12 markets in and around Merimbula to visit

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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Looking for markets in Merimbula and beyond? We’ve rounded up 12 markets in the seaside village worth driving for.

A visit to Merimbula markets is a must for roadtrippers. In fact, it’s a great excuse to explore more of the NSW South Coast. Here’s our guide to the many markets in and around Merimbula.

1. Farm on the Green

This urban farm at Club Sapphire Merimbula grows local and seasonal produce on top of the undercover car park on the old bowling green of Club Sapphire. Farm on the Green attracts Merimbula locals on a mission to lower their food miles and invest in chemical and pesticide-free produce.  Staying in Merimbula for a few weeks? You can buy fresh produce from the farm gate every Sunday. And you can also participate in regular working bees to maintain the rooftop garden.

FARM ON THE GREEN
Fresh produce awaits at Farm on the Green.

Where: On top of the Club Sapphire, Main Street, Merimbula
When: Sundays 9.30am–11am

2. Merimbula Seaside Market

Merimbula hums with young hipster energy. You might have seen them the night before serving up natural wines at Bar Superette, one of the best bars in Merimbula. Or heading out for a surf at nearby Main Beach earlier that morning. They’re also here being all wholesome picking up fresh produce in their overalls. In addition to selling fresh produce, Merimbula Rotary Market has jewellery, plants, books, crafts and curios. It also has a playground, ocean-viewing platforms, BBQ and picnic area.

Where: Ford Park, Merimbula (between Fishpen’s and Main Beach)
When: Third Sunday of every month; 8am–noon

3. Candelo Market

Candelo Markets draws a convivial local crowd who come to talk, shop and gossip. Artists, writers, farmers, tree-changers converge here in an unapologetically country aesthetic of floppy hats and Blundstones.

BYO picnic rug and sprawl alongside them on the lawn at Loftus Park to enjoy riverside performances by roaming musicians and entertainers. After refuelling on great food and coffee, fill your basket to the brim with seasonal produce designed to inspire that day’s dinner.

CANDELO markets
Spend a cosy Sunday at Candelo markets.

Where: William St, Candelo (Town Hall and Loftus Park)
When: First Sunday of every month; from 8.30am

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4. Pambula Village Market

No trip to Merimbula is complete without a side trip to Pambula Village Market where the cast of local characters look like extras on The Drover’s Wife.  The first place to pause is at the absolutely iconic sausage sizzle, which supports the Rotary Club of Pambula. Pick up preserves, pickles, jams, saucy spices, olive oil, meat, seafood and cakes. The market also sells upcycled clothing, hand-carved leather goods, jewellery and bric-a-brac.

Where: Toallo St, Pambula (on the local sportsground)
When: Second Sunday of every month; 8am-1pm

5. Wyndham Village Market

Wend along the quiet streets of Wyndham to find this charming all-weather village market located far from the crazed honking of highway traffic. Freshen up on the town’s very own specialty coffee blend while listening to the delightful warbling of the local muso of the month. Many of those selling produce at Wyndham Village Market belong to generations of farmers selling seasonal specialties. The market also sells crafts and homemade treats such as jams and sauces.

Where: Cnr Clarke & Gordon Streets, Wyndham
When: Fourth Sunday of every month; 8.30am-1pm

6. Bermagui Market

The Bega Valley is known as being one of NSW’s most bountiful food bowls. And Bermagui Market should be on every NSW South Coast road trip itinerary. The fact it’s held at the scenic grounds of Dickinson Park makes it a picturesque place to hang out as much as buy fresh produce. In Bermagui, the market doubles as a hub as locals stop to chat in between wandering around the stalls selling fruit, vegetables and flowers. There are also homemade products and preserves. And the blissful setting comes with a sea breeze.

Bermi Markets
Local flavours at Bermagui Markets.

Where: Dickinson Park, Lamont St
When: Last Sunday of every month; from 8.30am-12.30pm

7. Bermagui Growers & Makers Market

This vibrant seasonal market is the kind of place where fresh blooms of dahlias sit alongside ready-to-eat meals and arts and craft. It’s crawling with well-heeled Canberrans testing out the range of their new Teslas and filling their frunks (front trunks) with flowers and food.

