Cairns Shopping and Districts

(Cairns, Far North Queensland - QLD, Australia)

An afternoon spent shopping in Cairns is always a very enjoyable experience, with plenty of choice in the city's Central Business District, as well as within the suburbs of Clifton Beach, Mount Sheridan, Redlynch and Smithfield. A number of shopping centres and complexes are based within the city centre, the biggest and best of which is the award-winning Cairns Central Shopping Centre and Food Court. Opened in 1997 and built directly above the railway station, this popular indoor mall resides on Spence Street, near to both Florence Street and Sheridan Street.

Each year, the ten million+ people visiting the Cairns Central mall are able to explore just under 200 individual stores, which are spread over two floors and accompanied by some 2,700 car parking spaces. Flagship department stores here include both Myer and Target, while Bi-lo and Coles supermarkets are on hand, along with a six-screen cinema complex.

Where to Shop

Apart from the Cairns Central, other notable shopping centres include the Raintrees, the Smithfield, the Stockland and the Westcourt Plaza, each of which offer their own array of attributes. Also of note is the waterfront Pier at the Marina, where fashion labels include big names such as Dolce Gabbana, Gucci and Prada. Each Saturday, the Pier plays host to Farmgate, a local farmers market which is held in the atrium, between 07:30 and 14:00.

For shopping with a difference, the Night Markets on the Cairns Esplanade have become an attraction in their own right, opening every night from 17:00 until late, comprising over 70 different outlets, selling everything from homewares, opals and pearls, to crocodile skins and souvenirs. However, if you are looking for a truly authentic boomerang or didgeridoo at the Cairns Night Markets, shop carefully, since not all are actually made within Australia. A more reliable bet would be the Tjapukai Cultural Park in the suburb of Caravonica.