Queensland Shopping and nightlife

Shopping in Queensland

Prime buys include opals, Aboriginal art and handicrafts, woollen clothing, sheepskin coats and wood products. Brisbane is very good for Aboriginal art with galleries showcasing a wide range of works, usually for sale. Souvenirs of Australia are easy enough to find along Queen Street Mall, and you can find boutique designers with the latest fashion on Ann Street in Fortitude Valley. Queen's Plaza is full of designer shops, while Tattersalls Arcade and Brisbane Arcade are architectural and elegant treats, full of boutique wonders and tearooms.

In Cairns, find 180 stores at Cairns Central Shopping centre, while speciality shops can be found at The Pier and Stockland Shopping Centre.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-2100 and Sat 0800-1700, although hours vary depending on the city. Shops in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Cairns are open on Sundays.

Nightlife in Queensland

Although much tourist activity is centred on the party beaches of the Gold Coast and the Barrier Reef, Brisbane offers a wide selection of entertainment. Most of the large hotels have dinner and dancing facilities, and there are several nightclubs in the city, especially in Fortitude Valley, an after-dark playground where nightlife is abound. Hard-core partyers will revel in the dancing dreamland of five-story mega-club - Ei8ht. The Flying Cock is perfect for fun-loving, cocktail lovers, with an extensive drinks menu and a huge dance floor. For slightly more mellow nights, the area boasts a wide array of wine bars and jazz clubs.

The West End of Brisbane is an excellent area for trendy bars, stylish cafés and nightclubs. New Farm has also grown in popularity - Brisbane Powerhouse (tel: +61 7 3358 8622: www.brisbanepowerhouse.org), a performance arts venue with restaurants and a bar, has a magnificent parkland location overlooking the river.