Cooool. A second…read morehand bookstore that occasionally sells new books, this little boutique store has a lot of character. The owner is a charistmatic woman who enjoys chatting and making a joke, so she's very approachable and capable of helping you find what you're looking for. It doesn't do mainstream, but focuses on lesser-known but very capable, often award winning literary artists, with a particular focus on history and the classics. There are typewriters on trhe walls near the ceiling, and towards the back are two glorious looking armchairs with a typewriter between them, almost as if one of these long since past authors had just risen from his place to make a cup of tea. In a book store, the vibe is very important, and this store has it right, at least matching the books it sells. What they may or may not have, is the book you're looking for. Have a browse, or call ahead if looking for a specific book. Oh, and I have been informed they are very picky about which second hand books they take. They're all in very good condition.

You could schedule out a bit of a 'book crawl' in Manly - Desire Books is just round the corner…read morefrom another secondhand bookstore, both packed with re-readable treasure. Desire is probably the more 'highbrow' of the two - along with some pop novels, there are shelves dedicated to classics and some quite alternative stuff. The owner seems to have read a scarily large proportion of them and can bang off in conversation about just about any one of the authors they feature - we ended up in the midst of one of 'those conversations' about 'We need to talk about Kevin'. Desire will buy books too. Frequent traders can establish an account, so they maintain a record of credit and you can pick up your replacement whenever something takes your fancy. I love a new book, but there's also something tantalising about one that has been read before - I wonder who by, and I wonder what they thought?

There are always interesting books displayed in the window of Books on King. Interesting cover work…read moreand obscure titles; books about science, music, fiction; books that bring back nostalgic memories from days spent on busses, in parks, beneath trees. Books endorsed by celebrities and books that strive to teach us something. Record sleeves are stuck to the wall and familiar faces etched on vinyl welcome me into the small second hand book shop, Books on King. The narrow aisles make browsing difficult when there are too many people walking back and forth, scanning titles and reading blurbs. I wander up and down the aisle, I'm looking for a small book, one that could be read in a summers afternoon, one that I could flick through while the storm clouds rumble in the distance but the sun still shines down from above. Books for when the last remaining heat before the storm breaks and soft gentle rain shadowed by their father's, the clouds, comes down and refreshes us all and washes the sticky humidity from off our skins. I wanted that kind of book. I find a H.G. Wells book on the shelf, it's thin and has a tacky painting drawn on the cover, this small yellow paperback beckons for me to pick it up and read. It's the Island of Dr Moreau. I know little about the saga, but I know it holds a place in Science Fiction history, a thought provoking story, well imagined and shot to death by the silver screen as Val Kilmer just stood there and watched and never even said a thing.

Books on King is a reasonably priced second hand bookshop in Newtown, Their range within the shop…read moreis not as extensive or interesting as you may find in other second hands book shops, but it is worth a look as you might find that difficult to locate treasure for your collection. The best books in Books on King tend to be on display in the shop window and they always have some interesting choices, I often saw J.G Ballard, William S Burroughs and Peter Carey titles there, the prices are reasonable too, with most titles being around the $8 mark. Worth a look.

Another second-hand bookshop with a huge collection of books to browse through. Like many of these…read moreshops I actually stumbled across it quite by accident, and honestly, I could literally spend hours browsing the collection, if it wasn't for the fact that when I ended up loading up with books my luggage ends up weighing way too much. Still, the owner is really friendly, and as I mentioned, there is also a huge collection here as well.

This bookshop draws me in like a magnet every time I'm close…read more One of the best selections I've seen - it's almost as if they have seen your amazon wishlist. They do a loyalty card - 5% off for the diehards. (if they had a cafe in there I would never leave!)

