If you enjoy and make the most of outdoors this country can offer, this is the local place to come…read moreand buy all your clothing and equipment. They also cater for the young hunters and adventurers too. Everytime I come in here my wish list gets several items added to it, The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable too, being the nature of some of the kit available it is always worth having a chat with them before making your purchase.

As soon as you enter into this hunting and fishing store, the beautiful fragrance of fresh timber…read moregreets you with its warm embrace. And the store is so massive that it actually does feel like you have wandered into a forest somewhere. It probably needs to be this big because they have heaps of tents and gazebos up on display. If you're going hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or just like shooting guns (they have a shitload of guns and an air rifle range where you can test them out) then this place has you sorted. I usually come here for fishing equipment because they have a good range of products, plus there are always plenty of bargain bins around which contain some pretty sweet deals in them. So if you think you are Bear Grylls, or want to be, you need some survival supplies.

For what looks like a tiny shop from the outside, this fishing store is actually bigger than what…read moreyou might think. It is by no means a huge store; however they certainly seem to be able to pack in a lot of fishing rods and other products into those few aisles. They have a bit of a bargain bin at the front of the store which contains some old stock, most of which looks like junk but you might be able to find something useful. When it comes to hooks, sinkers, soft baits, lures and other fishing hardware though, this place has surely got you covered. There are some pretty good deals if you buy two or three of the same product, and it sometimes works out a bit cheaper than some of the larger fishing stores around. Also this shop has conveniently long opening hours.

In a city where the harbour plays such a pivotal role for many people, a fishing store like Top…read moreCatch is a must. Located on Barry's Point Road it's handy to many of the North Shore boat ramps. Top Catches friendly and knowledgeable staff are also a great resource for local and up-to-date information about current conditions, hot spots and news. Top Catch claim to sell almost everything except bananas. They certainly have an extensive range of rods and tackle, as well as dive gear and hunting equipment. If you need bananas there is also a Countdown at the other end of Barry's Point Road. Also worth noting - they have a boat park so you can rock up on the way to the boat ramp without any trouble.

After being bitterly disappointed with the short longevity of fishing equipment purchased from…read moreanother store I was delighted to find an inexpensive spot for fishing gear that lasts more than one session, with plenty of good advice for free. What's more, there is an enormous selection, from Cray-Pots to sprat-lures. Now I am not by any stretch of the imagination a mad keen fisher but it is great to get out for a fish over summer, even if it is off rocks or a wharf (we don't have a boat... yet). Top Catch has out-front parking big up for boats and trailers, and they open really early in for those who are up early catching breakfast before the dawn. The prices are really reasonable and there is always something on special or being reduced to clear. The prices of normal items are no more expensive than discount type stores, and the quality and selection is a lot better. You aren't made to feel like an idiot when you're a girl asking questions either, which I really appreciate!