132 Best Places to Shop in Australia

This is a large, bright, browser's delight, and the place to go for literature, pop culture, avant-garde, and art books. They also hold book readings and other literary events.

Set close to the waterfront by the Henry Jones Art Hotel, Art Mob exhibits and sells a wide range of local Tasmanian Aboriginal art and crafts, including jewelry, from many communities and artists. The collection includes rare necklaces and exquisite baskets as well as fine prints and paintings by noted Aboriginal artists.

One of Australia's leading opal merchants, wholesalers, exporters, and manufacturing jewelers, Australian Opal and Diamond Collection sells superb handcrafted one-of-a-kind opal jewelry.

This space has four exhibition galleries and a sculpture garden, where works by contemporary Australian artists are showcased.

This is where Sydney's female fashionistas go when there's a dress-up occasion looming. From her namesake store that scores high marks for innovation and imagination, former model Belinda Seper sells nothing but the very latest designs off the catwalks.

This institution for music lovers has an especially strong selection of jazz, blues, African, and Latin American music in multiple formats, including vinyl and super audio CDs, as well as an authoritative staff ready to lend some assistance.

A factory outlet with more than 100 clothing, shoe, and housewares stores on the western shores of Iron Cove, about 7 km (4 miles) west of Sydney, Birkenhead Point is a great place to shop for discounted labels including Alannah Hill, Witchery, Bendon (Elle Macpherson's lingerie range), Rip Curl, and David Jones warehouse. Take Bus 504, 506, 518, or the M52 from Druitt Street near Town Hall station and also Circular Quay. Water taxis depart from the site for Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.

An elegant 19th-century shopping plaza with mosaic-tile floors, Block Arcade contains the venerable Hopetoun Tea Rooms--- serving high tea since 1892—jewelers including French Jewelbox, specialty Australian chocolatier Haigh's, the underground, long-standing record shop Basement Discs, Australian plant essences company Essensorie, Gewurzhaus spice merchant, and Australian By Design, hidden away on the third level (take the lift opposite the Hopetoun Tea Rooms).

A fantastic array of cookbooks stock the shelves of Books for Cooks, including many from local chefs. Located at the Queen Victoria Market, the shop's only steps from plenty of fresh produce, meat, and fish to support any sudden inspirations.

Once the busiest east–west thoroughfare in the city, Bourke Street Mall is a pedestrian-only zone—but watch out for those trams! Two of the city's biggest department stores are here; an essential part of growing up in Melbourne is being taken to Myer at Christmas to see the window displays.

In Richmond, east of the city, Bridge Road is a popular shopping strip for women's retail fashion that caters to all budgets.

Heritage-listed Brisbane Arcade, circa 1923, joins Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street and houses designer boutiques, jewelry shops, and upscale gift, art, and antiques stores.

The Brisbane Powerhouse hosts a local produce farmers' market from 6 am to noon every Saturday. Enjoy a fresh, leisurely breakfast on the lawn by the river, and afterward, stroll through nearby New Farm Park.

Northeast of the city in Fitzroy, Brunswick Street has hip and grungy restaurants, coffee shops, gift stores, and clothing outlets selling the latest look, as well as retro and vintage finds, from fashion to housewares, signs to delightful bric-a-brac.

Brunswick Street Bookstore specializes in art, design, and architecture publications, and also stocks modern Australian literature.

This local shopping institution carries great hats and bags perfect for the beach.

Adjacent to Cairns Railway Station, Cairns Central houses 180-plus specialty stores, a supermarket, department stores, a food court, several coffee shops, and a cinema complex. Strollers are available to rent. It also has the only free parking in Cairns CBD: three hours free.

If you're looking for bargain beachwear, local jewelry, art and crafts, a massage, a meal, a coffee, or souvenirs, the Cairns Night Markets, open daily 4:30 to 10:30 pm, are the place to go. Bring cash—several of the 70-plus merchants charge additional fees for credit cards.

A popular haunt for seekers of the old and odd, this market, about 6 km (4 miles) northeast of Chapel Street, South Yarra, has more than 300 stalls selling antiques, preloved clothing, books, and knickknacks. Food vans provide sustenance.

Located in a refurbished 1950s cinema, Brisbane's largest antiques center houses 70-plus stalls, an on-site tart café, and everything from fine china, collectibles, and the kitschiest of curiosities, to clothing, records, prints, paintings, home wares, games, and a vast collection of Australiana. Open weekdays 9--5 and weekends 8--5.

This street is where you can find some of the ritziest boutiques in Melbourne, as well as cafés, art galleries, bars, and restaurants.

Everything from estate jewelry and stylish secondhand clothes to porcelain and curios is on sale at these wooden cubicles and glass-fronted counters.

For a mix of designer threads, high fashion, and comfy staples, head to this shiny enclosed shopping center. You'll find gorgeous Australian beauty products by Aesop; classic garments at Country Road; mature but glam women's wear at Carla Zampatti; activewear at Lorna Jane; swimwear at Seafolly; cosmetics at Mecca Comestica; and high-end everything at David Jones—they're all Australian. For international brands, seek out Chanel, French Connection, and Lululemon. There are half a dozen chic cafés, too—get a chocolate hit at Koko Black and great yum cha at Yamato Kaiten Sushi.

A precinct of stores frequented by shoppers lured by labels, Little Collins Street is still worth a visit. In between frock shops you'll find musty stores selling classic film posters, antique and estate jewelry, and Australian opals. The glittering St. Collins Lane draws less mainstream, higher-end designers, while the eastern end of Collins Street, beyond the cream-and-red Romanesque facade of St. Michael's Uniting Church, is the Paris End, a name coined by Melburnians to identify the elegance of its fashionable shops as well as its general hauteur. Here you find big-name international designer clothing, bags, and jewelry. Its newest precinct, the 80 Collins Street, hosts such curios as sustainable cobblers and luxury eye-wear designers between cafés, new hotels, and swanky restaurants.

This gallery, open Tuesday–Saturday 10–5, exhibits and sells high-end Aboriginal paintings, sculptures, and limited-edition prints. It's a five-minute walk from Bondi Beach.

The fashion here stands somewhere between Ralph Lauren and Timberland, with an all-Australian assembly of classic, countrified his 'n' hers, plus an ever-expanding variety of soft furnishings in cotton and linen for the rustic retreat. You'll find Country Road clothes in most department stores, but the biggest range is here in this flagship store.

Craft Victoria fosters creativity with seminars and exhibits, and has a top-notch selection of Australian pottery, textile works, and jewelry for sale. The not-for-profit design group also runs free exhibitions and interviews with makers of contemporary, sustainable craft and design.

You can find authentic Aboriginal artifacts at Creative Native with an extensive selection of Aboriginal art. Each piece of original artwork comes with a certificate of authenticity and royalties are paid to all artists. Painted boomerangs, didgeridoo, and dishes make wonderful gifts and lasting souvenirs of your holiday Down Under. 

Commissioned work available. 

This big, upmarket department store has a large array of luxury brands for both men and women.

This classy department store opens onto the Murray Street pedestrian mall. Inside you'll find a wide range of designer clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, makeup and beauty items, perfume, housewares, and gift ideas.