9 of the best Noosa markets to get your shopping fix

A trip to the Sunshine Coast isn’t complete without wandering through at least one or two local Noosa markets.

From “Where’d you get that" handicrafts to epic live music, Noosa markets are filled with an abundance of charms. And sure, Noosa’s best restaurants do some outstanding culinary handiwork for you, but if you’re a sucker for unearthing local produce, sourcing the finest from the markets enables you to throw together a memorable holiday meal yourself. Below, our round-up of the region’s must-visits.

1. Original Eumundi Markets, Eumundi

a woman browsing products at a stall in Original Eumundi Markets, Eumundi — Each stall is brimming with unique finds. (Image: Original Eumundi Markets)

Where: 80 Memorial Drive, Eumundi

When: Wednesdays and Saturdays 7:30am – 2pm

One of Australia’s most famous markets, running since 1979, the Eumundi Markets are well and truly on the beaten path. But this enchanting country market, just 15 minutes from Noosa, is famous for a reason. It boasts over 6500 stalls selling arts, crafts, fashion, fresh produce, gifts and more – all locally made.

Lots of small stallholders try out their business ideas at Eumundi first before moving into permanent premises on the Sunshine Coast. So, if you’re after the next big thing, don’t miss this Noosa market. Those in the know also continue across the road to the I Love Eumundi Markets on Albert Street where there are 100 permanent boutique stalls waiting to be explored.

2. Noosa Farmers Market, Noosaville

a couple buying at a food stall in Noosa Farmers Market — Find food stalls selling smoothies and acai bowls. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: 155 Weyba Road, Noosaville

When: Every Sunday, 6am – 12pm

If there’s one good reason to get up early on a Sunday, the Noosa Farmers Market is it. This welcoming produce market has everything from glossy avocados bigger than your fist, plump olives, trays of fragrant ripe strawberries, fresh macadamias, local seafood, cheeses and lots more. But the coffee and food stalls alone make this one of the best Noosa markets to visit.

And if you’re desperate to get back to that restorative Sunday sloth life, opt to click and collect your goodies by ordering online before the Thursday prior to market day. The good people at this Noosa market will pack everything up for your arrival on Sunday morning, plus they also offer home delivery if you can’t make it out there at all. How’s that for service?

3. Noosa Marina Markets, Tewantin

clothes for sale at Noosa Marina Markets, Tewantin — From clothes to local handicrafts, there is something for everyone. (Image: Noosa Marina Markets)

Where: Noosa Marina, 2 Parkyn Court, Tewantin

When: Sundays 8am – 1.30pm

It’s hard to find a prettier way to arrive at a market than by catching the Noosa Ferry along the Noosa River. It stops right at the Noosa Marina Markets , so hop off and wander past the stalls. You won’t miss their brightly coloured marquees.

Live music and entertainment from local and interstate musicians make for a festive atmosphere, so it’s easy to spend a whole lazy Sunday sampling the local produce, buying local handicrafts and browsing the nearby boutiques. Some of the best Noosa restaurants just happen to be here, too, so make a lunch booking in advance.

4. Peregian Beach Markets, Peregian Beach

market stalls at Peregian Beach Markets — Peregian Beach Markets boasts ethical fashion finds.

Where: Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach

When: 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month, 7am – 12.30pm

Just metres from the stunning waters of Peregian Beach, 15 minutes south of Hastings Street, the Peregian Beach Markets has something for everyone. Looking for hot-pressed crepes, hand-painted ceramics inspired by the ocean, ethical fashion or wooden clocks synced to the cycles of the moon and tides?

This Noosa market is the place for you.

You can have a massage, listen to live music, stock your pantry with artisanal treats and then have a dip in the inviting ocean. Sounds like a perfect weekend out and about to us.

5. Sunshine Coast Collective Market, Coolum Beach

Where: Alexandra Headland beachfront and Maroochydore Homemaker Centre, 11-55 Maroochy Boulevard, Maroochydore

When: Check socials for pop-up dates

Get a feel for the coast’s distinct culture at the Sunshine Coast Collective Market , home to more than one hundred stalls selling everything from fresh produce and condiments to vintage fashion and coastal-inspired interiors. Originally founded in Coolum and running for seven years, this Noosa market has moved south with pop-up events at Alexandra Headland and the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre.

Keep an eye on their socials because you don’t want to miss this laid-back curation of independent small businesses, loved by locals. Expect bold boho creations, artisan goods, and great coffee.

6. Pomona Country Markets, Pomona

Discover fresh, locally grown fruits at Pomona Country Markets.

Where: Stan Topper Park, 21, Reserve Street, Pomona

When: Every Saturday 7am – noon

Who doesn’t love a legitimate country market? In the heart of beautiful Pomona, 30 minutes from Noosa, the Pomona Country Markets is a market that make you feel like your nan is shopping right beside you. We’re talking seedlings, homemade cakes and slices, dried fruit and nuts, collectables, plants and vintage items.

There’s free parking at this Noosa market and the paths are wheelchair and pram-friendly. What more could you want on a Saturday morning?

7. Marcoola Market, Marcoola

a food caravan stall of Berry Keeper at Marcoola Market — Marcoola Market is the place for foodies. (Image: Jesse Lindemann)

Where: 10 Lorraine Avenue, Marcoola

When: Every Friday evening, 4pm – 8pm. It turns into a farmer’s market every Saturday morning, 8am – 12pm.

It’s hard to resist a seaside night market that’s aglow with fairy lights and colourful bunting, so why try? Welcome the weekend the right way by grabbing dinner from the Marcoola Market . Foodies have their work cut out for them – from Indian delicacies and crispy spring rolls to burgers with the lot and okonomiyaki, choosing just one, or some, isn’t easy.

Whatever you do, don’t miss dessert. We think a lemon passionfruit donut from Donut Kitchen is just the thing you need to soak up those weekend Noosa markets vibes on the Sunshine Coast.

8. Mooloolaba Sunset Markets, Mooloolaba

food trucks at the Mooloolaba Sunset Markets — Grab hearty snacks from the food vans and trucks. (Image: Mooloolaba Sunset Markets)

Where: Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba

When: 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month, 5pm – 9pm

Serious foodies converge twice a month for the Mooloolaba Sunset Markets , which celebrates all manners of deliciousness stemming from food vans and trucks. The drawcard of this much-loved Noosa market is the pure variety on offer. You’ll find piping hot Nutella and jam donuts, melt-in-your-mouth calamari, juicy German sausages, fruity iced teas and all your regular international food sensations. Plus, there’s live musical talent, artisan stalls and that gorgeous sun sinking over the ocean to revel in.

9. Kin Kin Markets, Kin Kin

artisanal products on display at Kin Kin Markets — Shop from an array of artisanal products. (Image: Kin Kin Markets)

Where: Kin Kin Oval, Kin Kin

When: 1st Sunday of every month, 8am – 12pm

Discover the lovely village of Kin Kin, about 40 minutes north-west of Hastings Street. The Kin Kin Markets , run by the Kin Kin Community Group, is a tight-knit event showcasing the area’s finest artisanal products, produce and second-hand wares. Think car boot sales, fascinating herbal remedies, dream catchers, locally crafted skincare and plenty of space to lounge around while savouring quality caffeine. The area is surrounded by lush Noosa hinterland so escaping Noosa proper for the morning to this serene haven will provide a total change of scenery.

This article was originally written by Lindy Alexander and updated by Kristie Lau-Adams and Celeste Mitchell.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.