The best markets in the Hunter region

If you fancy a bit of a wander with your weekend, the Hunter region is quietly one of the best places for it. Between Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter Valley, there's a market running almost every day of the week, so you're never far from a stall to browse. The trick is knowing which ones are worth the trip and when they actually happen, because a few of the best only come around once a month.

For a reliable weekly fix, the Glendale Farmers and Artisans Market is hard to beat. It runs every Saturday from 8am to 2pm at Stockland Glendale, and the best part is it's under a fully engineered covered space, so it keeps going even when the weather turns. You'll find farm-fresh produce, artisan wares, homemade treats and street food, with live music each week, and Woolworths and Coles on site if you need to top up the pantry after. If you're after something more laid-back, the Pokolbin Market sits among vineyards and rolling hills every Sunday from 8am to 1pm, with local goods, homemade jams, chutney, baked treats and fresh coffee, plus live acoustic music and a bit of entertainment for the kids.

For a proper fill of the local larder, the Newcastle City Farmers Market is the one. It runs most Sundays from 7am to 1pm at the Newcastle Showground, with the next date on Sunday 6 September, and it's a genuine feast: seasonal fruit and veg, boutique wines, gourmet foods, cheeses, pasta, fresh seafood, handmade chocolates, organic sourdough and pastries, and meat. There are food trucks, a children's play area and live entertainment, and it's actively welcoming to people with access needs. Just leave the dog at home, as it's a no-dogs site. Over in Lake Macquarie, the Homegrown Markets at Speers Point is the biggest of the lot, running the first and third Sunday of each month from 10am to 2pm with over 120 stalls covering street food, local textiles, eco-conscious skincare, ceramics, jewellery and handmade baby clothes.

If you're more into art and design than a bag of spuds, The Olive Tree Market is Newcastle's premier offering. It's usually the first Saturday of the month from 9am to 2pm at Civic Park, with more than 130 artists, designers, makers and gourmet food producers, and it's easy to get to by walk, ride or light rail. The next one is Saturday 5 September, followed by 3 October and 7 November, with a Christmas market on 21 November. Most stallholders take EFTPOS alongside cash, and there's a cafe, a public toilet and a site office right in the middle.

Beyond those, the region fills out with a real mix of smaller, characterful markets. The Lions Club of Adamstown Sunday Markets have been going at Broadmeadow since 1987, the Hunter Wine Country Markets run Saturdays at De Bortoli Wines weather permitting, and the Warners Bay Markets bring the second Saturday of the month to the foreshore. Out in Maitland, Earth Markets runs the first and third Thursday of the month at The Levee, and Homegrown Markets Maitland takes over Harold Gregson Park on the second Sunday. And if you'd rather not wait for a market day at all, the Newcastle Food & Flower Markets at Sandgate are open every single day of the week for flowers, produce, baked goods, charcuterie and pasta, with a cafe on site to sit and enjoy it all.