Source: Auckland Council
Auckland is perfectly situated for the ultimate al fresco dining experiences over summer.
With beautiful beaches, huge parks and a wide range of cultures, there are food adventures and outings to suit all budgets.
In part one, Ayla Miller gave us some of her picks for the best way to eat your way around Auckland this summer. This time around, we’re taking a look at just some of the great markets held in our region and ways to grow your own food and help your community:
To Market, To Market
Whether you’re picking up a pain au chocolat, fruit and vegetables or delicious dumplings, there’s a market in Auckland to suit everyone’s tastes.
Clevedon Farmers’ Market
Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market has been running since 2005 and boasts a huge range of fresh, locally made produce and food stalls. Children can also enjoy a pony ride and patting the farm animals if the weather is nice. While there, be sure to visit the Hunua Ranges, or check out some of the beautiful east coast beaches at Duder or Ōmana regional parks.
Auckland Night Markets
Starting in Pakuranga in 2010, these markets now take place in nine locations around the city on different days of the week. With a range of entertainment and traditional and exotic food choices, they’re great fun for families. And the undercover locations mean they’re all-weather events. The Night Noodle Markets 4in Victoria Park, 29 Nov-8 Dec, are also not to be missed.
Mt Albert Market
Make the most of the Streetfood Station on Friday, 5pm-9pm, and sample the wares of a rotating crew of the region’s best food trucks. Burgers, authentic Italian pizza, craft beer, Asian options, Kiwi fare and live music … what more do you need? And pop in on Saturday morning for great coffee, quality meats, baked goods, flowers and other supplies.
Avondale
You’ll find strong Polynesian and Asian influences at the Sunday market at Avondale Racecourse. Once you’ve filled your belly with ready-to-eat treats such as dumplings, doughnuts or steam pudding and packed your bags with in-season fruit and vegetables, spend a few hours trawling through the treasures at the car-boot sale.
Ōtara Market
Urban streetwear, church and designer clothing, island doughnuts, chop suey, pork buns, Polynesian music, tapa cloth, korowai and a selection of sweet treats … it’s not just a place to buy stuff, it’s a cultural experience – and a real slice of modern, Pasifika life. Ōtara Market 5 opens early on Saturday morning and is a great place to find a selection of harder-to-find cuisines as well as Māori, Samoan, Tongan and Niuean art and culture.
Down To Earth
Eating out should be considered a treat (and, let’s be honest, it isn’t always the healthiest option), so why not learn to grow your own food this summer – or give back by cooking for the community.
You can always start growing at home. But if you need some help, the region’s many community gardens – such as Kelmarna Gardens 6in Ponsonby, the Grafton Garden Collective and the Papatoetoe Food Hub – are good places to start.
Putting food on the table at this time of year can be a struggle for many families, so why not head over to the Auckland City Mission and lend a hand at their annual Christmas lunch, or sign up as a volunteer chef with pay-as-you-feel restaurant Everybody Eats, a charity that serves three-course meals to those in need using food that would otherwise go to waste.
Looking for more?
Take a look back at part 1 of this story to discover some of the best foodie locations around our region.
You can find more markets listed here on OurAuckland.
