Page 539 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

SHOPPING IN A USTR ALIA  537

of the best and most interesting
shopping in the country. Young
designer outlets, specialist book
stores, craft studios and galleries
sit next to food stores, cafés,
restaurants and bars. Some of
these precincts are decidedly
up-market, while others relish
their bohemian roots. There is
nearly always a strong mix of
cultural influences – Jewish,
Italian, Lebanese, Vietnamese,
for example – depending on
the area and the city. Ask at
tourist information centres for
the best precincts in each city.
A garage sale at the Channon Craft Market in Northern Rivers
Opals are widely available at p350) are particularly good and
duty-free stores. Many other well worth visiting. Community
places will deduct the luxury markets, such as those in
excise tax from the price if you Paddington, Sydney (see p128),
produce your passport. and Salamanca Place, Hobart
Outback clothing is a specialist (see p464), offer an interesting
industry in Australia. Look for and eclectic range of locally
Akubra hats, boots by RM designed clothing and crafts. In
Williams and Driza-bone over- a class of their own, the Mindil
coats in camping and army stores. Beach Sunset Markets in Darwin
Surf clothing has become highly combine eating, shopping and
desirable among tourists, as it entertainment in a spectacular A colourful traditional gateway entrance
can be cheaper to buy in Australia tropical setting (see p276). into Melbourne’s Chinatown (see p395)
than abroad. Board shorts and Out of Town
bikinis are popular purchases.
Department Stores
Shopping in Australian country
Department stores occupy areas can be a mixed experience.
the up-market end of the In some areas the range of
chain-store scale and sell standard items is limited and
quality merchandise. They prices can be much higher than
include names such as Myer you would expect to pay in the
and David Jones (see p410) city. However, there are always
and some of the top stores unexpected surprises such as
are sumptuously decorated. dusty second-hand shops with
Local and overseas designer rare knick-knacks at absurdly
fashions, top-brand cosmetics low prices and small craft out-
and all manner of household lets and galleries with unusual
The impressive food court at Springvale goods and furnishings can be items that make great gifts.
Market, Melbourne purchased. These stores are
competitive and will often
Markets match prices on identical items
Most Australian cities have a found at more down-market
large central produce market stores. Their shopper facilities
and a range of small community and standards for customer
markets that operate at the service are excellent.
weekend. The bustling city food
markets are as sensational for
their vibrant multicultural Shopping Precincts
atmosphere as they are for the Because the city centres have
extraordinary range of fresh, been colonized by the retail
cheap produce available. Look giants in Australia, many small
out for local specialities such as and interesting shops have
cheeses, olives and unusual moved out to the lively precincts
fruits. Melbourne’s Queen that lie somewhere between
Victoria Market (see p390) and the city centre and suburbia. The attractive tiled interior of a shopping
the Adelaide Central Market (see These precincts represent some arcade in Adelaide