Not every great market is in a city. The Tamahere Country Market runs on the third Saturday of every month – rain, hail, or shine – at St Stephen’s Anglican Church on the corner of State Highway 21 (Airport Road) and Tamahere Drive, just southeast of Hamilton between the city and Cambridge. It has approximately 100 stalls. It has been running since 2004. And it is one of the most genuinely warm and community-rooted markets in the Waikato.
The market is run by St Stephen’s Church as a community outreach project and a source of income for the parish – which means the whole operation has an authenticity of purpose that purely commercial markets often lack. The vendors are predominantly small NZ businesses and producers, the atmosphere is genuinely country without being twee, and the food is the kind that makes the drive worth it: famous Tamahere Market bacon and egg butties, mussel fritters, Devonshire teas, homemade fudge, and fresh organic produce that was grown within reasonable distance of where you are standing.
What Makes Tamahere Different From Hamilton’s Other Markets
Hamilton has a strong market culture across multiple days and formats – the Hamilton Farmers Market at Claudelands every Sunday, the Frankton Market on Saturday mornings, and the Hamilton Night Markets through the week. Tamahere occupies a different position within that landscape: it is an outdoor market with a rural setting and a specific emphasis on NZ-made and NZ-produced goods.
The TripAdvisor description is accurate and specific: “Great open-air market featuring local produce and products made, grown, and created in New Zealand. There are approximately 100 stalls, offering a huge variety of craft, food and produce together with buskers and great country atmosphere.”
The emphasis on NZ-made is a genuine differentiator. The market’s own position states it “supports NZ made/produced and especially small NZ business” – which means visiting Tamahere is an active engagement with what New Zealand actually makes and grows, not a mixed bag of imported goods with local stall rental.
What You Will Find Across the 100 Stalls
Organic Produce and Fresh Food – Seasonal vegetables, fruit, and organic produce from Waikato and broader NZ growers. The kind of vegetables that actually taste like something.
Cheese, Bread and Olive Oil – Artisan cheesemakers, specialty bread bakers, and NZ-produced olive oil. These are genuine food discoveries rather than supermarket supplements.
Local Wine – Waikato and wider NZ wine producers sell direct at the market. The ability to talk to the winemaker about what you are buying and why it tastes the way it does is one of the market’s genuine pleasures.
Art, Woodwork and Jewellery – NZ artists and craftspeople bring original paintings, hand-turned wooden objects, handcrafted jewellery, and decorative arts. The quality varies as it does at any market, but the range is broad enough that serious art buyers and gift hunters both find what they are looking for.
Glass Art and Ceramics – Studio glass and handmade ceramics from NZ makers – categories that are genuinely well-represented at Tamahere given its proximity to the broader Waikato arts community.
Collectables – Pre-loved and collectable items alongside the predominantly new-goods stalls. Goldfish make a regular appearance too, which is a detail specific to Tamahere that visitors consistently note and find charming.
Children’s Clothing – NZ-made children’s wear from small designers and producers.
Skincare and Natural Products – NZ-made skincare, soaps, and natural health products.
The Food: Why People Really Come
Let us be direct: a significant number of Tamahere market visitors are primarily there for the food. Specifically:
The Bacon and Egg Butties – The “famous Tamahere Market bacon and egg butties” are mentioned in virtually every description of the market. If you go to Tamahere and do not eat one, you have missed a fundamental part of the experience.
The Sausage Sizzle – Run by “an awesome team” in the words of the official description, the sausage sizzle is both a fundraiser for the church and genuinely good. Traditional market sausage done properly.
Mussel Fritters – Fresh mussel fritters – a New Zealand classic that is rarely done as well as it is at this market.
Devonshire Teas – Served inside the Church Hall, Devonshire teas (scones, cream, jam, tea or coffee) are available for those who want to sit down, warm up, and watch the market from a stationary position. The hall also has a play area for children.
Homemade Fudge and Treats – Multiple sweet stalls producing the kind of handmade confectionery that supermarket shelves cannot replicate.
For visitors who want to extend the Tamahere experience, the Inspirit Studio and Gallery at 360 Pencarrow Road is literally minutes from the Tamahere market at Tamahere and makes a natural combination – market in the morning, gallery after.
The December Twilight Market
Every December, the Tamahere market runs a special addition alongside its usual third-Saturday event: a Twilight Market on the first Saturday of December from 4pm to 8pm. In 2025, this was Saturday 6 December, followed by the regular market on Saturday 20 December at the usual 8:30am to 1pm.
The Twilight Market has a different atmosphere to the morning event – evening light, a different mix of stalls, and the particular charm of a Christmas market in a rural NZ church setting. If you are in the Waikato in early December, it is worth planning around.
Getting There: Practical Information
Tamahere is approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Hamilton CBD, heading south on State Highway 1 and then onto State Highway 21 (Airport Road). The church and market are on the corner of Airport Road and Tamahere Drive – well-signposted on market days.
Parking is available along Tamahere Drive in a paddock, on Devine Road (access from the on-ramp to SH1 heading back to Hamilton), and disabled parking is adjacent to the church driveway (display disabled sticker or use the drop-off and pick-up point). Parking attendants are present on market days to direct traffic. Bike racks are available for cyclists.
FAQs About Tamahere Country Market
When is the Tamahere Country Market?
Every third Saturday of the month from 8:30am to 1pm, year-round regardless of weather. There is also a special Twilight Market on the first Saturday of December from 4pm to 8pm.
Where is the Tamahere Country Market?
St Stephen’s Anglican Church, corner of State Highway 21 (Airport Road) and Tamahere Drive, Tamahere. The postal address is 14 Tamahere Drive, Tamahere, Hamilton 3283.
Is the Tamahere Country Market free to enter?
Yes. Entry is free.
Who runs the Tamahere Country Market?
The market is run by St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Tamahere, as a community outreach project. It has been operating since 2004.
How many stalls does the Tamahere Country Market have?
Approximately 100 stalls at each monthly market. All stalls must sell NZ-made, grown, or produced goods.
What is the best food to eat at the Tamahere Country Market?
The bacon and egg butties are the market’s most famous food item and are consistently recommended by regular visitors. Mussel fritters, Devonshire teas in the Church Hall, and homemade fudge are also particularly noted.
