Sydney Shopping Spree

Sydney is a premier shopper’s town, offering travelers everything from the very best high street boutiques, to funky little shops that showcase the wares of local artisans, and most everything in between.

If you love to shop, you should consider dedicating a day or two to the endeavor exclusively- you won’t be disappointed with the city’s fine and plentiful offerings. If you’re staying on the outskirts of town, or even if you’re in town without your own car- it’s a good idea to arrange to hire a car from a dealer like Budget Rent a Car for your shopping days. Public transportation is great for sightseeing, but for lugging arms full of  packages around?  Not so much. You’ll appreciate the added convenience of having a safe place to stash them.

The Queen Victoria Building in the city’s centre is one of Sydney’s most admired and  cherished historic buildings, and makes for a really grand and elegant atmosphere to shop in. Known for this elegance, it offers for your enjoyment beautiful appointments as well as sweeping staircases and a beguiling cuckoo clock that has both form AND function- its chime will help you keep track of the time. The shops inside the QVB are extremely prolific in their offerings, with almost all major labels represented.

What QVB doesn’t have, Pitt Street Mall probably will, and it’s just a block over, opposite Town Hall Station.

If you like shopping in glitzy destinations that bubble over with character, try out Oxford Street.  It’s offerings are unique and varied, with everything from offbeat bookstores to standard brand name shops like Ben Sherman and Puma shoes.  On Saturdays, there are loads of funky handmade crafts up for sale at Paddington Markets, which you’ll find at 395 Oxford. The street is sprinkled with coffee and dessert shops, too- perfect for taking an afternoon tea and a little break from pavement pounding.

Bargain hunters should make their way to Alexandria where there are some outlets,  or better yet, drive to the factory outlet centre, DFO, in Homebush,where good deals abound. Much of the standard fare is offered here, but at a discount that will make the ride worth it.

For the eclectic shopper looking for something truly unique, King Street in Newtown is a great stop. It presents a bohemian atmosphere and the shops feature things like vintage clothing, artisan’s crafts, Indian and Asian goods, bookstores, music stores- all of these are well represented, plus much more.

Westfield Bondi Junction, no far from Bondi Beach, is one of the most elegant shopping centres in town with an emphasis on designer labels like Armani and Versace- but there is also more standard fare, as well. Enjoy shopping specialty stores for things like beachwear and electronics if you haven’t the budget for the famous makers.  Window shopping is fun here, too, and there is a food court with lovely views of the harbor if you need a snack or just want to rest your feet for a while.

There are great shopping experiences waiting for you in all corners of the city and beyond. Ask fellow shoppers for recommendations while you’re out and about- chatting with the locals is almost as fun as finding the perfect item to take home from your fun-filled trip to Sydney.

Photo Source: Francisco Martins