As we like to say on the show – get thee to a market, bellysister!\u00a0 (everyone who loves good food is a bellysister).\u00a0 They are\u00a0 great places to do the bulk of your weekly shopping (veg from the market last so long you may be able to leave them in your will) , or buy earth and palate friendly gifts, or just stop to check out the local scene and have a snack.\u00a0 There are more popping up all the time.<\/p>\n
Check the bottom of this page for some summer season markets, and please let your bellysisters know if you find more markets, they are coming up like tasty mushrooms in this fine North Coast weather. The freshest fruit and vegetables you will ever find is at these markets.\u00a0 Prices are sometimes higher than the local supermarket, sometimes well below, but the quality is usually vastly superior. \u00a0 Market rules vary, but usually there are checks in place to see that the stall holders are selling their own produce, and they come from the local area.\u00a0 Stalls selling organic produce are always clearly marked.\u00a0 You will usually find jams and relishes, honey, eggs, breads, local cheese, meats, sometimes seafood, and various edible temptations made from mostly local produce.\u00a0\u00a0 Many stalls are ready to sell earlier than these advertised times, and many sell out long before the finish time.\u00a0 So if you’d like variety, come early, but be ready to fight it out with the locals, who tend to come early and often have to rush off to work.\u00a0 For a more relaxed experience, come later, but by big city standards the markets are probably always laid back!<\/p>\n New Brighton<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, New Brighton Oval, 6684 5390 <\/p>\n WEDNESDAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Murwillumbah<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Murwillumbah Showground, 0401 306 818<\/p>\n Byron Bay<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Butler Street Reserve,\u00a0 6687 1137<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FRIDAY<\/strong><\/span> Uki<\/strong> – 8 to 12.30 am, Uki Community Centre,\u00a0 6679 9026 <\/strong><\/p>\n Blue Knob<\/strong>, outside Nimbin- 9 am to 1 pm, Blue Knob Hall, 6689-7004<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SUNDAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ballina<\/strong> – Kingsford Smith Drive – 6 am to 12 pm , 0416 048 241<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kyogle <\/strong> – Stratheden Street\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Every Saturday, 6636 6233 <\/p>\n GOLD COAST FARMERS MARKETS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n SATURDAY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Currumbin<\/strong> – 7 to 11.30am, Currumbin Sanctuary Car Park,\u00a0 0417 759 777<\/p>\n SUNDAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Organic Gold Coast<\/strong> – 6 to 11.30am,Miami State High School,\u00a0 1300 668 603 <\/strong><\/p>\n Beenleigh<\/strong> – 6am to 12pm, Showground,\u00a0 (07) 3807 1871<\/p>\n Bundall <\/strong>–\u00a0 7am to 12pm, Gold Coast Turf Club, Racecourse Drive , 0404 787 865 ROTATING WEEKEND MARKETS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n These mixed markets are a good way to see the different tribes gathering, listen to music, buy some crafts, some are even made locally rather than imported from S-E Asia.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ve chosen ones that have at least some food and produce.\u00a0 Some will come straight from the wholesale markets, but many are small scale local items, grown or made by people who believe in providing an alternative to the national supermarket chains.\u00a0 And making a living without plugging into the central market system.\u00a0 They mostly start around 8 am and go until 3, sometimes 4 pm for very busy markets like Byron Bay and Bangalow.\u00a0 Be aware that small markets or markets held on rainy days may start to pack up early.<\/p>\n FIRST WEEKEND OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Saturday <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Brunswick Heads – <\/strong>Memorial Park, 6684 4437 Sunday<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Byron Bay <\/strong>–\u00a0 Butler Street Reserve, 6685 6807 ext 2 SECOND WEEKEND OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/span> Kingscliff –<\/strong> Marine Parade, 6674 0827 Sunday <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Channon\u00a0 –<\/strong> Coronation Park, 6688 6433<\/p>\n Lennox Head<\/strong> –\u00a0 Lake Ainsworth foreshore, 6687 8618<\/p>\n (check location, they’ve been experimenting – or follow signs)<\/p>\n Alstonville\u00a0 – <\/strong>Showground (undercover), 6628 1568 Mullumbimby – <\/strong> Cnr Stuart and Myocum Streets , 6684 3370 Sunday<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Byron Bay <\/strong>–\u00a0 Butler Street Reserve, 6685 6807 ext 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (summer only, October to March)<\/p>\n Uki –<\/strong> Old Uki Buttery,\u00a0 6679 5369 FOURTH WEEKEND OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/span> Evans Head<\/strong> – Recreation reserve near Silver Sands,\u00a0 0439 489631 Sunday <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Bangalow – <\/strong> Bangalow Showground, 6687 1911 (these are extra markets on months with more than their fair share of weekends)<\/p>\n Nimbin<\/strong> – Community Centre , 0429 194 248 AND JUST TO BE DIFFERENT (in the way they work out when to hold them) Woodenbong Yowie<\/strong> Country Markets –\u00a0 Public Hall,\u00a0 Last Sat. in month 6635 1176 <\/p>\n MORE MARKETS<\/strong><\/span> And for some reviews of Queensland markets, and details of markets in Brisbane and the rest of the banana state, go to this site MARKET LOCATION\/EXTRA INFO LINKS<\/span><\/strong> :<\/p>\n http:\/\/byronfarmersmarket.com.au<\/a> Please leave a comment about your favourite market, and let the bellysisters know if we’ve missed a good food market in this area – or one we should look out for if we travel further afield.<\/p>\n You are welcome to copy and use any of the information on this page, as it will hopefully help to support the markets.