Approximate cost: $12 - 25

This market is sensational. But it's so huge you almost need more than a day to walk around. It's situated on the old Hoyts Drive-In site.

Come down Kororoit Crk Rd and over the Highway. Park at the Hotel across the road or at Maccas.

There are hundreds of outside stalls which vary from week to week. Then there are two huge sheds with more stalls which are usually always there.

Outside it's mostly second hand. You have no idea the amazing things I've found here. Bargains like you wouldn't believe. From almost new computer bags and accessories, to children's toys which you can't get anywhere else - Thunderbirds etc, to camping, jewellery, clothes galore, fishing, tools and fresh, cheap produce. I can't possibly list them all. You have to go and look for yourself.

You can bargain a little, but the prices are usually so cheap. Sometimes they even tell you to take it for free because they don't want to take it home again - books, sporting goods, plants, technology stuff - cameras, phones, music equipment. Gah! It's incredible.

Open Saturdays and Sundays. Pay $1 entrance fee.
Yummy food caravans too. But watch out for the toilets, they're a little basic.

You must go once ... and then you'll be back again and again.

Approximate cost: $Bargains galore

While it was a pleasant evening and the food was quite good, it wasn't the great experience I was looking forward to. The portions were of good size but there was not much difference between the entrée size and main course size.

The pizza which one of my family members had was adequate but not as tasty as other's he'd had. The pasta I had was well cooked but there was not enough of the cream sauce to go around.

The bill was a little higher than I thought it should be.

The restaurant is quite large but this takes away from any atmosphere which might be created - just rows of white table and black chairs, like a reception hall.

The staff were quite friendly but there were not a lot of them.

So, it was an adequate dinner and a bonus that I didn't have to cook, but I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon.

Their advertising for their business is that it's a family owned Italian home grown type of thing, but yet I didn't see any of this "history" only a young girl in a rather shabby black and white "La Porchetta" T shirt.

The food was filling but ... the experience left me wanting something more.

Approximate cost: $Well over $100 for only mains and drinks, no desserts or coffee

If you ever want to buy a bike or need to get one serviced, go to this place. They have a wonderful range of children's and adults bikes and they don't sell rubbish. The bikes are not what you'd call cheap because they are of the highest quality - I think the best brand is called Giant. But they are great value for the price.

Now, I'm no bike expert and this is why I like this place. Two other members of my family bought high quality road bikes from here and are very happy with them. One of them was around $400 but this was a top of the range with all the features you could want.

They also offer an after sales follow up to service and maintain the bike for a year or so afterwards. Now, we'd been given a bike by friends and it looked alright but I took it here to make sure brakes etc were safe.

The staff in this shop are very helpful and also honest. I was told they could fix this bike for me, and charge me around $100 to do the work, as the frame was slightly bent. But they could also sell me a better child's bike by far for only slightly more than the cost of the repair to the other one and it would be safer and more appropriate for his size.

I didn't end up buying the bike, but this made no difference to their attitude of help and friendliness. They also lifted the bike in and out of my car for me.

They have everything in this shop if you're into biking. There's clothes, accessories, everything you'd want and they have a wonderful team of highly skilled bike mechanics.
Also the range of bikes - BMX, racing, road cycles, foldable - I don't know all of them. But if you're into bikes you'll love this shop. And there's plenty of parking around the back.

Approximate cost: $You get what you pay for. Good bikes at competitive prices.

This little shop is tucked away between a Pizza Hut outlet and a bunch of other little shops in a busy strip in Newport. Parking can be a problem, so if there's none in this small area, turn left and go around the corner to a quiet street at the back.

It's run by a Greek family who are very friendly and like to chat to you and they remember you next time to ask about how things are going. This passes the time while you're waiting, or you can go and look in the Pet shop window just down the road.

The servings are generous - we never eat all the chips for "minimum", and the pieces of flake are usually good size and tasty. Often I've got more pieces than I asked for because two of them were smaller.

If you want grilled flake make sure you specify this right at the start, because once they gave me battered when I had asked for grilled, but every other time has been fine.

The other things like potato cakes, dim sims and corn jacks are delicious.

There's not a lot of room in there when it's busy. You can ring ahead for phone orders and then just pick them up.

They are open from 11.00 to 8.00 just about every day and often they're open a bit later than this too.

There's a few fish and chips shops in the Willy/Newport area, but this is one of the best.

Approximate cost: $30 -35 for family of 4 - 5? Depends what you order

This is a place where you're sure that the owners actually love and have their own animals, unlike some chain Pet stores. They are happy to chat to you about your pets and what they are doing, they know the local vets and catteries - even asked after my sick cat whom they'd heard of from one of their friends. So they care.

It's a crowded shop full of beds and toys and kennels and lots of food and equipment, but it's a fun place to explore. They have the special diet types of foods, offer lots of services like a range of Holistic healing medicines and services.

They cater for all pets not just cats and dogs - guinea pigs and rabbits, lizards, birds, fish etc. Lots of treats and toys hanging up and at the back are the bags of food and hay and water bottles etc.

They do not stock live animals and are very passionate about the proper treatment of our furry friends, supporting charity organisations as well.

