No holiday is complete without some heavy duty retail therapy and there are some terrific shopping opportunities in Tropical North Queensland. Aussies love to shop, so pick the local folks' brains for the best bargains in the area.
The boutiques, markets and shopping centres of Far North Queensland stock not only the best local wares, designs and gems but also the best imported goods and international name brands.
Cairns has several shopping precincts including the well-known Pier Marketplace (right on the waterfront) and the new Cairns Central complex. The Mud Markets, held every Saturday and Sunday at the Pier are the place to go for locally designed and made fashion, jewellery, arts and crafts. There's usually live music to entertain you as you browse.
Other markets in central Cairns include the Esplanade Nite Markets and Rusty's Bazaar, both great venues to pick up a bargain.
Check out our section on Shopping Centres for a detailed breakdown on all the shopping centres in Cairns, Port Douglas and other areas.
Other markets worth visiting are the Kuranda Markets (everything from fortune-telling and alternative therapies to exquisite hand dyed garments and jewellery ) and the Port Douglas Markets held every Sunday morning at the Park end of Macrossan Street (a great place for locally made goods of all description - not to mention sensational body massages and foot massages!) A Sunday market is also held in Mission Beach.
There are several smaller, monthly markets on the Atherton Tableland which not only have quality produce but great atmosphere. These include Atherton Markets (first Saturday each month), Herberton Markets (third Sunday each month), Malanda Markets (third Saturday each month), Ravenshoe Markets (fourth Sunday each month), Yungaburra Markets (fourth Saturday each month).
'Australiana' products are in plentiful supply in North Queensland. A wide variety of shops and duty free stores carry everything from macadamia nuts, sheepskin, wool and leather products to kangaroo products, crocodile skin products, Aboriginal didjeridoos, boomerangs and carvings. Handicrafts from Papua New Guinea are also available.
Far North Queensland's tropical climate is reflected in the relaxed and individual style of fashion. Everything from quirky, hand made items to a vast range of swim and resort wear, along with designer labels, is on offer.
International visitors in search of a distinctive Australian opal, pearl or Argyle diamond, have a host of jewellery stores and duty free shops to choose from. The Opal Factory in Smithfield (Cairns) is definitely worth a look, not only to witness opals being cut and polished but to pick up a gem at a very competitive price.
The art and craft made locally in North Queensland is amongst the most creative and eye-catching in the world and there are plenty of galleries to choose from.
There are several duty free shops in Cairns, Port Douglas and at Cairns International Airport. The removal of Australian duty and sales tax results in savings from 20% - 70% off the regular domestic shelf price. Travellers must have a current passport to purchase duty free and some stores require an airline ticket as well.
If you are on a tour, do not feel that you have to buy only from the stores you are taken to. Also, if you buy an item and it doesn't work as it is supposed to, you have the right to a refund or to have the item replaced or repaired. It also pays to ask about the store's policy on repairing or returning their products in your home country.
Under Australian law, all products should be labelled with their country of origin. A product can be labelled as 'Made in Australia' if it has been substantially transformed in Australia and includes at least 50 % Australian production costs. A product can be labelled as 'Product of Australia' or 'Produce of Australia' if all significant ingredients or components have been supplied in Australia and virtually all of the production costs have occurred in Australia.
