Shopping in Melbourne

Good to Know

• The CBD cluster (Bourke Street Mall, Emporium, Melbourne Central, QV, GPO, and the heritage arcades) is genuinely walkable and can all be covered on foot in a single afternoon.
• Queen Victoria Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays — check the day-specific schedule before planning a visit.
• Chadstone, Highpoint, Westfield Doncaster and Eastland are Melbourne's biggest malls by store count, but none are within easy walking distance of the CBD — budget 25-35+ minutes each way by car, tram/train, or the shuttle bus some tourists use from Fed Square to Chadstone.
• South Wharf DFO and Spencer Outlet Centre are the two go-to spots for outlet/discount shopping close to the city center, useful if you're stocking up on gear before a trip.
• Melbourne's laneway culture means some of the most interesting independent boutiques are hidden in arcades (Royal Arcade, Block Arcade) rather than in obvious storefronts — worth wandering rather than just hitting the big malls.
• Melbourne has one official Apple Store, in the Bourke Street Mall in the CBD — everything else you'll find (My Mac, City Phones, Mister Click, Fixspot, etc.) is an Apple Authorised Service Provider or Independent Repair Provider, not an Apple-branded store.
• If you need a warranty or AppleCare+ claim handled, going to the official Apple Store first is usually simplest; independent Apple-authorised shops are a good option for out-of-warranty repairs and are often faster for walk-in same-day fixes.
• Domestic online shopping and delivery in Melbourne is generally very reliable — Australia Post tracking is standard and most major retailers offer next-day or 2-3 day metro delivery.
• If ordering electronics or gear from overseas retailers, check whether GST has already been applied at checkout — parcels under AUD 1,000 are usually taxed at point of sale rather than held at customs.