How to Enjoy a Shopping Tour in Melbourne

amongst its biggest draws is the opportunity to shop till you drop! Be it for some casual retail therapy, a complete wardrobe makeover or to acquire the latest designer fashion, the city offers plenty of choices. And it’s not just malls either, with historic markets and arcades providing great places to shop, soak up some local culture and enjoy foodie discoveries too.

Plan Your Shopping Spree

For you to get the most out of shopping in Melbourne, it is important to plan how you are going to go about it. This includes finding out what places are best to shop at, where particular brand shops are located and how you are going to get around. Just before you arrive, check to see if there are any flash or seasonal sales too.

Staying in the CBD is a good idea since you can easily access many of the main retail hubs; Collins Street hotels are worth considering in this regard. Of course, despite all the planning, be flexible to wander off the beaten track for you can make all kinds of discoveries along side streets. You also have the option of joining a shopping tour which will take you to retail hotspots with a host who knows the ins and outs of what the city has to offer.

Visit the Queen Victoria Market

A great place to begin would be the Queen Victoria Market, a shopping destination in the Central Business District (CBD) that is popular amongst locals too. Dating back to the 19th century it is in fact, the southern hemisphere’s largest open-air market and features more than 600 businesses offering an eclectic range of produce and products.

Fresh veggies and fruits, poultry, seafood, meats, bread, delicatessens and coffee are sold here along with clothing, souvenirs, jewellery, handicrafts, leather goods, toys and more. Other than Monday and Wednesday, the market is open every day with Sundays being particularly lively since live music is on offer too.

Head to the Bourke Street Mall

Only accessible to pedestrians and trams, Bourke Street Mall is another shopping hub that draws locals and foreign tourists alike. Located in the CBD, around a 10-minute walk from properties like Oaks Melbourne on Collins Hotel, it is an ideal place to explore be it major department stores or arcades.

Amongst the variety of retail options here are the massive stores of David Jones and Myer which offer plenty of fashion along with lots of eateries too. Also well-known is Melbourne's GPO which is a charming arcade where you will find brands like H&M.

Find More CBD Shopping Hubs

For shopaholics, one of the best things to do in Melbourne is to visit the many other shopping hotspots in the CBD. Housed within a heritage-listed building, The Block Arcade offers a distinctive backdrop to shop and is where one will find brands like Australian by Design and Crabtree & Evelyn.

Featuring more than 120 stores including Woolworths, Big W and Officeworks, the Queen Victoria Village or “QV” precinct is also worth adding to your itinerary. Fashionistas will love a visit to Emporium Melbourne where designer labels such as Michael Kors, Armani Exchange, Kate Spade and Calvin Klein can be found.

Explore the Chapel Street Precinct

Not to be missed is the chance to explore the Chapel Street Precinct which encompasses seven neighbourhoods each offering distinctive shopping escapades. South Yarra is one of the most popular spots from which to access Chapel Street especially for those looking for fashion since the locale has a variety of designer boutiques.

Those in search of vintage items can head to the Windsor Quarter which has a lively foodie scene too; Prahran with its Chapel Street Bazaar, Yarra Lane which features trendy boutiques and Commercial Road home to the Prahran Market are worth visits too.