Shopping

You'll find plenty of places to keep your credit cards in action in Sydney. Most shops of interest to the visitor are in The Rocks and along George and Pitt streets (including the shops below the Sydney Tower and along Pitt Street Mall). Other precincts worth checking out are Mosman, on the North Shore; Double Bay, in the eastern suburbs, for boutique shopping; Chatswood, for its shopping centers; the Sydney Fishmarket, for the sake of it; and various weekend markets.

Don't miss the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), on the corner of Market and George streets. This Victorian shopping arcade is one of the prettiest in the world and has some 200 boutiques -- mostly men's and women's fashion -- on four levels. The arcade is open 24 hours, but the shops do business Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm (Thurs to 9pm) and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Several other arcades in the city center also have potential, including the Sydney Central Plaza, beside the Myer department store on Pitt Street Mall, and the Skygarden Arcade, which runs from Pitt Street Mall to Castlereagh Street. The Strand Arcade (btw. Pitt St. Mall and George St.) was built in 1892 and is interesting for its architecture and small boutiques, food stores, and cafes, and the Downtown Duty Free store on the basement level.

On Pitt Street Mall you'll find record shops, including HMV, a branch of the Body Shop, and boutiques such as Just Jeans, Jeans West, Katies, and Esprit.

Oxford Street runs from the city to Bondi Junction through Paddington and Darlinghurst and is home to countless clothing stores for the style conscious. You could easily spend anywhere from 2 hours to an entire day making your way from one end to the other. Detour down William Street, once you get to Paddington, to visit the headquarters of celebrated international Australian designer Collette Dinnigan. On the same street are the trendy boutiques Belinda and Corner Store (cutting-edge designs), and Pelle and Di Nuovo (luxury recycled goods).

Tip: American Express cards seem to be unpopular with many shop owners.

Shopping Hours -- Regular shopping hours are generally Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 or 9am to 6pm, Thursday from 8:30 or 9am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 5 or 5:30pm, and Sunday from 10 or 10:30am to 5pm. Exceptions are noted in the store listings.