\u00a0 However, an acknowledgment that it came from the bellysisters would be really nice.\u00a0 I have been calling tourist information offices to check these details are correct, however markets change all the time, so please let us know if you spot any mistakes.\u00a0 And enjoy the market!<\/p>\n Sister T<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ADDED EXTRAS – SUMMER MARKETS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many markets are getting trialled in the summer months in the Northern Rivers, some of them become regular summer events or even all year round goodness if they get enough support.\u00a0 Please tell us (see contact us page or leave a comment below) if you know of any more<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THURSDAYS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n LISMORE Produce Market, Magellan St (between Carrington and Molesworth), 3.30 pm to 6 pm, 02 6622 5141<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BALLINA Twilight Market, Fawcett Park , 4 til 8 pm, until the end of daylight saving, managed by the lovely Joni Teal, so bound to be good; 02 6687 4086, email ballinatwilightmarket@gmail.com<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n
\nFARMERS MARKETS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nWEEKLY FARMERS MARKETS\u00a0 IN THE BYRON BAY AREA<\/strong><\/span>
\n
\nTUESDAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nLismore Organic<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Lismore Showground,\u00a0 6628 1084<\/p>\n
\nTHURSDAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMullumbimby<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Showgrounds, 6684 5390
\n
\n<\/strong>
\nSATURDAY<\/strong>
\n<\/span>
\nBangalow<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Bangalow Hotel carpark, 6687 1137
\nLismore<\/strong> – 8 to 11 am, Lismore Showground, 6629 3229<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nA FEW MORE NORTHERN NSW FARMERS MARKETS <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nBellingen<\/strong> –\u00a0 Showground\u00a0 –\u00a0 Second & Fourth Saturday,\u00a0 6655 9719
\nGrafton<\/strong> – Market Square –\u00a0 Every Thursday, 6642 3336
\n(a small but interesting market under the jacarandas, still listed as fortnightly on many websites, check in winter maybe)<\/p>\n
\nNerang<\/strong> –\u00a0\u00a0 6.30am to 12pm, Lavelle Street, 0417 728 844
\nMt Tamborine <\/strong>–\u00a0 8 am to 12pm, Showground,indoor<\/p>\n
\nMurwillumbah – <\/strong>Knox Park , 6672 1340<\/p>\n
\nLismore Car Boot<\/strong> –\u00a0 Lismore Shopping Square carpark, 6628 7333
\nPottsville <\/strong>–\u00a0\u00a0 Recreation Ground,\u00a0 6676 4555<\/p>\n
\n
\nSaturday <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nTintenbar <\/strong> –\u00a0 Oval, Fernleigh Rd , 6687 8588<\/p>\n
\nChillingham – <\/strong> Community Centre, Numinbah Rd, 6679 1284
\nCoolangatta – <\/strong> Queen Elizabeth Park,\u00a0 (07) 5533 8202
\nMount Tamborine<\/strong> – Showground,\u00a0 0417 618 379
\n
\nTHIRD WEEKEND OF THE MONTH<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nSaturday<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMurwillumbah <\/strong> – Knox Park,\u00a0 6672 1340<\/p>\n
\nLismore Car Boot<\/strong> – Lismore Shopping Square carpark ,\u00a0 6628 7333
\nNimbin – <\/strong> Nimbin Community Centre ,\u00a0 0429 194 248
\nBallina <\/strong> – Circus Ground, Canal Road,\u00a0 6687 4328
\nPottsville <\/strong> – Recreation Ground,\u00a0 6676 4555<\/p>\n
\n
\nSaturday <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n( during Christmas school holidays held at StanPayne Oval)
\nKingscliff – <\/strong> Marine Parade, 6674 0827<\/p>\n
\nMurwillumbah <\/strong> – Showgrounds,\u00a0 6672 1340
\nYamba<\/strong> – Ford Park, 0422 420 159
\n
\nFIFTH SUNDAY <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nLennox Head<\/strong> – Lake Ainsworth foreshore , 6672 2874
\n(this is normally a bigger and busier market than in week 2, also check\u00a0 location, they have been experimenting)
\nCasino <\/strong> – Casino Village RV Resort,69 Light St, 6662 1069<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTamborine Village – <\/strong> Middle Park ,\u00a0 Last Sunday in month<\/p>\n
\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.farmersmarkets.org.au\/<\/a> – the official site of the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association, with a list of locations and contacts about farmers markets all over Australia, and info on starting up your own!
\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.clarencetourism.com\/pdffiles\/market_guide.pdf <\/a>– for markets in the Clarence and Richmond valleys and Coffs Harbour area
\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.goldcoast.com.au\/gold-coast-shopping-markets.html<\/a> – there are a lot of other farmers markets on the Gold Coast that rotate from week to week – this site has address and other details for all Gold Coast markets – remember in summer there\u00a0 will be a 1 hour time difference for Queensland!<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.whitehat.com.au\/Queensland\/Markets\/MarketsQld.asp<\/a>
\nI’ve been to the Powerhouse market in Brisbane and can recommend it – get there early – and I have a friend who loves the Currumbin market.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>http:\/\/byronbaycommunitymarket.com\/<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/bangalowmarket.com.au\/?page=site\/stall&stall_id=19<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.visitlismore.com.au\/cmst\/vl001\/view_doc.asp?id=1063&cat=67<\/a> – Lismore area markets and market bus
\nhttp:\/\/www.newbrightonfarmersmarket.org.au <\/a>(they also run the Mullum farmers market)
\nhttp:\/\/www.murwillumbah.com.au\/pages\/market.html<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.tweedtourism.com.au\/search_resultall.asp<\/a> – a list of Northern NSW and Gold Coast market details
\nhttp:\/\/www.tamborinemtncc.org.au\/visiting\/things_to_do\/things_to_do.cfm<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.bigvolcano.com.au\/active\/markets.htm <\/a>– good market pictures<\/p>\n