With around 250 stalls set up all around leafy Bellingen Park, you can spend hours at the market, which has such a good atmosphere and live music and performances that it feels less like a normal market but more like a festival that you get to enjoy every month.

Of course, Bellingen is known for its laid-back character, interesting locals and alternative lifestyles. This adds to the lovely, casual ambience you’ll find anywhere around the town and at the markets as well (cue massage tents and tarot reading stalls).

The Bellingen Markets: 250 stalls under the trees in the park

250+ market stalls selling EVERYthing

The stalls sell a huge variety of handmade arts and crafts, fresh produce, jewellery, plants and flowers, clothing, shoes and bags, musical instruments, household and kitchen items, soaps and natural remedies, gourmet tea and coffee, and much, much more. You’ll find plenty of local, organic and ‘green’ home-made products.

Even if you don’t think you need anything, I can almost guarantee that you will see something you like or want. Before you know it, you’ll have filled up your bag with a net of local avocados, a tiny bottle of essential oil, a handmade toy for an upcoming kid’s birthday, a pot of honey and a unique garden sculpture – or any other random collection of goodies.

Food & drink

Whatever your taste buds prefer, there will be something to your liking on offer at the market, whether it’s for a snack or a meal. Just follow your nose and you’ll find a good feed at one of the food stalls representing different cuisines. Or buy some  cake, dessert or other treat made lovingly at home by one of the local stallholders.

Live music & entertainment

Everyone just loves the Bellingen Markets, which creates a fantastic atmosphere. Something that definitely adds to that is the live music and other performances held at the markets. There is a main performance area where booked artists provide the main musical entertainment, but you’re likely to hear tunes coming from other areas around the markets as well. Two little girls playing violins here, a guy on a didgeridoo there – it really makes for a happy place to walk around on a Saturday.

For the kiddies, there are things like pony rides, swing rides and a jumping castle plus probably other things as well, but I have to admit I don’t pay much attention to that as I’ve never taken a child to the markets.

The monthly Bellingen Markets are among the largest in Northern NSW

Essential info

Day:
When are the Bellingen Markets on? The Bellingen Community Markets are held every 3rd Saturday of the month, 12 months a year.

Location:
Where are the markets held? The markets are at Bellingen Park close to the centre of Bellingen. From Waterfall Way (the main road through town), turn into either Ford Street or Church Street and you can’t miss it. You may need to park a few blocks away if you don’t arrive early.

Time:
What time do the Bellingen Markets start and end? The markets officially open to the public at 9am and end around 2.30pm when stallholders start packing up.

Bellingen:
How far is it to Bellingen from Coffs Harbour? Bellingen is less than half an hour by car from the city of Coffs Harbour. Take the Pacific Highway south and after about 15 minutes turn onto the Waterfall Way and enjoy the short drive through the beautiful Bellinger Valley.

Further info:
For more information about the markets or to contact the organisers, visit the Bellingen Community Markets website.

Below is a complete list of all the eateries at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Strip of restaurants, their specialties, their phone numbers and a link to their website, if they have one. There are around 20 cafés and restaurants in all.

Where is the Jetty Strip of Restaurants?

The Jetty Strip is at the bottom end of Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour, just before the road becomes Orlando Street. It runs between Marina Drive and Camperdown Street. See Map. It is opposite the Jetty Village Shopping Centre and near the railway crossing on Marina Drive, which goes to the Jetty Foreshores, Jetty Beach and the Coffs Harbour International Marina. It takes about 3 minutes to drive to the Jetty Strip from the Coffs Harbour CBD along Harbour Drive.

Part of Coffs Harbour's 'eat street' - the Jetty Strip with over a dozen cafés and restaurants

The cafés and restaurants at the Jetty Strip:

Starting from Jetty Dive Centre on the easternmost corner of the Jetty Strip, you’ll find the following eateries:

• Taste of North India  (Indian) – Phone: 02 – 6651 1668‎
• Foreshores Café  (Modern Australian) - Phone: 02 – 6652 3127
• Fountain Restaurant  (Vietnamese) – Phone: 02 – 6651 1978
• Urban Espresso Lounge  (Coffee, Modern Australian) - Phone: 02 – 6651 1989
• Tandoori Oven  (Indian) – Phone: 02 – 6652 2279
• The Crying Tiger Restaurant  (Thai) – Phone: 02 – 6650 0195‎
• Oberoi’s Indian Restaurant (Indian) – Phone: 6651 9699
• Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant  (Chinese) - Phone: 02 – 6651 6787
• Cold Rock Ice Creamery  (Ice cream, coffee, cake) – Phone: 6652 4999
• Water Surf Art Café  (Coffee, cake, sushi) – Phone: 02 6651 4500
• Maria’s Restaurant  (Italian) - Phone: 02 – 6651 3000
• Tahruah Thai Kitchen  (Thai) – Phone: 02 – 6651 5992‎
• Indulge Café Bar Lounge (Modern Australian/Wine bar)- Phone: 02 – 6652 5565
• Waves Bistro at the Pier Hotel  (Modern Pub Food) – Phone: 02 – 6651 8222

The great thing about these restaurants is that most are nice and casual and offer outdoor seating. (What would make that even greater is if the strip wasn’t so narrow and so close to the road where cars drive past.)

