Backpack Victoria

The city
A trip into the city centre will let you knock most things off your shopping list, as it is condensed to a grid block of around three kilometres.
QV, a multi-level precinct of bars, restaurants and retailers on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston streets houses labels such as Cactus Jam, Third Millennium and Wayne Cooper.
A hop across the road and you're at Melbourne Central, a one-stop centre for young and funky labels such as Dangerfield, Ghetto, Indigo, Industrie, Kookai, Marcs and L'Occitane.
From Melbourne Central you can cross Lonsdale Street to Melbourne's two biggest department stores Myer and David Jones, which draw record crowds at the Boxing Day sales.
For discounted vitamins, go to Elizabeth Street, also a great choice for cameras, computers, hi-fi equipment and camping and outdoors gear.
Hardware Lane is travel central, with a clutch of student travel agencies (STA, Flight Centre) and more outdoor shops than you could poke a walking stick at.
The heritage-listed GPO on the corner of the Bourke Street mall is where you'll find great bags from Camper and Australian accessory label Mimco, as well as up-and-coming designer Fat; and there's plenty more inside the hush-inspiring walls.
Little Collins Street is excellent for men's and women's designer boutiques. The Russell Street end is where you'll find great menswear. Tucked into numerous laneways branching off Little Collins are some of the best hidden treats. Try Smitten Kitten, Andrea Yasmin, Rich and La Bella Donna in Howie Place, or head up Flinders Lane for retro fashion, exclusive one-off boutiques and scores of hole-in-the-wall cafés to replenish your thirst.
A tip-off: Be sure to look down stairs and behind the obvious, as some of Melbourne's most popular shops are hidden from street view. If you need some help finding these tucked away places, consider joining a Hidden Secrets shopping tour.

Fitzroy
Brunswick Street Fitzroy is your best bet for Melbourne-specific designs and artistic creations. Girls, if you've had trouble lugging perfume bottles around, try Kleins perfumery on Brunswick Street. The French-style apothecary (exclusive to Melbourne) features Australian cosmetic labels such as Aesop, She, Bloom and Jurlique and offers custom-made perfume oils readily poured into your chosen travel-sized jar.

For retro fashion and second-hand stores, take your pick from Shag, Lush, Kinki Gerlinki, Quick Brown Fox and American Vintage, and make sure you include Clear It, up the Gertrude Street end. Here you'll find labels including Dangerfield, Revival and Alannah Hill at huge discounts.

For simple silver and gemstone jewellery try Koko, Ditto Day or Scally and Trombone, all exclusive to Melbourne, at the Johnston Street end.

Smith Street, parallel to Brunswick Street on the eastern side, is great if you're interested in updating your camping or fitness supplies. Try the Kathmandu outlet near Gertrude Street, or grab some new runners at a fraction of the usual cost at Nike, Reebok or Adidas outlets up the road.

Richmond
For bargains on a bigger scale, head to Richmond, where most of Melbourne's largest factory outlets for retail giants are located along Swan Street and Bridge Road. And it's not just fashion in Richmond that's discounted. Try the Chocolate Box for chocolate, Supply and Demand for homewares and Dimmeys for everything you can't find anywhere else.

Prahran
Of course, no Melbourne shopping trip would be complete without a visit to the infamous Chapel Street, Prahran. In between star-spotting, you can pick up the latest fashions (no haggling for discounts here, darling) from Alannah Hill, French Connection, Indigo, Morrissey, Leona Edmiston, Saba, Mazi, Third Millennium, Jetty Surf, Louis Epstein and lots more.

Ex-Melburnian Collette Dinnigan's exclusive designs, last seen on the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week, are found at the Toorak Road end.

Tips: Store hours in the CBD are generally Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 5.30pm. Thursday and Friday are late-night shopping, when most stores stay open until 7pm or 9pm. At the weekend, many traders open their doors, although you might not get inside until 11am or noon. In summer, most shops outside the CBD stay open longer during daylight-saving months (November to March).

Most goods attract a 10% goods and services tax (GST). It's possible to claim this tax back on certain items through the Tourism Refund Scheme (TRS) at the airport, just before you leave Australia, though conditions apply. For more information, visit the Australian Customs Service website.