Shopping

A shopping expedition in Cairns may not be on a par with shopping in some of Australia's larger cities, but Cairns has plenty of worthy stores, markets and malls that make for a good day out on the spend. A great souvenir from Cairns is Opal and pearl jewellery as well as the quintessential Australian souvenirs, didgeridoos and boomerangs.

Head to the heart of the city's business district to Abbott Street to indulge in some duty free shopping, while jewellery stores, retail outlets and supermarkets are peppered along the city's roads and street corners. Lake Street is the best place to buy souvenirs where loads of gift and curios shops adorn the sidewalk and handcrafted pieces such as boomerangs can be found. And if it's straight, it's probably a stick.

Cairns Central Shopping Centre on Shields Street is the biggest shopping centre is the largest in the city and contains two department stores, two supermarkets and a six cinema complex as well as more than 180 other stores and has been named among Queensland's top shopping centres.

Markets such as Pier Marketplace, which is open seven days a week, is a must even if only to stroll and browse through the many stores selling everything from clothing, shoes and leather goods to food, souvenirs and music.

Head to the night market on the Esplanade for a night of bargain hunting and bric-a-bric, and even take in a spot of dinner at the food court. Rusty's market between Grafton and Sheridan Streets which is open from Friday to Sunday is a good place to pick up locally grown produce and exotic fruit and vegetables.