7 treasure-packed Newcastle markets to add to your diary

Melissa Mason Melissa Mason
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Produce straight from farmers and locally-made goods you won’t find elsewhere – Newcastle’s best markets have it all.

For too long, Newcastle was treated as a stopover destination on the way up the NSW coast. But the city and its surrounds have plenty to offer the curious traveller, from some of the best beaches in the state to a celebrated foodie scene. Another reason to visit on your next weekend away? Its markets – renowned for high-quality produce, boutique wineries and local artisans, all of whom come together regularly to sell their wares. These are the ones worth noting in your diary, plus what to expect from their stalls.

1. Handmade in the Hunter Markets

Where: 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin
When: Saturdays, 9am–2pm

floral displays and other items at Handmade in the Hunter Markets
You’ll find an array of unique items to take home.

As the name suggests, the Handmade in the Hunter Markets are all about showcasing the best handmade goods from local artisans. It’s the perfect Newcastle market for finding something new, whether that be an innovative skin cream, creative earrings or a stylish summer dress. The market coordinators are selective with stallholders, ensuring no two stalls are the same and encouraging a diverse range of wares from the community.

2. Warners Bay Markets

Where: The Esplanade, Warners Bay
When: The third Saturday of each month, 9am–1pm

A short drive to the peaceful suburb of Warners Bay in Lake Macquarie will find you at Warners Bay Markets, a wonderful spot to peruse locally made products. The stalls have a distinct focus on slow fashion brands, artisan spirits, pottery and ceramics. It’s especially worth visiting before Christmas for unique gifts that support small businesses.

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3. Olive Tree Markets

Where: Civic Park, Newcastle
When: The first Saturday of each month, 9am–2pm

people gathering at Olive Tree Markets
Shop around Olive Tree Markets or simply lay a picnic blanket and relax.

The Olive Tree Markets might be the most stylish of all, featuring 130 artists, designers, makers, producers and street food purveyors from around the region. The highly curated stallholder list is a trove of talent across the fashion, jewellery, art and lifestyle spaces, meaning you’ll almost certainly find a locally made treasure (or two) to take home with you. The event focuses on community and gathering, with live music and food stalls, too.

4. Newcastle City Farmer’s Market

Where: Newcastle Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow
When: Sundays, 7am–1pm

On Sundays, you can usually find farmers setting up stalls at Newcastle Showground early in the morning, preparing for the waves of locals and tourists who flock to this long-running Newcastle market. Head down and you’ll find overflowing punnets of berries, fresh-picked greens and warm sourdough straight from the oven. Aside from fresh fruit and veg, you can shop handmade items like quilts, soaps, bespoke teas and wooden toys. Skip breakfast and pick up something delicious from one of the vendors, too.

5. Homegrown Markets at the Station

Where: The old train station, Newcastle
When: The second Saturday of each month, 10am–2pm

Homegrown Markets at the Station in Newcastle, NSW
Browse over 100 stalls at the Station. (Image: Homegrown Markets x AK Photo)

Homegrown operates several fantastic markets in the Newcastle region, but the Homegrown Markets at the Station are particularly special. Hosted within the old train station, it retains the nostalgic design features of the historic grounds, making it a lovely space to enjoy on a weekend morning. Browse over 100 stalls selling eco-friendly products, handmade goods and gifts, all while enjoying live music and a plethora of delicious food stalls.

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6. Made & Found Market

Where: Webb Park, Redhead
When: The second Sunday of each month, 10am–2pm

Another Newcastle market run by the Homegrown team, Made & Found makes our list as it’s one of the best places to source vintage and second-hand finds. An eclectic mix of stallholders sell handmade goods, curated collections of pre-loved items and upcycled secondhand pieces, like hand-painted denim and tie-dye fashion. If you pride yourself on your style, this is the market for you!

7. Newcastle Food & Flower Markets

Where: 1 Rural Drive, Sandgate
When: Wednesdays–Saturdays, 8am–2pm

flowers on display at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets
Find pastel-hued bouquets at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets.

The Newcastle Food & Flower Markets are open five days a week. The market proudly supports local businesses and those with a focus on sustainable and eco-conscious living. You will, of course, find plenty of fresh produce and flowers, but be sure to check the website in advance to see what workshops are being held, from flower arranging to cooking. There’s also an onsite cafe for a pick-me-up after you shop.

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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.
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No time to hibernate: experience the best of winter in NSW

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

    When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

    Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

    a beach winter in nsw
    From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

    The Tweed

    In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

    Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

    Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi, where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct.

    visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
    Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

    Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

    End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

    dining room at Bistro Livi
    Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

    Blue Mountains

    The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

    For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway, then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

    Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

    group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing
    Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba, which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

    Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing. Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

    Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection. There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

    dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
    End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Southern Highlands

    Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

    Start with a lap around Dirty Janes, an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn, where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

    When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar, Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

    couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral
    Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Another option, Onesta Cucina, does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

    Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar, where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

    Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral, a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

    woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral
    Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

    Penrith

    Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park, where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

    For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

    kayakers on the nepean river in penrith
    Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro, where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith, the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

    Pullman Penrith
    Set yourself up at Pullman Penrith.

    Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

    7 Eclectic Newcastle Markets to Add to Your Diary | Australian Traveller