I love Westfield Carindale! I don't think, from memory, I've ever visited and not enjoyed the…read moreexperience. I bypass three other closer, smaller shopping complexes and drive straight to Carindale. Took my kids, now 40 and 37, often and now take my grandchildren. I love the renovations, major stores and specialty shops. The parents' rooms are always clean and well appointed. Love the Event cinemas. Plenty of great coffee shops. Late night Christmas shopping is always a favourite time for me. Thanks Westfield Carindale.

The love of Carindale (like all the biggest stars, it's only known by one name) has been handed…read moredown through the generations of my family. My Mum passed down her passion for this place to me and my sister in law - and now we're handing down the pleasure to my 3 year old niece, Olivia (who loves it) and 14 month old Renzo (distinctly unimpressed). So why does this slightly ugly (from the outside) building inspire so much devotion in the female members of my family? Well, for those times we can't be bothered traipsing into town, Carindale pretty much has everything we could need. Except, perhaps, a chic cocktail bar. But I live in hope. Myer, David Jones, Sportsgirl, Dotti, Portmans, Witchery, cinemas, grocery stores, mobile phone shops, sports stores...it's like a one-stop-shopping-utopia for all our needs. With carpet. Yep, to this day, it's the only Westfield I've been in that has carpet. It's not particularly nice and occasionally gives you static attacks but I kinda like that it gives Carindale a strangely unusual USP. Even my friends in London laugh at my Carindale obsession (I've recently relocated back home after a lengthy stint living in London). Every email they send me usually starts with "so, how many times have you been to Carindale this week?" (I don't usually answer as I'm slightly ashamed that sometimes it's so often I feel I should take a sleeping bag and just move in). As Westfields go (and there's a gazillion of them in Brisneyland) this is not the biggest (yet) but it soon will be. I'm positively giddy at the fact they're spending $300m making it even more ginormous. For me! According to the website, it's due for completion in late 2012 and "will include a new parallel mall over two levels, a new full-line Coles supermarket, a relocated larger-format Target and a new dining precinct. Plus approximately 120 new stores including a range of Australian and international designers." Readers, dreams can come true.

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

I find Queen Street Mall a very convenient place to shop and to eat at some point. Luckily I found…read morethe bag I am looking for and its here, I also get to watch some movies after.

Okay, it's only my little local shopping centre, but I'm quite fond of old Fairfield Gardens. It's…read morevery small, as shopping centres go, but surprisingly useful and always seems to have what I need. In addition to the classic supermarket, pharmacy, bottle shop and cafés, there's important services like a post office, cheapie shop, doctor's surgery and a computer repair shop. But the things I REALLY love about this place are the things you don't find at every (especially small!) shopping centre: the library, op shop and fruit shop. I would like my local to be a little bigger - one glaring omission is a shoe repair place (I would patronage the heck out of that!) but it's pretty great and never crowded!

Not bad - there is the bus stop right out front, a post office that is open Saturdays, a $2 shop,…read moremassage, sports store, travel, real estate, Coles, cafes, bakery, Lifeline (op shop), fashion stores and knick knack stores. The only thing really missing is a butcher and fruiterer. You can get quite a bit done here. There is a pizza store and liquor store just a walk across the carpark.

What is with this strange shopping centre! There is nobody here! It is a ghost town, although there…read moreis a Coles supermarket, the Reject Shop and a Michels Patisserie cafe. A gym is also downstairs. Most of the other shops are always closed. It's good because it's very easy to find a car park. But I don't understand why you would be extremely lucky if you could see 10 people at the most.

Variety of sizes available and very much affordable. Located in the perfect area for shoppingread more

I love Big W. I like how it is conveniently placed above Woolworths. It has escalators and a lift…read moreif you have heavy bags. I wish they would make a security system so you could take their basket trolleys (which can't leave Big W) and supply you with regular trolleys to take down to Woolworths to shop there vice versa . I hate carrying bags. I had to buy a granny's trolley for this purpose. I wish they had a underground carpark or something because how are you gonna take your purchases home? I either have to walk far to my car or catch a cab from the cab rank which is thankfully nearby. There are buses and trains but the who wants to wait at a bus stop with all their things? Also buses can be unreliable. The train station is about a ten minute walk up the hill so no go for me. If they had more parking areas and let you take the basket trolleys into the food court I would buy more and heavier things. Unfortunately most things on the Big W website are unavailable to get delivered? Almost makes me wonder what's the point, except I suppose being able to see what they sell. Big store, lots of variety, good prices but not as dirt cheap as Kmart. I would give 5 stars if they didn't always run out of basket trolleys at Big W and Woolworths! Woolworths have regular metal trolleys but usually run out too with the annoying insert coin security system. I don't know how your expected to use the trolley and then catch a cab. How are you going to return the trolly to bay to get your $1/$2 back? Oh well. There are barely any lines at Big W unlike Woolworths and they have self service checkout there. Oh, and only spread over two levels, not three.

