To market, to market

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Work up a healthy appetite with a ride to a market, then load up with food. Simon Vincett digs up some fresh and tasty capital city options.

Image by Lombard Photo

Why fight for a park at the supermarket when you can ride to a farmers’ market instead? Many markets are close to bike paths and make a great destination for a weekend trundle.

Markets are great places for the whole family, with coffee, sausage sizzles and all manner of food, and entertainment and often play equipment for the kids. Not to mention the produce directly from the producers. You’ll have an appetite after all your riding.

Plan for carting home the delicious produce you will buy, including cooler bags with freezer blocks if you want to buy meat, dairy or seafood. Cargo bikes and trailers come into their own for market rides but you can carry a lot in panniers, a basket and/or a backpack. Check out the system used by other bike riders to plan what works for you for subsequent market rides.

You might want to use the train for part of your journey. For Sunday markets, Melbourne and Sydney offer concession daily tickets for the entire greater metropolitan network and bikes travel free. Cargo bikes and trailers aren’t so easy to combine with trains though.

There are markets all over the place these days and here we’ve listed some capital city markets that are central and handy to bike paths. For other options try searching www.farmersmarkets.org.au/markets.

Subiaco Farmers’ Market

Subiaco Primary School, Perth

Saturday 8am–12.30pm

  • Fruit and veg, seafood, meat, dairy, bread and specialty produce
  • Coffee, breakfast and morning tea options
  • 150m from the Principal Shared Path between central Perth and Fremantle
  • 200m from Subiaco train station
subiaco-farmers-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

Nearby

Mt Claremont Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 8am–noon, 5.5km away on shared paths.

For bike routes around Perth www.ridethecity.com/perth

Salamanca Market

Salamanca Place, Hobart

Saturday 8.30am–3pm “rain, hail or shine”

  • Hundreds of stalls of fruit and veg, seafood, meat, dairy, bread and specialty produce, art and craft, clothing, books, etc
  • Many coffee and food options
  • The Intercity Cycleway from Claremont ends right at the market
salamanca-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

Nearby

Tasmanian Farm Gate Market, Sundays, at Melville Street Car Park, 8am–noon.

Northey St Organic Market

Northey Street City Farm, Windsor, Brisbane

Sunday 6–10.30am

  • Fruit and veg, breads, meat, dairy, drygoods and preserves
  • Organic tea, coffee or a light breakfast at the Northey Street Cafe
  • Access from the Enoggera Creek bike path
  • 3km from Wilston train station via back streets and path
northey-st-organic-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

Nearby

Brisbane Powerhouse Farmers’ Markets at Newfarm on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 6am–noon. Access from the riverside bikeway.

For bike routes around Brisbane www.ridethecity.com/brisbane

Sydney Fish Market

Bank Street, Pyrmont

Every day except Christmas 7am–4pm

  • Seafood, deli, bread, fruit and veg and wine
  • Pizza and cafe fare
  • Access from off-road path from Anzac Bridge and Glebe
  • Approximately 6km from Erkinville or Newtown train stations
  • Sydney Morning Herald Growers’ Market at Pyrmont Bay Park 7–11am on the first Saturday of every month except January
sydney-fish-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

Nearby

Rocks Farmers’ Market, Fridays and Saturdays 9am–3pm.

For bike routes around Sydney www.ridethecity.com/sydney

For a hard copy map call City of Sydney on (02) 9265 9333

Wilunga Farmers’ Market

Wilunga Town Square, SA

Saturday 8am–12.30pm

  • Fruit and veg, meat, bread and pastries, preserves and specialty produce
  • First farmers’ market in SA and one of the best
  • At the end of the Coast to Vines Rail Trail, a 34km ride from Marino.
wilunga-farmers-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

In Adelaide

Adelaide Showground Market, Sunday 9am–1pm, Leader St, Goodwood.

For more bike maps of Adelaide http://bit.ly/1fhc30 orwww.ridethecity.com/adelaide

CERES market

East Brunswick, Melbourne

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9am–1pm

  • Fruit and veg, meat, bread and pastries, preserves with some art and craft, clothing, books, etc
  • Coffee, cake and live music
  • Much produce grown by CERES
  • Access from the Merri Creek Trail
ceres-market
Map by Wayne Murphy

Nearby

Collingwood Children’s Farm Farmers’ Market (every 2nd Saturday) on the Main Yarra Trail.

For bike routes around Melbourne www.ridethecity.com/melbourne

Tip – Let the bike do the carrying

Plan for carting home the delicious produce you will buy, including cooler bags with freezer blocks if you want to buy meat, dairy or seafood. Cargo bikes and trailers come into their own for market rides but you can carry a lot in panniers (saddlebags), a basket and or a backpack. Check out the system used by other bike riders to plan what works for you for subsequent market rides.

Here’s a cargo bike proving its worth

What’s your favourite market to ride to?

 

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