10 of the most bountiful Bendigo markets

Stock up on the freshest of ingredients and one-of-a-kind statements at the most charming markets in Bendigo.

For a place that gives small-town energy, Bendigo bursts with things to do, including top-notch market days. Enveloped in a wave of tight-knit communities, the Victorian hot spot lures emerging creatives who seek refuge from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, just 90 minutes’ drive north. Spanning artisanal pantry delights and farm-fresh seasonal produce, to beautifully handcrafted homewares and rare vintage collectables, the markets in Bendigo and its surrounds provide fascinating exploration for visitors of all ages. We’ve rounded up our favourite markets in Bendigo, below.

1. Bendigo Community Farmers Market, Bendigo

fresh apples in a plastic crate box, Bendigo Community Farmers Market — Find crates of seasonal fruits at Bendigo Community Farmers Market. (Image: Getty/krblokhin)

Where: Bendigo Foodshare, 227 Breen St, Golden Square

When: 2nd Saturday of every month from 9am to 12.30pm

Stock up on some of the freshest produce in Central Victoria at the Bendigo Community Farmers Market . Guaranteeing a minimum of 75 per cent of all stalls selling to you by growers themselves, this treasure trove of natural bounty is a sensory delight. Whether you’re on the hunt for fruit, vegetables, melt-in-your-mouth cheeses, olives, honey, craft beer from local stalwarts, silky smooth vino from the best Bendigo wineries or sauces and relishes, this is the place to unearth true deliciousness. Additionally, there’s hot food from regulars like Aranchini4All and Market Fresh Gözleme, plus the odd sweet treat from MQ Gelato Van and other speciality retailers.

2. Bendigo Showgrounds Market, North Bendigo

market stalls at Bendigo Showgrounds Market, North Bendigo — Explore the range of homewares for sale at Bendigo Showgrounds Market. (Image: Supplied)

Where: Prince of Wales Showground, Holmes Rd, North Bendigo

When: Every Sunday from 8.30am to 2pm

Love a good crawl through vintage and bric-a-brac collectables? The weekly Bendigo Showgrounds Market is a must-experience for pre-loved goodies spanning clothing, tools, homewares, toys, furniture, plants and even cosmetics. Throw in a scattering of new offerings, including homemade candles and soaps, plus food products and hot food vendors, and the atmosphere alone is enough to light up your weekend. It’s one of country Victoria’s largest weekly markets so expect crowds from far and wide eagerly clogging up the aisles alongside you.

3. Moonlight Market Bendigo, Bendigo

crowded market stalls at Moonlight Market Bendigo — Moonlight Market Bendigo buzzes with a collection of sensational stalls. (Image: Supplied)

Where: Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo

When: Select Saturdays throughout the year from 3pm to 8pm, so check the website for specific dates

Soak up the twilight vibrance of a night market flowing with hot food and street performances at the Moonlight Market Bendigo . Ramped up during the summer months (there’s often a few dates in November as Christmas looms) while remaining a steady fixture during winter, this Bendigo market buzzes with live music and art installations, food trucks and a collection of sensational stalls. Think arts and crafts, vintage homewares, condiments, jewellery, fashion and more. The market’s annual Easter and Christmas events are so popular that they’re staged during the day, so get there for a great selection of gifts no matter when you’re visiting town.

4. Kangaroo Flat Handmade Market, Kangaroo Flat

Where: 113 MacKenzie St West, Golden Square

When: 1st Saturday of every month from 9am to 2pm

Setting up shop in an all-new location during February 2025, the Kangaroo Flat Handmade Market strives to shine a light on the free flowing creativity coming out of this corner of the world. Whether they’re home cooks, budding fashion, homewares and jewellery designers or simply savvy entrepreneurs, this is the spot to sell the region’s cleverest wares and get brands out there. Shoppers are treated to an eclectic mix of it all, with no market day precisely mirroring another, making for a truly authentic portal into this supportive locale and, of course, one-of-a-kind retail therapy.

5. Castlemaine Farmers Market, Castlemaine

plants for sale at Castlemaine Farmers Market — Expect to see an abundance of plants and seasonal produce at Castlemaine Farmers Market. (Image: Sorell Wilson)

Where: Along Forest St, Castlemaine, but either at the Camp Reserve or Western Reserve depending on what day you visit

When: Either each Wednesday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm or the 1st Sunday of every month except January from 9am to 1pm

An untapped mecca of peak seasonal produce, cosmetics, fashion and seriously delicious homemade cooking, the Castlemaine Farmers Market is about 40 minutes’ drive from Bendigo and worth every bit of effort. Thankfully, it’s staged weekly in addition to monthly, so there’s more opportunity to visit when you’re in town, because you’ll want to sample these high-quality goods. Giant paella pans dishing up authentic Spanish flavours? It’s there. Local cheeses and cured meats to rival fancy upmarket restaurant charcuterie? You’ll find it. Olive oil and stone fruits are also hot picks so get there early to nail your grab-list.

