Music and magazines for your gal pals...

Do you have a favorite pal who just adores magazines? Pop culture-vultures will want to visit Humphreys News Agency in Manly where they stock 4,500 titles -- a vast assortment of mags and international newspapers -- many distributed only in Australia. This is the perfect spot to browse and choose some typically Aussie publications (each under $A5.00) to share with girlfriends back home. You'll find the staff extremely helpful and very willing to offer the information you might need. P.S. Manly is accessible via an enjoyable half hour ferry ride from Sydney and the beach there is wonderful. Journeywoman suggests you arrive later in the day so you can watch the sun go down over the water. Just make sure you understand when the last ferry leaves or you'll be there for the next day's sunrise, too.

Music makes a great gift and Aussie women make great music. Journeywoman suggests checking out the sounds of some of the females who performed at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Choose from Aboriginal singer, Christine Anu as well as vocalists Tina Arena, Wendy Matthews and Olivia Newton John. You'll find these women's work throughout the city in shops under the Fish or HVM banner. Truly a culturally correct and "wise-size" gift to pop into your backpack.

Bargain souvenir shopping for all...

Since tourism is Australia's primary industry, you will find a plethora of shops selling momentos and gift items everywhere you go. For some of the best bargain souvenir hunting in Sydney, Journeywoman recommends Paddy's Market held in Chinatown every Thursday - Sunday. Be prepared for countless stalls offering pens to pot holders and suitcases to sweatshirts. Mainly an Asian market, the charm of this indoor spot is the noisy hustle and bustle and an atmosphere that welcomes a bit of price negotiation. Adult Australian T-shirts go for under $A10.00 while kid's sizes sell for $A6.00. Buy more of each, you automatically pay less.

P.S. Women's wide-brimmed, packable, cotton sunhats are available for $A12. Perfectly priced, these offer anyone on your list fabulous and fashionable protection against the wicked summer sun.

Last but not least, for the fellows in your life...

No doubt the fellows in your life will be clamoring for their presents as well. For them, here's our big splurge suggestion. The Australian wine industry is simply flourishing and producing loads of interesting, well-priced wines that they can be very proud of. Pop into the Australian Wine Centre (AWC) at 1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay in Sydney, check out their fabulous selection and choose a gift bottle or two. Journeywoman especially enjoyed Lindemans Hunter Valley Semillon (1998) and Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay however final choices are up to you and your own particular tastebuds. Just remember when making your purchases that 1998 was a fabulous year for wine in Australia. Bonus: The AWC will ship wines worldwide. Just ask.

Finally, since all prices Journeywoman has quoted are in Australian dollars, click here for conversion to your currency of choice. This should help you in establishing your estimated shopping budget prior to departure. Have fun, ladies!

Journeywoman thanks our sponsors...

All of the information in this article has been researched independantly by Journeywoman.com. We thank the Australian Tourist Commission, Air New Zealand and South Corp Wines for sponsoring GIRLTALK AUSTRALIA, a women's cyberguide to Sydney and Melbourne.

This cyberguide is constantly being updated with new articles and tips. If you'd like to be notified when new additions are posted or if you have a woman-friendly travel product related to Australia that you feel will be appropriate for inclusion in this guide, please send an e-mail to editor@journeywoman.com with AUSTRALIA in the subject line and let us know.