One of 100 great things to do in Melbourne for under $10
the White Hat guide

In Melbourne you can shop 'til you drop - and if you're just window shopping it needn't cost you a cent.

We have the usual collection of large shopping malls - characterless but reassuring if that is your preferred environment. The best known of these is Chadstone Shopping Centre in the suburb of Chadstone - in fact it is the suburb of Chadstone.

For something more quintessentially Melbourne, try shopping in the city. The main retail heart is bounded by Swanston, Collins, Elizabeth and Latrobe streets. There you will find our larger department stores, Myers, David Jones and the newer Queen Victoria Centre, Post Office complex (in the old GPO) and the recently revamped Melbourne Central.

If your pockets are a little deeper, you can try the more exclusive stores at the Paris End of Collins Street or around Crown Casino. Be warned that the occasional dress store in Collins Street is so exclusive that it is open by appointment only.

Make sure you don't miss the arcades - Melbourne shopping at its most elegant. If you only have time for one then sample the beautiful Block Arcade.

Another thing Melbourne does with style is its major suburban shopping strips. Go there to shop, hang out, sip a coffee, or to see and be seen. Chapel Street South Yarra is a great young fashions strip. Acland Street St Kilda is a compact congregation of humanity, chic and retro. Brunswick Street Fitzroy will give you a range of bookshops, new age and fading hippies (if you want up-to-date hippies you will need to go to St. Andrew's Market). Smith Street Collingwood is starting to emerge as the new down at heel bohemian quarter. High Street Armadale is for antiques. The top end of Elizabeth Street is for motorbikes. Maling Road  Camberwell is the capitol of twee. And Sydney Road Brunswick is a glorious mess with a bit of everything -just the place to pick up a Jesus with flashing halo and heart that glows in the dark.

If you are on a budget and doing some heavy duty shopping for a family, then Forges in Footscray or Dimmeys in Richmond are legendary. (They now have the same owner and stock is similar so there is probably no need to do both.)

While you are in Richmond you will probably want to attack the large number of designer labels samples and seconds outlets. These can mainly be found in Bridge Road, and to a lesser extent in Swan Street. Factory outlets are also clustered around the Northern end of Smith Street Collingwood.

If you're not shopped out at this stage, there are always the markets. The Victoria Market has acres of merchandise ranging from the usual tat through to some great value gems.

You will also find shopping suggestions from time to time in our newsletter such the girls' shopping advice (from newsletter No,144) or shopping survival skills for blokes (from newsletter No129) .

The Shopping Spree Tours distinctive Pink Bus! © Shopping Spree Tours

Shopping Tour of Melbourne

And, of course, don't forget that you can buy and sell any time on

ebay