There’s nothing fairly like recent fruit picked straight from the supply, and what higher strategy to benefit from the sweetness of nature than along with your children on one in all Victoria’s fruit selecting farms?
I’ve discovered that fruit selecting along with your children shouldn’t be solely a enjoyable out of doors exercise, however it’s also nice for exposing them to the wonderful outdoor whereas on the similar time, instructing them about science and agriculture.
Believe it or not, Melbourne has a bunch of improbable locations that supply a fruit-picking expertise! To assist you to discover the right farm for fruit selecting Victoria has to supply, I’ve listed all the superior locations I might discover on this final fruit-picking record.
So with out additional ado, listed here are the perfect spots for fruit selecting Melbourne vast.
Fruit Picking Melbourne
1. Naturipe Fruits, Bacchus Marsh
Growing recent fruits for the final 20 years is household enterprise Naturipe Fruits who additionally supply farm fruit selecting.
Pick juicy fruits resembling strawberries, apples and extra at their fruit selecting farm that’s located within the stunning, peaceable and historic Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour. As properly as providing a beautiful fruit selecting expertise for households in Melbourne, Naturipe Fruits additionally creates fine quality produce by means of the usage of their fastidiously cultivated forms of fruit. They develop all the things from the sweetest cherries to the tastiest tart apples.
You may also purchase recent, top quality fruit which they’ve picked day by day immediately from their farm.
Naturipe Fruits, 638 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bacchus Marsh, +61 419 340 363
2. Beechworth Berries, Wooragee
For a decide your individual fruit journey, you may decide recent strawberries and different flavoursome fruit at Beechworth Berries – a small native grower that all the time focuses on with the ability to present their beloved shoppers scrumptious fruits at the perfect value doable.
On high of visiting their farm to do some berry selecting in Melbourne or purchase your deliciously recent berries, you can too catch them promoting fruity items at a couple of native markets!
Beechworth Berries, 46 Reids Way, Wooragee, beechworthberries@gmail.com, +61 438 287 377
3. Sunny Creek Organic, Trafalgar South
Head to Gippsland the place you’ll find 10 hectares of sprawling orchards at Sunny Creek Organic Berry Farm which is superbly nestled within the Strzelecki Ranges. The farm makes use of environmentally sustainable practices to yield over 100 forms of berries and heritage collections of apples, chestnuts and different assorted fruit making it a beautiful spot to take pleasure in fruit selecting with children.
Sunny Creek Organic, 69 Tudor Rd, Trafalgar South, information@sunnycreekorganic.com, +61 3 5634 7526
4. Rayner’s Orchard, Woori Yallock
A family-run, boutique fruit orchard within the Yarra Valley, not solely does it supply apple selecting close to you however Rayner’s Orchard additionally grows over 450 varieties of various fruit together with peaches, nectarines, plums, and extra, and runs a signature Tractor Fruit Tasting Tour all all year long the place visitors are given the chance to style at the least 8 forms of the freshest fruit.
In addition to this, Rayner’s Orchard additionally runs a café on the farm that serves scrumptious Devonshire tea, snacks, lunches and drinks, and a Tier Farm store that sells recent produce and a wide variety of fruit merchandise which have all been made on web site utilizing fruit collected from their very personal orchard. Products bought on the store embrace jams, chutneys, bottled fruit, dried fruit, pure fruit juices, fruit leathers, fruit pies and seasonal recent fruit.
Fruit selecting at Rayner’s Orchard is obtainable many of the 12 months however it might be greatest to examine their web site first for any bulletins concerning this exercise.
Rayner’s Orchard, 60 Schoolhouse Rd, Woori Yallock, len@raynersorchard.com.au, +61 3 5964 7654
5. CherryHill Orchards, Wandin North
100% Australian-owned and grown, CherryHill Orchards has been producing recent Aussie cherries each summer season for 80 years, and provides the longest cherry rising season in all of Australia.
These lengthy rising seasons imply that cherry lovers all all through the nation get the privilege of having fun with a number of the greatest great-tasting cherries from early November to February!
To study extra about CherryHill Orchards, learn my full assessment of the orchard and their cherry-pick expertise right here.
CherryHill Orchards, 474 Queens Road, Wandin North, information@cherryhill.com.au, 1300 243 779
6. Blue Hills Berries and Cherries, Silvan
Family owned and operated since 1894, Blue Hills Berries and Cherries is a farm in Silvan that’s greatest recognized for its high quality recent and frozen fruit and provision of ‘Pick Your Own’ or ‘U-Pick’ berries and/or cherries.
All due to the Chapman household’s passed-down wealth of farming information, Blue Hills Berries and Cherries is a spot the place you’re assured to get nothing lower than the easiest high quality fruit within the Yarra Valley and Dandenong ranges.
