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Polysaccharides extracts of eight edible mushroom species, including five species collected from New Zealand forests and parks, were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of five common bacterial strains. Antibacterial activity was assayed using the disc diffusion and microdilution methods. An aqueous extract from Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus epidermidis with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 938 and 469 μg/mL, respectively. A Pleurotus australis extract had the same MIC of 469 μg/mL against S. epidermidis. Comparatively, the microdilution method was more efficient and accurate than the disk diffusion method at measuring the antimicrobial activity of high molecular weight polysaccharides. All polysaccharides exhibited DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities, with P. australis having the highest antioxidant activity …