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.

The Coffs Coast is a subtropical region and we do get our fair share of rain throughout the year. If you’d rather not tackle outdoor activities when it rains, or when it threatens to rain, don’t worry – Coffs Harbour has plenty of things to do on a rainy day.

Some of the wet weather activities listed below cater to children, while others appeal more to adults. But hopefully everyone should be able to find some indoor activity or attraction they like in this list.

Things To Do In Coffs Harbour When It Rains:

• Aquarium at the Marine Science Centre
• Art galleries (e.g. Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Woolgoolga Art Gallery & many more)
• Big Banana (World of Bananas, Candy Kitchen)
• Bunker Cartoon Gallery
• Cafés and Restaurants (literally hundreds of choices)
• Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
• Cinemas (BCC Coffs Harbour, First Ave Cinema Sawtell)
• Clog Barn
• Ice Skating (at the Big Banana)
• Indoor Bowling (10-pin or 9-pin bowling)
• Indoor Kids’ Play Centres (Jungle Bungle, Tabatinga)
• Indoor Rock Climbing
• Indoor Swimming (e.g. Olympic pool, Aquatic centre)
• Markets (various/on weekends)
• Coffs Harbour Museum (currently temporarily closed)
• Pet Porpoise Pool (covered grandstand)
• Shopping (Coffs City Centre, the Promenade, Park Beach Plaza, Moonee, Woolgoolga, Sawtell, Toormina, Bellingen)
• Spa, massage or beauty treatment (dozens of options)
• Tabatinga Entertainment Centre (Balladium Ball Blaster, Glow in the Dark Mini Golf)

There are plenty of other things you can do when it’s raining in Coffs Harbour, including things to do outside despite the rain, but I have chosen to only list things to do inside for those of you who really do not like getting wet (well… don’t go to an indoor swimming pool then either!).

If you would like to suggest another indoor activity in or around Coffs Harbour that you think belongs in this list, please let me know and I’ll consider adding it.

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!