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The best Coffs Harbour markets to visit: from food trucks to pottery

The sunshine-y weather on the Mid North Coast makes Coffs Harbour markets a precious commodity year-round.

Coffs Harbour markets matter more than ever as a place for the community to connect and support the work of local farmers and artisan producers. On any given weekend, you will find crowds of Coffs Harbour locals browsing, chatting and shopping for everything from homewares to bric-a-brac and gourmet produce. Here are the Coffs Harbour markets that are a must-visit.

1. Woolgoolga Beach Market

Check Woolgoolga Beach Markets Facebook page to see which stalls you want to zero in on at this popular new market on the Coffs Coast. The monthly market is a potpourri of different colours, scents and sounds where everything from jewellery to clothing, candles and pottery is up for sale. Go full woo-woo at the Woopi Beach Markets with practitioners offering opportunities to reset during treatments that range from relaxation manoeuvres to energy healing with crystals. Have a dip in the ocean and then enjoy lunch at one of the food trucks dedicated to international cuisine.

When: The second Saturday of every month.
Where: 87 Beach Street, Woolgoolga

2. Harbourside Markets

a woman buying plants at Harbourside Markets
Find stalls selling plants, bric-a-brac and homewares.

Harbourside Markets are an institution in Coffs Harbour thanks to the water views all around. Head into the hubbub early – stalls open at 8am – to avoid the crowds and fossick for everything from vintage jackets and collectables to jewellery and custom art. You’ll also find stalls selling plants, bric-a-brac and homewares as well as gourmet produce. BYO picnic blanket and unfurl on the lawn for a spot of people-watching. The beachside boutique market also has food trucks selling go-to treats such as gozleme, loaded potatoes and hot dogs.

When: 8am to 2pm every Sunday
Where: Jetty foreshores, Coffs Harbour

3. Coffs Coast Growers Markets

Coffs Coast Growers Markets
Stock up on your farm-fresh produce at the Coffs Coast Growers Markets. (Image: Jay Black)

This weekly market is split between farmers and growers who bring in their produce every Thursday. Coffs Harbour markets boast a wide variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables, everything from tomatoes, mushrooms, blueberries, sprouts and cabbage to potatoes, pumpkin and pineapples thanks to the region’s sun-drenched climes. Stock up on your farm-fresh produce at the Coffs Coast Growers Markets and supplement with pickles, preserves, baked goods, olive oil, eggs and more.

When: 8am to 2.30pm every Thursday
Where: City Square

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4. Twilight Food Market

crowds of shoppers at Twilight Food Market, Coffs Harbour
Foodies flock to the Twilight Food Market.

Foodies unite near a crook of the Coffs Creek to visit these Coffs Harbour markets that happen in the heart of the Park Beach Reserve between September and April each year. The family-friendly Twilight Food Market is a maze of street-food stalls that span the globe from Indian to Italian and Middle Eastern. Expect lively music as well as kid-friendly treats as the sky fades from blue to black. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy the people-watching. Like all Coffs Harbour markets, it’s as much about commerce as community.

When: Every Friday from early September to the middle of April.
Where: Coffs Harbour Park Beach Reserve

5. Made with Love Markets

cacti for sale at Made with Love Markets
Find plants and ornaments for your home. (Image: Made with Love Markets)

The brief for vendors who want a stall at the quarterly Made with Love Markets is simple: everything produced must be made with love. When it comes to Coffs Harbour markets, this colourful undercover market attracts local artisans selling everything from hand-thrown pottery to bougee sandals hand-crafted from leather. Don your Blundstones and favourite beanie in order to fit in with the cool crowds being lured to the seasonal market.

When: March, May, August, December
Where: Coffs Harbour Showground

6. Glenreagh Markets

The Glenreagh Markets are a great place to stock up on local produce grown by local farmers and growers in the Orara Valley region. Make room in the esky for pickles, preserves, freshly picked herbs, relishes and chutneys. Visiting the market is a genuine community experience and popular with locals trawling for second-hand books, coins and collectables. Start your day here with a fresh Devonshire tea which arrives looking like ‘A day in the country’ on a plate.

