The Best Markets in Australia’s Byron Bay

There’s nothing like a farmers’ market to give you a solid glimpse into local life. On Thursday mornings (as early as 7am), Byron Bay residents head to Ewingsdale Road to fill their baskets with fresh, organic and free-range produce. Stalls are teeming with eggs, wheels of cheese, charcuterie and fresh loaves of sourdough bread, while whole tables groan under the weight of strawberries. Though you have to get there early (the market clears out by 11am), you can fill your belly with coffee and cakes as you walk through. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth

On the first Sunday of every month, approximately 300 stalls teeming with goodies are set up along Bryon Bay’s Main Beach Foreshore. Delving into the market’s maze might be a bit of a headache, what with the crowds, but there’s a constant stream of street-food vendors whose mission it is to keep you perky (and a street busker who takes the art of entertainment very seriously). If you want to blend in with the colourful crowds, opt for a pair of angel wings, tie-dye T-shirts or floaty, layered skirts – the brighter, the better. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth

With a grass-roots atmosphere and no pomp and circumstance, the Byron Flea Market takes place at the Byron Youth Centre and supports the community’s young creatives and budding entrepreneurs. You can purchase anything from handcrafted bags and eco-friendly products to home-baked brownies. It’s just across from the beach, too, so feel free to have a gander post-swim. You’ll be giving back to a town that’s just given you the best holiday of your life, so showing your support couldn’t be sweeter. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth

This market takes place four times a year and depends on a “make it, bake it and grow it” approach, which takes DIY to a whole new level of production. You can buy anything from abstract art to jewel-studded berets, raisin cookies and farm-grown carrots. So, if you were wondering what to get your folks back home as a gift, now you know. The market also places emphasis on experiences, so you can indulge in a professional back massage by experienced practitioners, face painting, candle-making activities and tarot readings. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid

If you’re after a more upbeat experience, go to Railway Park on any Saturday at 4pm. You’ll find live music, mouth-watering street food and some incredibly chic boutique stalls. It’s the kind of spot where you can pick up a block of raw organic chocolate, handcrafted wooden treasures or reusable beeswax wraps – if you’re into that kind of thing. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid

Celebrating Australia’s long-standing surf culture, the Byron Bay Surf Festival takes place once a year with outdoor film screenings, live music, outdoor parties and art exhibitions, featuring anything and everything to do with surfing. For the markets, vendors from around the country flock to the city to promote their craftsmanship, books, art and surfwear labels. If you are here for the epic swells, don’t forget to stop by. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid