Tasmania - Shopping in the cities

Hobart shopping

Hobart has been keeping some its finest fashion boutiques a secret for too long and its time to out them! Liverpool Street in the heart of the CBD is home to some of the locals favourites such as Luxe, Yeltour (Yeltour also have stores in Sandy Bay, Launceston and Devonport), HB Wear and belle & page. Along Murray Street, also in the heart of the CBD, you will find Inside that is known for its beautiful homewares, body and bathroom products, adorable baby ware and bubbly staff. Further along is Routleys; mens fashion and more mens fashion followed by All Style across the Collins Street traffic lights on the same side of Murray Street. At 131 Macquarie Street is lola; you're transported to another place when you step inside this beautiful boutique and you'll want to try everything on. Moving out of the CBD to Salamanca Square and Salamanca Place is where you will find Maro and Ruby Messiah. Between the two boutiques there is something for every age and taste.

The CBD is bounded by Elizabeth Street Liverpool Street, Murray Street and Collins Street. The four main banks are to be found on Elizabeth or Murray Streets. The GPO is on the corner of Elizabeth and Macquarie Streets.

There are two shopping malls in Hobart, Elizabeth Street between Collins and Liverpool Streets and Centrepoint off Murray Street. Elizabeth Street Mall contains the major national chains, Target and Harris Scarfe. The Cat and Fiddle Arcade, linking Elizabeth Street to Centrepoint, houses specialty shops, a food hall and an entrance to the Myer department store.

Explore Sandy Bay for fashion boutiques. It is always a pleasure to wander around Salamanca Place browsing through the art and craft galleries and small shops specialising in toys, clothing and knitwear, and don't forget the Market on Saturdays. Salamanca Place is where you will find Lifestyle Furniture specialising in furniture made from Tasmanian Timbers. Try North Hobart for multicultural restaurants and specialist food shops.

There are two main suburban shopping centres, Northgate at Glenorchy in the Northern suburbs and Eastlands over the river on the Eastern shore. Both centres have undercover parking, supermarkets, food halls and national fashion chains such as Sussan and Katies.

The Bank Arcade

The Bank Arcade, in the heart of the CBD off Liverpool Street, is one of Hobart's best kept secrets. Built in the 1950s, it has been home to many businesses over the decades including a doll's hospital, a boxing ring, a gymnasium and a massage parlour. However, today the Arcade is a bustling, cosmopolitan showcase of local innovation and great eateries including:
Spice World: Take in the aroma of over 400 herbs and spices sourced from all over the world... you will spend a long time here browsing and discovering.
Sush: Fantastic for lunch, takeaway or eat in; incredibly popular with the locals.
Small Rhino: Showcasing the best in local and interstate fashion and design. Exclusively stocking some of Melbourne and Sydney's most exciting new fashion labels alongside a fresh lineup of Tasmanian designers. Small Rhino also hosts regular exhibitions featuring emerging talent.

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Launceston shopping

There are two shopping malls in Launceston, Brisbane Street Mall and the Quadrant Mall. Brisbane Street Mall is great for the larger department stores and mainstream shops, however if you are looking for something more unique, then the Quadrant Mall is home to some fine independent boutiques. For fabulous homewares and Australian designer labels, Homebody in Charles Street is perfect. North West of Launceston is Devonport. Steele Street in Devonport is all about interiors and fine coffee and its all under one roof at Mason & Mason. This is worth making a special trip for. While you're there don't forget to visit the Devonport Regional Art Gallery in Stewart Street displaying a diverse collection of contemporary paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics and sculpture.