Northern Territory For Everyone: Darwin Shopping

Darwin Shopping

Darwin city shopping hours are Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm with late night shopping on Friday to 9pm. Most shops are open all day Saturday (9am-4pm) and Sunday 10am-4pm.

1. Mindil Beach Sunset Markets: shopping in Darwin is fun, with some of the best shopping found in the outdoor markets. On the top of list, the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets run from April until October on Thursday and Sunday nights. You’ll find more than 60 food stalls from more than 30 different countries as well as 200 art and craft stalls.

2. Parap Village Market: the Saturday morning market selling an array of local produce, local arts and crafts, delicious cuisine from around the world and entertainment.

3. Nightcliff Markets: on Sunday mornings, head to these markets in Nightcliff Shopping Centre. Stalls display a wide variety of original crafts such as copper sculptures, hemp designer clothing, fairy dresses and traditional Asian crafts. Browse through the many stalls specialising in recycled products like hardware, clothing, furniture, gardening, compact discs, books and collectables.

4. Rapid Creek Market: another popular Sunday market, this is Darwin’s oldest market located 20 minutes from Darwin city in the Rapid Creek Business Village. Browse the stalls for fresh organic produce, vegetables, Asian fruits, herbs and spices, exotic plants, flowers and seafood. You’ll also find a range of local handmade crafts.

5. City Centre: in the city centre, The Mall and surrounding streets offer more than 200 specialty shops fashion, handbags, footwear, hats, music, books, sportswear.

6. Stroll through an arcade: there are 20 arcades in Darwin City along the Mall you’ll find Galleria , Centrepoint , Anthony Plaza or Darwin Plaza . Check out Air Raid Arcade with its wall display of historic photographs and specialty shops or The Vic Arcade , open to the sky and with a gnarled old bougainvillea still blooming. The Star Village , off the Mall, still has traces of its days as an open-air cinema.

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7. Casuarina Square: the largest shopping complex in Darwin located in the northern suburbs, offering a wide range of specialty stores, a food court and a seven-screen cinema complex.

8. Pearls, pearls, pearls: if you’re looking for pearls, Pearl Galleria has a huge range of pearls and other fine products priced from $20 right up to $20,000 if you’re ready (and willing) to splurge. Shop 21, The Galleria, Darwin City Mall. You’ll also find plenty of pearls at the Australian Pearling Exhibition in The Wharf Precinct and at Paspaley in The Mall.

9. Buy a unique Top End souvenir: head out to the Barra Shack in Humpty Doo, around 25 minutes drive from the city, and check out the range of belts, bags, book covers, diary covers and purses, all made from the skins of barramundi, cow, crocodile and kangaroo on the premises.

10. Aboriginal art: Darwin’s a great place to buy quality Aboriginal art , but you’ll need to avoid the mass-produced tourist tat and head for one of the reputable galleries that specialises in quality art. Best bets include the Mason Gallery which specialises in central Australian and western desert artists (21 Cavenagh St); Mbantua Gallery for Utopia art (93 Mitchell St); Outstation for work from emerging artists across the Territory (2 Parap Place); Maningrida Arts and Culture (32 Mitchell St) and any of the art centres in the Tiwi Islands.