Where to shop in the Whitsundays - your guide to what’s hot and what’s not

The Whitsundays is not a place where you’re going to shop till you drop, most visitors come here to relax or have fun outdoors; shopping is a necessity not an all-day event. What Whitsundays shopping is all about is unique souvenirs, typical Aussie clothing and essentials that you cannot be without. 

In the Whitsundays there are no huge malls open from dawn to dusk, there are no skyscrapers and lines of shops full of gems. But what it does have are smaller, bespoke boutiques with personal service, and shops where you can get everything you need for any occasion. Any occasion means every occasion, from something to help relieve sunburn to a suit for a beach wedding and everything in between.

 

Airlie Beach High Street

 

If the hub of the Whitsundays is Airlie Beach, then the hub of the hub is Airlie Beach High Street. Brand spanking new, it’s just been unveiled after a million dollar facelift and the shops, restaurants and tour desks are really showing off their sparkling new location. The high street is where you’ll find everything from pharmacies and galleries to tour operators and hairdressers, as well as plenty of souvenir shops and boutiques to spend your money.

 

Airlie Beach High Street tips

 

You can’t come to the Land of Oz without buying some board shorts or a bikini, and the place to do that is the Beach Shack. Lotus specialise in beachwear of a different kind, this is where you can get great outfits for that beach wedding, special occasion, or a night on the town. Finally, if you’re after a postcard to send home, the place to visit is Shane Batham’s “Into the Blue” gallery. It’s not just postcards; Shane also sells incredible images of the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef, pictures taken by the man himself.

 

Shute Harbour Road

 

Ten kilometres east of Airlie Beach is Shute Harbour, and the road that connects the two is called, funnily enough, Shute Harbour Road. The road doesn’t end in Airlie Beach, but continues on into Cannonvale and beyond, so that gives a lot of scope for shopping. Cannonvale is where you will find one of the larger shopping malls, the Whitsunday Shopping Centre with around 50 different retail stores.

 

Shute Harbour Road shopping tips

 

To get from one end of Shute Harbour Road to the other you’ll need some form of transport that could be a hire car or bus. But if you prefer to travel on foot, one of the small and friendly boutiques on Shute Harbour Road, just off Airlie Beach High Street, is Shoe Biz. Shoe Biz is a family run business where you can buy Teva’s for your trek, Sketchers for your skateboard or Crocs for your cruise.

 

Proserpine shopping

 

Proserpine, a 20 minute drive from Airlie Beach, is increasingly becoming known for its boutique shopping. It’s growing collection of charming stores are where you can find jewelry and clothing along with thoughtful customer service. If you try shopping in Prosperine, you’ll find it has the whole package; there are also plenty of places serving good food and cold drinks to help you cool down after a shopping spree.

 

Proserpine shopping tips

 

Without a doubt, Proserpine is where you’ll find some unique gifts. In fact, they can be extremely personal because at color Me Crazy, you can create them yourself. color Me Crazy is a warren of beautiful beads and stunning stones, all of which can be combined into elegant necklaces or chunky bracelets. For visitors who are not too ‘gifted’ in the design department, there are some beautiful creations ready made to take away.

 

Other Whitsunday shopping tips

 

If you’re looking for something different in the way of shopping you can always try the weekly Saturday market held on the foreshore back in Airlie Beach. Live entertainment, great coffee, food and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, the market is full of locals, visitors and artists, happy and mingling in the sunshine.