Queenstown | Where to shop in the city?
Queenstown is home to an array of fashion boutiques, retail outlets and shopping gems. This cosmopolitan New Zealand resort town has plenty to offer shopaholics and budget-conscious buyers alike. Here’s your guide to the go-to places for local clothing hauls and interesting finds.
The Remarkables Park Town Centre
Located in Frankton, within a few minutes’ walk from Queenstown Airport, the Remarkables Park Town Centre is a scenic shopping destination with plenty of outlets to browse through. It is home to the H&J Smith department store, a local institution that sells all sorts of fashion items, homeware and giftware; as well as the designer boutique dt carter, the Hannahs shoe shop, and the Wild South clothing store.
O’Connells Shopping Centre
O’Connells is your local shopping mall, right at the heart of Queenstown. Inside the multi-storey building, you’ll find the iconic sportswear label Canterbury of New Zealand, and the more budget-friendly snow/street fashion outlet Alta. The shopping centre is also home to Yaks and Yetis – one of the most popular gifts, clothing and homeware stores in the area.
Queenstown Mall
It’s not uncommon for New Zealand towns and cities to have a central location, with multiple retail outlets, locally known as “the mall”. Queenstown’s Mall Street follows this long-held tradition to a tee: walk along the paved walkways to find a pleasant showcase of designer boutiques, restaurants, souvenir shops, and international clothing labels. Brands making a stylish appearance on The Mall include yoga giant lululemon Athletica, Australian retailers like Country Road and Witchery, and the New Zealand lingerie line Bendon.
Shotover Street
Better known for its adrenaline-inducing river canyon, Shotover Street is also the best place in town to stock up on your sports gear and apparel. Hit up North Face, Outside Sports, or Torpedo 7 if that’s your thing. Other shops on your doorstep include The Walk In Wardrobe, which sells second-hand designer clothing, and the casual Queenstown native Roam Clothing.
Beach Street
Head around the corner from Shotover Street to access this shopping gem. Beach street is lined with sweet venues (like the Patagonia chocolate cafe) and cool retail outlets. Macpac and Global Culture are the two most prominent on the list. Both cater to the sports-minded shoppers, though Global Culture is also a really good place to stock up on your merino scarves and beanies.
CanShop Queenstown
Quality, second-hand clothing and homewares and all for a good cause too. Located in the Remarkables Park Shopping Centre, the volunteer-run CanShop is operated by the New Zealand Cancer Society, a non-profit organisation that provides advocacy, research and community support for cancer patients around the country. Clothes range from mainstream labels to cool New Zealand designer items. Proceeds always go back to the Queenstown community and everything stocked in store is decently-priced and in optimal condition.
The Den of Antiquity
Let’s broaden our scope for a bit. If you’ve got a keen eye for antique furniture, retro decor and timeless designer homewares, go and take a peek at The Den of Antiquity. With an impressive inventory of treasured antiques dating as far back as the 17th century, the rustic shop has a trove of items to discover and cherish. They even stock fabrics too, so you can always make your own vintage fashion if you’re feeling crafty.
