Let's be honest. You love shopping just as much as a holiday! For most of us (looking at you, ladies) the thought of going away without a little retail therapy is almost missing the point. Besides… who can leave without a keepsake or two for the memory box (read: wardrobe, treasure chest, mantlepiece) back home?
Truth is, you’ll need to make plenty of space in your car boot if you’re heading our way, with towns and villages filled with unique, hard-to-get and high-quality fashion, trinkets and treasures from coast to country. Here’s our guide on where to flex that credit card and snag yourself something special!
Mount Gambier.
Kicking off your shopping spree in our cosmopolitan capital of Mount Gambier you’ll find plenty of spots to splash some cash, and there’s no better place to start than Lima & Co. - whose name loosely translates to ‘Goddess of the threshold’ in Latin. With a mantra of ‘Love your life’, there’ll be no holding back once you step inside this stunner, with the bouquet of fresh flowers gently drifting through a menagerie of clothing, home decor, gifts and all sorts of accessories.
At Green Door Décor, it’s a home decorator’s dream with the walls filled with fun, quirky pieces from talented artists, illustrators and graphic designers from all across Australia, and it’s doesn’t end there… You’ll also find a brilliant range of cards, textiles, candles, homewares, stationery, home décor, jewellery and more, with kids particularly well catered to.
At Canopy Interiors, contemporary fashion advice and stellar customer service are just two hallmarks of one of the Mount’s favourite local boutiques. With a unique range of anything from apparel (kids, babies, adults) to bath and body products, books and games, you’ll also find eye-catching home decorations, jewellery and even a special pet selection for your four-legged friend.
Over at Birdie Blue, satisfying your inner fashionista is all too easy with a huge range of clothing, from women’s and men’s to kids and even footwear. If you’re looking for that unique skirt or jacket that nobody else can get their hands on, you’ll likely find it here - and with a super friendly team that’s willing to go the extra mile you can mix and match with purses, perfumes and all other sorts of gems. Oh, and if you’re still keen on stocking up that wardrobe, it’s well worth throwing an extra couple of hangers in the suitcase for your visit to Harper & Co. Boutique!
Robe.
If you’ve been to Robe, you’ll already know this place effortlessly combines city chic with coastal cool, making loading up your car a genuine rite-of-passage. Put simply, this place is a shopper’s paradise - and if you find yourself buying an empty bag or two to make room, well… you’re certainly not the first!
First things first, you’ll want to make a bee-line straight to Holiday Robe, concept store for acclaimed artistic entrepreneurs, Holiday Trading & Co. Collective. With a bohemian vibe that oozes down-to-earth décor and gloriously grounded clothing this place captures the essence of travelling like nowhere else. Free spirits will fall in love with their stunning stable of resort wear and inhouse brands and labels including Brave + True, The Shanty Corporation, Talisman, Daisy Says and Homelove. Think: one-of-a-kind dresses and tops, flowing kaftans, soft-washed colours and natural fibres, all designed locally between Robe and Adelaide.
At Me and Miss Jones, owner Lissa sources her eye-catching range of homewares from both home and abroad. Whether it’s jewellery, bags, cushions, linen or maybe just that one-off piece you’ve been missing all your life, she’ll have you well and truly covered with a skilled eye and an innate sense of style that extends to her own interior design business.
Just a few paces further along Victoria Street, Loaves & Fishes is a local institution, with a great street presence and a stunning range of clothing, accessories, home decor and baby gear sourced locally and abroad. With an eye for beautiful, free-flowing designs and a focus on daily living, this is also a prime spot to load up on those ‘uniquely Robe’ gifts and holiday mementos while you’re in town. Looking for an ‘Obelisk Doortstop’? This is the place to find it.
Of course, for something truly one-of-a-kind, it’s hard to go past Transmutation, where all things go full circle - for the benefit of our planet. This small plastic recycling workshop also doubles as a retail outlet, channeling its owners’ passion for the environment into direct action and turning waste plastic (think: bread tags, truck tarps, fishing nets etc.) into anything from bowls and doorknobs to yoga pants, hats, boots and coasters – all using machines derived from scrap materials. With their infectious enthusiasm and creative nous, owners Scott and Narelle are true champions of the circular economy and happy for a chat as you fossick through their innovative selection of bags, jewellery, water bottles and everything in between. They’re also a charging point for your Electric Vehicle, so if you ever needed a little more incentive to shop up while you ‘top up’, then look no further.
Naturally, memories last forever and if you’re looking for a little retrospective, then all paths lead straight to Memory Lane Antiques and Collectibles. A virtual treasure trove of antique, vintage, retro and collectible pieces from near and far, this place also celebrates old-school books and music, with a great selection of vinyl and CDs to fill out your collection. Perk your ears up on the main street and you’ll hear them playing old rock in the morning and cool jazz and soul in the afternoon.
As the unofficial flag-bearer of all things caffeinated in this town, it’s hard to go past Mahalia Coffee to get a hit of world-class coffee. But while you’re waiting for your order to arrive (or perhaps a couple of cups later) it’s also well worth browsing the handy on-site gift shop that’s filled with souvenirs, books, cups, vases, crockery, ornaments, and of course all sorts of coffee-related paraphernalia. Think: fresh beans, grinders, stovetop espresso makers, plungers, teapots (yes, tea blends too), syrups and the like.
Beachport.