6. Wesley Hill Community Market

the Wesley Hill Community Market in Bendigo — The iconic market showcases houseware and bric-a-brac stalls. (Image: Mountain Alexander Shire Council)

Where: Wesley Hill Hall, 149 Pyrenees Hwy, Castlemaine

When: Every Saturday from 9am to 1pm

Explore Victoria’s oldest continuously running market each week, just 40 minutes’ journey from Bendigo. The Wesley Hill Community Market is a must for locals in the area, showcasing central Victoria’s finest artisanal bread, seasonal produce, clever confectionery, native plants, vintage wares, pre-loved books, good coffee and more. Convenient parking off the main road (the market’s located on the highway) is found at the car park on Wallace St, less than a minute away, but you’ll need to arrive early because it fills up fast.

7. Maldon Market, Maldon

a basket filled with vegetables, Maldon Market, Bendigo — Fill your basket with fresh veggies at Maldon Market.

Where: Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Church St, Maldon

When: 2nd Sunday of every month from 9am to 1.30pm

Venture about 30 minutes from Bendigo to discover a group of locals who thrive come market day. The Maldon Market is a collective of talent who showcase their unique skills once a month on a Sunday. You’ll comb the handiwork of makers, bakers, growers and sewers as free tastings and interactive displays snake you right around the cool, leafy grounds that house the Neighbourhood Centre. Once you’re done stickybeaking the stalls, wander further towards Maldon’s historic Main St (it’s within walking distance) to check out the preserved beauty of Maldon, Australia’s first Notable Town according to the National Trust in 1966.

8. Kangaroo Flat Market, Kangaroo Flat

Where: 10 Camp St, Kangaroo Flat

When: The last Saturday of each season from 8am to 1pm so check the website for upcoming dates

If rummaging a car boot never gets old, you’ll delight in what’s on offer at the Kangaroo Flat Market four times annually. A bustling hub of stalls and open boots, it’s trash and treasure central so you’ll be jostling thick crowds to find whatever grabs you. From handy household items to clothing, tools, books, toys, arts and crafts and shoes, digging for spoils is an adventure every time. Additionally, there’s plenty of homemade cakes and slices up for grabs, plus a sausage sizzle and live music to keep you bopping along. A fun day out, rain, hail or shine.

9. Castlemaine Artists Market, Castlemaine

bush bags for sale at Castlemaine Artists Market, Bendigo — Peruse the unique artisan items on display. (Image: Rachel Pilgrim)

Where: Western Reserve, Forest St, Castlemaine

When: 4th Saturday of every month from 10am to 2pm

A long-standing gathering of the region’s most creative of types, the Castlemaine Artists Market is guaranteed to offer something you’ve never set eyes upon. The scene is cheery and festive as music and varied performances entertain crowds wandering the grounds for arts and crafts, jewellery, screen-printed items, ceramics, leather goods, clothing, timber masterpieces and more. Food vendors also show up in spades, so it’s a great spot to sit back and bask in community spirit while indulging in some grab-and-go morning tea.

10. Inglewood Lions Country Market, Inglewood

Where: Inglewood Recreation Reserve, corner Grant St and Calder Hwy, Inglewood

When: 2nd Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm

Less than 40 minutes in the car from Bendigo, the Inglewood Lions Country Market is a low-key occasion serving up artisanal creations and beautiful farm-fresh produce. It’s a magnet for smaller suppliers and emerging farmers, so BYO reusable bag as the temptations run rife. You’ll also find garden art, arts and crafts and hot food vendors.

Discover the best places to stay in Bendigo

From cabins to canvas, craft distillers to destination dining, Heathcote locals reveal their eco-savvy passions in ways that resonate with those seeking to travel lightly.

Heathcote , on traditional Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, is synonymous with its garnet-hued shiraz, but wine isn’t the only string to its bow. The town itself is sprinkled with heritage buildings from the gold rush era, and beyond that a growing collection of sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly escapes. Nearby Bendigo, one of only 65 cities in the world recognised as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, plates up an astonishing calibre of produce, wine and food for its size. Increasingly the entire region is taking up the challenge, though Heathcote in particular shines with its focus on sustainability.

Pink Cliffs GeologicalReserve — The dramatic landscape of Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Goodfrey)

The eco-stays bringing sustainability to Heathcote

Yellow BoxWood’s safari-style tents — Yellow Box Wood’s safari-style tents are nestled on 40 hectares of bushland. (Image: Emily Goodfrey)

Andee and Lisa Davidson spent years working in southern Africa before settling in Heathcote. “We had a vision of how this could be,” explains Andee. “We wanted a retreat, but one that was off-grid and environmentally sustainable.” Now, at Yellow Box Wood , two luxury safari-style tents are at the heart of 40 hectares of rolling hills and native bush, with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goanna and birdlife aplenty. It’s all solar-powered, wood for the fire is mainly fallen timber, and water is collected on the carport roof. No lack of creature comforts though – en suite with rain shower, espresso coffee maker, comfy seating, wood-burning fire all set to go. There’s also a solar-heated, mineral salt pool in a bush setting, walking tracks, and even a mini bush golf course. On my visit, I put the vision to the test. Cocooned in the plush four-poster bed I can glimpse the stars, while the heater casts a golden glow on the canvas. In the morning, I wake to a blush-pink sunrise, kangaroos feeding and a soundtrack of magpies.

