Nomadic African

 by TraceyLC 

 Queenstown and Rotorua are two of the most popular tourist towns in New Zealand. Locals are making the most of this opportunity by running markets showcasing the work of local artisans. So if you happen to be holidaying in either of these towns at the right time of month, it’s well worth taking the time to have a poke around the local markets and hopefully come away with a new favourite piece of art or something delicious to eat or drink. Or, if you’re looking for a souvenir from your New Zealand trip, the markets are the place to go.

Set on the picturesque shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by a majestic mountain range, Queenstown is an absolutely stunning town. The ‘Creative Queenstown Arts & Crafts Markets’ are held every Saturday on the boardwalk beside the lake and are open for most of the day, depending on the season. The surroundings on their own make the markets worthy of a visit, let alone the unique and quality arts and crafts on offer. The Markets attract artists from all around the South Island keen to show off their talents and make some money. The stalls are mostly arts and crafts and include paintings, pottery, sculpture, handmade soap, unique jewellery, wood turning, photography, bone carving, flax weaving, greenstone carving, knitting and more. There is also plenty of food on offer and live music adds to the atmosphere. Surrounding restaurants run a great trade and patrons can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere generated by the markets. Queenstown accommodation is plentiful and during the off season (summer) there are great hotel deals available for the astute traveller. The restaurants and hotels in the area are absolutely world class, and the range of activities is too large to mention. 

Rotorua, with its four regular markets, is a market goer’s dream and both the tourists and locals visit the markets in droves. The most regular of the Rotorua markets is the Kuirau Park Flea Market (locals call it the Flea Market), held every Saturday morning, rain, hail or shine. Long been a haunt of mainly locals, the Flea Market has increasingly been attracting tourists. Market goer’s can find a huge range of stalls from second hand books and clothes, to freshly made breads and Maori foods. There are also food stalls from a variety of cuisines including Indian, Latin American and Asian. Other stalls include jewellery, fresh fruit and veg, bric-a-brac, arts and crafts and handmade gourmet products. The Flea Market is held on the grounds of Kuirau Park which is famous for its geothermal activity. The nearby bubbling mud pools, crater lakes and sulphur vents are worthy of a visit once you’ve finished exploring the markets. 

The Night Markets on Thursday nights are a favourite amongst locals and foodies, providing an original shopping and dining experience. Held in the closed off Tutanekai Street near the heart of Rotorua, the local shops and restaurants stay open so that market goers can have the best of both worlds. The Night Markets boast a selection of high end gourmet foods including locally made wine and beer, gourmet handmade cheeses and artisan products. The alfresco markets showcase a wide range of New Zealand food, arts and handicrafts, jewellery and much more and shoppers will be entertained while they shop by a variety of live entertainers. These vibrant markets have fast become a highlight of any trip to Rotorua and a favourite amongst the locals. There are several good Rotorua hotels close enough to the markets to walk to, or if you’re staying further out of town, the public transport system is easy to navigate.

The Soundshell Market is the largest of the Rotorua Markets and is held on the Rotorua lakefront every weekend. This indoor/outdoor market has both international and local handicrafts, food, drinks, jewellery, books and clothing....basically, everything but the kitchen sink! The markets have a long held good reputation for quality and variety and the large number of stalls means it is easy to spend a couple of hours exploring. The Soundshell market is quite a popular tourist destination and most Rotorua accommodation is able to organise transfers to and from the markets for you.

The newest of the Rotorua markets is the Hot Lakes Craft Market, which features only local arts and crafts made by New Zealand residents. These markets have a great selection of unique handcrafted products, some more unique than others. The strangest stall is the Coffin Club which offers market goers the chance to create and personalise their own coffins....not for everyone, but strangely popular as people seem to enjoy personalising their own coffins with painted flowers and poems etc. There are also a number of stalls offering a hands-on experience including demonstrations, pottery lessons, photography clinics and other crafts and hobbies.

Queenstown and Rotorua, with their spectacular scenery and plethora of activities appeal to a wide range of travellers. The accommodation in Queenstown and the hotels in Rotorua are both of international standard. The markets, although not the main attraction in each town, give another dimension to the holiday experience and just might find you something to treasure forever. 

For more information on accommodation in Queenstown and Rotorua accommodation including hotels in Rotorua visit Choice Hotels New Zealand online.