Tucked among the sandstone buildings and cobblestone footpaths of Sydney’s oldest suburb, this European-styled Christmas market is brimming with festive delights. Fill your stockings with local handcrafted wares, from jewellery to art and pottery. Take a break from the Christmas shopping to tuck into a fresh mince tart and other festive baked goods. George St and Playfair St, The Rocks, NSW. (Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between December 2-18 – Friday 4pm-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.)

For gift inspiration and all the Christmas puddings you can eat, Cambridge markets have Sydney covered. With multiple markets from Cronulla to Pittwater and Glebe to Moore Park, there’s plenty of opportunity to get in the festive spirit no matter where you live. The one to keep your eye on this year is the new pop-up in Martin Place, promising a smorgasbord of fashion and feasting. The Shire Christmas Market, Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla, NSW. (Saturday & Sunday November 26-27.) Glebe Christmas Market, Bi-Centennial Park, Glebe, NSW. (Saturday December 3.) The Ultimate Christmas Market EQ, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, NSW. (Sunday December 4.) Pittwater Christmas Market, Winnererremy Bay, Mona Vale, NSW. (Saturday December 17.) Martin Place, Sydney CBD, NSW. (Saturday & Sunday November 26-27, then every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December until Christmas Eve, 11am-8pm.)

Haven’t bought that ham for Christmas lunch? Ran out of time to bake a Christmas cake? Carriageworks’ twilight farmer’s markets has you covered. With a heavy focus on the best local produce, a stroll through the market will see your basket full of fresh seafood, biodynamic meats, delicious cheeses and baked goods from Sydney’s best artisanal bakers. Christmas lunch has never been so easy. Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, NSW. (Wednesday 21 December, 4pm-9pm.)

If checking out Christmas lights is on your holiday to-do list, Noel Christmas festival is a must-attend. Held in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, market stalls filled with Christmas treats and gifts will perch amongst a forest of digital Christmas trees made of light. A light trail on Macquarie Street will lead the way to the festival, illuminating some of Sydney’s most beautiful buildings with stories from the Nutcracker. To top it all off, hundreds of drones will fill the air to put on a festive light show. It’s a market not to miss. Macquarie St and Parade Ground, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, NSW. (December 9-24, 6pm till late nightly.) Skyshow – December 16-24, 8:15pm and 10pm nightly.

There is no Christmas lunch more Australian than a seafood spread. To satisfy our insatiable love of prawns and oysters, Sydney Fish Market will hold its annual 36-hour seafood marathon. Come for a midnight feast and knock all your Christmas shopping out of the way while you’re at it. Corner of Pyrmont Bridge Rd and Bank St, Pyrmont, NSW. (5am Friday December 23 till 5pm Saturday December 24.)

Situated in the picturesque Heide Museum of Modern Art sculpture park, this eclectic market is all about style. Whether it’s a beautiful piece of hand-glazed crockery, a funky art print or an artisanal Christmas cake, it’s the perfect place to up your gift game this year. 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen, VIC. (Saturday December 17, 10am-3pm.)

One of Australia’s largest Christmas markets, the festivities at Queen Victoria Market are sure to be grand. Wander under the starry lights of String Bean Alley, sample the delicious street food and get ahead on the grocery shopping for the big day. Whether it’s French cheeses, cured meats or baked treats, Queen Victoria Market has you covered. 513 Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC. (Every Monday in December till Christmas, 5pm-10pm.)

Part market, part cooking masterclass, part wine tasting, at this market it’s all about the food. In need of some cooking inspiration? Watch Pav Queen Nerida McPherson create the perfect Christmas pavlova, butcher Peter Bouchier take on the turducken and the team from Fromager d’Affinois demonstrate the ultimate French cheese board. Stock up on local wines and spirits then take a break from shopping with a lobster roll and a glass of champagne at the on-site bar. Royal Exhibition Building, Nicholson St, Carlton, VIC. (November 26-27, 10am-5pm.) Tickets are $10 online or $12.50 at the door.

It’s not only the cities that have great Christmas markets. Travel a couple of hours out of Melbourne to the Piccadilly markets near Geelong to get the best local produce of the Otways and nearby Great Ocean Road. With oodles of art, homewares and clothes from local artists and designers, it’s a festive trip well worth making. Barwon Valley Activity Centre, 1 Barwon Heads Rd, Belmont, VIC. (Saturday December 3, 10am-3pm.)

Craft Markets celebrate local artisans and artists across regional Victoria but for your Christmas shopping the ones to watch out for are the twilight markets in Yarra Glen and Mornington. Everything is handmade and homegrown, from fresh Mornington cherries to locally-made honey. Yarra Glen Twilight Market – 2 Armstrong Grove, off Healesville – Yarra Glen Rd, Yarra Glen, VIC. (Saturday December 10, 3pm-8pm.) Mornington Twilight Market – 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington, VIC. (Saturday December 17, 3pm-8pm.)

Soak up the festive atmosphere at this twilight market smack-bang in the middle of Brisbane. Admire the lights of City Hall while wandering around stalls showcasing the best of local designers and artisans. Soak up some live music while munching on freshly-baked festive treats. King George Square, Brisbane City, QLD. (Friday December 2, 4pm-9pm.)

The focus of this Brisbane-based market is in the name. Everything is handmade, with a focus on funky local designers and artists. To drive home its artistic credentials, the market is held underneath the giant whale sculptures in the Queensland Museum. It’s the perfect place to soak up some culture while scoring some unique Christmas gifts. Queensland Museum Whale Mall, Southbank, QLD. (Saturday December 10, 9am-3pm.)

Christmas shopping, bauble decorating workshops and a boat parade; it’s a party at Portside Wharf. Load up on handmade ceramics, art and jewellery before grabbing a picnic blanket, tucking into some festive street food and watching the Christmas boat parade on Brisbane River. Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules St, Hamilton, QLD. (Sunday December 18, 3pm-7pm.)

Only a 20 minute drive from the centre of Brisbane, the Nundah Christmas markets somehow manage to retain the vibe of a charming village market. With handcrafted homewares, soaps, jewellery and all things edible, you’ll have no trouble filling the stockings. And when all the shopping is done, take in the fairy lights and have cold one at the North Pole-themed bar. Station St, Nundah, QLD. (Saturday December 3, 4pm-10pm.)

Jingle by the Bay is more of a town-wide festival than a simple Christmas market. The main streets of Sandgate close for the enormous Christmas parade, while hundreds of market stalls line the streets selling everything from artisan gifts to fresh local produce. To top it off there are multiple stages set up for live entertainment. It’s one big party the whole town gets into. Brighton Rd, Sandgate, QLD. (Saturday December 3, 3pm-9pm.)