The best op shops on the North Shore

Good op shopping is all about having a route.

You might not strike gold every time, but if you frequent the same stores often enough, you're bound to score something: a Harris Tweed coat, tags-on Levis, Polo without the price tag, a perfectly good pair of Raybans. 

While I can’t give you a list of op shops that are a guaranteed treasure trove, I can — at the risk of spoiling my own plunder — show you what I believe to be the most lucrative route along Sydney’s North Shore. 

Ready?

Mosman Vinnies + Lifeline

Now, I won’t make any sweeping judgements on the character of Mosman as a suburb, but I will say this: they have a lot of nice clothes. 

The starting point of this crosscountry journey, Spit Junction is a no-brainer when looking for name brand clothing at discounted prices.

Hopping off the B-Line, you will see the Lifeline right away, with the Vinnies just a couple doors down by the lights. While the Lifeline usually has a slightly better selection of clothes, they are also a bit pricier than the Vinnies.

Where: 10, 20 Spit Rd, Mosman

Cremorne Lifeline

Just tucked away behind Minsky's Hotel, this store is easy to miss but worth the quick stop. As is usually the case, Lifeline stores set their prices a bit higher than other op shops. 

Where: 112 Cabramatta Rd, Cremorne

Neutral Bay Junction: Salvos, Vinnies, Lifeline, Red Cross

Now we’ve hit the first big cluster on our op shop expedition: Neutral Bay Junction. 

Hopping off the bus, you’ll be immediately greeted with Red Cross and Lifeline. You can even go for a quick browse here while waiting for a bus whenever you’re in the area.

Where: 179A, 181 Military Road

If you head across the road and through to Grosvenor Street, you’ll find The Salvation Army Family Store, which boasts one of the largest selections of the North Shore op shops.

Finally, on your way back to the bus stop, head through Neutral Bay Vinnies, sitting along Military Road. 

Where: 5/27 Grosvenor St

Where: 148 Military Rd

Crows Nest 

Heading up the hill to Crows Nest, you’ve got possibly one of the best North Shore op shops: Crows Nest Vinnies. 

I’ve bought nearly everything under the sun here: a copy of Crime and Punishment, a Seinfeld branded hockey jersey, a sound system for $50 that I still use to this day. It’s a great place to find bizarre trinkets and also somewhere that has maintained affordable prices through the years.

Where: 60 Alexander St, Crows Nest

Crows Nest Red Cross

Just over down the street on Willoughby Road, there’s also a Red Cross shop. Though comparatively small compared to the Vinnies, this shop still has some good finds and is worth a browse.

Where: 35 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest

SwapUp

Down across the road from the Crows Nest metro station is SwapUp, which is not a charity store, but a clothing company seeking to promote second hand use and reduce fashion waste. 

Unfortunately for me, the last time I checked out the store it did not have a men's section, but if that’s not a concern for you, it seems to have a good selection of clothes.

Where: 388 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest

Where to now? 

After Crows Nest, the path forks. You have two options left. You can head down to North Sydney Vinnies, which is one of the largest Vinnies stores of all those so far. Alternatively, you can go back to Willoughby Road and follow it down to Narremburn Lifeline which — while smaller and slightly pricier — I can attest to having found some good deals at. 

Where: 6 Bay Rd, North Sydney

Where: 192 Willoughby Rd, Naremburn

Thumbnail: Perry Merrity II via Unsplash