Step aside Kindle and iPad, there is absolutely no replacing the feel and smell of an actual book…read more That woody, inky aroma is in full effect inside Brays Books. In fact, it kind of comes over you like a cloud when you waltz through the shop's doors. I found Brays to be a very curious little bookshop indeed. From what I could tell, they have three sections in their bag. If you're looking for a cookbook, any kind of culinary almanac at all, you can likely find it here. And what about travel books? With atlases, travel guides and travel related fiction and non-fiction at your fingertips, I recommend you pop in here before you next step on an airplane. And if you happen to be under the age of 10, or know someone who is, Brays delivers in the children's department as well. They have picture book classics and fiction for those readers who are stepping into the land of more words than pics. But, wait a second, what if I am looking for some good old fashioned adult fiction? With a rinky dink little case along one side of Brays, I had a hard time believing their selection was anywhere near complete. But I guess I can't be too hard on an independent bookshop. As they die out like orchids in the garden of retail, I'm sure Brays can use all the support it can get.

A boutique bookstore on Darling street, Balmain. I love these places. Each one has its own feel and…read morevibe, and there's no place like a good bookstore. Theres some good variety among the shelves, so you know theres no hidden agenda behind the store, just a bunch of popular books for sale. The place is colourful and inviting, the staff are great, and helpful when you're trying to find something, although if you're on a mission, I guess a boutique bookstore isn't where you'd go. But still, a great place to browse and get into the reading zone.

Some of my favorite topics to read about are Art, Architecture and Design and some of my favourite…read morepublishers are Phaidon, Thames & Hudson and Taschen. I am able to get my fix for all of these in this modern designed Surry Hills specialty bookshop. Each of the titles are displayed with the covers showing so that it is easy to scan the shop to find something that catches your eyes. I've also found books on branding and advertising (that relate to graphic design). We recently purchased a second Pau Arden book (to replace the one I gave away) and a beautiful Tachen book on Michelangelo. They carry the latest titles and Sharon, the store's owner, is also happy to order a book if it's not in stock. She's also great at recommending some local Surry Hills locations to eat and drink. I always leave this store creatively inspired and a new location to take our friends.

ONE WORD: SKULLS. I…read morefelt like I had stepped into heaven when I entered Holy Kitsch! (Mainly because I'm obsessed with skulls!) Skull heads, skull glasses, skull bags, sugar skulls, skull art, skull figurines...... plus Frida Kahlo everything! This shop is amazing! Okay, yes, it is very expensive, but where else would you find quality Mexican skulls and Day of the Dead gifts??? (Definitely nothing like this in Auckland). Only bought two skull shot glasses, but next time I'm in Sydney, I will definitely spend a bit extra and get a massive skull! Not sure how it's going to fit in my suitcase though :S

Holy Kitsch! Great name, Great Store…read more Brimming with quirky, kitschy, one-off pieces that are bound to delight lovers of fun, funky homewares. I'm a HUGE fan of this store. Their window displays are colourful and fun and all the pieces are just damn cool. Here's a summary of what you can expect to find at Holy Kitsch: "Sugar Skulls and candelabras inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead "Dia de los Muertos", hand painted mirrors evoking the life of Frida Kahlo, Sailor Jerry bamboo curtains, really cool antique and vintage wares, ephemera, curios and a whole lot more." Beneath the fun Holy Kitsch is a serious store with a conscience and a mission. All of the products are Fair Trade and ethically sourced, where possible, as part of the owners mission to present an alternative to mass production. Given all things Latin American and Mexican are completely in fashion I imagine this store is going gangbusters. See for yourself.

I live for charming little bookstores like this one. In college I would spend hours in bookstores…read moreto study or just meditate and peruse through books. Sadly, more bookstores are being replaced by Kindle, but I still prefer the smell and feel of a paperback, and the comforting stillness of being surrounded by books. It's a shame there aren't many bookstores where I live in Honolulu, but I came across quite a few in Sydney, including Ariel Booksellers. Walking in here is simply a joy. Bookstores have now branched out to not only sell books but also the cutest knickknacks and items that anyone will love. Ariel sells calendars, postcards, greeting cards, even lamps like the cute bear lamp from the LINE friends collection as seen in one of the photographs below. Ariel was a lovely and relaxing stop during my busy day touring Sydney. I recommend this bookstore to tourists and locals alike who need a bit of respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.