traveldk.com

Most stores are open daily 9am–5:30pm, with some closing early on Sundays. Late-night shopping on Thursdays sees shops open until 9pm. In areas such as Paddington, Balmain and Double Bay, shops open between 10 and 11am and close at 6pm. Many shops in Chinatown are open until 7pm daily.

While boutiques no longer stick to a firm schedule of sales, department stores have huge sales in December and again in June. There are great bargains, especially on homewares. Sales are usually advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald (see Free Publications & Listings).

A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of ten percent is applied to most items. If you spend more than $300 at any one shop within 28 days of leaving Australia, you are entitled to reclaim the GST. Take your receipts to the booth at Sydney Airport.

All stores accept credit cards, though some claim a surcharge on credit card purchases. Some larger stores, souvenir shops and duty free stores may accept traveller’s cheques with passport identification.

Many local chain stores and manufacturers have warehouse outlets in inner city suburbs such as Alexandria. The best way to check them out is on a day tour. Try Sydney Shopping Sprees, which has six city pick-up points and includes lunch.

For stuffed koalas, you can’t beat the discount shops on Pitt and Park Streets. Most attractions offer quality keepsakes; try the Museum of Sydney and Opera House Store. Buy opals and boomerangs in The Rocks (see Opals On The Rocks), swimwear and T-shirts at surf shops (see Mambo Friendship Store) and sheepskins in the QVB. Try the weekend market at The Rocks for handmade items.

You’ll find high-end designer fashion in Double Bay and in the WBJ luxury mall. A younger crowd shops in the Galeries Victoria (see Galeries Victoria), Paddington (see Fashion & Homewares) and Woollahra for casual and party clothes. Try Newtown (see Funky Shops) for alternative and secondhand shops, including goth shops lining Enmore Road. Find kids’ clothes at David Jones and WBJ.

The best of Australian and international design can be found in Surry Hills and Alexandria. A stroll around the streets near Central station will unearth gems. Crown Street between Foveaux and Devonshire is also a great strip (see Planet). The Object store has a great range of Australian design crafts.

The big supermarkets are mostly found in the suburbs, but there is a Woolworths at Town Hall station and a Coles at Wynyard. Delicatessens offer great sandwich fillings, small goods and cheese. David Jones’ food hall offers gourmet goodies as well as pre-cooked dinners. Grower’s markets, advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesdays, are a wonderful way to shop.

A current campaign to reduce the quantity of plastic bags that end up as landfill has caused shops to introduce many eco-friendly options. Some stores now charge for plastic bags, and others will soon follow. Buy a sturdy, reusable green bag – fast becoming trendy – from Coles or Woolworths supermarkets, or pack your purchases into your backpack.