Sex shops get a bad wrap, but the skeezy, back-alley stereotype is far from the norm in these sexually enlightened times. Greater sex positivity has helped society shed many uptight taboos and lifted the veil on the erotic hijinks many of us choose to dabble in. As the saying goes, a workman (or woman, or non-binary person) is only as good as their tools, so it's worth investing in some quality hardware if you care about how you get your kicks.
We've hunted down Sydney's finest purveyors of bedroom playthings, from cheeky toys to hardcore fetish gear – and if you cannot visit in person, they all deliver, discreetly and direct to your door.
Adult World bills itself as a supermarket-style shopping experience for sexy products, with everything from fetishwear to toys and porn. It's not fancy, but it comprehensively does the job. There's the Oxford Street store in Darlinghurst (124 Oxford Street), as well as stores in Newtown, Bankstown and Beaconsfield.
The Max philosophy is simple: they like to keep it classy. That's not to say that they aren't replete with all sorts of marvellously kinky and sexy equipment, but that they have gone to some design-heavy lengths to ensure that the place is a comfortable, fun space for their customers, regardless of gender or sexuality. To that end, they tend towards the pricier, high-quality end of the spectrum, as befits its Newtown location. After the more spacious old shop burnt down (a sad day for Newtown), the Max Black team moved across the road (upstairs at 249 King Street).
Funtasia is West Ryde's home of sexy good times, specialising in adult fun for men and women of all proclivities. And it has a puntacular name – everyone loves that, right? Find a great selection of porn titles, toys, novelty items and gear for some of the more common kinks in the erotic arena. You'll also find outlets in Penrith (23 Woodriff St), and they offer same-day shipping (two-hour Uber delivery!).
This old favourite has been serving up porn, toys and lingerie and fetish gear in the city for decades, catering to the straight, gay, bi, trans and intersex market. This was once a skin-flick porn palace, where you could slip a cheeky $20 and spend an afternoon with Madame Palm and her five lovely daughters. Now, it's a 21st-century outfit, with an excellent online presence for all your erotic needs. Need it quick? You can get same-day delivery or click-and-collect your order.
The city's sexiest, kinkiest, most twisted and high-quality leather and fetishwear can be found on the shelves of this Oxford Street institution. This delightful den caters for both newbies and old hands to the fetish game, carrying everything from studded harnesses to chaps and codpieces through to latex leggings, rubber skirts and chrome bras. Find them at 247 Oxford Street.
One of Sydney's most aptly named adult stores, the Toolshed serves up some of the most creative and imaginative objects destined for the orifice of your choice. From Mould Your Own Pussy kits and deluxe double-ended dildos through to porn classics such as Shaving Ryan's Privates and Edward Penishands, the Toolshed is all about bringing Sydney's sexy back.
This award-winning company has been in the business of pleasure since 2002. Lovehoney prides itself on being super-inclusive and uses its website as not only a store but a sex positive content portal also. You'll find loads of information on finding the right toys, lingerie, bondage and lubricants for you and be guided through a massive range of products to get delivered discreetly. They stock wares from all the big names but also have an impressive range of Lovehoney-branded goods too (check out the cute glow-in-the-dark range).
It isn't a secret that Wild Secrets is a great Aussie site for sex toys, bondage gear, lingerie and more. They offer super fast (even same-day delivery!) and discreet delivery plus a great range of toys you often have to search international sites for.
This woman-owned sex toy warehouse has been operating since 2002. Head here for an incredibly extensive range, with thoughtful touches like sex toy cleaners, batteries and an encyclopedic catalogue of lubes also available. Femplay discreetly ships across Australia and to a few international locales for globally-minded lovers.
Sometimes you just want to shop at the department store, ya know? This horny Myer has many virtual levels of products for you to browse. From anal toys to pheromone candles, Adult Toy Mega Store have got it all. Plus, they take their support of Australian sex lives seriously with an in-house podcast and regular sales.
It's highly likely you've seen the splashy bricks and mortar Club X stores around the country. But did you know you can order from their massive range online? This sexy stalwart has toys, fetishwear, bondage and other accoutrements for all: him, her, them, couples and beyond. Club X's size and scope also means there are incredible discounts and sales to make the most of too.
The most specific sex toy purveyor on this list, Fleshlight sells... well, fleshlights mainly. Find a diverse range in their online store with the tubular units coming in different colours, textures and purposes. There are realistic casts of famous models (with an impressive gender parity) to browse or a "create your own" section if you're a customising customer.
Aside from having killer SEO and one of the cutest little horny devil-on-the-internet logos Adultshop.com also consider themselves to be the passion and pleasure experts. Head here for exclusive kits and bundles, a section devoted to romance and seduction and LGBTQIA-friendly shopping. They also offer free shipping on orders over a modest $59.
JOUJOU takes the cake when it comes to tentative buyers. Their site has an excellent beginner's section that aggregates content and products for those just starting out on their sex toy journey. You can also ramp up the heat if you're more of an expert with guides for more confident customers after something new and a huge range of products for all tastes and positions on the gender spectrum.
When you name your label after arguably the most infamous sexual libertine of all time, you’ve got a lot to live up to. Thankfully, Marquis de Sade does it’s namesake justice, just replace tales of erotic perversion and freedom (as the original De Sade penned) with award winning corsets, PVC and bondage gear and accessories. Forget misshapen, one-size-fits-no-one bustiers and cheap stockings. At Marquis de Sade they know the importance of good quality materials and design when it comes to fetish wear, as label creator Mary Delon has a background in haute couture and tailoring. The bricks and mortar store was located in Ormond, but has shifted to an online only store.
Nikki Darling is Australia’s first gender-free sexual health and pleasure store, founded by sex-positive educator and pleasure activist, Lauren Clair. The website is easy to navigate and you even have the option of searching for items by specific body parts.
Normal prioritises sexual empowerment and education above all else. Lucy Wark, the general manager and part-owner of Normal, is working to make sexual wellness more accessible to people everywhere with a range of affordable, sleek toys that you can have shipped straight to your door (in discreet packaging, of course).
With its stylised photography and dreamy, earthen palette, Rosewell is basically the Aesop of the sex toy world. Banished be eye-watering colours and unsubtle packaging – here, a luxurious ‘Midnight Hour’ scented candle comes in a pack with a sleek, white toy and a deck of reflection cards, for a new, exploratory take on self-love.
Par Femme is an independent online store created by women for women, selling loungewear and sex toys. If you sign up to the newsletter, you’ll score 10 per cent off your first order.
A relative newcomer to the scene, My Amora offers discrete delivery across the country on a broad selection of premium European-imported toys.
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