Townsville offers a great selection of boutiques, gift shops and markets to indulge in a little retail therapy. Whether you are after something special for the family back home, a little treat for yourself, or even if you just want to browse and do a little window shopping, Townsville’s city centre is a great place to wander around on the hunt for something special.
Every Sunday, Flinders Street is taken over by Cotters Markets, the largest arts and crafts market in North Queensland. 150 stalls offer an amazing selection of local arts, artisan crafts, handmade gifts and food. A great place to pick up something sweet for friends or family, and an equally lovely way to spend a Sunday morning strolling downtown. Open every Sunday from 8:30am to 1pm.
Billie and Me is a women’s fashion boutique with an eye on stylish design specially suited for the tropics, so think kaftans, floaty styles and loose, cool fabrics. They stock a great range of exclusive labels and well known brands, including some lovely jewellery pieces and accessories. Open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 2:30pm.
The Strand Emporium is a beautifully designed shop selling beautifully designed things. With a real eye on style, the cool, whitewashed interior is the perfect backdrop to a wonderful selection of batik resort fashion, beach-inspired decor and charming accessories. They even have a delightful little cafe on site, if you feel the need to refuel! Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
One of the pitfalls of visiting Queensland is, of course, the tropical heat, which can catch unsuspecting travellers by surprise. Urban Loft is the perfect solution to this, with a wonderful range of cool, floaty styles, including a gorgeous line of paisley prints. They also have a fabulous selection of jewellery, soaps, bathroom products and other accessories, making this a great shop to stop in at. Open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm, and Saturday 9:30am to 4pm.
If you are looking for a thoughtful gift for someone at home that’s a little out of the ordinary, then look no further. There’s loads to choose from here, with clothes, jewellery, bath and body products, homeware and much much more. Whoever you are buying for, you’ll find something here. Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 530pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm and Sunday 8:30am to 2pm.
Renegade Handmade started life as a market specifically for handmade goods, and has transformed into a bricks-and-mortar palace for locally made gifts and trinkets featuring some of Australia’s best independent makers. It is a fantastic place to pick up something beautiful and unique to remind you of your trip to this fascinating corner of the world. Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and weekends 9am to 3pm.