When: First Saturday of the month (excluding January)
Where: 62 Coramba St, Glenreagh

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7. Bellingen Growers Markets

organic mushrooms at Bellingen Growers Markets, Coffs Harbour
Find everything from organic mushrooms to seasonal local produce. (Image: Bellingen Growers Markets)

The friendly boho Bello types who flock to the Bellingen Growers Market are like walking advertisements for a tree change. Hundreds of locals and tourists go with the flow three Saturdays each month to find everything from medicinal mushroom powders to plants, flowers, organic sourdough, eggs, organic honey, seedlings and spices. Standout stalls include Boggy Creek Natives, Bello Beef, the Barefoot Farmer and The Patch Organics.

When: Open every Saturday, 7.30-11.30 am (except the third Saturday of the month)
Where: Bellingen Showgrounds, Corner of Black St & Hammond St

8. Bellingen Community Markets

hand-crafted bags for sale at Bellingen Community Markets, Coffs Harbour
The stalls feature local artisans selling hand-crafted bags.

Cool interactions with the community are a given at the Bellingen Community Markets . Expect purveyors clad in plaid. And a disproportionate amount of faux leopard-skin coats and dreadlocks per head per capita. There’s also a rotating line-up of live bands giving it a red-hot go in front of the local community of creatives and van-lifers passing through. The market has more than 200 stalls, which include purveyors of fresh produce and homemade treats, second-hand clothing stalls and bric-a-brac.

When: Third Saturday of every month
Where: Bellingen Park, corner of Church, Park and Ford Streets, Bellingen

9. City Centre Sunday Markets

fresh vegetables on offer at City Centre Sunday Markets, Coffs Harbour
Fill your basket with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. (Image: Getty/lzf)

Follow the signs to City Centre Sunday market in the rain, hail or shine every Sunday in the Castle Street car park. This undercover inner-urban Coffs Harbour market is an oasis for lovers of fresh food who gather here to do their weekly shop. The stallholders sell everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to honey, eggs and plants. You can also fossick for vintage vinyl, colourful hand-knit jumpers, beaded bags and books.

When: Every Sunday
Where: Castle St Car Park, Vernon St, Coffs Harbour

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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8 reasons it’s time to explore Lismore’s vibrant villages

(Image: Visit Lismore)

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
    Think you know Lismore? Think again. From pop-up feasts to a buzzing nightlife to a thriving arts scene, discover a new side of the Northern Rivers.

    Scratch beneath the surface of Lismore and its surrounding villages and you’ll discover a side of the Northern Rivers many travellers don’t expect. Here lies a region bursting with creativity, where vibrant street art, innovative eateries and enriching cultural experiences shape everyday life. Best of all, it’s authentic, and can be enjoyed without the crowds. Here are eight reasons why it deserves a closer look.

    1. Nights come to life

    Lismore's vibrant villages have Patrons enjoying a night out at Eltham Hotel.
    Stay out a little longer and experience the vibrant nightlife. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    The Lismore region stirs after the sun sets, with wine bars, pub gigs, pop-up dinners and live music events at atmospheric country pubs and halls. The Eltham Hotel is a hinterland institution, its verandah regularly echoing with rootsy live music. Nimbin Bush Theatre’s Sonic Bloom nights bring pop-up dinners, films and DJ sets. The Channon Tavern hosts weekend sessions, while Il Carretto’s pizza nights fill Clunes Cafe on Thursday nights and Bexhill Hall on Fridays. Rider Taco Pop Up also brings a laid-back Mexican feast to Clunes, where guests spread out on the grass or gather in the old hall to share freshly made tacos.

    2. A thriving arts and culture scene

    Racing on Molesworth Steet, Lismore for the BBCC Lismore Cycling Festival. Lismore's vibrant villages is filled with murals.
    Follow the Art & Culture Trail. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    The Northern Rivers has long attracted artists, makers and free thinkers, and nowhere is that creative energy more evident than in Lismore and its neighbouring hamlets. The city’s Art & Culture Trail shines a spotlight on the city’s flourishing arts scene, linking galleries, studios and public art across the region. Start at the Lismore Regional Gallery, which has a dynamic mix of contemporary works and community-focused exhibitions. Also keep an eye out for events at The Quad, an open-air space that lights up with live music, projections and family-friendly events. Beyond the city, discover the colourful street murals of Nimbin, browse local art at Blue Knob Gallery or get your hands dirty during a clay workshop at Silt Studio.

