Sydney Destination Guide

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Shopping
Guide to Shopping in Sydney

Sydney is a thoroughly modern city when it comes to most things, and shopping is no exception. Take a note of these public holidays as they may affect opening hours.

Where to Shop

Best Areas
Many of the biggest names in the fashion world have stores in Sydney - check out Castlereagh and Elizabeth Streets in the city for Chanel, Gucci and the like. For those with a less ambitious budget, the central district is awash with shops and malls, especially along Pitt and George Streets. Most malls are interconnected and whole days can disappear without a glimpse of the sun as you plunge into mainstream shopping heaven. This is where you'll find the familiar international highstreet stores such as HMV (in a massive store on Pitt Street).

You'll also find Aussie names less familiar outside the country but which sell everything from fashion to furniture. The largest department store is that of David Jones, an Australian high street stalwart. Located on Elizabeth Street in front of Hyde Park this is where the locals head for just about anything anyone could want and with its impressive multi-floored options it's well worth a look.

Paddington is a great area for more intimate shopping, although on weekends everyone has the same idea. Oxford Street is the main drag here and its blend of small designer stores and cafés is enough to keep browsers happy for hours - as long as you can manage the thronging crowds. The best place for aboriginal souvenirs, Coo-ee, is located here and most tourists will want to at least check it out for some gifts for the folks back home.

If you fancy really splashing the cash or flashing your gold card the affluent Woollahra area does quite well for antiques shops and more expensive eclectic boutiques selling fine and fancy goods. Expect high prices though. Other upper class areas to punish your plastic in include Double Bay and Elizabeth Bay, equally as snooty as Woolhara when you want top class name brand shopping. If you want to try the other side of the city head for Newtown (accessible by bus or cab). Its alternative shopping experience encompasses grunge wear and a huge range of world cuisines. The shoppers are nearly as interesting as the shops however, and it's a great place for people watching.

Markets
Market lovers should head for The Rocks - the market there on Saturdays and Sundays is a great place to pick up souvenirs such as Aboriginal crafts, glassware, cheap clothing and all the other clobber that markets are known for around the world. Trendily popular Paddington market on weekends is also worth checking out.

Shopping Centres
Like America, in Australia some of the best shopping is available in large inner and outer-city centre mall complexes. In the centre they seamlessly blend into one another, interconnected to allow uninterrupted browsing binges.

The Centerpoint Mall - recognisable by the tall centerpoint tower - is a large complex in the heart of the city on Market Street. Five storeys of national and specialist stores sell all manner of highstreet goods.

The Harbourside Centre is found down at the waterfront on Darling Harbour. International stores rub shoulders with speciality outlets, offering traditional Australian merchandise. Having undergone a multi-million dollar refit the mall is one of the most modern shopping environments in the city.

The Chifley Plaza Mall on the corner of Phillip and Hunter Streets is a classy type of mall. Smaller designer stores fill this three storeyed imposing building. The Arakawa Japanese restaurant here is also a far cry from the coke and burgers available in most mall food courts.

The Queen Victoria Building right in the heart of the city is the most prestigious mall of them all. This imposing red brick building has been central to Sydney for many years, and in its latest incarnation is a shopping centre, comprising over 200 shops selling fine goods, including jewellery and designer clothing. Prices are high but so is the quality.

What to Buy

Sydney has long been home to international fashion designers such as Chanel, Gucci and Versace, but their ranks have been swelled over recent years by homegrown fashion designers. This makes clothes shopping in Sydney a must. Explore the higher floors of David Jones to catch the best names, especially if the store is holding one of its twice-annual sales.

Souvenir hunters will find themselves with a vast range of Aborigine artwork (of varying standards) to choose from. Around the Harbour is the best place for these sort of items, in dedicated tourist shops. You'll also find a plethora of stuffed toy koalas, hats with corks on them and boomerangs. Aussies don't have much of a problem with their stereotypical image, and have even less issues with enthusiastically hawking Aussie merchandise to eager tourists.

More seriously there are loads of galleries to try if you're after some Aussie art of a less native bent. Try the Ken Done gallery on Hickson St. Ken's more commercial work can be seen gracing a million "Down Under" T-shirts, but the gallery sells the work that has him respected as one of the top Sydney artists. Alternatively pop into the Access Contemporary gallery on Boronia St in Redfern for the less well-known painters and sculptors of the city.

The closest thing the city - and Australia - has to a speciality is opal and what better souvenir or gift from "Down Under" could you wish for. We recommend you to head to opal specialist dealers such as Black Ridge Jewellers (Shop 133, Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour.

Surf fashion has moved from the beach to bars and highstreets around the world, and there are no better places than Sydney for picking up surf labels. Brandnames such as, Mambo, Hot tuna and O'Neill can be found throughout the city. Check out the dedicated surf shops on Bondi or the Mambo and Hot Tuna outlets on Oxford Street in Paddington. New season designs and colours are often out here before they make it to Europe.

Opening Hours

Shops in Sydney tend to open from 09h00-17h30 each day. Thursday is traditionally late-night shopping day, when stores will remain open until 20h00 or 21h00.

You may find tourist-oriented shops stay open later, particularly around beach areas in summer.

Tax Refund

Australia adds a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% on to the price of all goods and services bought in Australia, including accommodation, tour guides, meals and ground travel and a wine equalisation tax of 14.5% (WET) on wine.

Through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TFS), it is possible for all visitors to claim back the 10% GST paid on goods worth AUD300 or over, which were bought at the same store and 14.5% of the price paid on wine. The refund only applies to goods that are taken out of Australia as hand luggage. You can claim your tax refund at any international airport by taking your goods, the tax invoice from the retailer, your passport and proof of travel such as your international boarding card.

Look out for TRS signs once departure formalities are complete. Refunds of AUD200 or less may be collected in cash on departure. For refunds over AUD200 you can be paid by cheque, credit card or credit to an Australian bank which will be paid within 30 days.

Travellers leaving Australia by sea need to give the same items to the customs officer to complete a non-cash refund claim. For more information you can contact Australian Customs.

 

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