11 must-visit markets in the Blue Mountains by town

hero media
With a collection of weekly, monthly and yearly markets rotating through the Blue Mountains, you’re sure to discover one during your stay.

Market-lovers know that the best place to find unique, handmade items and beautifully grown produce is at regional community markets. From the foothills of Penrith to lofty Katoomba, Megalong and beyond, these Blue Mountains events showcase the talent and passion of local artisans and farmers.

1. Christmas Wollemi Artisan Markets, Katoomba

When: Annually in December

Come along to seek out stocking-fillers at this annual free Christmas market in Katoomba  to find an array of local, artisan products.

market stalls lined up along Christmas Wollemi Artisan Markets, Katoomba
Browse local artisan products at Christmas Wollemi Artisan Markets (also pictured above). (Image: Liam Foster)

From jewellery, homewares and edible gifts to artworks and fashion, talent is on show as you shop local to the sounds of live music. Take a break from shopping to check out the Gallery Up Late event that’s also on the premises.

a live music performance at Christmas Wollemi Artisan Markets, Katoomba
Listen to live music while shopping. (Image: Liam Foster)

Address: 30 Parke Street, Katoomba

2. Megalong Makers Market, Megalong

When: Easter Saturday and second Saturday of November

The twice-yearly Megalong Makers Market  is one to mark on your calendar with a range of local artisans and producers coming together to sell their wares directly to the public from 10am-2pm. You’ll find jewellery, soaps, woodwork, macrame and other crafts, as well as coffee, food trucks and more.

people dropping by the Megalong Creek Estate vehicle at Megalong Makers Market
Visit Megalong Makers Market to buy organic produce and more.

Address: Megalong Community Hall

3. Blackheath Growers Market, Blackheath

When: Second Sunday of the month

Stroll 60 stalls of this lovely market  as your tummy grumbles for the delicious produce on display. There’s everything from locally grown fruits and veg to breads, meats, spices cheeses, olive oil, nuts and wines to whet your appetite and inspire you in the kitchen.

a cheese board at Blackheath Growers Market, Blackheath
Blackheath Growers Market is a cheese lover’s haven. (Image: All Events Markets and Festivals)

Address: Blackheath Community Centre

4. Blackheath Mountain Craft Markets, Blackheath

When: Third and fourth Sundays of the month

The undercover Blackheath Mountain Craft Markets  is a wonderful way to spend a few hours admiring the works of talented local craftspeople and makers. From sweet treats and delicious provisions to gift cards, wooden puzzles and toys, jewellery, fashion and trinkets, you’ll find something to take home as a memento of your Blue Mountains visit.

Address: RSL sub-branch hall, Bundarra Street, Blackheath

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

AI Prompt

5. Springwood Growers Market, Springwood 

When: Fourth Sunday of the month

Running since 2015, the Springwood Growers Market  is a cornucopia of fresh, regional fruit and vegetables and artisan-made products such as breads, free-range eggs, honey, wines, and condiments.

traditional spices at Springwood Growers Market, Springwood
Find an array of traditional spices at Springwood Growers Market. (Image: All Events Markets and Festivals)

You’ll also find plants and seedlings to buy to get your own garden up and running. Bring your market basket and fill to the brim with beautiful, seasonal food purchased direct from farmers. With around 50 stallholders, you’ll find plenty to stock the fridge and pantry.

fresh apples at Springwood Growers Market, Springwood
Fill your basket with fresh apples at Springwood Growers Market. (Image: All Events Markets and Festivals)

Address: Blue Mountains Community Theatre Hub, Springwood

6. Bilpin Community Markets and Café, Bilpin

 When: Every Saturday

A weekly community get-together, the Bilpin Community Markets and Cafe offers up a wholesome piece of mountain life with a side of delicious produce and good food. Come along for locally-made crafts, treats, jams and preserves, as well as flowers, eco cleaning products and more.

locally made crafts on display at Bilpin Community Markets and Café
Shop locally-made crafts at Bilpin Community Markets and Café.

Address: Bilpin Hall, Bells Line of Road, Bipin

7. Oberon Community and Farmers Market, Oberon

When: First Saturday of the month

The charming Oberon Community and Farmers Market  is a lovely way to spend a morning in the mountains. Here you’ll find all manner of lovely items to covet, from patchwork quilts and beeswax candles to wooden chopping boards, plants and ornaments. There’s also coffee, treats and fresh produce to enjoy.

people browsing the stalls inside Oberon Community and Farmers Market
Find everything you need at Oberon Community and Farmers Market.

 Address: Oberon Showground, 79/99 Ross Street, Oberon

 8. Aussie Night Markets – Penrith

When: Third Sunday of the month

There’s an evening of fun to be had every month at the Aussie Night Market in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Between 5pm and 9.30pm head along to shop and eat in a lively, festival-like atmosphere with food stalls and trucks, rides and games, retail stores and live music.

people having a picnic on the grounds at Aussie Night Markets
Spend a vibrant afternoon outdoors at Aussie Night Markets. (Image: Visit Penrith)

Address: Panthers, 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith

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

9. Richmond Good Food Market, Richmond 

When: Every Saturday

Trestle tables are laden with food grown and produced in and around the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions at the weekly Richmond Good Food Market.

the Richmond Good Food Market on a sunny day
Shop your way around Richmond Good Food Market.

Avoid the supermarket, support local farmers and eat beautiful, nutrient-dense food with a trip here to do your weekly shop. From meat to veg and all manner of products, there’s plenty to fill your shopping basket.

flowery plants on display at Richmond Good Food Market
Check out these pretty indoor plants at Richmond Good Food Market. (Image: Dee Uson Photography)

Address: Richmond Park, 180 Windsor Street, Richmond

Lawson

 10. Magpie Up Style Markets, Lawson

When: Third Sunday of the month (excluding January)

Get ready to rummage through all sorts of treasures at the Magpie Up Style monthly market , where you can peruse collectibles, pre-loved fashion, arts and crafts, books and delicious food. Grab a coffee and a bite as you wander the stalls looking for your next-favourite find.

honey jars at Magpie Up Style Markets, Lawson
Grab a jar of sweet honey at Magpie Up Style Markets. (Image: All Events Markets and Festivals)

Address: Lawson Public School, corner Wilson Street and Great Western Highway

11. Glenbrook Rotary Markets, Glenbrook

 When: First and third Saturdays of the month

The well-established Glenbrook Markets  is a fun outing on any Blue Mountains itinerary with plenty of stalls to draw crowds. Discover almost anything, from plants to wooden handicrafts and ceramics, knitted socks, fashion finds and wellness products. There’s also plenty of sellers peddling edible delights, from handmade biscuits and other baked treats to local honey and good coffee.

evolva tea products on display at Glenbrook Rotary Markets
Discover edible delights at Glenbrook Rotary Markets.

Address: 10 Ross Street, Glenbrook

Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
View profile and articles
hero media

8 ways to discover a new side of Port Stephens

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

    You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

    All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

    1. Stockton Sand Dunes

    Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

    Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

    Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape.
    Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

    2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

    A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

    History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

    Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens.
    Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

    3. Watch out for whales

    You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

    And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

    A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface.
    Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

    4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

    Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary  to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

    Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

    Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile
    See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Diving Port Stephens

    Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

    Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

    At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

    A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure.
    Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

    6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

    Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

    Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

    Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay.
    Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

    7. Fish the estuaries

    Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

    If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

    three men fishing on a boat in port stephens
    Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

    8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

    With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

    Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

    Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

    A plate of fresh oysters.
    Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .