Sydney Flower Markets | Visiting with kids

This adventure with the little ones is not for the faint hearted! With the best flowers on display before the sun even hits the building, Sydney flower market is an explosion of colours, smells and sounds. We recommend going on a Saturday morning, when entry is free, and arriving before 7am. Still not convinced? There’s also great value fruit/veg, produce and general markets on site. Hit up their Instagram account for all the motivation you’ll need. (I’m not a morning person either, I promise!)

SENSORY WARNING: If your little adventurer struggles with sensory processing issues it is best to steer clear of the markets, even in the very early mornings.

Why the flower market?

We have been visiting the Sydney Flower Market since the oldest Little But Oncer was born. She has always accompanied us on our visits and for her 3rd birthday she selected the flowers for her own party (all Australian natives, how patriotic!)

The flower market is rich with visual stimuli and provides a spring board for some organic conversation around colours, shapes, sizes and even numbers. The markets also provide a wonderfully diverse range of flowers and plants, from natives to orchids to daisies. Presenting children with stimuli helps to hone their interests. Who knows what mini biology experts may emerge from the adventure! Children have a natural affinity for nature and I have found with each of my littles that they have been astonished by the sight of literally hundreds of thousands of flowers stretching out before them. The market itself is much less glamorous, set up in a warehouse with a concrete floor. Personally, I think this almost adds to the appeal.

In terms of purchasing flowers, the value is fantastic. With what you would pay a florist $50+ (to use their talent and skills) to put together, you can walk out of the markets with literal armfuls of bouquets. Perfect place to visit for if you’re gearing up to spend some dollars on a big graduation or birthday gift.

 What can I do with the flowers?

This is easy! There are endless options!

• An awesome way to explore together is with the Plant Snap app. The app is a botanist in your pocket. Just take a photo of any flower or plant and Plant Snap will tell you what it is! How awesome for any little budding biologists out there!
  

  

  
• Decorate your house with your bounty, of course. You might be amazed at how interested your little ones become in the vases and plants around them once they have been included in the process.
  

  

  
• Make a gift, or a tonne of gifts. What a lovely way to model kindness and care in the form of a thoughtful present than to have your little ones do it all with you.
  

  
• Make a flower crown! So much fun and so much cuteness. Perfect for special events.
  

  

  
• Use your imagination, what other ideas do you have?

Our tips for your visit

• Go on Saturday morning when it is free, the market is closed on Sunday and weekdays cars are charged $10.
• Parking is free and available very close to the market.
• Carriers or wraps are MUCH BETTER than strollers to get the best view.
• Be aware that some vendors are very friendly and happy for the kids to to walk through and smell, while others aren’t keen for little fingers to be near their products. Be aware that it is still a retail environment so if you break you buy.

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Where is the flower market?