Unbeknownst to many is that Gladstone- Annerley Road, the forgettable stretch of road that connects…read moreWest End to Annerley, is in fact home to a few of Brisbane's hot spots. Its Vintage Darling is such a place. Its Vintage Darling is a particularly charming store, but because it's placed on a main road, it often gets missed by car go-ers. It's quite an unassuming place, and there's not many quick and easy parking spots if you do catch a glimpse of it. It's young owner has gone to great lengths to make the décor resemble an era long gone. She is powdered and picture perfect, not a hair out of place. Everything in the store is immaculately presented. You do not frantically rummage through her store, you peruse. While you're browsing, you can also ask for a organic free trade coffee ($3), which will be made in the 'kitschenette'. When you find something you like and you're testing out your new found dream threads, the owner jumps right in there with her own two cents worth. It's like serendipitously finding a new trusted fashionista sister to shop with. Yes, she wants you to buy her wears, but I truly believe she also wants you to walk out with something sensational. What's more is that Its Vintage Darling has become an irregular venue for live music as well. Sometimes a live music 'sale' day will happen, which will make you think all of your christmases have come at once. Bring a fair wad of cash with you. It's not an overly expensive vintage store (some op shops in the area have similar prices but the stock here is much better), but you might want to have more dosh in your pocket because there are just so many pretties in store.

Sip on a fresh, hot latte while browsing racks of dresses and reading vintage magazines (10 tips on…read morebeing a good housewife!)? Sign me up. It's Vintage Darling is one of my fave vintage shops. Not only is the name fun to say (It's vintage, dahling) but the staff are sweet, friendly and make a mean cappuccino. It's Vintage Darling has a lovely tiny retro kitchen and coffee machine, as well as a bit of lounge and outdoor seating so you can get a caffeine hit while browsing the retro-wares. There's usually a good range of 80s and 90s grunge, quite a bit of men's stock and on occasion, a lovely 50s or 60s dress. I got a divine 40s gown from there once, and for under $100, so they are well-priced. But best of all is the bargain bins - there are treasures to be found if you're willing to dig and most are under $10. Check it out!

Has anything you could ever possibly need without having to leave New Farm…read more My only gripes would be - parking is a nightmare when it's busy and the centre is looking rather tired and in need of refurbishment.

From the owner: Merthyr Village makes even a trip to the grocery or hardware store a more enjoyable and relaxing…read moreexperience.

Anyone who says that Brisbane lacks culture need to get their tooshes to James Street in the…read moreValley. This beautiful leafy precinct is home to countless boutiques, salons, galleries, interior design studios, cafes and restaurants. Despite being known as a more ritzy and expensive area, there are plenty of things to do on James Street on a budget such as getting a fantastic cup of coffee from Merlo, seeing an art-house film at Palace Centro cinema, or even just browsing the one off shops in the area. Even as a person who lives close by, I'm never bored on James Street. There are constantly new businesses opening in and around the precinct making it a fantastic place to meet friends or spend your day off. In the middle of 2011, James Street launched Thursday night Up Late, allowing for longer trading hours and a night time option for patrons. James Street is the perfect place to waste a beautiful, sunny Brisbane day. And if you have an interstate or international friend to impress with food, wine, shopping or culture, James Street should be a priority on the itinerary.

This is quite a really nice street. Boutique retailers, bars, and restaurants. When you do come…read morehere, you can window shop, and if you spend, prepare to spend $$$. During the day , this place has a certain humm about it. Have a really nice coffee in one of the many " nook " Cafes scattered up and down the street sitting on the foot path , people spotting, and car spotting as well. By night the place transforms , into a hustling, bustling, night spot. Quite during the week, but Friday and Saturday nights, this place goes off. From the fairy lights in the trees,gleaming Lamborghinis , Porsches, Ferraris, to the beautiful babes. The restaurants and bars, definitely worth the look. When here try , The Cru bar,6's & 7's, Gerad's bistro & bar. Bucci, The QA, Ribs and Burgers, The Yiros shop, and much, much more.

It is impossible for me to visit Cream without stopping in at Vanilla House to see what they have…read morein stock. The shop is filled with trinkets, candles, books, earrings, shirts and general home décor items, and the owners regularly turn over stock so there is always something new that catches my eye. Prices are on the high side ($39 for a candle) and I suspect they leverage a lot of business off Cream and Flute customers who have the disposable income to eat out for breakfast/lunch. A solid and consistent shop for mainstream gifts.

Not only does the name of this shop evoke sweet, calming emotions, but prepares you for the…read moreglorious scent and feel of the store before you walk in. Large canvases are adorned with inspirational writing ("Keep calm and drink coffee" - so wise) alongside cushions covered with Paris, London and New York cityscapes. There are an abundance of cookbooks, travel journals, notepads and my particular favourite - a book on Paris, listing all the best foodie haunts around the French capital. There's also a small collection of boutique women's clothing and gifts and goodies for young children. Oh, and of course the obligatory old rustic bird's cage. So necessary.

The Collective Markets are touted as "the place" to find the perfect souvenir. I disagree. Not…read moremany handmade items. Lots of dresses and items purchased from South Asia --fast fashion. I bought nothing and had looked through every booth in 40 minutes. The location is superb. Gorgeous Southbank with nice ferry stops make it an easy place to access from other areas of the city. Markets are only held on certain weekends so check the calendar. If you miss it, no big deal because the same stuff is in several stores.

I love these markets, especially at night with all the glittery lights on the stalls. It's so nice…read moreto be able to walk around south bank and then wander through these markets at a leisurely pace. They have all your usual market stalls here, from knick knacks to food, art to iced tea. Plus you can't go wrong with a Choc centered banana for the kids or kid at heart. The fact that they are located in between all the shops is a plus for me because you can meander from shop to stall and back again. Some stalls are a little pricey compared to other markets so keep that in mind.