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Bellingen NSW is a cool little town located halfway between Sydney and Brisbane in the Coffs Harbour region.

Although being a small town, it’s well known for the Bellingen Markets, one of Australia’s largest regional markets, that takes place on the third Saturday of each month and is fun for the whole family.

The vibe of Bellingen is super laid-back and chilled. I love the old growth trees lined streets and how the Bellingen River runs through town making for a picturesque setting.

You can imagine then, the kind of vibe you get from a small town community market.

This is the time when the small town comes alive. There’s loads of energy here, from event showcases to local music and spontaneous performances, to a smorgasbord of delicious gourmet food to try.

Whether you’re looking for something to do, or a place to pick up local produce or artisans to take home as gifts, don’t miss Bellingen Community Markets when passing through.

About Bellingen Markets

The Bellingen Markets is a farmers markets known to be the biggest event of the month in this small but welcoming town.

The Bellingen Community Markets (BCM) have plenty going on with over 250 stalls offering your typical handmade arts and crafts, local food and fresh produce.

It began in 1980, as a way for local growers and farmers to sell their organic produce, and grew to a space where anyone local can sell their unique arts and craft work.

Each stall is unique and different, and the profits are fed back to the community in the form of supporting local community groups, education, and putting on arts and sport events.

It’s a place of cultural, social, and commercial gathering and a place for all to enjoy and feel welcome.

Our Experience at Bellingen Markets

Bellingen Farmers Market always get recommended to us by friends who live in the area and they’ve been on our NSW list for sometime.

We love a visit to the local markets for a fun family activity, to hunt for a bargain and to taste some of the local produce.

And the markets are always a great way to meet with the locals and other travelers alike.

We stopped in Bellingen on our road trip from Armidale to Sawtell, and we timed it perfectly for market day.

From the minute you arrive you can sense why these markets attract thousands of visitors every month and we quickly got amongst the scene.

Caz and Kalyra had their eye on a Himilayan salt lamp, which now illuminates our camper trailer of a night.

And the alternative therapies and massage stalls are always a hit with the girls whenever we hit a market.

When you visit the Bellingen Markets, make sure you turn up with room in your tummy for all the yummy food on offer.

We found this great stall serving up healthy gluten free desserts like chia balls and pumpkin pie which was a nice surprise.

You don’t often see pumpkin pie in Oz – it’s one of my fave desserts from our time living in North Carolina.

They also served up a nice cup of chai tea with a cozy place on the grass to relax.

There’s plenty of dishes to satisfy your taste buds from pancakes to wood-fired pizza to wraps to gourmet sausages to Indian.

Of course there’s a makeshift pub to wash it all down with.

And it wouldn’t be a local market without some homegrown musical talent on hand to entertain the masses and add to the already chilled vibe.

There are always buskers and live music taking place. You may even scout out your new favourite musician!

For the kids, there’s a jumping castle, face-painting, swings and a large selection of stalls selling kids artisans and crafts.

Once you’ve done a lap of the markets, or if you’re visiting Bellingen out of market day, take a stroll along the main street of town and check out all the shops, pubs and cafes.

For lunch and a good cup of coffee, we recommend the Black Bear Cafe, which is in a street just off the main road.

How to Get to Bellingen Markets

To get there, you must first drive to Bellingen, which is about a 6 hour drive (518km) north of Sydney.

The market is held every third Saturday of the month from 8.00am until 2.30pm, come rain or shine.

The markets are found in the beautiful Bellingen Park on the corner of Church St, Park St and Ford St, on the south side of town. You can find the location here.

Final Thoughts

Next time your road tripping the coast along the Pacific Highway or heading in-land from Coffs Habour via the Waterfall Way, check to see if the Bellingen Markets are happening, or stop in town anyway and explore.

What I love about the Bellingen Markets is how there is an obvious value towards diversity and togetherness.

Whether you’re local or from abroad, a family with kids or a retiree – whoever you are, whatever you’re looking for, you can have a family friendly day out here and feel all your life’s stresses ooze away.

You can also find heaps of great buys, from fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, as well as organic produce such as honey and spices. It’s a shoppers paradise!

For information on the markets and the dates check out the official website.