The opening hours are good, often I can visit them on my way home from work.

Monday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

I have found a few of their items a little more expensive than some other places - like their bags of guinea pig food - maybe a dollar or so. But when they are the only place open on weekends, then it's worth it. Plus the people are so great to deal with, it's nice to just talk to someone too, whom you know loves animals as much as you do.

Dogs are welcome in the shop, there's a water bowl for them but of course - you clean up the mess if they make one.

So, overall a very friendly, well stocked and knowledgeable business with a happy atmosphere.

Approximate cost: $Depends on the products, but mostly quite reasonable.

This place is tucked away behind an unassuming "factory" type roller door entry. Behind that is a world of products for every pet. Not just dogs and cats - but they have all the special diet foods as well as toys - but also for chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits, horses etc.

What led me here was the search for hay. I have two hutchs of guinea pigs and so buying little bags of hay at $8 was adding up. But this place is near the Showgrounds and racing track and so has supplies of hay in bulk. You can get a bale of hay, which lasts us a good three months because it's really tightly packed, for $15. This is bedding and food. If you want bedding only you can get a bale of straw for $9 and it lasts so long! What a saving.

They also have large bags of the special grain and pellet mix my piggies like for around $ 4 - 5 , not the horrible dry stuff the supermarket sells.

It's right turn at the roundabout opposite the race course and then straight away, before you get to the next little side street, you turn into this roller door opening. Yes, you drive right in. And park and can load the bale of hay inside the actual shop. Then you keep driving through and out the side door into the little street and back to the main road again.

There's coops of live chickens in there, so my young son loves to visit. There's also a resident cat who greets you at the till.

The man in there is helpful, friendly and will have a joke with you. If you can't find what you're looking for, he'll try and find it for you.

This is a gem of a place tucked away and really it's not far from the city or main access to other suburbs.

It's like a slice of the country dropped into a city street - it's never frantic or busy, there's time for a yarn and a laugh and of course a good deal. They even stock hutches for chickens/rabbits in a large upstairs above where they keep the hay.

Great value and just a nice place to do business.

Approximate cost: $15 hay bales - many more items in stock

Ever thought you would never find a mechanic who could tell you exactly what was wrong with your car, how much it would cost and then ... actually fix it?

Well Jason Edwards at JS Edwards Automotive is that one of a kind guy. I was put onto him through my work and have blessed that fact ever since.

He's just moved to a new factory location in Sunshine, takes a bit of finding but so worth it. Nothing fancy here, no gimmicks or slogans. Just a wonderful man who understands your cars no matter how old they are and doesn't want to rip you off.

He is looking after our three cars - some over 10 years old. He keeps them maintained up to what we can afford, tells us what can be left until later, finds parts for the ute we didn't think were available when my husband crashed the rear bumper bar, and then apologetically gives you a bill a week later or so when you remind him, which is way cheaper than you can imagine.

He fixes up his own vintage cars, so he just loves his work, I think. He's a wonderful guy but make no mistake, if someone crosses him by giving him the run around, as happened with our automatic transmission - he can be really tough with them on your behalf.

He'll keep your car in a secure compound overnight when he's working on it and let you know when you can pick up. He's even driven my husband places he needed to go after our car was dropped off.

I can't say enough about the quality of his work and how refreshing it is to find an honest and hard working guy that goes the extra "mile" for you.

I've put tons of people I know onto him and not one has ever regretted it. They've had the same sterling service as us.

Your car will thank you.

Approximate cost: $Depends on work done, but honest price for good work.

I don't go to the cinemas much. But the family wanted to see a particular movie - so went to this complex.

First of all, I found it incredibly loud - there's game machines, all the shops come right up to the ticket window, people milling around. I could hardly hear what the attendant was saying.

Then we went to the snack bar. The prices here are awful. Please buy your own snacks and hide them before you go in.
Had to pay just under $20 for two drinks, popcorn and 2 ice creams and then the 4 of us shared.

The toilets are next before you walk up a huge hill to the row where the theatres actually are. I don't know how disabled people would do this. Unfortunately they don't clean the toilets much - paper and water everywhere.

Finally we reach our theatre - long walk to the end for kids carrying stuff.

Now, what I don't understand is ... why they made us choose seats and gave us numbers and yet only about 20 people were in the whole place. We could have sat anywhere because no one checks you ticket at the door of the cinema, only to see if you have one at the very entrance to "cinema row".

And then, there were people sitting in our numbered seats and we had to ask them to move!

During the movie - had to sit through a lot of ads first - one of the children wanted the toilet - so it's a long way back down that row, down the bank and back again. You miss 15 mins or so. Needs toilets inside as well. Plus he had trouble opening the big door.

The seats were not all that comfortable. I'm tall and sitting in my seat for 3 hours or so was rather wiggle-worthy by the end.

As soon as the movie is done they want you out and they are getting ready for the next session - but they don't clean up the mess very much. I like to read the credits and I got the feeling I was not welcome.

So, it was good, but not great. Next time I think I'll try a smaller type of place.

Luckily I had a voucher, cause the ticket prices were rather high.

Approximate cost: $Only go on Tuesdays - $11.50 per person. Other days much more.