The Hobart Markets Worth Travelling For

There’s something you hear in Tasmania that you don’t hear anywhere else in the country, “I’m Tasmanian first,” a local vintner will tell you proudly, “Australian second”. It’s always in response to how differently they do things down on the island.

Take markets, in Tassie markets aren’t just a place to shop, they’re theatres of local life. Beneath weathered awnings, on cobblestone streets you’ll find a story in every stall. Visiting the markets is one of the very best things to do in Hobart.

Markets in Hobart have a special creative ingenuity that spills out from every tent and trestle table. You’ll find it in the whisky-infused jam, in the hand-dyed wool spun by someone who knows the sheep it came from, and the busker singing bush ballads about Van Diemen’s Land.

Here are the Hobart markets worth their own trip to the bit under the Land Down Under.

There’s a rhythm to Salamanca Market that pulls you in the moment you set foot on the stones. Every Saturday, the long row of Georgian-era sandstone warehouses transforms into Hobart’s favourite gathering place.

Rain, hail or shine in Hobart, over 300 stalls buzz under canvas awnings, with everything from freshly shucked oysters to fifth-generation woodworkers selling wares made from trees older than the First Fleet. Started in 1972, Salamanca has since become one of Australia’s most iconic open-air bazaars.

Start with a curried scallop pie from Smith’s Pies, a Salamanca Market staple. Packed with plump local scallops and a curry sauce, Smith’s has been turning the humble hand pie into a culinary legend for over 30 years. Another thing the market’s known for is slow-growing Huon Pine woodwork. The carvings, kitchenware and furniture you’ll find at stalls like Tasmanian Speciality Timbers and TasTurned are family heirlooms in the making.

Smitten Merino’s Nicola and Carl turn out beautiful lightweight knits using Tasmania’s famous merino wool. Their scarves, ponchos, leggings, mittens and sweaters aren’t just unbelievably soft, they also shield against the island’s bone-chilling winds.

Or treat yourself to some warm Lady Hester Doughnuts, stuffed with fillings like rhubarb and rose or lemon curd with thyme, they’re best paired with a coffee from Cheeky Devil Roasters. Just a ten minute walk from the beautiful Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, Salamanca Markets are where Hobart shows off its quirks and contradictions: wild and refined, old and new, Tasmanian before anything else.

When: Every Saturday from 8:30am to 3pm

Where: Salamanca Place, Hobart 7001

The stalls at Hobart’s Farm Gate Market are as much about conversations as they are about goods, you’re as likely to hear a yarn about a Huon Valley orchard as you are to taste a slice of rare leatherwood honeycomb.

Kickstart your Sunday with a rich, velvety flat white from local roaster Villino Coffee and take home a bag ‘o beans from their delicious signature range. To fire up your appetite hit the Flipped Egg Breakfast Bar for a classic bacon and egg roll made from local ingredients - these are what eggs are actually meant to taste like.

Then pull together a picnic from the stalls of seasonal fruit and vegetables, some gorgeous soft, washed-rind cheeses from Bruny Island Cheese Co and a bottle or two of Willie Smith’s Organic Cider. Here you can sample cider made from heritage apples, grown in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, and their dry drops pair beautifully with fresh oysters, conveniently also sold nearby.

Finally, there’s the Grub Hub, where street food vendors whip up everything from Middle Eastern flatbreads to vegan bao buns. The ethos here is simple: if you can’t eat it, drink it, or grow it, you won’t find it.

When: Every Sunday from 8:30am to 1.00pm

Where: 104 Bathurst Street, Hobart 7000

Across the Derwent, the Hobart Handmade Market is a roving showcase of the island’s best artisans, popping up throughout the year. Every stall tells a story of craft and place: a seaglass necklace shaped by coastal winds, a chunky scarf spun with fibres from a farmer down the road.

Eumarrah Skincare uses native botanicals like kunzea and blue gum, Dizzie Devil Yarn is a boutique dyer that spins unique and colourful yarns from Tasmanian wool, Skippy Shells creates Bruny Island oyster shells edged in liquid gold leaf. Each stall is more creative than the next and it’s an amazing place to find meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts.

When: Usually the first Sunday of the month, 10am to 2pm

Where: Lindisfarne Primary School Loatta Road, Lindisfarne 7015

Sydney and Melbourne might have their chic vintage boutiques and curated thrift shops, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege. Hobart? It’s still a treasure hunter’s paradise, one of the last places where you can walk away with a piece of history that feels like a steal.

Hobart’s Preloved Market is a glorious time capsule of your grandma’s wardrobe, your dad’s record collection, and your eccentric uncle’s mid-century furniture. Held monthly, you’ll find 1950s frocks, perfectly worn leather jackets, and costume jewellery from the disco era. The locals here know their stuff and will tell you exactly where they found that Eames-inspired armchair or rare Bowie pressing.

If the Preloved Market is where you go for timeless classics, the Fleabag Market is where Hobart’s quirky, creative side comes out to play. Think hand-painted coats, old-school cameras, vintage concert tees, and upcycled homewares that wouldn’t look out of place in a Wes Anderson film.

The vinyl selection is particularly strong. Crate diggers will be in heaven flipping through rare pressings of Aussie rock bands or obscure blues records that deserve a second spin. And in a world obsessed with the new, that’s a rare, beautiful thing.

Preloved Market: Held monthly at 46 Station Street, Moonah 7009

Fleabag Market: Held monthly at 83 Federal Street, North Hobart 7000

There’s something about Hobart at night that feels a little bit enchanted. The way the Derwent River reflects the city lights, the crisp air carrying the scent of woodsmoke and saltwater, and the hum of conversation spilling out from pubs and waterfront cafes. The Hobart Twilight Market taps into that magic, creating a scene that feels more festival than fete.

It’s held select Friday evenings throughout the year at Brooke Street Pier, which is less than ten minutes walk from Mantra One Sandy Bay Road or ibis Styles Hobart.

The food is definitely not your usual dagwood dogs and fairy floss, we’re talking Nepalese momos, Korean BBQ skewers, and freshly shucked oysters, all crafted from Tasmania’s famously pristine produce. Grab a slow-cooked wallaby taco with native pepper berries or a spiced lamb shoulder pie, and wash it down with a local Moo Brew beer.

There’s live music too, often local artists playing folk or blues as families, friends, and dogs on leashes mingle in the twilight glow.

When: Various Fridays, check the roster here

Where: Long Beach, Sandy Bay & Brooke Street Pier, Hobart

From the convict grit of old Salamanca to the farm-fresh bounty grown from rich volcanic soil and clean Southern Ocean air, there’s a sense of community and unpolished charm that makes Hobart’s markets feel different from the curated capitalism of bigger cities.