A Local's Guide to the Queenstown Markets

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to Queenstown’s three main markets – sharing the vibe, the stalls and the  local favourites you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re hunting for artisan treats, handcrafted goods, or just a taste of local life, let us be your insider guide.

Queenstown Market

• WHERE: Earnslaw Park on the lakefront in the heart of town.
• WHEN: Every Saturday, all year round.
• HOW: Walk or bus to central Queenstown.

Queenstown Market is a must-do stroll on a Saturday morning. Follow the live music down to the lakefront and find yourself transported into a world of arts and artisan crafts. 45 talented local makers set up shop and display their wares. All goods are handmade locally, so you’re taking home a treasure with a true sense of place you won’t find anywhere else.

Meet local potters, jewellers, knitters, pounamu carvers, painters, apothecaries, print makers, photographers, and leather artisans. There’s a fascinating story behind every beautiful stall, so take a few minutes to ask the makers about their craft.

It’s hard to pick favourites with such an impressive line-up of talent. However, we’ve a soft spot for locally sourced materials so we love Treebrush Apothecary’s potions and lotions infused with local kawakawa, horopito, and mānuka oil. Potter John Kalb makes organic ceramics with clay he digs himself in Southland. Isabel from Sheepish Designs hand dyes and hand spins high country wool, creating lovely, muted shades with botanical dyes.

Vibes are mellow. Music is upbeat with live bands playing folksy beats and solo buskers get in the act too. Bring a blanket and your reusable cup, grab a coffee, lounge on the lawn, listen to the tunes, and people watch. This isn’t a food market, but there are plenty of food stalls nearby bringing international flavours, with dumplings, crepes, and empanadas. After you’ve had your fill, head off for a lakeside wander into the Queenstown Gardens.

Remarkables Market

• WHERE: Corner of Red Oaks and Hawthorne Drive, Remarkables Park, Frankton.
• WHEN: Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm, spring to autumn, September to April.
• HOW: Route 1 takes you to the Remarkables shopping centre on Hawthorne Drive. It’s a 20-minute trip from central Queenstown.

Remarkables Market is a local foodie favourite – there’s a warm, welcoming vibe with stalls from local food producers, crafts, and coffee, all with scenic mountain views. If you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, this is the perfect place to stock up on food for your stay. Otherwise simply come for a leisurely morning and market lunch before exploring Frankton.

Stalls sit on grassy lawns with plenty of picnic tables. Locals often bring a rug and set up camp for the morning catching up with friends and enjoying the live tunes. It’s a family-friendly, dog friendly setting, so if you travel with a pack of kids and pooches, bring them all. Right next to the market is a brilliant playground relocated from Queenstown lake front a few years ago, along with a sandpit for any small, aspiring civil engineers. With a focus on sustainability and zero waste, the market is plastic and single-use cup free, so bring your reusable cup and containers. There’s recycling and composting on site.

With about 60 stalls each week there’s plenty to choose from. Some perennial favourites are sustainable coffee roaster Ryder Specialty Coffee. Whitestone Cheese is a regular highlight and they’re not shy with the samples. The Zamora hot pork sandwiches are to die for, as are their gourmet sausages. There’s an array of baked goods from tempting cakes to breads. Also look out for the fish seller with fresh Stewart Island salmon, and chutneys like your nana used to make. If you’re there in summer don’t miss Central Otago cherries and apricots. But this market isn’t all about the food. There are also local crafters and artisans selling clothes, jewellery, prints, photographs, homewares, and plants.

Arrowtown Farmers Market

• WHERE: Buckingham Green in the middle of Arrowtown.
• WHEN: Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm, spring to autumn, October to April.
• HOW: Route 4 goes to Arrowtown. It’s a 35-minute trip from central Queenstown

Picturesque Arrowtown Farmers Market is set under shady trees in the heart of the village. It’s a great add-on to a day-trip to this historic goldmining town. With fresh produce, artisan goods, singers serenading the crowd with their guitars. and a real sense of community, visiting Arrowtown Market feels like taking a step back in time to a world with a slower pace. March and April may be the most beautiful time to visit the market, as the town’s trees become a blaze of autumn colour.

The market is small but perfectly formed, although the line up of stalls gets bigger the closer you get to Christmas. Varied, interesting vendors include fresh, local produce, arts and crafts, artisan coffee, and food vans. Food options include momo dumplings, whiskey from Cardrona distillery, and paella. If you’re lucky enough to be in town in whitebait season don’t miss the whitebait omelette sandwich. Otherwise, the bacon and egg butties are delish. We’re also firm fans of the infused olives, truffle oil, salt and seasonings from Kiwi Artisan.

Include a market morning in your Queenstown plans

A wander around a market is a lovely, slow way to explore Queenstown culture – a chance to meet locals, pick up something special, and start the day with great coffee, conversation, and mountain views.