Shopping

Brisbane's best shopping centers 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; www.wgarden.com.au), 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 St. Mall (tel. 07/3221 5977), abounds with the boutiques of local Queensland designers. Just down the mall from it is the Broadway on the Mall arcade (tel. 07/3229 5233; www.broadwayonthemall.com.au), 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 (tel. 07/3007 2300; www.macarthurcentral.com), right next door to the GPO on 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.

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; www.fireworksgallery.com.au), 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 in your range. The staff will get your new acquisition shipped home for you. Open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm, or by appointment.

Shopping Hours

Brisbane shops are open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 6pm, Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 5:30pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm. On Friday evening in the city, the Queen Street Mall is abuzz with cinema-goers and revelers; the late (until 9pm) shopping night in Paddington is Thursday.

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 for sale at Brisbane's only alternative market, Valley Markets, Brunswick Street and Chinatown malls, Fortitude Valley (tel. 07/3854 0860). Hang around in one of the many coffee shops and listen to live music. It's open Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm.

Friday night is a fun time to visit the South Bank Lifestyle Markets, Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank Parklands, when fairy lights illuminate the buzzing outdoor market. The market is open Friday from 5 to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Brisbane folk like trawling the Riverside Markets at the Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St., and the adjacent Eagle Street Pier Art & Craft Markets for housewares, colorful pottery, wooden blanket chests, handmade toys, painted flowerpots, and other stylish wares. They both open on Sunday from around 8am to 3pm.

For an authentic taste of Queensland's best produce, the Farmers Markets (tel. 0439/999 009; www.janpower.com) operate on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, from 7am to noon, in the grounds of the Brisbane Powerhouse, Lamington Street, New Farm. Here you'll find much to tempt your palate, brought into the city by farmers from around the southeast part of the state. There are about 100 stalls, selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to homemade chutneys, quail, fresh seafood, free-range eggs, and pâtés. Foodies will be in heaven.