The Pier Marketplace (on the Waterfront, Cairns) Open every day from 9.00am, - 9.00pm. Very popular with tourists, the Pier contains over 100 specialty shops, a good selection of restaurants, EFTPOS facilities, souvenir shops, currency exchange and tourist information. Stores include well known international labels such as Oroton and Canterbury along with reputable Australian labels such as Country Road, Esprit and JAG.
The Pier hosts the Mud Markets every weekend. Stall holders here sell everything from clothes, jewellery and leatherwork to beachwear and local souvenirs. And live musicians will keep you entertained as you shop.
Cairns Central (Cnr McLeod and Spence Street, Cairns). A new complex located in the heart of Cairns with more than 180 specialty stores. Cairns Central is open Monday-Friday 9.00am -5.30pm; Thursday 9.00am-9.00pm; Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm and Sunday 1.00pm-6.00pm. Shops include department stores such as Myer and Target, along with a host of fashion outlets, specialty stores and banks. There is also a large foodcourt area with everything from fresh juices and pancakes to burgers and Asian food. An undercover walkway links the Centre to the Railway Station and the Kuranda train. Cairns Central also contains a six-cinema complex and a licensed restaurant.
The Esplanade (on the Esplanade, Cairns) This is the Backpacker district of Cairns and the retail outlets reflect that. There is a range of takeaway food places (kebab shops are prevalent), bars, bistros, nightclubs, backpacker accommodation, tour operators, tour booking offices and pubs. Open 8.00am - 10.00pm every day. The Esplanade Nite Markets are open every night from 6.00pm - 11.00pm and are located in the middle of the Esplanade. They are heavy on low rent souvenirs for tourists, for example stuffed cane toads, but you can also pick up a good quality bargain if you look closely.
Rusty's Bazaar (Cnr Sheridan and Spence Streets) The longest running market in Cairns, Rusty's is frequented by locals and tourists. A great selection of organic fruit and vegetables, there is also second hand gear, books, aromatherapy, local crafts and clothes. Check out the cafe, Le Cake, for delicious pastries and fresh breads. Open Friday 8.00am - 10.00pm, Saturday dawn - 2pm approx, Sunday dawn - 2pm approx.
Village Lane (Between Lake and Abbott Streets, Cairns) A pedestrian shopping mall featuring a range of specialty shops, cafes, beauty salons, designer leathergoods, jewellery shops, arts and crafts, Japanese restaurants and a karaoke bar. Open 9.00am-9.00pm daily.
Conservatory Shopping Village (12 Lake Street, Cairns) A small strip with a coffee shop, art gallery, opal shop, ladies boutique, insurance broker and restaurant. Open Monday-Saturday 9.00-5.30pm.
Orchid Plaza (79 Abbott Street, Cairns) Everything here for the most ardent souvenir-hunting tourist with shops including Australian Geographic, Bush Crafts, Cairns Crystal Ball,, Far North Frontier and a host of shops selling opals. There's also a beauty salon, ABC Centre, post office, an American Express office and a range of fashion stores. Open 9.00am-9.00pm seven days.
Stockland Earlville (Mulgrave Rd, Earlville). A suburban shopping centre with lots of department stores and supermarkets such as Big W, Franklins, Harris Scarfe, Target and Woolworths. Open Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm; Thursday 9.00am-9.00pm, Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm, Sunday 1.00pm -5.00pm.
Festival Faire (Cnr Koch and Alfred Streets, Manunda) Fairly suburban is the best way to describe this place. Shops include takeaway food stores, bookshops, a discount tobacconist, a business broker, as well as a newsagent, pharmacy, optometrist, and a branch of Cairns City Library. Open Monday - Friday 9.00am-5.30pm, Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm.
Smithfield (Cnr Captain Cook Hwy and Kennedy Hwy, Smithfield). A major shopping centre on the outskirts of Cairns and a good place to shop for groceries if you're heading north to Port Douglas or beyond. Shops include Coles, Woolworths, travel agents, a range of fashion and clothing stores, K Mart, K Mart Auto, Medicare, hairdressing salons, a hardware store, several banks, a post office, Centrelink, a medical centre, newsagent, florist, chemist and a variety of fast food outlets. Open Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm; Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm; Sunday 1.00pm-5.00pm (optional trade); Woolworths is open every day until 9.00pm and from 1.00pm-8.00pm Sunday.
Westcourt Plaza 274 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns. Comprehensive shopping complex with everything the holidaymaker could possibly need. Stores include Coles supermarket, Kmart, fashion outlets, bookshop, photo processing place, a seafood shop, post office, Medicare, Medibank, a handful of banks, a health food shop, hairdresser, newsagent, pharmacy and dental surgery. Open Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm; Saturday 8.30-5.00pm, Sunday ((speciality shops 1.00-5.00pm), Coles is open until 9.00pm every day and on Sundays from 1.00-9.00pm.
Cairns International Airport A good chance to pick up duty free goods. There's a large range of fashion, from fine to funky, a large range of Australiana souvenirs (even Vegemite!), jewellery, Aboriginal handicrafts and artefacts from Papua New Guinea.