The Orange Market Guide For Local Produce And More

For food lovers and casual browsers alike, these Orange regional markets will fill your basket with the best of the Central West.

There’s nothing like a market to relish the warmth of country hospitality. These excellent community markets are brimming with the nutrient-rich and well-tended produce of the region, as well as local wines, crafts and ready-to-eat treats. While Orange has its own monthly markets, if you’re spending time in the region, get along to further afield towns to soak up their unique market ambience and offerings.

Fresh produce for sale at the Dubbo Farmers Markets. — Stock your fridge full of the region’s freshest produce. (Image: Destination NSW)

1. Orange Farmers Market

With such an abundant cornucopia of produce in the Orange region, it’s little surprise the monthly Orange Farmers Market is a vibrant community event.

Food producer stalls at the Orange Farmers Market. — Find all manner of food producer stalls as you wander the market.(Image: Destination NSW)

You can be sure to fill your basket with the freshest, seasonal produce that has travelled only short distances to end up in your fridge.

Local honey from The Beekeeper's Inn available for purchaseat the Orange Farmers Market. — Try local honey from The Beekeeper’s Inn. (Image: Destination NSW)

There’s everything from artisan and organic breads to olive oils, eggs, gourmet preserves, fruit and vegetables and local wine and other alcoholic beverages. Come early, come hungry and stick around for a bargain at the end.

fresh pears available for purchase at the Orange FarmersMarket. — Pick up fresh pears at the Orange Farmers Market. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where: Naylor Pavilion Orange Showground
When: 8.30am–12pm the second Saturday of the month.

2. Rotary Markets of Orange

These fundraising markets held by the local Rotary Club are a great family event with proceeds going to worthy community causes. Browse the bric-a-brac and artisan products on sale from produce to toys, crafts and clothing, and enjoy snacks from one of the hot food stalls. There’s music and a genuinely warm and wonderful atmosphere of country spirit.

Where: Orange Showground
When: Held four times a year, check website for next date.

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

3. Millthorpe Markets

One for the calendar, this bi-annual market fills the village of Millthorpe with a carnival-like atmosphere. A fund-raising event by the Millthorpe Public School this event seemingly involves the whole community. Bring your gold coin donation and come along for delicious food and more than 250 stalls selling all manner of wares from produce and plants to clothes, jewellery, woodwork and arts and crafts. Grab a coffee and a cake from the school’s stall and watch the kids on the jumping castle and rides.

Where: Redmond Oval, Millthorpe – 24 minutes from Orange.
When: Twice a year, usually on the first Sunday of April and December.

4. Bathurst Farmers Market

Sharing the same volcanic soils that have enriched Orange’s vineyards, Bathurst is equally rich with the produce of the region. This community market is run by the Lion’s Club and held at the Bathurst Showgrounds, welcoming all with a variety of stalls from fruit and veg to meat, poultry and eggs, as well as bread, cheeses, jams, alcohol and even cosmetics. If you’re visiting Orange, but have missed out on the farmers market there, it’s worth a detour to Bathurst to sample the flavours of the central west.

Fruit stand at Bathurst Markets — Fill a bag full of fresh apples to snack on as you wander the markets in Bathurst.

Where: 1 Kendall Avenue, Bathurst – 49 minutes from Orange.
When: 8am–12pm the fourth Saturday of the month

5. Cowra Community Markets

If you’re taking a drive in the region, make Cowra the destination on the third Saturday of the month. This community market is a medley of produce and crafts with stallholders peddling everything from face painting and leather goods to crystals and coffee. There’s music, coffee and a fun fete-style atmosphere to enjoy.

Locally made beverages for sale at Cowra Markets — Find locally made treats for sale at the Cowra markets.

Where: Sid Kallas Oval, Cowra – one hour and 10 minutes from Orange
When: 8am–12pm the third Saturday on the month.

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6. Dubbo Farmers Market

If you’re adding a detour to Dubbo, be sure to lock in a trip to the town’s farmers market to pick up provisions for a drive back to Orange.

Locals shopping for fresh produce at the Dubbo FarmersMarket. — Join the locals shopping for fresh produce at the Dubbo Farmers
Market. (Image: Destination NSW)

This regional market is well-supplied with goodies to entice hungry home cooks, from breads, fruits and vegetables to eggs, meats and honey. Arrive early and enjoy breakfast and good coffee at the market before you begin browsing.

Locals farmers with their famous Narromine oranges at the Dubbo Farmers Market. — Meet locals farmers and pick up a bunch of their famous Narromine oranges. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where: Macquarie Lions Park, Dubbo – one hour and 48 minutes from Orange
When: 8am–12pm the first and third Saturday of the month.

Fresh kombucha for sale at the Dubbo Farmers Markets. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Forbes Farmers Market

A visit to this leafy, heritage town set on the Lachlan River is a worthy addition to a central west itinerary and if you can align it with the monthly farmers market, you’ll also be treated to a charming community market in the park. Grab a bacon and egg roll and go for a stroll to take in the wares of stallholders, such as pickles, produce pet treats and charcuterie.

Where: Victoria Park, Forbes – one hour and 21 minutes from Orange.
When: 8am–12pm the fourth Saturday of each month.

For more ways to taste the region, read our guide to the top restaurants in Orange, start your day at the town’s best cafes and visit a brewery or distillery door.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

This is the top Orange market guide for local produce and more

For food lovers and casual browsers alike, these Orange regional markets will fill your basket with the best of the Central West.

1. Orange Farmers Market

2. Rotary Markets of Orange

3. Millthorpe Markets

4. Bathurst Farmers Market

5. Cowra Community Markets

6. Dubbo Farmers Market

7. Forbes Farmers Market

For more ways to taste the region, read our guide to the top restaurants in Orange, start your day at the town’s best cafes and visit a brewery or distillery door.

16 excellent cafes in Orange for coffee lovers and foodies

10 Orange restaurants guaranteed to satisfy your appetite

The best luxury accommodation in Orange NSW for a lavish getaway

The 20 best things to do in Orange

This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.