We went to Bowral in NSW for the first time ever a few weeks ago for a friends wedding.

We decided to wander around and check out the town on the Saturday morning as the wedding wasn’t on until the afternoon and it was fortunate that the Bowral farmers markets were on.

These were one of the best farmers markets I’ve ever been to. There were plenty of people out in the early crisp air and it was nice to see that people could take their dogs to the market with them which is something you can’t do at the Gold Coast markets.

When:
Second Saturday of every month from 8.00am to 1.00pm.

Where:
Bowral Public School, Bendooley Street, Bowral.

Home made jams and marmalade’s.

Farm fresh vegetables and fruit

The Bowral markets

Home made pies, pasties and cookies

Beautiful cold weather flowers which I love - jonquils, iris’ and hyacinth’s

Technorati Tags: bowral, bowral farmers market, farmer market, southern highlands

We received a press release this week to let us know that the Miami Organic farmers market is going to be celebrating it’s 3rd birthday this Sunday the 4th November.

The Perch Creek Family Jug Band will be performing in the morning along with a belly dancing troup. There will also be a children’s string ensemble and kids face painting.

These markets were started in October 2004 as a way to service the Gold Coast with organic produce.

The organisers state that the organic Gold Coast farmers market is the only market in

Queensland where the produce and growers are policed to ensure the integrity of the produce and where the customers are assured that they are getting genuine Certified Organically grown produce every time they shop.

Organic Gold Coast Farmers Market
Miami State High School
Gold Coast Highway, Miami
Every Sunday 6am - 11:30am

Technorati Tags: farmers markets, markets, miami, organic, fruit, vegetables

The Mudgeeraba Farmers Markets are on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. 

I’ve been only once before and personally I still prefer the Nerang farmers market which is held every Sunday as it has a bigger an more varied fruit and vegetable range. The plus side for the Mudgeeraba markets is that they have dips, breads and lots of cakes inside the green shed area.

These markets are located at the Mudgeeraba showground. They’re not the biggest farmers market on the Gold Coast but if you live locally it’s an easy market to get a free carpark at and less crowds means you can get in and out quickly.

They had a few breakfast type stalls there such as the profertje’s stall, a sausage stall and a bacon and egg roll stall (we each bought one.)

I also bought a large cup of sugar cane juice for $4.50. The cane sugar stall guy freshly crushed a couple of cane sugar sticks for me and he put a big chunk of ginger and some lemon slices in between the mulched cane sugar stick and ran it through the crushing machine again. He was telling  me that he saw sugar cane juice stalls throughout India and decided to buy some machines to bring back to Australia but as they were manual machines he soon realised he needed to buy an automatic one because it was too tiring. The juice is a real sweet hit combined with a good ginger and lemon kick. Much better than coffee to get you going in the morning!

We all bought some fruit and vegetables and because we didn’t get there until late we managed to pick up a fair few bargains although next time I will try to get up earlier. I bought some taramosalata dip and turkish bread and some more avocado’s which were 3 for $3. 

If you’ve also been to the Mudgeeraba Farmers Markets then let us know what you thought - click here.

Location: Mudgeeraba Showgrounds, Mudgeeraba. Ph: (07) 5525 3525  

Some stalls at the Mudgeeraba Markets

The carpark area. Big storm clouds were starting to roll in.

One of the fruit and vege stalls

The sugar cane juice stall.

Technorati Tags: mudgeeraba, farmers, market, gold coast, produce, vegetables, fruit, cane sugar, juice

These farmers markets are located at Marina Mirage shopping centre in Main Beach on the Gold Coast. If you’re visiting the Gold Coast and have no idea where that is, it’s just before Seaworld, opposite the Sheraton hotel.

I have never been to these markets before but have heard many of my friends rave about how wonderful they were. I was a bit skeptical at first as Marina Mirage is a luxury boutique shopping centre and as these markets are located a stones throw from Main Beach (one of the most upmarket suburbs of the Gold Coast filled with multi-millionaires) I was expecting everything to be massively marked up.

I was very happy to be mistaken as the fruit and veg prices were comparable to other farmers markets. These markets certainly were more upmarket than other standard farmers markets and stalls there sold things like home made pasta, pate, beautifully decorated cupcakes, home made dog biscuits (which looked like cookies, muffins and chocolate crackles good enough for humans to eat) and there was even a gourmet brownie stall!

Some stalls are located inside the centre and the rest spills out into the carpark. Because there was a queue to get into the centre I just parked on the other side of the road and lots of other people had also parked in the Sheraton gym carpark.

I ended up buying a medium rhubarb pie for $4, a tub of olives half feta and half pecorino stuffed, some veggies which included great bargains such as a bag of tomatoes for $2 and 4 avocados for $2 as well as some taramasalata dip and turkish bread.

The Marina Mirage farmers markets are on the 1st, 3rd and 5th saturdays of each month. If you’ve also been and would like to post your own review then click here.

Location: Marina Mirage Shopping Centre, Main Beach. Ph: (07) 5525 3525 

Fresh pasta and sauces and ready made meals

Flavoured pita crisps

You can buy fresh herbs to grow your own herb garden

The gourmet brownie stall

Technorati Tags: marina mirage, main beach, gold coast, farmers, markets

The Carrara markets are on every weekend on the Gold Coast. These popular markets attract thousands of people including busloads of tourists. Most of the stuff sold is cheap brick a brack items such as pictures, homewares, trinkets and cheap jewellery. Most of it looks like it’s imported from Asia.
There are a couple of food stalls selling fruit and vegetables in the shed at the back of the markets.
The Carrara markets aren’t really my thing because to be honest, if I want to buy $2 junk i’ll go to a dollar discount store. The one (and only) stall that I do visit is the flower stall as they sell 3 bunches for $10 which is an absolute bargain.

Location: Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Carrara. Ph: (07) 5579 9388

The banana stall at the markets inside the shed - one of the few food related stalls at these markets

Cheap incense and wind chimes

Cheap and faux designer jewellery

If you’ve been and want to post your own review then click here.

Technorati Tags: carrara, markets, gold coast, markets