If a tent is not your style, Stephen and Cally Trompp’s carbon-neutral Mt Ida Eco Cabin might entice with its generous deck and farmland views. Inside the cabin, corrugated iron walls as rusty as a shearing shed, gleaming (recycled) floorboards, timber truss ceiling (crafted by Stephen), wood-fired heater and an old-school turntable with a pile of vinyls to spin. It’s fun, and a little boho. “Everything is recycled. The cabin takes maximum advantage of the sun in winter. It’s all solar-powered. Don’t panic, though,” says Stephen, “you can still charge your phone and get 4G reception!” Settle into an Adirondack chair on the deck or pedal off on a mountain bike to suss out the wineries.

A taste of Spain in Central Victoria

Another person with a vision is Evan Pritchard at his Three Dams Estate where the wines reflect his deep love of Spain and of Spanish-style grapes, such as tempranillo. Afternoons in the ‘wine shed’ or cantina are matched with music (flamenco is a favourite), Spanish bites from tapas to paella (with Evan on the pans!) and views to Mount Alexander. Sustainability is also a passion. “You don’t need to buy anything. We decided to be off-grid from the start, but it is a lifestyle change,” he says. “You need to think about it and be careful.” Everything here is recycled, reassembled, refurbished. Evan has an electric car (with solar-powered charger), solar-power for the winery, and even a jaunty little electric tractor/forklift. “I love the idea of all the things you can do using the sun.” Sipping a crisp rosado (a Spanish rosé) with Evan in the sunshine, I couldn’t agree more.

The vineyard redefining sustainable winemaking

Silver Spoon winery — The Silverspoon Estate winery is completely off-grid. (Image: Graham Hosking)

On the other side of Heathcote, Silver Spoon Estate demonstrates sustainability on a more extensive scale. Tracie and Peter Young’s winery, cellar door, award-winning restaurant and their own house are all solar-powered and off the grid. Sustainability is intrinsic to everything they do. The property sprawls across 100 hectares, with 20 hectares under vine – shiraz, viognier, grenache, tempranillo. As the climate has changed, so too has the approach. These are dry-grown vineyards. “We prune for drought. That means lower yields but more intense flavours,” says Peter. The fine-dining restaurant offers sweeping views, a wood-burning fire and a deck for languid lunches. Head chef Ben Hong sources regional, sustainable ingredients and weaves estate wines into the menu – think crispy wild mushroom arancini, viognier-infused chicken breast.

Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant.

Heathcote’s other hidden gems

Not all local wineries have a cellar door, but I find local treasures at the Heathcote Wine Hub , a petite 1855 timber church in the main street, lovingly returned to life by Karen Robertson and Carey Moncrieff. “Carey is a scrounger,” says Karen. “He doesn’t throw a single thing away.” He does, however, craft things into something quite special. Heritage floors, light-filtering lancet windows and shelves of regional wines create the perfect ambience for wine tasting. Or order a glass and linger over a cheese platter.

Heathcote is not all wine, of course. Nathan Wheat and partner Vanessa Curtis run Envy Distilling with a committed sustainable ethic – and a serious love of gin. Their small-batch distillery produces grape-based gin, and soon brandy. Distilled water is reused in an ingenious cooling system. All waste is treated on site. They buy excess wine from winemakers to distil and buy recycled barrels. “Distilling with the sun,” as Nathan says. Each Envy gin has its own story. Spicy, award-winning The Dry, is designed to capture the region’s dry, rugged nature. Pull up a stool at the bar (reclaimed timbers and tiles, of course), order a Gin Flight, or kick back with a cocktail and let Nathan share his eco journey.

Envy gins — Sample gins at small-batch distillery Envy.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne. The scenic route we take goes past Sunbury, then along a splendid country road through Romsey and the magic, boulder-strewn landscape of Lancefield. Watch for kangaroos on the road!

Staying there

Go off-grid in style at Yellow Box Wood for glamping or try Mt Ida Eco Cabin for a couple’s weekend hideaway.

Eating there

French dishes at Chauncy — Award-winning French restaurant Chauncy.

At award-winning Chauncy , French chef Louis Naepels and sommelier wife Tess Murray have created a tiny, elegant pocket of rural France. Meticulously restored 1850s sandstone building, sun-drenched dining room, impeccable service, a menu suffused with local flavours and thoughtful wine pairings.

Fodder is both cafe and social hub. Chef Mo Pun and sister Lalita serve classic Aussie breakfast-to-lunch fare, though their Nepalese heritage sneaks through.

Playing there

Sanguine Estate ’s cellar door and terrace overlook bucolic vineyards. Its award-winning, dry-grown wines include the distinctive D’Orsa Blanc dessert wine, reflecting the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Order a charcuterie board and stay a while. Keep it carbon neutral by cycling some (or all) of the 50-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail to Bendigo.

At Bridgeward Grove , learn about the property’s Old Mission Grove heritage olive trees, do a sommelier olive oil tasting, and stock up on sustainably grown olives and oil. Explore the unique landscape, wildflowers and wildlife of pink cliffs geological reserve.