I enjoy scrounging about in markets and bought some interesting trinkets in my time: Nazi-era coins in former East Berlin; a dead GI’s dogtag in Vietnam; a Hezbollah flag in Southern Lebanon; a neat leather passport holder in Burundi with a map of Africa engraved into it (if anyone ever sees one again, please contact me as I lost mine in Thailand and would dearly like another!).

To be frank, you’ll find none of the above listed items at the Queen Victoria Market. But what you will find is an abundance of delicious, colourful fresh produce, hordes of hungry shoppers, baritone voiced butchers calling out low priced cuts of meat, belting buskers both good and bad and the chance to rub shoulders with the occasional Melbourne socialite (or trip over them, as I did one Sigrid Thornton).

Here you can sample all manner of fresh fruit and vegetables, red meat, poultry, pork and seafood, pastas, cheeses, sausages, dips, wines, organics, coffee… all at very reasonable prices. Melbourne has a plethora of fantastic restaurants and I thoroughly encourage you to sample as many as possible. Many restaurant owners shop at the Victoria Market, including the guys from The Horn because of the high quality and daily freshness afforded.

The outdoor section of the market contains a range of clothing, hats, jewellery, arts and crafts and Australiana. Personally, I would shy away from any ‘Aboriginal’ artefacts sold here (didgeridoos especially) as they are mostly made in Asia. Better for you to find a local Koori community member or co-operative to purchase the ‘real deal’ from. But if stuffed kangaroos are your thing, then go right ahead, although I do also recommend a well-cooked kanga steak.

The Vic Market is open on Tuesday and Thursday (6am – 2pm), Friday (6am – 5pm), Saturday (6am – 3pm) and Sunday (9am – 4pm). During the summer there is a night market on Wednesdays which starts around 5pm and finishes around 10pm, and features live entertainment, market food and wine tasting.

The Queen Victoria Market is easy to get to – simply jump on the number 19, 57 or 59 tram up Elizabeth Street and hop off once you see the market near the top of the hill just north of the city centre. It is not hard to miss - most of the passengers will also get off. The tram driver may call out the stop name (Queen Victoria Market) but you’ll often be hard pressed to understand anything tram drivers say through their heavy accent and crackly intercom. Best just to keep an eye out the window and your nose ready to smell fresh coffee.

QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET; corner of Queen and Elizabeth Street; Melbourne CBD.