12 of the best markets in Canberra

Melissa Mason Melissa Mason
hero media
Whether you’ve come to Canberra for the city’s incredible restaurant scene or to visit some of Australia’s best museums, no stay is complete without a trip to the markets.

Take your pick – there are 12 excellent markets that happen around Canberra, with most popping up each week and some reserved for the season. These are where you’ll find incredible local produce, handmade gifts, vintage fashion and everything else you’d need for a successful shopping haul when visiting our nation’s capital.

Farmers Markets

Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets

When: Thursday – Sunday, 7am – 5:30pm
Address: 36 Mildura St, Fyshwick

The quirky suburb of Fyshwick may not have many residents – only 52 people live there – but the communal vibes are strong at Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets. From Thursday through Sunday, each week here is packed with rows of fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables, deli items, seafood and artisanal bread. Locals swear by the institution, which has been around for 50 years, and visitors always find an essential piece of Canberra to take home with them. You’ll also find some specialty stalls selling wine so it’s a great place to restock the collection.

artisanal bread on display at Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, Canberra
Pick up artisanal bread from Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets is also home to Niche Markets, which is an extension and runs at the same time with a bigger focus on local craftspeople selling everything from fresh flowers to homewares. Browse Canberra’s finest makers to a soundtrack of live music – it’s become a favourite pastime for locals.

When: Thursday – Sunday, 7am – 5:30pm
Where: 36 Mildura St, Fyshwick

Saturday Markets

The Little Burley Market

When: Saturday, 9am – 1:30pm (closed in winter months)
Address: Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600

No other weekly market in Canberra has a stronger sense of identity than The Little Burley Market.

market stalls at Little Burley Market, Canberra
Shop gourmet foods, artisan wares and seasonally-themed goods. (Image: VisitCanberra)

A favourite for locals and visitors, this Saturday market is set on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin with some of Canberra’s finest showing up each week.

an aerial view of people shopping around the stalls at The Little Burley Market, Canberra
The Little Burley Market is a local favourite. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Browse through a selection of gourmet foods, artisan wares and seasonally-themed goods from notable stallholders like Deep Blue Ceramics and Dedas Smokehouse. It’s a great way to start the day.

making takoyaki in one of the food stalls at The Little Burley Market, Canberra
Fuel yourself while you shop. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Capital Region Farmer’s Market

When: Saturday, 7am – 11:30am
Address: Exhibition Park, Old Well Station Rd, Mitchell 

In 2004, the Capital Region Farmer’s Market began as a way for farmers and local producers to offer fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and other products directly to the customer. It’s grown immensely since then, becoming Canberra’s biggest farmer’s market and one of the most valuable in Australia. Pick up a fresh loaf from Bush Bread of Australia, plate up some fresh tagliatelle from Norma Maria’s Pasta or hit up Banjo’s Oysters for some freshly shucked treats. There are more than 125 stallholders so you’ll easily find a few things you love.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Sunday Markets

Old Bus Depot Markets

When: Sunday, 9:30am – 2:30pm
Address:  21 Wentworth Ave, Kingston  

Old Bus Depot Markets is Canberra’s most popular weekly market and has been standing tall for over 30 years.

the exterior of Old Bus Depot Markets, Canberra
Old Bus Depot Markets has become a renowned Canberra institution. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The huge market is shaped into an old industrial space that once housed the Old Bus Depot building – hence the obvious name – and pops up every Sunday with over 200 stalls selling the best in fashion, accessories, art, furniture, and produce.

shoppers at Old Bus Depot Markets, Canberra
Check out over 200 stalls at Old Bus Depot Markets. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Buy some homemade jam or a statement-making art piece and then celebrate your find at the curated Gourmet Food Hall.

bread from Old Bus Depot Markets, Canberra
Take home sweet and flaky treats from Old Bus Depot Markets. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Haig Park Village Markets

When: Sunday, 8:30am – 2pm
Address: Cnr Lonsdale St and Girrahween St, Braddon 

If you’re looking for a leafy weekend market with a strong sense of community, you’ll find it in Haig Park near the heart of Braddon.

a mother and son at a plant stall in Haig Park Village Markets, Canberra
Shoppers flock to Haig Park Village Markets on Sundays. (Image: Haig Park Village Market, Martin Ollman)

Haig Park Village Markets goes down each Sunday from 8:30am to 2pm, always offering a family-friendly day out with local musicians and mostly farmers produce sitting alongside pastries, fresh juices, sandwiches and more.