    3. Boutique shopping

    Inside Two Ravens Antiques & Collectables in Lismore's vibrant villages.
    Uncover one-of-a-kind finds. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    For travellers who love discovering independent labels and one-of-a-kind finds, Lismore and its nearby villages offer a treasure trove of boutiques. Here, you’ll find everything from clothes and hand-crafted trinkets to books and homewares, each store reflecting the personality of its makers and curators. Highlights include Hanging Rock Flowers, where seasonal blooms meet beautifully chosen artisan gifts, and Two Ravens Antique and Vintage, where a collection of objects whisper stories of the past. Little Polli and the Blackbird offers whimsical fashion and homewares, while Folk Modern champions eclectic textiles and global finds and Valley of the Craftsmen showcases refined handmade artistry.

    4. Diverse food offerings

    Bartenders at the The Levee Lounge and Bar, Lismore
    Settle in for an evening of great drinks and live tunes. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    Lismore’s dining scene is celebrated for its paddock-to-plate produce, global cuisines and cafe culture. At Two Mates Brewing small-batch beers are crafted for easy afternoons, often best enjoyed with a food truck bite, while The Levee Lounge and Bar brings a touch of Melbourne-style polish to town, with cocktails and wine served against the hum of live music.

    Heritage bones meet a modern buzz at The Bank Cafe & Espresso, while smoked meats and fried chicken take centre stage at The Stockpot Kitchen. Housed in a former butter factory, Channon Tavern is the ideal place to while away the day on the grass by Terania Creek, and the The Eltham Hotel offers an upscale food menu with old school charm.

    Find Annies Country Bakery in Modanville on Lismore’s Great Pie Trail, serving award-winning pies, open every day, it’s a great stop on a scenic drive on route to nearby national parks and Rocky Creek Dam. Or pop into Clunes Cafe for regular hosted dinners, each with its own unique flair. Listen to live music while you’re there, and maybe even join in a line dance.

    5. Alternative lifestyles reign

    Streetscape of Nimbin with buskers, Northern Rivers
    Discover a place where freedom, art and community are part of everyday life. (Image: The Legendary Pacific Coast)

    This area has long been a free-spirited community, where counterculture values and creative expression shape everyday life. Its roots trace back to the 1973 Aquarius Festival, when thousands gathered in the hills near Nimbin and the one-time dairy town’s once-quiet streets were painted in kaleidoscopic colour. Many never left, establishing communes and laying the foundations of a community built on sustainability and freedom. Events such as the annual Nimbin MardiGrass festival keep its activist, grassroots spirit alive, while continuing to welcome diverse travellers in search of something a little different.

    6. Breathtaking nature on the doorstep

    Person enjoying a walk through the rainforest in Nightcap National Park.
    Step into a world of ancient forests. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    Lismore acts as the gateway to some of Australia’s most spectacular ancient Gondwana rainforests and untouched wilderness. Nearby Nightcap National Park offers UNESCO-listed rainforest walks and waterfalls, while Rocky Creek Dam is a tranquil spot for picnics and birdlife – and you may even spot a platypus if your timing is right. Whian Whian State Conservation Area reveals lush subtropical trails and hidden swimming holes, while the Northern Rivers Rail Trail winds through farmland and forest, passing historic railway bridges along the way.

    7. Boutique stays

    Contained in Nimbin Accommodation.
    Experience award-winning eco stays. (Image: Contained in Nimbin)

    Accommodation in the Lismore region tends to favour character over gloss, with stays that trade uniform luxury for a stronger sense of place and personality. Lismore Gateway Motel and Invercauld House offer easy comfort close to Lismore CBD, while The Eltham Hotel pairs a lively pub atmosphere with individually designed rooms that reflect the building’s heritage character. Nightcap Ridge secluded luxury eco retreat and Rummery Park Campground in Whian Whian State Conservation Area, and Contained in Nimbin’s award-winning eco cabins, all bring you closer to nature.

    8. Form community connections

    Crowds enjoying the Lismore Lantern Parade on the North Coast.
    Celebrate winter solstice at the Lismore Lantern Parade. (Image: Visit Lismore)

    If you are wanting to immerse yourself more in the community, there are some standout events that embrace Lismore’s individuality. Lismore is known for its markets, so they’re a great place to start. The fire twirling at Lismore’s weekly Thursday produce markets makes for a particularly fun spectacle.

    Friday Meet and Make offers relaxed crafting at The Artisans Table, while Fire Twirling in The Quad delivers a high energy evening spectacle. The legendary Tropical Fruits New Years Eve Festival is a bold celebration of inclusion; Lismore Lantern Parade glows through streets with handmade lanterns on the winter solstice and Italian festival LisAmore! brings music and romance to the town.

    Start planning the ultimate getaway at visitlismore.com.au