Best Shopping Spots in Perth, Western Australia
Guide to the top Streets, Malls & Factory Outlets for Perth Shopping
Nov 2, 2009
The world's most remote capital city, Perth in the state of Western Australia (WA) can leave visitors wondering where everyone is. Perth's low-key image however is rather misleading, at least in terms of its shopping scene. Surprisingly vibrant, it boasts everything from mainstream shopping malls and outlet stores to top designer stores, both local and international. The city's many shopping precincts are undoubtedly where all the hustle and bustle lie. Below, we explore the top shopping spots in the Western Australian capital.
Hit the Best Shopping Streets in the City Centre
Boasting shops aplenty, the CBD is home to Perth's epicentre of shopping. The city's two main shopping malls, Hay St and Murray St malls, are pedestrianised street area's dedicated to highstreet fashion, both bustling with top Australian stores such as Portmans, Sportsgirl, Cue and Just Jeans alongside the country's two main department stores, Myer and David Jones. Linked by a number of old-school arcades offering wondrous unique purchases from jewellery to souvenirs, these two 'malls' run parallel to one another, making exploring Perth's best CBD fashion spots a highly manageable feat.
Interspersed between the shops are a smattering of cool cafes, perfect for a coffee or lunch break between stores.
For shoppers of a more sophisticated nature, King Street, just off central Murray St, is renowned as Perth's style and luxury hub. Lined with top international fashion labels such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co., this street is the location of most WA fashion festivals and is undoubtedly the place to be for those with expensive tastes.
Cruise Around 'Harbourtown' Factory Outlet Shopping Mall for Top Brands at Discount Prices
A fave haunt of bargain hunters in Perth, 'Harbourtown' shopping mall is the city's only dedicated factory outlet shopping centre. With over 100 brand outlet stores selling top quality labels at discount prices, 'Harbourtown' is the newest and best thing to happen to Perth's shopping scene, attracting hundreds of shoppers a day. Top stores on offer range from popular Australian brands (e.g. Billabong, Cue, Just Jeans) to top international stores (e.g. Esprit, Adidas, Nike.) Bargains are especially easy to find for out-of-towners – all overseas visitors to the mall are entitles to a free Tourism Club Card, offering even more savings. Centrally located in West Perth, the mall is accessible by catching the free 'Yellow Cat' bus up Wellington Street and alighting at the 'Harbourtown' stop.
Saunter Around Sophisticated Subiaco for Top Fashion Labels
Perth's suburbs are not just home to mainstream shopping but also boast quite a few designer boutiques worth investigating. One of the trendiest of Perth's inner suburbs, Subiaco is aptly synonymous with designer boutiques, trendy bookshops and unique furniture buys. Rokeby Rd, Hay St and Subi Centro are crammed with designer stuff, while the Colonnade Shopping Centreplex is home to this upmarket suburbs international labels, from Versace to Mr Klein himself.
Another draw for Subiaco shoppers is the Station St market. Running every Sun, Mon, Fri & Sat until 21 December '09, the market is a hugely popular Subiaco attraction. Featuring 100-odd stalls selling handcrafted jewellery and pottery, candles and fashion pieces, the market is a must for visitors in the city. Catch the Fremantle-bound train and alight at the Subiaco stop.
Frolic Around the Unique Shops of Relaxing Port, Fremantle
Just 19km from cool and quiet Perth, Fremantle is miles away in terms of character. Creative and relaxed, this harbourtown is home to WA's myriad writers and artists, making the port a nice spot to soak up a bit of atmosphere. But 'Freo' has more to offer than atmosphere alone. Amid the many cafes and restaurants lie a smattering of one-off boutique shops, attracting unsuspecting tourists with a love of fashion. Largely clustered along Market St, the boutiques are great places to find a one-off fashion piece and the perpetual 'Sunday stroller' vibe in the 'Freo' air demands visitors meander in and out of each. There are also a few mainstream Australian stores, like Just Jeans and Jay Jays in town.
For locally handmade goods, the Fremantle Markets on the South Terrace 'cappuccino' strip date back to 1897 and are a great spot for one-off shopping and entertainment. Packed with stalls offering everything from exquisite handmade art, crafts and jewellery to kitsch Australiana souvenirs as well as a mouth-wateringly good fresh produce/baked goods area, the market is simply to die for. For opening hours, see the website.
 |
