My 2010 challenge of visiting as many Auckland markets as possible continued this weekend with a visit to Titirangi Village Market, which started in 1991 as a fundraising initiative for the local Rudolph Steiner school and now boasts over 130 stalls. Much to my shame, in the 11 years I’ve lived in Green Bay (which is, you know, right next to Titirangi) this is only the second time I’ve visited the market, but after a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours browsing the stalls set against the lovely backdrop of native bush I’ll definitely be going back.

You can get a fairly good idea of what to expect from a market by the type of fast food that is on sale and at the Titirangi market you’ll find organic coffee and gourmet spicy sausages in buns (which The Eccentric English Boyfriend proclaimed to be “very good”) among the items on offer, and if you’re like me and have special dietary requirements then you’ll be happy to see vegetarian, vegan, gluten or dairy free options available at the Rudolph Steiner cafe inside Titirangi Memorial Hall. What you won’t find is Coca-Cola. Phoenix Organic Cola yes. Red and white packaged sugar-laden multi-national cola no. Which is fine, because I’m totally not addicted. Honest.

There are tables inside and outside the hall where you can sit and and take in live music from some of Auckland’s best folk musicians while you eat.

Foodies wanting to take something home with them are well catered for too, with artisan breads, gourmet cheeses, homemade chutneys and jams, venison salami and nutty dukkah among the selection available when we were there.

I highly recommend the deliciously dense and nutty Campagne loaf sold by the artisan breadmaker inside the hall (the name of which I forgot to note down because I was too busy gazing into the gorgeous brown eyes of the young French guy manning the stall while I scoffed down free samples of bread), which I am currently eating topped with the Red Onion Chutney from Mrs B’s stall just outside the hall.

Once your food needs are fulfilled there are a wide range of other stalls to be tempted by: from clothes to jewellery; birdhouses to framed photographs; aromatic soaps to herb-based skin care – you’ll find plenty to have you reaching into your wallet. I particularly loved the bold graphic prints of the skirts at Soul of Aotearoa (who also had a very handsome black cat helping to man the stall), the beautifully soft woven merino scarves at Hand Loom Weaving, and the cute do-it-yourself felting kits at The Felted Kiwi.

Titirangi Village Market is held on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 2pm at the Titirangi Memorial Hall and carpark at 500 South Titirangi Road (note: December’s market takes place on the second Sunday of December, and this April’s market will be held on 2 May because of ANZAC Day). Expect to have to walk a fair distance from your car, as car parking around Titirangi is not prolific at the best of times and the market is very popular.

All images from titirangi-village-market.co.nz.