Market shopping is a normal part of life for most Melburnians – we're lucky to have so much delicious produce grown right here in our bountiful country that it would be silly not to enjoy the literal fruits of our farmers' labour. We're blessed with so many incredible food markets across our city, from the famous Queen Victoria Market in the CBD to Dandenong Market in the outer 'burbs. These beloved favourites are super popular, but it turns out that if you're looking for a true gem of a market, you'd best travel further afield to the countryside. Grab your nanna trolleys, because a farmers market in a small regional Victorian town has been named as the top-rated market in the whole of Australia.
Creswick Market, located 120km from Melbourne near the regional hub of Ballarat, has taken out the title of the top market in the country – as rated by tourists. The rankings of the top markets for tourists in the country were determined by retail blog Merchant Machine, who analysed Tripadvisor reviews for listings tagged 'farmers market' or 'street/flea market' and ranked them by their percentage of five-star reviews. While Creswick Market may be little, it had the largest percentage of five star reviews Australia wide, with 72.8 per cent.
Situated in the picturesque, historic town of Creswick, this farmers market runs on the third Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm. You'll find more than 90 specialist vendors, offering a variety of locally made goods ranging from food and produce, arts and crafts to freshly made delicacies. Expect the freshest produce, gourmet take away food and great coffee, plants, handmade arts and crafts, clothing, jewellery, and all in utterly beautiful surrounds. It makes sense that tourists adore this market, as it's a quintessential Aussie countryside dream.
Also ranking high on the list of top-rated markets was Willunga Farmers Market and Mount Pleasant Farmers Market in the second and third spots respectively, both located in South Australia. A few other Victorian markets also made cut for the top 20 list, including Gisborne Olde Time Market and Talbot Farmers Market in regional Victoria, Gleadell Street Market in Richmond, Ferntree Gully Market and the classic South Melbourne Market.
Now if you'll excuse us, we're planning a regional road trip to pick up some delicious goodies, stat.
The top 20 highest-rated tourist markets in Australia:
- Creswick Market, Victoria
- Willunga Farmers Market, South Australia
- Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, South Australia 70.5%
- Palm Beach Farmers Market, Queensland
- Plant 4, South Australia
- Bangalow Market, New South Wales
- Gisborne Olde Time Market, Victoria
- Gleadell Street Market, Victoria
- Adelaide Central Market, South Australia
- Subi Farmers Market, Western Australia
- Mullumbimby Farmers Market, New South Wales
- Talbot Farmers Market, Victoria
- Ferntree Gully Market Fair, Victoria
- Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market, South Australia
- Yungaburra Markets, Queensland
- Noosa Farmers Market, Queensland
- South Melbourne Market, Victoria
- The Stirling Market, South Australia
- Launceston Community Farmers’ Market, Tasmania
- Swan Settlers Market, Victoria