Head on down, grab some bites and set up a picnic in the park – it’s the best way to do it.

picnic chairs under the trees at Haig Park Village Markets, Canberra
Spend a family-friendly day out at Haig Park Village Markets. (Image: Haig Park Village Market, Martin Ollman)

When: Sunday, 8:30am – 2pm
Where: Cnr Lonsdale St and Girrahween St, Braddon, ACT 2612

Southside Farmer’s Market

When: Sunday, 7am – 11:30am
Address: 2 Launceston St, Phillip  

Head out to the picturesque suburb of Phillip to find Southside Farmer’s Market every Sunday. Opening at 7am and only running until 11:30am, the Canberra food markets pitch the region’s best produce tied up in mouth-watering foods like ready-to-eat pies, pastries and artisan cheeses. Stock up on homemade jams, oils and sauces, flowers, fish, eggs, honey and more.

fresh produce at Southside Farmer’s Market, Canberra
Southside Farmer’s Market pitches the region’s best produce.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Hartley Hall Markets

When: First Sunday of every month, 10am – 3pm
Address: Gladstone St, Hall ACT 2618

Held on the first Sunday of each month, the Hartley Hall Markets typically draws in a very mixed crowd and is a favourite for day-trippers as it’s one of Australia’s largest markets of artisan goods and produce. The markets are fun out of Hall Village Showground by Hartley Lifecare and have been around since 1987, growing exponentially with a long list of stallholders selling baked goods, fresh produce, unique gifts, children’s toys and more. Like most Canberra markets, it’s also dog-friendly so you’ll have to resist petting every pup you see while shopping around. Entry is by gold coin donation.

people strolling around the stalls at Hartley Hall Markets, Canberra
Visit Hartley Hall Markets every first Sunday of every month.

Clothes Markets

Three Sixty Fashion Markets

When: Four times a year with no set dates (announced via social media)
Address: Fitters’ Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston

Three Sixty Fashion Markets are part of the wider Canberra Markets collective and only pop up 3-4 times a year on alternative dates in March, June, September and November. Starting at 10am, the niche market pulls together Canberra’s best local labels and independent designers for a range of vintage, retro and high-quality fashion. Only gently used or new goods are accepted, packing Kingston’s Fitters Workshop with rows of the year’s best looks.

Occasional Markets

Canberra Kids Market

When: Twice a year with no set dates (dates announced via social media)

Address: Fitters’ Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston ACT 2604

The Canberra Kids Market typically only comes around twice a year with no set date. Times are always announced on the popular market’s social media channels with most years usually getting one in March and one in November. It’s the best place to shop for kids in Canberra, especially those aged 0-12 years old with a massive range of clothes, toys, baby care, cots, strollers, prams, car seats, party supplies and more goods that focus on giving parents an affordable yet high-quality selection of kids essentials.

Handmade Market

When: Quarterly, check the website for dates and times
Address: Exhibition Pavilion, Flemington Rd, Mitchell, ACT 2911

The quarterly Handmade Market celebrates food and design in equal measure, sticking to the Canberra region with a strong sense of place and community. It’s a great thing to do in Canberra if you’re looking for any unique gifts to take home with the scope including pottery, one-of-a-kind wrapping paper, plants, candles and more. There are over 250 stalls so you’ll surely find something. Plus, the market even offers a “low sensory shopping hour" (9am – 10am) for people with mobility difficulties and sensory sensitivities.

the crowded Handmade Market in Canberra
Find something you love from over 250 stalls at Handmade Market.
The article is originally written by Melissa Mason with updates by Chris Singh.

Discover the best things to do in Canberra.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Melissa Mason
Melissa Mason is a freelance journalist who loves road tripping and car snacks. Previously holding Editor roles at ELLE, marie claire, Broadsheet and Pedestrian.TV, she now writes travel and lifestyle content for a wealth of Australian titles like SMH, Mamamia and Urban List, as well as copywriting for international brands. Outside of writing, she loves walks with her dog Ted, a great Sunday afternoon with friends, and op shopping. If she could be anywhere right now it would be lounging on a hammock at a tropical resort with a great romantic fantasy book.
View profile and articles
Two children tobogganing at Corin Forest
Canberra

This snowy day trip is magical for kids and just 45 mins from Canberra

Forget the alpine resort haul.

Read more
Clonakilla Winery canberra wine hopper tour
Canberra

Canberra’s cool new wine experience doesn’t need a designated driver

Hop on and hop off at some of Canberra's best wineries.

Read more
Mr Squiggle puppet with Blackboard
Canberra

Remember Mr Squiggle? You can see him in Canberra now!

Two cultural giants have arrived in Canberra.

Read more
Crystalbrook Aurora Canberra
Canberra

Canberra to finally get the new luxury hotel it deserves

Crystalbrook Aurora, Canberra is set to redefine the city’s hospitality scene.

Read more
hero media

Farm fresh produce to a trail of lights: the ultimate guide to Mildura

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    Continue
    The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

    From the moment you arrive in Mildura, the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

    Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura.
    Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

    Taste Mildura’s produce

    It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

    Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey. Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

    Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers, a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

    Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

    Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

    Hatted dining & Italian history

    Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

    To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s. Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

    Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel.
    Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

    Discover a thriving culture scene

    The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

    The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

    Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project. Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

    Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

    Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery.
    Find culture around every corner.

    Wonder at ancient landscapes

    The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

    The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

    Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

    Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park. Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

    Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity.
    Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

    Meet your home away from home

    On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

    Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama. A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

    When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats. Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

    A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura.
    Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

    Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com.