"Shopping" has always been an essential part of many tourists' travel itineraries. The Queen Street Mall is a must-visit when you come to Brisbane. It attracts over 26 million visitors every year and houses over 700 shopping centers, exclusive stores, fashion boutiques, duty-free shops, souvenir shops, bookstores, restaurants, cafes, food stores, bars, and entertainment venues. It even includes well-known Australian department stores such as Myer, David Jones, QueensPlaza, and Wintergarden. Whether you're shopping for yourself or buying gifts, Queen Street will surely satisfy you!
1. Where is Queen Street Mall?
The Queen Street Mall is located in the heart of Brisbane, where the crowd is most dense and traffic busiest. It is centered on Queen Street and extends into a large shopping district.
The blue lines in the image below represent "vehicle-free roads," which are the perfect areas for unlimited shopping. This is the central area of the whole business circle, where most people gather.
Because of Queen Street's convenient location, it would be ideal to stay in or near this area when visiting Brisbane's city center. More details can be found in "Recommended Accommodations in Brisbane."
2. Queen Street Shopping Centres & Attractions
Let me first introduce the "3 major shopping centres" located in Queen Street Mall: Myer, David Jones, and Wintergarden.
1. Myer
This is one of the larger-scale department stores within the Queen Street Mall, including various clothing stores, dining options, daily necessities, and even supermarkets and cinemas. It is also a well-known chain company in Australia. If you're looking to discover hidden gems, this is the place to be!
◎Address: 91 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
◎Operating Hours: 09:00 – 17:30 (subject to change)
◎Transportation: Take the train to "Central" station and walk for about 8 minutes, or take the bus to "Queen Street" station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Parking: Click here for parking fees
◎Website: Myer Centre
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(Myer has six floors, categorized into men's, women's, children's, and home goods. It has multiple entrances/exits to the outdoor streets and several escalators, making it very convenient.)
(Myer's architectural design is semi-open, allowing sunlight to stream into certain areas. The clear layout on either side makes it bright and pleasant to shop around.)
(Myer's top floor even has a cinema, which is a popular spot for locals during their breaks.)
2. Wintergarden
This department store is relatively smaller in this area, but it hides many delicious foods. It also houses quite a few clothing, jewelry shops, and some entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys and KTVs.
◎Address: 171-209 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
◎Operating Hours: 09:00 – 17:30 (subject to change)
◎Transportation: Take the train to "Central" station and walk for about 5 minutes, or take the bus to "Queen Street" station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Parking: Click here for charges (Tip: Park at the nearby "King George Square" to save on parking fees.)
◎Website: Wintergarden
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(Wintergarden differs slightly from other department stores as it is smaller and mainly focuses on women's products.)
3. David Jones
David Jones is a household name in Australia. This local company's standout feature is its high level of comprehensive functionality among the three department stores. Apart from the food, clothing, and supermarkets mentioned above, it also includes more upscale jewelry and boutique sections. Along with the major boutiques on Edward Street, it forms a complete route. If you're looking for mid-to-high-end goods, this is the place to go!
◎Address: QueensPlaza, 210 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
◎Operating Hours: 09:30 – 19:00 (subject to change)
◎Transportation: Take the train to "Central" station and walk for about 5 minutes, or take the bus to "Queen Street" station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Parking: Click here for charges (Tip: Park at the nearby "King George Square" to save on parking fees.)
◎Website: David Jones
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(David Jones is the most spacious among the three shopping centres, and each aisle is wide. It's stress-free shopping, mainly featuring mid-to-high-end goods.)
4. Tourist Information Centre
This has got to be the most flamboyant tourist information center I've ever seen!
Situated near the central intersection of Queen Street, there's a "Tourist Information Centre" in Brisbane. Apart from offering plenty of travel information about Queensland and Australia, the center itself has a very unique design. If you're strolling around here, consider treating it as a sightseeing spot and give it a visit!
◎Address: Queen Street Mall, 167 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
◎Operating Hours: 09:00 – 17:30 (adjusted according to the date, closed on Christmas and ANZAC Day)
◎Transportation: Take the train to "Central" station and walk for about 5 minutes, or take the bus to "Queen Street" station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Parking: None available. Park at "King George Square."
