Lake Mac Op Shop Trail

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Op shopping isn’t just about finding great deals; it’s a powerful way to protect our planet and support our local community. In a world where fast fashion dominates, the environmental toll is immense. Clothes are made cheaply, worn briefly, and discarded quickly, contributing to massive waste and pollution. By choosing second-hand, we can challenge this throwaway culture and promote sustainability.

Make a difference

When you shop at op shops, you’re giving pre-loved items a second life, significantly reducing carbon emissions, and conserving valuable resources. Each purchase is a step towards a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry. Plus, op shopping supports local communities and charities, making a positive social impact.

Unique finds, unique stories

Op shopping is an adventure! From vintage fashion to quirky home decor, every item has its own story and adds character to your life. It’s an affordable way to discover unique treasures that you won’t find anywhere else.

Use this guide to help you explore your local op shops, and enjoy retail therapy that benefits you, your community, and the world.

Warners Bay Trail

Warners Bay is easily accessible by bus and features a variety of cafes to visit once you’ve finished your Op Shop Trail. Handy for weekend op shopping, three shops open all day Saturday and two are open Sunday.

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1. Allira House Op Shop

22 John Street, Warners Bay

Monday–Friday, 9am-4pm

Allira House Op Shop surprises at every turn with dedicated rooms for books, kids' items, men’s and women’s clothing and homewares at reasonable prices. 

2. Salvos

2/10-16 Medcalf Street, Warners Bay

Monday–Friday 9am-5:30pm, Saturday 10am–5:30pm

Salvos Warners Bay is an expansive op shop with a broad selection of clothing, furniture, homewares and reconditioned mattresses. Enjoy weekly stock rotations, half price sales and special discounts for pensioners and students.

3. Lifeline

Shop 4/395 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay

Monday–Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

Lifeline offers easy parking, generous hours and a well-organised layout. Browse men’s, women’s and kids' clothing, homewares and media. Shop for preloved items, new furniture and new sports stock.

4. Church 4 Life Op Shop

250 Macquarie Road, Warners Bay

Monday–Sunday 9am-5pm

Church 4 Life Op Shop, marked by its visible signage off Macquarie Road, offers a quality selection of budget-friendly clothing, homewares and a food bank with fresh produce.

Cardiff Trail

Take a stroll along Cardiff’s main street to explore three of the four op shops in the area. After shopping, relax in a local cafe or unwind at Cardiff Library.

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1. Lifeline

5/343 Main Road, Cardiff

Monday–Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

Open seven days, this spacious Lifeline shop offers a selection of furniture, bicycles, electronics, clothing and homewares. New furniture finds arrive twice weekly. Explore well-displayed books, discounted sunglasses and vintage items.

2. Church 4 Life Op Shop

288 Main Road, Cardiff

Monday–Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-3pm

Church 4 Life Op Shop is ideal for young families and women, featuring categorised clothing, a wide range of women’s sizes, toys for young children, boardgames and a small selection of kitchenware, ornaments and craft supplies.

3. Op Shop Heaven

298 Main Road, Cardiff

Monday–Tuesday 9:30am-4pm, Thursday-Friday 9:30am-4pm, first Saturday of each month 9:30am-noon

This bright, well-maintained op shop has served Cardiff for more than 20 years, offering preloved clothes, homewares and books, as well as discounted soft drinks, greeting cards, Lions Club cakes, new jewellery and reading glasses.

4. Survivor's R Us Op Shop

57 Pendlebury Road, Cardiff

Monday–Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-noon

Venture off the main road and you’ll find Survivor’s R Us op shop, combining retail with community services, such as a food bank and counselling services. With $2 clothing and a wide range of homewares, furniture and electronics, it’s ideal for bargain hunters.

Toronto Trail

The five op shops along the Toronto main street are just steps apart, making this the most walkable of all the op-shop trails.

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1. Allira House Op Shop

116 The Boulevarde, Toronto

Monday–Friday, 9am-4pm

Set in a house-style setting, Allira House Op Shop offers clothing for everyone, with manchester, accessories, books and a small range of homewares. Proceeds support domestic violence refuges and education programs for people experiencing homelessness.

2. Salvos

67-73 The Boulevarde, Toronto

Monday – Friday 9am-4pm

The spacious layout features clothing for all ages, sorted by category, size and colour. Salvos Toronto also offers homewares, books, larger furniture items and a range of miscellaneous items.

3. Vinnies

80 The Boulevarde, Toronto

Monday–Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 9am-1pm

Vinnies Toronto offers an exciting variety of clothing, plus homewares, shoes, books and accessories.

4. Save the Children

Shop 2/49A The Boulevarde, Toronto

Monday–Friday 9am-4:30pm, Saturday 9am–2:30pm

Save the Children is a well-stocked op shop offering preloved clothing, shoes and accessories, plus brand-new excess stock at discounted prices. Partnering with Upparel for textile recycling, this is the only Save the Children store in Lake Mac.

