Markets & Artisans
Farmers markets and makers
The best markets & artisans in Oakbank
Weekend markets brim with cheese, chocolate, jam, cut flowers and produce straight from the surrounding orchards and dairies.
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About markets & artisans in Adelaide Hills
Few regions reward a love of good food and handmade things like the Adelaide Hills. A patchwork of orchards, dairies and market gardens feeds a thriving community of makers - cheesemakers, chocolatiers, bakers and preservers - many of whom open their doors so you can taste and buy straight from the source.
Weekends bring the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market to Mount Barker, gathering growers, bakers and roasters in one bustling Saturday meeting. In Woodside you'll find Woodside Cheese Wrights for cheese and Melba's Chocolate Factory for traditional chocolate-making behind viewing windows, while Udder Delights now runs its cheese cellar at Grunthal Brew in Verdun, near Hahndorf. Family farm shops like Beerenberg sell jams and relishes alongside seasonal pick-your-own.
Providores and cellar doors round out the picture, stocking Hills cheese, smallgoods, honey and preserves perfect for building a picnic or filling the boot before the drive home.
Markets & Artisans in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What are the Adelaide Hills best known for in food and handmade produce?
The Adelaide Hills is a patchwork of orchards, dairies and market gardens that feeds a thriving community of makers, so the region is famous for artisan cheese, chocolate, jam and fresh seasonal fruit. Look out for Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf, where the Paech family has farmed for six generations, Udder Delights cheese at Grunthal Brew in Verdun, and neighbouring producers Melba's Chocolate Factory and Woodside Cheese Wrights on Henry Street in Woodside. Many of these makers open their doors so you can taste and buy straight from the source.
Where is the main farmers market and when is it on?
The Adelaide Hills Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning from 8:30am to 12:30pm, with stalls of seasonal produce sold by the people who grew or made it. It is held under the historic elm trees at 23 Mann Street in Mount Barker. Entry is free, so it is easy to drop in.
Are there other markets and maker towns worth visiting in the Hills?
Yes - beyond the Saturday farmers market, Hahndorf's main street is lined with artisan shops, and nearby villages hold regular markets of their own. The Stirling Market fills Druid Avenue on the fourth Sunday of most months (the third Sunday in December), and the Uraidla Market runs at the Uraidla Institute on the first and third Sundays. It is worth checking each market's social pages before you travel, as dates can change.
Is the experience family and visitor friendly, and do I need to book?
Most markets and farm shops are free to wander and welcome families, so you can usually just turn up rather than booking ahead. Some experiences work better with a booking, such as guided tasting tours, and pick-your-own farms ask a small entry fee. For dog-friendliness, policies vary by venue, so it is best to confirm with the individual producer before you visit.
What is the best season to visit for fresh produce and fruit picking?
Weekends year-round reward a love of good food, but late spring through summer is the standout window for fresh Hills fruit. Cherry season at orchards around Lenswood and the eastern Hills typically runs from about mid-November to mid-January, while Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf usually opens its pick-your-own strawberry patch from November to around April. Both depend on the weather and the crop, so check the farm's website or social pages before making the trip.