Most travelers to Australia love to visit a city market. They are great places to shop, for yourself or finding a souvenir for someone back home, but also, markets tend to have a strong community vibe that invites you join them for a day, or night, and hang out with the locals, whilst you get to know the scene. Food is always on offer, Australia is a multicultural country and it shows in the market food and fresh food stalls, and the hand made goods are of a high quality, where often, you are buying directly from the creator, who is running the stall. Go market hopping whilst you see Australia and find which one best suits your own vibe. We guarantee you’ll find something you’ll want to take away with you.
Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market – weekends
Cnr Elizabeth St and Victoria St, Melbourne CBD
The famous Queen Vic Market is spread over two city blocks in Melbourne’s centre and is chock full of stalls upon stall of…..stuff. You can find what ever you need here. The food market is on during the week too but the weekends are the time to go if you want it all. They even have a night market running June-Aug which is a lot of fun.
South Melbourne Market – Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun.
322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne 3205
These markets have a great atmosphere and it’s mainly due to the fact that it is a majority of locals that shop here. The fresh produce stalls are aplenty and most people in the area would do some or all of their food shopping there. Locals also go there to eat a meal in the middle of the day at all the great take away stalls hidden inside the shed. There are also some other respectable stalls for clothes, household good and other bits and bobs, but the food is where its at.
Sydney
The Rocks – weekends
George St. The Rocks, 2000
The Rocks markets have an exceptional hand made goods for sale, a lot of the time these stalls are exclusive to this market. High price range and lots of tourists BUT the location in gorgeous and the perfect place to do some souvenir shopping in Sydney when you want to be able to buy straight from the artist and have something really very nice to show off back home.
Bondi markets – Sundays
Boni Beach Public School, Campbell Parade, Bondi 2026
A veeeeery relaxed atmosphere here, as Bondi in general has a easy going attitude to most things. Nestled in the grounds of a public primary school you can wander through hundreds of stalls, packed in with people happy to be there. Crafts, hand printed T’s, vintage stalls, second hand clothes and new. Very beachy and very cool. Not too expensive either.
Hobart
Salamanca – Saturdays
Salamanca Place, Hobart waterfront.
With more than 300 stalls, located out the front of the Salamanca Square, here you’ll find fine Tasmanian art and craft from the island itself. Goods made from materials like wood, glass and ceramics are very popular in these parts of Australia, and one of a kind. The fruit and veg are fresh from the locals and you can buy organic. Not just for tourists, this is a regular stop for those living in Hobart, so you’ll find the prices not too steep, and the Taswegians are very proud of their Salamanca markets.
Sunshine Coast
Eumundi Night Markets – 5-9pm Dec 4 – Jan 15
Memorial Drive, Eumundi 4562
This lively market is arty and crafty with a heap of food and drink on offer. Street performers and live music are very entertaining when you feel like a drink and a sit to re coup whilst browsing the place. It’s very kid friendly with rides and book readings, and it has a nice rural, hometown, kind of feeling throughout the market.
Perth
Fremantle Markets – Fridays and Saturdays
Sun Cnr South Terrace and Henderson St, Fremantle.
These markets are full of good Western Australian made wares and other hand made goodies. Theres lots of souvenirs available both small and large, you’d definitely find something you like. Great fresh produce in the fruit, veg and meat departments and that classic, cool and Fremantle chilled out vibe the area is famous for. They have lots of events on, stuff for the kiddies and live music, plus indigenous and independent products.
Perth Upmarket – Sundays
University of WA Winthrop Hall, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009
Stunningly located at the grounds of the old Western Australian University, this market is rather, well, upmarket. Stunning hand made gifts and crafts along side home made jams, sweets and treats, tarts and cakes. A classy market lovers dream.
Darwin
Mindil beach Sunset Markets – Thursdays and Sunday nights Between Sky City Casino and the Botanic Gardens, Mindil Beach
These night markets are awesome. Here, not only do you have all the stalls you could need and more, you also get to enjoy the stunning sunset on the beach! You are welcome to claim a spot on the sand with a blanket and a couple of BYO drinks and then hop in and out of the market for anything else you may need. Food is big here, so much choice….and that sunset!
Parap Markets – Saturdays (all year round!)
Parap Rd, Parap 0804
The Parap markets have a long-standing history in Darwin and are visited by a ton of locals and tourist alike. The fresh produce is in abundance and hot and cold food generally cheaper than some competition markets around town. Enjoy live music, find some local crafts, get a massage or smell the flowers.
