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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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Slowing down in Moree: a guide to the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    The Artesian Spa Capital of Australia offers the perfect destination to escape the grind and reset.

    The world moves more slowly in Moree, and that’s how it should be. Here, country charm and heritage buildings fill the town’s wide streets. While the surrounding farmland mixes with lush riverways to create a fascinating landscape.

    But the biggest pull? Moree is known as the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia. It’s truly a place to slow down and disconnect, all an easy train ride from Sydney.

    Soak in Moree’s artesian water

    kids at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Dive in to Moree’s artesian waters.

    Moree is not your typical wellness retreat, replacing pretence with casual and easy. Blessed to be sitting above the Great Artesian Basin, it feeds the town (and surrounding villages) with hot, mineral-rich water. Loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphur, this water is believed to help with skin health, joint function and tissue repair.

    And the town’s crown jewel, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, has reopened after extensive upgrades. This state-of-the-art aquatic centre offers accessible facilities with multiple artesian baths of varying temperatures between 38 and 41°C.

    Feel like exploring a little further? About an hour’s drive from Moree, the village of Boomi also offers public access to this same artesian water. Pop into Boomi Artesian Pool to make the most of a 25-metre cold pool, a wading pool and a hot artesian spa pool.

    Just an hour west of Boomi, you’ll also find Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, another relaxing place to rejuvenate for the afternoon in the mineral-rich water.

    Moree’s best stays

    woman swimming ta Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Stay right by Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

    There are several motels within walking distance of the aquatic centre, so you linger longer in its therapeutic waters. A day pass not enough? Really soak in the benefits of Moree at three local stays with their own artesian baths.

    Gwydir Thermal Pools Resort boasts five artesian pools for motel and caravan park guests, ranging in soothing temperatures from 34 to 39 degrees. And that includes a 25-metre lap pool.

    The Phoenix, Artesian Spa Resort & Accommodation features outdoor artesian thermal pools and six indoor artesian spas, all 34 to 42°C, plus regular pools for guests staying in their accommodations.

    While the Artesian Spa Motel matches 46 comfortable budget rooms set across five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access (for guests) to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.

    Moree’s location at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways makes it the ideal resting place for those road tripping through country NSW. With plenty of accommodation options, including farm stays, quaint bed and breakfasts and affordable motels.

    Delving into nature around Moree

    aerial of moree
    Find plenty of natural beauty in and around Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Beyond the baths, find calm in Moree’s nature. Soak up the impressive Gwydir River from the peaceful Tareelaroi Weir Recreation Area. Popular with locals, this scenic spot is perfect for fishing, kayaking and picnics. Delve into local history at the Terry Hie Hie Picnic Area – a significant Gamilaroi cultural site. The picnic area is still used today as a ceremonial gathering ground, with educational signage sharing the history of the Gamilaroi People and the mission which used to reside here in the early 20th Century. Follow the Yana-y Warruwi Walking Track to explore the area’s box pine forest.

    Combine nature and culture at the Jellicoe Park Open Spaces Aboriginal Art Trail along the scenic Mehi River Walk. Find artworks from local Indigenous artists across a range of different mediums, like carved logs, engraved and painted sandstone and scar tree paintings.

    A taste of Moree

    meal at Moree Country Club
    Sit down for a tasty meal after a game of golf. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Taste the best of local cafes as you wander past the Art Deco architecture of Moree’s tree-lined main streets. Join the locals each morning at Brooker Trading Co as they line up for their morning java. Stay for classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and Dutch pancakes, or arrive later in the day for a hearty lunch menu. Inside a gorgeous Art Deco building, 61 Balo is another tasty breakfast option, with pet-friendly service. The recently renovated Cafe Omega is another popular stop for fresh, hearty meals – the chicken burger is a particular crowd pleaser – all served with a smile.

    Get inspired as you wander the CBD’s Mural Trail, stopping at some of Moree’s six art galleries along the way. Bank Art Museum is a must-see, housed in the town’s heritage bank building and home to a collection of First Nations art, plus a changing calendar of touring exhibitions.

    Bank Art Museum Moree
    Step inside the gorgeous Bank Art Museum Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Get active with a round on the beautiful riverside course at Moree Golf Club (and refuel afterwards at the delicious onsite restaurant) or a game of bowls at Moree Services Club’s state-of-the-art facility. Visit on the last weekend of September to join (or watch) Run the Plains, Moree’s annual two-day running festival.

    Known as ‘white gold’ country, Moree is Australia’s most productive agricultural region. Visit from April to September to join a cotton farm tour and get to know one of Moree’s major exports.

    However long you choose to stay, there’s plenty to soak in around Moree.

    Start planning the ultimate escape at visitmoreeplains.com.au.