Must-see shopping in New South Wales

  • Interior of historic Strand Arcade (circa 1892).

    Strand Arcade

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Constructed in 1891, the beautiful Strand rivals the QVB in the ornateness stakes. The three floors of designer fashions, Australiana and old-world coffee…

  • Mitchell Road Antiques in Alexandria

    Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This extraordinary vintage and antique market is a warehouse full of retro chic, whether you are after original 1970s Lego, pre-loved rocking horses, a…

  • Dinosaur Designs.

    Dinosaur Designs

    Sydney

    This tiny shop is a visual treat. Richly coloured, translucent resin bangles and baubles sit among technicoloured vases and bowls, and chunky sterling…

  • Apma Creations

    South Coast NSW

    Riotously colourful and thoughtfully run, Apma Creations displays and sells eye-catching art, handicrafts and accessories by Aboriginal makers. Magical…

  • Carriageworks Farmers Market

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Over 70 regular stallholders sell their goodies at Sydney's best farmers market, established to connect small NSW producers with consumers in the big city…

  • Artery

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Step into a world of mesmerising dots and swirls at this small gallery devoted to Aboriginal art, particularly from the central and western deserts…

  • Australian Wine Centre

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This shop, with multilingual staff, is packed with quality Australian wine, beer and spirits. Smaller producers are well represented, along with a…

  • Abbey's

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Easily central Sydney's best bookshop, Abbey's has many strengths. It's good on social sciences and has excellent resources for language learning,…

  • Gannon House Gallery

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Specialising in contemporary Australian and Aboriginal art, Gannon House purchases works directly from artists and Aboriginal communities. You'll find the…

  • Craft NSW

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This craft association gallery at the quiet end of the Rocks is full of beautiful and original creations. It's the perfect spot to pick up a unique gift…

  • Queen Victoria Building

    City Centre & Haymarket

    The magnificent QVB takes up a whole block and boasts nearly 200 shops on five levels. It’s a High Victorian neo-Gothic masterpiece – without doubt Sydney…

  • Berkelouw's Book Barn & Café

    Southern NSW & The Murray

    Three kilometres north of Berrima, Berkelouw’s stocks secondhand and antiquated tomes. There's also an excellent selection of new Australia-themed books.

  • Mullumbimby Farmers Market

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    This vibrant food market is set under shady fig trees. Tuck into excellent organic produce while catching some live, local tunes. One of the region's best.

  • Treat Factory

    South Coast NSW

    One of the commercial success stories of the region, the Treat Factory is as much a feast for the eyes as for sweet-inclined appetites. This old-fashioned…

  • Little Bottleshop

    Newtown & the Inner West

    One of Sydney's best bottle shops for those interested in Australian wine, this unassuming place features an excellent curated selection of small-vineyard…

  • Paddington Markets

    Sydney

    Originating in the 1970s, when they were drenched in the scent of patchouli oil, these markets are considerably more mainstream these days. They're still…

  • Gleebooks

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Gleebooks is one of Sydney’s best bookshops, with its aisles full of politics, arts and general fiction titles, and the staff really know their stuff…

  • Berlelouw Books.

    Berkelouw Books

    Sydney

    Expecting the dank aroma of second-hand books? Forget it! Follow your nose up to the cafe, then browse through three floors of pre-loved tomes, new…

  • Byron Bay market.

    Byron Farmers Market

    Byron Bay

    Local producers gather to sell their mostly organic goods here, with hot coffee and hot-food stalls providing breakfast and brunch if you want to listen…

  • Faster Pussycat shop in Newtown

    Faster Pussycat

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Inspired by ‘trash pop culture, hot rods and rock and roll’, this cool cat coughs up retro clothing and accessories for all genders and ages (including…

  • Grounds Markets in Alexandia

    Grounds Markets

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Alexandria's favourite factory-garden-farm-cafe hosts these excellent markets, with a rotating crop of crafty stallholders and delicious baked treats.

  • Zimmerman boutique.

    Zimmermann

    Sydney

    Chic and cheeky women's street clothes and swimwear from sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann. There are other stores around town.

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    Book Room at Byron

    Byron Bay

    Pick up some beach reading material at this well-loved bookstore and a coffee to take away from the cart out the front.

  • Hunter Valley Cheese Company

    Hunter Valley

    Staff will chat about cheesy comestibles all day long, especially during the daily 11am and 3pm cheese talks. There’s a variety of styles available for…

  • Amanya Mitha

    Broken Hill

    Home base for local Indigenous artist Clinton Kemp, a member of the Dieri mob of South Australia, this excellent gallery and shop showcases work including…

  • Birkenhead Point

    Sydney

    This harbourside former brickworks and factory is now a major shopping complex composed principally of outlet stores. It gets packed at weekends, so visit…

  • Paddy’s Markets

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Cavernous, thousand-stall Paddy’s is a covered market of mostly low-quality mass-produced tat, including stall after stall flogging cheap souvenirs –…

  • Eden Smokehouse

    South Coast NSW

    A woody aroma envelops you even before you step inside the shop adjoining Eden Smokehouse. For sale is every imaginable variety of wood-smoked fish and…

  • David Jones

    City Centre & Haymarket

    DJs is Sydney’s premier department store, with high-quality clothing and a highbrow food court. A revamp has added a flashy new designer shoe floor on…

  • Title

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Focusing on distinct pop-cultural streams, seemingly determined at random (but probably at the owner’s whim – very High Fidelity), this offbeat little…

  • Rip Curl

    Sydney

    The quintessential Aussie surf shop, Rip Curl began down south in Victoria, but drops in here perfectly overlooking the Bondi shore breaks. Beyond huge…

  • Bangalow Pharmacy

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    If you just stumbled in here wanting Aspirin or to make up a prescription, you'll be gobsmacked at the extraordinary range of skincare, perfumes and home…

  • Spell & the Gypsy Collective

    Byron Bay

    A locally grown business that’s hit the big time (like 1 million Instagram lovers), this fashion empire’s floaty patterned dresses are seen all over Byron…

  • Kirribilli Markets

    Sydney

    Kirribilli's general market (7am to 3pm, 4th Saturday of the month) offers exotic foods and lively harbourside hubbub, and sells everything from vintage…

  • Nimbin Candle Factory

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    Around for almost 30 years, this working candle factory sells hand-dipped paraffin candles shaped like marijuana leaves, rainbow pyramids, wizards and…

  • Binnorie Dairy

    Hunter Valley

    Offers an exceptional range of handcrafted creamy soft cheeses from a little factory where you can peer in and watch the process. The goat's-cheese log,…

  • Sax Fetish

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    No, it’s not a bar for jazz obsessives, but rather a sexy, dark-hearted shop selling high-quality leather and rubber gear. All genders are catered for,…

  • Two Grey Elephants

    New South Wales

    Two friends started this kids' toys store in 2013 and it stands out because of the calibre of products on sale — everything from local-made creations to…

  • Simon Johnson

    Sydney

    Simon Johnson is the place to fill your high-class picnic hamper. You’ll find the tastiest olives, the creamiest French and Italian chocolates and the…

  • Urban Oasis

    Darling Harbour & Pyrmont

    A curated selection of mostly Australian designs, including clothes, jewellery, books, homewares and men’s grooming products. Pick up luxe gifts and…