D.Vice

Brightly lit, the store displays PG-rated wares out the front but you can find much saucier stock behind a wall up the back. For those venturing out the back, staff won’t leave you to your own devices (literally) if you’re bewildered by shelves full of unidentifiable objects. Staff are more than happy to take you through their entire range, from inexpensive cock rings to sleek, top-of-the-range Swedish Lelo vibrators. U-shaped We-Vibes are currently the biggest sellers, says store manager Kit, as toys you can either share or play with by yourself.

D.Vice is not just for curious L-Platers but seasoned sex toy veterans, sporting a sizeable range of fetish gear manufactured in-house with quality leather and colourful faux furs. Though a New Zealand chain, D.Vice’s Australian store makes a point of stocking locally made products like the popular ‘Mile High Club’ flight attendant uniform from Sexiaz, stocked in sizes big enough for cross-dressing gents to get on board.

The store’s philosophy is one that sees sex as important to your health as getting your rocks off and, by request, staff can present talks for groups like newborn mothers’ circles on how to bring sexy back. Though you won’t find porn mags you will find shelves full of serious and not-so-serious sex literature on anything from the ‘The Ultimate Guide to Strap-on Sex’ to booklets on ‘Dungeon and Emergency Supplies’. So if anyone asks, you can say you just go to D.Vice to read the articles.