Brisbane's best shopping is centered on Queen Street Mall, which has around 500 stores. Fronting the mall at 171-209 Queen St., under the Hilton, is the three-level Wintergarden shopping complex (tel. 07/3229 9755), housing upscale jewelers and Aussie fashion designers. Farther up the mall at 91 Queen St. (at Albert St.) is the Myer Centre (tel. 07/3223 6900), which has Brisbane's biggest department store and five levels of moderately priced stores, mostly fashion. The Brisbane Arcade, 160 Queen Street Mall (tel. 07/3221 5977), is lined with the boutiques of local Queensland designers. Just down the mall from it you will find the Broadway on the Mall arcade (tel. 07/3229 5233), which stocks affordable fashion, gifts, and accessories on two levels. Across from the Edward Street end of the mall is a smart new fashion and lifestyle shopping precinct, MacArthur Central, right next door to the GPO and taking up the block between Queen and Elizabeth streets. This is where you'll find top name designer labels, Swiss watches, galleries and accessory shops.
The trendy suburb of Paddington, just a couple of miles from the city by cab (or take the no. 144 bus to Bardon), is the place for antiques, books, art, crafts, one-of-a-kind clothing designs, and unusual gifts. The shops -- colorfully painted Queenslander cottages -- line the main street, Given Terrace, which becomes Latrobe Terrace. Don't miss the second wave of shops around the bend.
Shopping Hours -- Brisbane shops are open from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm on Saturday, and 10:30am to 4pm on Sunday. They stay open until 9pm Friday in the city, when the Queen Street Mall is abuzz with cinema-goers and revelers, and until 9pm Thursday in Paddington.
Markets -- Authentic retro '50s and '60s fashion, offbeat stuff like old LPs, secondhand crafts, fashion by up-and-coming young designers, and all kinds of junk and treasure are all up for sale at Brisbane's only alternative market, Valley Markets, Brunswick Street and Chinatown malls, in Fortitude Valley (tel. 07/3006 6200). Hang around in one of the many coffee shops and listen to live music. It's held Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm.
Friday night is a fun time to visit the South Bank Art and Craft Markets, Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank Parklands (tel. 07/3846 4500 or 0414/754 082 mobile phone), when the buzzing outdoor handcrafts market is lit by fairy lights. The market is held Friday from 5 to 10pm, Saturday from 11am to 5pm, and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
Brisbane's glamour set likes trawling the Riverside Markets at the Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St. (tel. 07/3870 2807) and the adjacent Eagle Street Pier Craft and Deli Markets (07/3846 4500, or 0417/635822 mobile phone) to buy attractive housewares, colorful pottery, wooden blanket chests, handmade toys, painted flowerpots, and other stylish wares. It's held Sunday from 8am to 4pm.
For an authentic taste of Queensland's best produce, the Farmers Markets(tel. 0439/999 009) operates every Saturday, from 7am to 1pm, in the grounds of the Brisbane Powerhouse, Lamington Street, New Farm. Here you'll find much to tempt your palate, brought into the city fresh that morning by farmers from around the south east of the state. There's everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to homemade chutneys, quail, fresh seafood, free-range eggs, and patés. Foodies will find themselves in heaven.
Fireworks for Your Wall--If the Aboriginal art you see in the usual tourist outlets doesn't do it for you, what you'll see at Brisbane's Fire-Works Gallery will. Upstairs in an old printery at 11 Stratton St., Newstead (tel. 07/3216 1250), this renowned gallery shows art by established and emerging artists from all over Australia. You may pale at some of the prices, but the stockroom at the back of the gallery may have something within your price range. They'll also arrange to get your new acquisition shipped home for you. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm, or by appointment on Tuesdays.
