Max your summer in Sydney

These pint-sized produce markets take place in Pannerong Reserve just back from Rosebay’s main drag selling bunches of aromatic sage, fennel and mint, miniature organic eggplants and juicy grapefruits. On the Tuesday we visit there’s a jazz guitarist, long tables to sit at and umbrellas to lounge under. There are around ten stalls each week, so it’s more of a snapshot of the Sydney market rotation rather a full spread. Grab an eggy quiche lorraine filled with bacon, caramelised onion, shreds of tasty cheese, cream and milk from Tart by Ursula; or get a taste of the Northern Beaches via Berkelo’s hearty loaves of bread. Fresh blooms including leucadendrons, pineapple lillies and proteas come in buckets (or arrangements) from local florist Sweet Pea and Honey Bee Flowers. You’ll also find Gwydir Grove Olive Oils, who bring drums of olive oil (perfect for refilling bottles) and briny, dense olives. Ultra sweet fire grapes and dried sugar plums from Prickle Hill are also a hit.If all this perusing has you hankering for a snack you’ll be pleased to smell the aromas of Jimmy Liks. The former Potts Point restaurant will serve you up a roti ‘taco’, which see the charred flat bread packed with slow cooked curried chicken, pickled cabbage, chilli and fresh coriander. Find more Sydney markets.

It’s imperative that you do not eat before you visit the Carriageworks Farmers Markets. You’ll want to save maximum belly space for your personal version of The Bachelorette where you decide who gets your dollars and what delicious produce gets to come home with you. Maybe you like something soupy and savoury first thing? In that case go for the pho stand for a traditional Vietnamese start to the day. There’s a bibimbap stall that will even replace the rice with shredded cauliflower if you don’t believe in cheat days, and a French crêpe stall and a classic bacon and egg roll for creatures of habit. The big hitter is always Billy Kwong, where a perfect fried egg is swaddled in a Chinese pancake, packed with salad and dressed in a luxe ginger tamari sauce. And for breakfast dessert, no visit is complete without a baked treat from Flour and Stone – they soak their lamingtons in a panna cotta mix to make sure they’re extra soft and rich.Once the hounds of your hunger have been quieted it’s time to prepare for your next meal, or seven. Maybe you need the sweet bite of Pickle Hill’s Worcester sauce for the pantry? Or some fresh goat’s curd from Willowbrae? While you’re there you may as well get some smoked salmon, fresh ravioli from Pasta Emilia, free range eggs, a load of beer and barley bread form the Bread and Butter Project, and some jersey milk butter to go on it. If you forgot your sweet French basket the 2 Duck Trading Co stall sells them, so you can pack them full of fresh

Etsy Made Local markets pop up across Australia in the same month giving young businesses the chance to sell their wares at a big event – and giving you the opportunity to buy direct from the makers and stock up on all your stocking fillers in one spree. This is the fourth year for Sydney’s Etsy Made Local and it’ll take place at Loch Ave South, in Centennial Park, for the first time. One hundred local makers will be setting up stalls selling creative, handmade gifts ranging from ceramics and jewellery to vintage clothing and artworks. The pop-up markets are organised by community teams of local Etsy sellers in each location. Stallholders have been locked in, but not yet announced on the event’s Facebook page. Look out for updates and save the date for a pet-friendly shopping trip to the park.

You’ll find massive variety among the 200 stalls that take over Glebe Public School each Saturday morning, but it’s the fashion ones that attracts most visitors. There are rows upon rows of eccentric and colourful vintage clothes, alongside hand-crafted jewellery, accessories and new clothing designed by locals. There are vintage stalls scattered all around the market, but the smaller section just off Derby Lane at the back of the school is a goldmine and a slightly quieter place to scour through racks and try things on. Here you’ll find Muns Vintage, a treasure trove of recycled fabrics turned into new garments. Even if you’re not searching for a new wardrobe, Glebe Markets is a great place to grab some lunch and relax on the school lawns where live musicians serenade the crowd from noon. The lane of food stalls – just opposite the lawn – has old market favourites and more high-end offerings: gözleme, kebabs, dumplings, fancy doughnuts, gluten-free baked goods and tandoori chicken wraps from the Madras Cuisine stall, which has been part of the markets for more than two decades. Best of all, you can get a freshly squeezed, made-to-order lemonade from the Citrus Factory. It’s mixed together in a cocktail shaker and you’re able to request a little more lemon or sugar, depending how sweet your tooth is. Find more Sydney markets. 

Artists and makers in the Campbelltown region will be setting up stalls at the Amphitheatre outside CAC for the first ever Handpicked markets. The afternoon-to-evening market will feature 30 stalls by local creatives selling ceramics, jewellery, textiles, woven pieces, leather goods and living sculptures. Stallholders include artist Rosie Deacon (pictured), Yirran Miigaydhu Weavers, Campbelltown Bonsai Society, Hyde ‘n’ Clay, Black Cockatoos Aboriginal Corporation and Studio VanQ. The arts centre is hoping to make it an annual event where you’ll find diverse and distinctive artists and artworks from Western Sydney. They’re also keeping the gallery open till 9pm so you can browse the 56th Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, take part in craft workshops and grab a bite to eat from the Burger Frank pop-up or Pepitas’ vegan, gluten free ice cream truck.

These dog-friendly markets aren’t just a ritual for locals – loyal visitors from all over Sydney trek to Addison Road Community Centre for organic groceries and a wander around Reverse Garbage. You can find pretty much anything here; vintage clothes, books, rugs, eco food wraps to healing crystals, rice bread and tarot reading. There are plenty of stalls selling seasonal fruit and veg, plus Asian greens, honey and fresh seafood. Pick up a paper lunch bag filled with sweet, mini plums and stop by Brooklyn Boy Bagels for a poppy seed dough with cream cheese, lox, dill and caper schmear. If you visit on the first or fourth Sunday of the month, the longest lines will be found at La Casa Latina – a pop-up diner where you can eat authentic Mexican food. It’s a major drawcard for tamales, chilaquiles, tacos al pastor and pazole. Wash it all down with a Michelada – a popular Mexican drink that combines beer, lime, tomato juice, Worcestershire and hot sauce. If the picnic tables are full, there’s plenty of grass behind the community hall to throw down a rug – just watch out for the pony rides passing through. Find the best markets in Sydney.