5. Lifeline

34 The Boulevarde, Toronto

Monday – Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

Open seven days a week, Lifeline Toronto is a spacious, light-filled store with a welcoming atmosphere. Volunteers thoughtfully curate clothing, homewares, furniture and books, as well as support employment. 

Belmont Trail

Enjoy rummaging through the five op shops at Belmont and Belmont North, and then unwind with a coffee or picnic by the lake.

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1. Vinnies

21 Ernest St, Belmont

Monday to Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 9am-1pm

Serving the community for more than 45 years, Vinnies is a local cornerstone op shop. The layout lets you easily view all items from the entrance, offering women’s clothing, men’s racks and various goods like books, games and kitchenware.

2. Allira House Op Shop

6 Thomas Street, Belmont

Monday – Friday 9am-3pm

Tucked at the end of Thomas Street, Allira House offers excellent condition clothing for all ages, a generous selection of men’s clothing, vintage items and more, with proceeds supporting a local refuge.

3. ELMA's

Shop 1/550 Pacific Highway, Belmont

Monday–Friday 9am-3pm, Saturday 9am-1pm

ELMA’s is a church-based op shop, offering kitchenware, homewares, books, jewellery, linen, toys and clothing. Volunteers create a welcoming atmosphere, with handmade items crafted by the parish community.

4. Vinnies

Unit 3/356 Pacific Highway, Belmont North

Monday–Saturday 9am-5pm

You’ll be warmly welcomed at this spacious, well-organised op shop. Offering mostly women’s clothing, the store also boasts a designer section, plus sizes, trending items, and Vinnies reCYCLE products, as well as neatly arranged homewares, manchester and fiction books.

5. Salvos

Unit 4/356 Pacific Highway, Belmont North

Monday–Saturday 9am-5:30pm

Salvos Belmont offers boutique-style clothing, colour-coordinated homewares, reconditioned mattresses and regular discounts, including half price sales and pensioner and student specials.

Morisset Trail

The Morisset area boasts an abundance of op shops to help you discover your next perfect find. Morisset is home to the largest op shop warehouse in Lake Macquarie, in addition to one-of-a kind stores. For a full day of op shopping, visit on a Wednesday when all shops are open. Most shops are best accessed by car, although some are accessible by bus or train.

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1. Allira House Op Shop

Shop 7/99 Dora Street, Morisset

Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Sunday 9am-2:30pm

This compact shop specialises in women’s and men’s clothing, with a sprinkling of books, homewares, crafts and unique vintage items. Located just a two-minute walk from the train station.

2. Vinnies

75 Dora Street, Morisset

Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 9am-noon

Located on Morisset's main street, Vinnies offers well-organised, easy-to-navigate shopping. Specialising in men's and women's clothing, with a plus size section, it also features a curated selection of kids' clothing, manchester, books, DVDs and homewares.

3. Bourne Again Boutique and Bazaar Op Shop

Corner Bridge and Newcastle streets, Morisset

Boutique: Monday-Saturday 9.15am-12.45pm

Bazaar: Wednesday and Friday 9.15am-12.45pm

Bourne Again Op Shop is split across their Boutique and Bazaar. The Boutique offers clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery and accessories. The Bazaar features homewares, manchester, furniture and electrical items.

4. The Salvation Army Family Store

21/330 Fishery Point Rd, Bonnells Bay

Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 9am-3pm

A community-focused op shop with a warm atmosphere and strong neighbourhood ties. Run by volunteers, it offers value with a wide selection of items, including clothing, furniture, electronics and a monthly specials rack.

5. Son Ship Op Shop

Unit 3, 18 Gateway Boulevard, Morisset

Sunday–Friday 9am-4pm

Easily spotted by its bright blue building in Morisset's industrial area, Son Ship focuses on clothing, furniture and homewares, with a popular electrical section. Well-organised, it offers low prices, strong community connections and surprising treasures.

6. ADRA Morisset

19 Gateway Blvd, Morisset

Sunday-Wednesday 9am-3pm

ADRA, a 2000-square-metre warehouse in Morisset’s industrial area, is Lake Macquarie’s largest op shop. Entirely volunteer-run, it offers a vast, well-organised selection of low-priced items, including clothing, furniture and more. It also features a drive-through donations bay.

7. The Branch Op Shop

Corner Awaba and Kahibah streets, Morisset

Tuesday-Thursday 9am-2:30pm

Tucked among the trees on the Uniting Church grounds, this volunteer-led op shop operates three days a week and offers something for everyone. While primarily accessible by car, there’s ample onsite and nearby street parking.

8. Cooranbong Community Services Op Shop

614 Freemans Dr, Cooranbong

Monday and Wednesday 9am–1:30pm

The Cooranbong Community Services Op Shop is a bustling hub run by dedicated volunteers and open two half-days a week. It has designated areas focusing on clothing, books, crafts, electrical appliances, furniture, outdoor items and sporting goods. It supports local projects and community members.

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