◎Website: Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(If you didn't know it was a tourist center, you'd think it's a tourist attraction itself!)
(There are about five counters inside where you can ask for travel information and pick up free travel brochures.)
5. Other Shopping Areas
Now, let's explore the special features within the main crossroads of the Queen Street shopping district!
(The main entrance of Queen Street displays three big words - peace, love, and joy. And right opposite this entrance, you'll find the famous "Brisbane City Hall.")
(I find the design of Queen Street rather beautiful. You'll see many public art installations, plenty of seats for resting (a shopping must-have), and convenient transportation options with a bus station just underneath.)
(Besides clothing stores on both sides, Queen Street also has a number of bars, restaurants, newsstands, juice shops, and so on.)
(The central intersection of Queen Street is the busiest area, and for some reason, it's filled with a cute vibe!)
(There's a performance stage on Queen Street where you'll often see various events happening.)
(The sides of the roads are designed with sunshade, so even on hot days, you won't have to worry about staying outdoors for too long.)
(You'll find many international chain stores selling affordable clothes, like Uniqlo and H&M, who have branches here.)
(When I first came here, I noticed there were public telephones everywhere. While I didn't see many people using them, they're probably designed for the convenience of both local and international tourists.)
(Although the main shopping area is cross-shaped, many gourmet restaurants are hidden in the smaller side streets. If you're looking for delicious food, just take a stroll down these side roads!)
(All major Australian telecom companies have branches on Queen Street. If you have any internet problems during your visit, you can get it solved here. For more information about Australian mobile internet, you can refer to "The 4 Major Telecoms Guide.")
(One of the most common problems with shopping is running out of money! Therefore, there are many "Currency Exchange" locations on Queen Street where tourists can exchange cash. However, the exchange rates are usually not as good, and since most shops accept card payments, it's not recommended to do a lot of AUD exchanges here.)
(Finally, on both sides of Edward Street (the boutique street), you can see many luxury boutiques lined up. The famous "Apple Flagship Store" that many tourists visit is also on this street.)
After familiarizing yourself with the "Queen Street Mall," the next attractions I want to introduce are in the vicinity of this shopping district, including "King George Square," "South Bank Parkland," "ANZAC Square," and the "Cultural Centre." Feel free to click through to read more about these spots! Additionally, there are 2 smaller points of interest nearby: the "Brisbane Casino" and the "Brisbane Square Library," which I'll introduce to you right here in this article!
Brisbane Casino (Treasury Brisbane)
Some tourists love to test their luck at a casino when traveling abroad. Treasury Brisbane is the only casino in the city. Although it may not be as famous as Sydney's "The Star Casino," the betting threshold is comparatively lower, making it a favorite relaxation spot for locals as well!
◎Address: 159 William Street, Brisbane QLD, Australia 4000
◎Transportation: A 10-minute walk from 'Central' train station, or take a bus to 'Queen Street' station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Website: Casino Brisbane
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(Photography is not allowed inside the casino, so all I can show you is the exterior. However, it's worth noting that the casino looks quite stunning at night with all the lights!)
Brisbane Square Library
The Brisbane City Library is located right next to Queen Street. Although it's not as large as the "State Library of Queensland," it's free for everyone, including tourists. If you're tired after a day of shopping, you can rest here. The library also offers free Wi-Fi, making it an excellent place to unwind!
◎Address: Brisbane Square, 266 George St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
◎Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 (Subject to change, closed on Christmas and ANZAC Day)
◎Transportation: A 10-minute walk from 'Central' train station, or take a bus to 'Queen Street' station. (Find Car Hire Deals | Car Rental in Australia)
◎Website: Brisbane Libraries
◎Nearby Accommodations: Booking︱Agoda︱Hotels︱Expedia (Compare & Save)
(Between the library and the casino, there's a square where various market events are regularly held. Every Wednesday, there's a "Brisbane City Markets (fruit and vegetable market)" - a great opportunity for tourists visiting on this day to buy a lot of affordable produce!)
This concludes our overview of the Queen Street Mall and its surrounding attractions. This area is a must-visit for every tourist coming to Brisbane, and I highly recommend it. Enjoy your visit!