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.

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.