Load up with the freshest seasonal vegetables from Field Bucket Farms, fermented foods from Faraway Farm Foods and Mystery Bay Kelp seasonings. Visiting the NSW South coast markets is one of the best things to do in Merimbula.

Where: Bermagui Country Club
When: Every Thursday, from October to April; 3.30pm–5.30pm

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8. Eden Community Market

There’s nothing that washes away big-city life stressors than a mooch around a country market. There are a lot of great places to eat and drink in Merimbula. But there’s nothing more nostalgic than scarfing down a sausage with sauce at an Eden Community Market stall. Wander amid the pyramids of fruit and towering displays of vegetables. Check out the local crafts. Listen to lively music and spicy gossip. And fossick for a bargain amid the bric-a-brac.

Where: Chandos St, Eden
When: Third Saturday of the month.

9. The Little Market

Follow the food-obsessed to the Honorbread courtyard in Bunga St while on the hunt for new obsessions. Do a vox pop of a panel of local experts and you’ll find the pain au chocolat from Honorbread a fantastic version of this fine French fare. From then on, just freewheel about the space spending time to pause at the stalls that have become fixtures at The Little Market. Gather here for gluten-free goodies, goat’s milk soap, Bodalla cherries, salads and greens and full-cream Tilba Milk.

Where: Bunga St courtyard
When: 9am-noon

10. Bega Produce Market

Big ups to Bega and its burgeoning list of growers and makers who have established one of the best markets on NSW’s Sapphire Coast. And hats off to the hardcore locals who shop here each week to support the local farmers. You see them arriving here at sun-up in a convoy of vans jam-packed with fresh produce. The goal with NSW South Coast markets such as this is to continue to educate consumers about where their food comes from. Buy a knitted beanie so you look the part.

Where: Littleton Gardens, Bega
When: Every Friday, 8am–1pm

11. Cobargo Market

Don’t forget your retro nanna trolley so you can move around the weekly farmers’ market in Cobargo with ease. Head to Cobargo after you’ve sorted your daily coffee needs in Merimbula so you’ll be good and ready to devour a few treats. Select a bunch of carrots. A chunky bouquet of broccolini. Procure some vintage vinyl. And then explore the town’s cool little eateries, galleries and heritage buildings.

Where: Main street of Cobargo
When: Every Saturday; 8am–1pm

12. Nethercote Fresh Food Market (quarterly)

The mission behind Nethercote Fresh Food Market is to encourage locals to grow their own food. The gardens supplying the produce vary from single beds to orchards and the produce is sold on the communal growers’ stall.  The food is plucked the night before to ensure it’s in peak condition and the colourful fruit and vegetables on display are a feast for the senses. This market is about more than the produce. It’s about the people. Stay for the Market Hamper Raffle, which is drawn at noon each market day.

Where: Nethercote Hall, cnr of Nethercote and Back Creek Roads, Nethercote
When: Fourth Saturday of January, April, July, October; 8am–noon

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Why winter is the best time to be on the New South Wales coast

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.

    Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.

    Winter on the NSW South Coast

    Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.

    Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.

    two people standing in front of kiama blowhole
    See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.

    Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.

    Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the new south wales south coast
    Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery. Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.

    Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda, and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.

    End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines.

    The Sebel Kiama exterior
    Sleep by the harbour.

    Winter on the Mid-North Coast

    A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.

    First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.

    Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, winter on the New South Wales coast
    Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk, one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.

    Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines, where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.

    port macquarie koala hospital
    Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala. Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.

    Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.

    At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie, right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.

    bed at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie
    Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

    Winter on the Central Coast

    On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.

    The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk, an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.

    Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.

    a humpback whale breaching on the central coast
    Spot migrating humpback whales. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park. Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

    If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast, a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery, where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.

    Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm. Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.

    woman holding a pearl at Broken Bay Pearl Farm
    Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)

    As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal, which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.

    Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores, between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.

    restaurant at Pullman Magenta Shores central coast
    Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Winter in Wollongong

    Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.

    If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.

    Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.

    monk teaching tai chi at Nan Tien Temple
    Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch. Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.

    The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong. A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery, which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.

    monkey at Symbio Wildlife Park
    Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)

    As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen. It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.

    Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.

    Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
    Fall asleep listening to the waves.

    Winter on the New South Wales coast starts with a cosy place to stay. Start planning your adventure at all.com.