Queenstown Shopping

If you stay at a motel/backpackers and want to do self-catering, you do not have a big choice of supermarkets.

There is a New World supermarket at the Remarkables Park in Frankton, between the town centre and the airport, so not at walking distance at all, rather a 10 minute drive. (There are also other shops, including a branch of The Warehouse.)

Closer to the centre you have a FreshChoice supermarket and a Mediterranean Market. They are both along the Arthur’s Point Road, at the corner of Gorge & Robins Roads.

Additionally there are some very few dairies where you get the basics, like the Wakatipu Convenience Store (47 Camp Street) or takeaways like the Eight to Late Foodstore (155 Fernhill Street).

Organic products are sold at Destination Organic in Earl Street (near St. Peter’s Anglican Church).

Here is a (short) list with places for grocery shopping:
http://www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/searchresults/?catrealmid=c%2413413&locdistid=l%241718

In emergencies you can also get basic food at the petrol stations.

A lot of New Zealand towns have one of these shops: "The Warehouse". Known as the "Big Red Shed" - it's obviously RED! You can get most of your needs here.
The local kids call it the "WareWhare" - you need to understand Maori pronunciation to understand the significance, but Whare means House in Maori.
The photo shows the view from the carpark, which I found more stunning than the shop itself!
Quite difficult to find initially, I'll try to explain.
At Frankton, turn towards the Remarkables/Kingston direction. Just a short way along that road with the lake on your right, take the first road on the left. Then follow the signs to Remarkables Park. Make sure you don't turn into the housing area. There are a few 'round-a-bouts' to encounter, but it's worth it in the end. You weave around behind the airport and it's associated buildings.
UPDATE: More shops have now been built in this area, it's more complete now. And of course the view is a bit more cluttered. June 2008

What to buy: The Warehouse sells almost everything. Clothes, hardware, fishing rods, toys, cd's (the cheapest place for these!), stationery, bedding, kitchenware, tents, just everything!

What to pay: Most items are low priced, however you must take care with your shopping in The Warehouse. If you are travelling and just need something to last a short time, and to be discarded then this is the place for you. Clothes are very cheap, but be selective as the quality varies.

The Queenstown Mall is lined with plenty of shopping options for those in search of cheap souvenirs. Although there are some higher end shops, if you are looking for post cards, or t-shirts, then Alpine Artifacts is the place. The owner and workers seem to be very attuned to the prices of the other merchants on the block, as their prices seemed to be the lowest in almost all categories. Normally, when buying a souvenir, I look for quality first, but if they are all about the same or in some cases exactly the same, I will go with lowest price.

What to buy: We purchased several t-shirts and magnets in this shop.

What to pay: We paid around $10NZD for shirts and $2-3NZD on magnets.

Remarkable Sweet Shop (named after the mountain range) was true to its name. Lots of different kinds of fudge, British and New Zealand candy, it really grows on you.

What to pay: There were some good deals of fudge!

2 more images

Untouched World is a group of shops driven by the founder's desire to provide planet-friendly garments and to market these New Zealand items to us and the world. She has styled her shops and wares on the natural earth and introduced some maori culture as well. The logo is a Maori Kite, which symbolises the link between man and nature, the earth and the sky. She develops a relationship with these links for us all to share.

What to buy: I'd go for the Merino Wool jerseys, as Merino wool is grown locally in and around the mountains of Queenstown and it's area.

What to pay: This range is not cheap by NZ standards, but you can be sure that the quality is of a high standard.

I bought souvenirs for people at home forom Queenstown. Their souvenir shops aren't any different from the one in Christchurch. But what so special is: they're open until 9/10 pm! Now this is amazing right??? Most shop in NZ close at 7/8 pm on weekdays and 4/5pm on weekend.

What to buy: Many souvenir items which comes in all shape from key rings to anything you can imagine
Merino wool
all sort of sheep and kiwis shapes

It's an amazing shop full of beads and papers and paints and we couldn't stop picking up things even when we had no spare hands left. The people there are helpful and if you can't decide what to choose you can buy a ready made up kit with everything to take home.

What to buy: Kits to paint on silk or make pictures from beads or watercolour or acrylic paints.

What to pay: Depends on how much you buy.

If you are at all interested in Adventure Clothing, you can't buy better than the AJHackett brand. You can buy this range of clothing at the AJHackett Bungy Centre, situated on Hwy 6 between Queenstown and Cromwell.

What to buy: Great jackets, for protection against cold weather.
Nice woollen vests, and many other styles.

What to pay: These garments are not cheap by NZ standards and are probably some of the most expensive. But the quality is surperb.