Australia has a number of departmental stores, gift shops, fashion boutiques and specialty stores. The famous Australian Opals and also other precious and semi-precious are considered as good buy from Australia. One should look for good Aborigine art and artifacts, stone and woodcarvings, bark paintings, shields and boomerangs, indigenous musical instruments, grass mats and bags, ceramics and screen printed T-shirts that are produced by Aborigine co-operatives and sold at craft outlets.

Trading Hours

Normally the departmental stores open from 0900hrs to 1730hrs from Monday to Friday and 0900hrs to 1700hrs on Saturday. There is late night shopping, till 2100hrs, once a week generally on Thursday or Friday. 

Shopping Outlets

The shops associated with galleries, museums and other tourist attractions are stocked with an interesting collection of souvenirs. You can pick up typical articles like a boomerang a cuddly koala (toy off course) or indulge yourself with a fiery Opal, some Broome pearls and the pink Argyle Diamonds. For souvenir stamps there are philatelic desks at all the main post offices. Duty-free shops are located at the international airports and in the city centres as well.

Markets 

Every weekend the major Australian cities have a special markets offering a range of top quality products at very affordable prices. Most of these are open-air and have a festive air about them. These markets have a very fine array of  arts, crafts, clothing and other quality produce. They offer finely made arts, crafts and clothing, or top quality produce, and a lively festival air. 

Some of the famous Pacific Fair in Surfer's Paradise, Gold Coast; The Rocks in Sydney; Paddington Market, Sydney; Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne; Riverside in Brisbane; Central Market, Adelaide; Fremantel Markets, Perth; Mindil Sunset Market, Darwin; Salamanca in Hobart.