This is the kind of place that should be in NoHo, or Battery Point, or the CBD even... but not down…read morein Uni Row! Maybe I'm biased as a NoHo regular, but schlepping down to Sandy Bay just for some GREY and FELT good times makes me a sad panda. Having said that, G&F is one of those beautifully curated shops that you want to photograph, and one where you kind of fear looking at the price tags. Having said that, I finally headed into G&F after finding out that they're Hobart's only stockist of Shanghai Suzy lipsticks, which are amazingly cheap for what they are, at only $12.95 a pop for a crazily pigmented nourishing lippie in exceptional on-trend colours. As it turns out, I also happened to first visit the week of G&F's first anniversary. No anniversary sale, so I managed to purchase my lipsticks and escape back out of there... mentally adding a few things to my wishlist as I went.

I grew up in a country town, where the CWA ladies had a real presence. Whether they were running…read moreevents or fixing things or making things better or just smashing the cake section at the local show every year, everyone knew all about the CWA. In big cities they don't have a presence, really, because CWA stands for COUNTRY Women's Association. However, Hobart isn't really a big city. It pretends to be. And for locals, it sure is! But travel to any other state capital in Australia and you'll probably be a bit overwhelmed if Hobart's all you know as a Big City. However, there are so many joys that come with Hobart's weird in-between city state, and one of those is right here: the CWA Gift Shop. It's cash only ("because the bank takes money from you for every card transaction!" how rude) and full of incredible hand-made goods, from crocheted throws to jams to beanies to cakes to everything your grandmother's talents extend to. And they've been in this exact spot since 1951. My current favourite thing to do is, whenever I'm feeling slightly or dramatically under the weather, drop in here and get myself a treat. My mum and my grandmothers all live interstate but the CWA ladies step in as my surrogates for a bit of heartwarming TLC for the mind and tummy, and it's pretty wonderful. Oh, and also: pineapple tea cosies.

Here's a hidden little gem. The Country Women's Association shop is great - with a mouth-watering…read moreselection of cakes, biscuits, slices, pickles, jams and relishes made fresh by ladies (and men perhaps - despite the title) in the surrounding country areas and brought in to be sold in this city shop. The ladies in charge informed me the vast majority of the baked goods on display were made fresh that morning. Each product - be it a sponge cake, tray of biscuits or jars of jams and relishes - is numbered, with the number corresponding to the lady who made them (it's all anonymous, only the ladies who run the shop know the secret identities of each cook). The shop takes a 25% cut of any takings with the baker/jam maker/knitter getting the rest. They also have loads of knitwear - from tea cosies to jumpers for kiddies - all of it first rate and all of it at great prices.

Guy outfitted me with a $1000+ suit for $550. They were having a sale, but still, I was impressed…read morewith the quality and the service.

What can you say about Centro New Town? It's a shopping centre! It has shops!…read more There is little selection -- at the time of writing you will find the following facilities: - Coles; - A meat place (not so good); - Baker's delight; - A little cafe (untested); - My State bank; - Newsagency/Post Office (very good and great opening hours); - Wendy's (Service is lacklustre); - A hair place (dunno); - A 24 hour kmart; - A couple of ATMs; and - A discount chemist. There's also a Kmart Tyre and Auto around the back, if that kind of thing floats your boat. So, a stock standard shopping centre, complete with Christmas decorations displayed wayyy too early. However, plenty of parking, and enough variety to get through the day to day bullshit of life.

Deja Vu is a nice second hand (and new) bookstore that packs a lot of literature in a very small…read morespace. And if you look at my picture, the inventory spills out nicely into one of the back alleys of Salamanca. The enthusiastic owner (pictured) was more than happy to find and sell me a book of cartoons by the late Jon Kudelka. His iconic "Tasmania is Awful" tea towel can be seen on the phone booth.

Great little second hand book shop in Salamanca, stock is limited cause the shop is so small but…read moreyou can find gems here. Well worth a visit.

The Drill Hall is a stunning space to wander through but ouch, those prices. Definitely a…read morelook-but-don't-touch place for my kind of budget, but if I had daddy's credit card in my wallet I'd be buying some choice pieces to bring a bit of history into my home. Everything in the store is curated well and chosen for their style exactly. This high-ceilinged space is perfect for a spot of home inspiration, if not shopping.

When you absolutely, positively have to visit a Kmart AND a Woolies, then get a disappointing meal…read moreall in one stop, make your way to Eastlands! The Car park is always crammed to the hilt and poor parking abounds at the best of times. There's precisely zero available spots in the area facing the bus mall, with cars of all sizes in a predatory orbit awaiting the first spot to open up. Inside, it's two stories with the usual clothing shops, phone/repair shops, nail salons, and massage spaces, and the aforementioned Kmart/Big W on one end and Coles AND Woolies at the other end. It's long overdue for a facelift.

Hobart's obnoxious multi-storey (two) shopping centre, featuring Big W AND Kmart, Coles AND…read moreWoolies. Oh, stop. No, go on. Sure, it's also full of a whole bunch of specialty shops (lots of clothes) and overpriced cafes, just like every other shopping centre? Yes. Plenty of parking available (and a great affordable carwash in the multi-level carpark around the back), this is a bright and mostly clean complex but is absolutely riddled with Hobogans. Enter at your own peril, and leave as soon as you're done. No dawdling.

A Lush is a Lush is a Lush and the Hobart store is no exception. Friendly staff, a small and neat…read morestore, and a scent that can be picked up by the nostrils a half a mile away. Fresh face masks are delivered on Thursdays. Bring five empty pots in for a free face mask (try to time this on a Thursday).