Other eateries close to the Coffs Harbour Jetty Strip (within easy walking distance):

• Fiasco Ristorante + Bar  (Italian & Wine Bar) – 22 Orlando St – Phone: 02 – 6651 2006
• Lakiss’ Jetty Pizzeria (Pizzeria) – Jetty Village Shopping Centre – Phone: 02 – 6652 1939
• Hog’s Breath Café  (Steak & Grill) – Jetty Village Shopping Centre – Phone: 02 – 6652 5646
• Y Knot Bistro at the Yacht Club  (Modern Australian) – 30 Marina Dr – Phone: 02 – 6651 1741
• Latitude 30 Restaurant & Bar  (Modern Australian Restaurant, Café, Wine Bar) – Coffs Harbour Marina – Phone: 02 – 6651 6888
• Creekside Café at the Pet Porpoise Pool (Casual Meals) – 65 Orlando St – Phone: 02 - 6659 1911

Opening Hours & Days:

Some of these are only open for breakfast, coffee and lunch until mid-afternoon, while others open for lunch and dinner or for dinner only. Also, some restaurants are closed on certain days (e.g. Sunday and Monday), so it’s worth to call and check opening hours before you plan your meal out.

Changes: Things can change quite quickly in the hospitality scene, so if you know something has changed and would like to send me an update or new information, please email me.

And… bon appétit!

They’re called the Harbourside Markets. Not to be confused with the Jetty Markets, which are held indoors underneath the Jetty Village Shopping Centre.

The Harbourside market stalls are set up underneath the trees and the atmosphere is really laid-back. It’s the perfect way to start your Sunday.

There's a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere at the Harbourside Markets

There’s a paved walkway along the Jetty Foreshores, just behind the sand dunes, all the way from Coffs Creek to the Deep Sea Fishing Club (probably between 1 and 2km). You can park your car on many spots along the foreshores, go for a walk on the pathway, Jetty Beach or the Jetty itself, and end up at the markets.

There are usually around 40 stalls or so, selling only home-made and home-grown products and produce. From fresh veggies to cakes, plants, jewellery and arts and craft, you’ll usually find something you like, want or need. 

You can also get a massage and there’s often a jumping castle, fake tattoos and pony rides for kids. There’s music playing to add to the relaxed atmosphere and from 10.00am, musicians (different ones every week) play live music in the centre of the market ‘circle’.

We go to the Harbourside Markets nearly every week. Sometimes we bring the Sunday paper, buy a large cup of freshly brewed, organic coffee and perhaps a slice of banana bread or something, and settle down on a picnic bench in the shade just behind the market, where we can still enjoy the music.

The market stalls are set up in the shade of the trees on the Jetty Foreshores

The markets are on every Sunday from 8am to 2pm. A bit of rain doesn’t stop them, and ever since they started in September 2007, I think they’ve only been cancelled half a dozen times in all due to swamped grounds.

I really do think the Harbourside Markets are the best way to start your Sunday in Coffs!

For more information on any of these, click on the link to go to the relevant website.

Overview of the main annual Coffs Harbour events and Coffs Harbour festivals:

January:
Pittwater to Coffs (yacht race) & Festival of Sail
March’s Coffs Jetty Carnival

March:
Coffs Coast Ocean Swims

April:
Woolgoolga Curryfest
Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival

May:
Bellingen Music Festival

July:
Sawtell Chilli Festival

August:
Coffs Harbour Gold Cup Carnival (horse racing)
Bellingen Jazz & Blues Festival

September:
Toast Urunga (food & wine festival)
Coffs Harbour International Buskers & Comedy Festival

October:
Coffs Harbour International Buskers & Comedy Festival
Bellingen Global Carnival (world music & performing arts)

December:
Various Carols by Candlelight events

The Coffs Coast has great festivals and events throughout the year

Of all the festivals and events listed above, the weeklong International Buskers & Comedy Festival in Coffs Harbour in September/October is definitely the biggest and possibly the best.

The Bellingen Jazz & Blues Festival and Global Carnival are also major and extremely popular events on the Coffs Coast.

I would say any of these three events, at the very least, are definitely worth a trip to Coffs Harbour from anywhere in Australia.