Following the coast to Beachport, you’ll find plenty of coastal treasures at, well… Coastal Treasures! With a full basket of earthy gifts and ensembles, it’s worth taking some time to mill through their bags, clutches, dresses, scarves, throws, earrings and bracelets. With friendly staff and a strong local following, nothing’s too much trouble for these girls, and you’ll find filling your shopping list is as sweet as the ocean breeze.
Others to check out in this cool coastal town include Carapace for homewares, Surf n' Dirt for skate, surf and bike gear and Local Global for uniquely Beachport clothing.
Penola.
A perfect country town in every sense, you’ll find Penola’s beautiful main street lined with boutiques, cafés and restaurants, all scattered in between some of the nation’s most significant heritage sites. Take a stroll along the strip and you’ll find an eclectic range of second hand and antique dealers sitting beside cosy coffee shops, homewares, gift stores and winery cellar doors – and of course, with some of the most fabled vines in the nation sitting on the doorstep in Coonawarra, grabbing a glass or two (okay, three!) while you shop up a storm should really go without saying.
Kick off your spree at Koonara Wines, where top quality vino is the backdrop to a funky selection of homewares that you’d be tough-pressed to find even in a big city. From art, gifts and jewellery to gourmet produce and clothing, you’ll even find a unique range of glassware designed by owner and winemaker, Dru Reschke, who’ll be all too happy for a chat if he’s around.
Living up to its moniker of “food for the soul, feel good fashion and boutique homewares for a considered home”, Moss and Wild is a prime place for a coffee or lunch date with a difference. After stuffing your face with fresh banana smoothies and house made chocolate brownies, you’ll find it’s tough to leave their gift shop empty handed, with a beautiful range of jewellery, plants, clothes, shoes, homewares and soft furnishings to mill through in between courses.
Oh, by the by… if you’re still keen to deck out that wardrobe of yours with a few more original pieces, it’s well worth calling into the iconic Balnaves Clothing Penola while you’re here too!
Keith.
If you didn’t know it, the Limestone Coast is an agricultural powerhouse, with Keith right at the centre, and as you pull on that woollen jumper in the depths of winter, there’s a pretty good chance its origins are local. At Retail Therapy, you’ll find high-quality clothes, including lots of Australian wool, with beautiful cardigans and jackets and all sorts of home accessories to style your own space.
With an al fresco courtyard and a warm, homely feel Henry and Rose is sublime when it’s sunny and snug in a storm, with the fireplace and comfy couches being magnets for a little ‘me time’. Churning out seriously tempting food and creamy coffees, you’ll also find it’s near impossible to escape their in-house gift store once you’re within their clutches. With a classy vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in a chic inner-city suburb, you’ll find anything from sweetly scented reed diffusers and silky skincare products to designer jewellery, handcrafted homewares, books, educational toys and more.
If you’re still looking for something special to top up that bookshelf at home, a visit to Beyond Words Bookshop (conveniently tucked behind Henry and Rose) is an absolute must, with owner Sally having carefully curated a unique selection of new and secondhand books of all shapes, sizes and genres. From fiction to fantasy and crime thrillers to kids, you’ll find plenty of cosy corners and comfy chairs to curl up in and ponder your next purchase.
Millicent.
In Millicent, you’ll find the shopping experience is about as colourful as the local street art, with Sassi Gift Home Living being a great first-port-of-call. With a great range of clothing, bags, sunnies, skincare, candles, cushions, ornaments, baby gear and more, it’s almost impossible to leave empty-handed.
Over at Heaven on a Hanger, you’ll find exactly that - with a wall-to-wall feast of women’s fashion. From skirts and sweaters to shoes and sunhats (and everything else in between), all ages and sizes are covered, and with seasonal sales you may just snag a bargain. Oh, and if your main squeeze thinks he’s missing out, it’s well worth popping into Since Fifty Six, who’ll happily fill his wardrobe (and yours) too!
Naracoorte.
With hidden treasures beneath its surface, the subterranean city of Naracoorte also rewards fossickers (of the shopping kind) back on the surface, with Penola’s Moss and Wild also having recently launched a brand new boutique right in the heart of town. Follow the waft of fresh food and coffee straight to their door to settle in with a cuppa, a bite and a fantastic selection of homewares and soft furnishings.
Around the corner at Amali Gifts and Accessories you’ll relish taking a little more time to stock up on affordable men’s, ladies and kids apparel, plus a good range of locally made and designer brand homewares, shoes, jewellery, bags, gifts and homewares. Since throwing open its doors in 2005, this place has become a pillar of the local community, and a great place to support local manufacturers.
Bordertown.
If you’re spending time in Bordertown, you can’t go past Ruby Tuesdays Gifts and Accessories diverse assortment of stuff, from glorious wall prints to colourful bowls, serveware, baskets and picnic sets, plus a great range of women’s and babies clothing and accessories. Think: dresses, earrings, fragrances, lip and skin care, sensory toys and everything in-between.
Port MacDonnell.
Back by the ocean and amidst all the coastal drama of South Australia’s most southerly point, you’ll find the cool, quirky little Luxe @ The Bay punches well above it’s weight when it comes to fashion. Conveniently plonked next to Periwinkles Café (where you can feast on local lobster over stunning waterfront views), this local gem has made a name for itself with a wide selection of well-curated clothes, giftware and other accessories. If you’re having trouble choosing or in need of local advice, owner Sheree is a font of local knowledge!
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