Shopping in the North
The style is relaxed and entertaining. Charming arcades, malls and markets of Tropical North Queensland stock not only the best local wares, but also the best imported goods and name brands from all over the world. The Far North itself is well known for its fine art works, quality opals, pink diamonds, South Sea pearls and handcrafted jewellery.
With such friendly service and without the parking problems of the big cities, the scene is set for a most delightfully day.
Many of the smaller towns are home to quality art and craft galleries showcasing talents of our local artists; and weekend markets are a popular activity for primary producers to sell their fresh produce and secondary producers to sell their tasty delights.
Here in 'The North', Townsville has the largest regular market with Cotters Market held each Sunday in Flinders Street Mall; while in Cairns The Pier hosts a Farmgate Market each Saturday morning from 7.30am with local produce being the drawcard. Each evening from 4.30pm the Cairns Night Markets spring to life on the Esplanade with everything from didgeridoos and akubra hats to locally grown coffee, honey and a multicultural food hall.
If you really want to experience the Far North Queensland local's lifestyle, Rusty's Market located in the centre of Cairns on Grafton Street, has been a fixture on the Cairns landscape for many years, where locals come on Fridays and Saturdays to buy their fresh fruit and vegetables from the Tablelands, coffee, breads, flowers, cookies, as well as arts and crafts.
Up above the coast, Kuranda's main street is a plethora of the unexpected with anything from hand-painted silk scarves to the finest artwork, opal jewellery and fashions. The Kuranda Heritage Markets and the Original Kuranda Rainforest Markets are very popular.
On the Tablelands, Yungaburra Markets is a popular market, on the 4th Saturday of each month, with over 300 regular stallholders while the Port Douglas markets are open every Sunday beside Dickson Inlet with a large choice of fresh local produce, gifts, arts and crafts.
Port Douglas features unique boutiques and shops along the full length of Macrossan Street as well as the wonderfully diverse and upmarket Meridien Marina Mirage Shopping Centre.
What you probably do not expect to find at Marina Mirage, situated on Dickson Inlet in 'Port', is Masters' Persian Carpet Gallery where the finest carpets, selected from the best artists and weavers of the world are displayed. Each masterpiece is unique and certified to be authentic, from the remarkably affordable to the extremely indulgent. Master's Persian Carpet Gallery is one of the many retailers in the Far North who offer delivery service worldwide for your purchases, most of which are tax free to overseas visitors.
Back down the coast closer to Cairns, Palm Cove on Cairns' northern beaches is blossoming as a very quaint shopping village with boutiques, shops and galleries for a delightful afternoon of browsing.But Australia, and in particular Far North Queensland, reveals many treasures, and none are so special as Australia's National Gem, the opal; and not far behind it, the much loved Argyle pink diamonds and South Sea pearls. Retailers in Cairns, Port Douglas and Kuranda have taken these precious stones and pearls, along with the finest gold and silver, to create beautiful masterpieces. Surely the best souvenir of a holiday in North Queensland is to take home a little piece of this fine land!
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