After getting the satisfaction of harvesting your individual candy, ripe berries and cherries, Blue Hills Berries and Cherries additionally provides fresh-picked fruits for buy and a present store the place you may uncover scrumptious handmade treats from native artisan producers and pattern the berry jams made proper on the farm.
Blue Hills Berries and Cherries, 27 Parker Rd, Silvan, information@upickberries.com.au, +61 3 9737 9400
7. Cherry Haven, Wandin East
Family-owned u-pick cherry orchard, Cherry Haven is the place to choose your individual recent cherries as you overlook the picturesque Yarra Valley in Victoria.
The orchard is lower than an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD and is located in the perfect spot for producing high quality cherries with the added present of nice views and a stunning countryside setting to finish your loved ones time out.
Cherry Haven is residence to over 30 several types of cherries, and also you get the privilege of tasting and discovering simply those that you just love!
Cherry selecting season solely comes round every year within the Summer months so make sure that so as to add this enjoyable exercise to your record of summer season actions to take pleasure in with the children.
Cherry Haven, 470 Queens Road, Wandin East, cherryhaven@gmail.com +61 408 805 359
8. Fielderberry Farm U-pick Berry Farm, Cockatoo
If you’re in search of berry selecting Melbourne, look no additional than Fielderberry Farm. Set on 5 acres, Fielderberry Farm, a decide your individual berry farm, is positioned in Cockatoo and is open seasonally from November up till May every year for visitors to return and decide quite a lot of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
Starting in December, Fielderberry Farm will probably be open each Thursday to Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm.
Fielderberry Farm, 11 Fielder Road, Cockatoo, +61 409 846 419
9. Folly Farm Blueberries, Olinda
Situated in Olinda, Folly Farm U-Pick blueberries is a spot that produces a number of the most distinctive berries and it’s all due to the situation’s wealthy soils, lengthy winters and funky summer season days. Also, the Farm’s superbly inspiring environment supply the right background for berry selecting.
Blueberries from Folly Farm can be found for u-pick in January and February. They even have recent and frozen blueberries out there on the market.
Kindly word that selecting your blueberries at Folly Farm Blueberries is by appointment solely, so make your reserving a couple of days forward.
Folly Farm Blueberries, 192 Falls Road, Olinda, follyfarm@iprimus.com.au, +61 3 9751 2184 / +61 437 005 010
10. Kinglake Raspberries, Pheasant Creek
Just north-east of Melbourne and peacefully nestled within the foothills of the Great Dividing Range is Kinglake Raspberries – a 25-hectare raspberry farm the place you may decide your individual or buy pre-picked recent Raspberries throughout the Summer and Autumn Seasons.
During harvest season, Kinglake Raspberries are open daily, and in case you resolve to choose your individual berries, the farm will provide you with a basket that holds round 1kg of berries and even educate you correctly decide berries in case you’ve by no means executed it earlier than.
Kinglake Raspberries, 86 Tooheys Road, Pheasant Creek, rasp@kinglake-raspberries.com.au, +61 3 5786 5360
11. Sherwood Park Orchard, Bunyip
Have a calming day selecting recent Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples at Sherwood Park Orchard or unwind of their bakery cafe which provides the right environment for having fun with a superb cup of espresso as you take pleasure in a deal with from their choice of freshly baked items.
Running out of time? The orchard provides a scrumptious vary of recent seasonal fruit, greens, jams, sauces, eggs and juices which you could buy and luxuriate in within the consolation of your house.
Pick Your Own Apples at Sherwood Park Orchard is obtainable from April – June and prices round $3/kg relying on the amount you buy.
Sherwood Park Orchard, 3165 Princes Highway, Bunyip, information@sherwood-park.com.au, +61 3 5629 5139
12. Ripe N Ready Cherry Farm, Red Hill
Pick your individual cherries from early November to Mid-January at Ripe N Ready Cherry Farm. They even have freshly picked cherries, blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries, marionberries, and blueberries up on the market immediately at their farm gate, and a big trout fishing dam filled with rainbow trout.
Ripe N Ready Cherry Farm 52 Arkwells Lane, Red Hill, mrcherryfarmer@gmail.com, +61 3 5989 2578
13. Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm, Main Ridge
The final strawberry selecting Melbourne expertise, Rocky Creek Farm (previously often called Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm) is Australia’s largest strawberry producer, and their fields are the right spot for indulging in a complete strawberry expertise as you discover and decide your very personal world-famous Rocky Creek strawberries. Looking to choose one thing apart from strawberries? The farm additionally has raspberries and cherries up for choosing.
While you’re there, be sure you check out their heavenly desserts, chocolate fondue berries, boutique fruit wines/liqueurs and native connoisseur produce on the farm’s cafe.
Strawberry selecting at Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm (previously often called Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm) is obtainable from November to April. Treat your self to heavenly desserts, chocolate fondue berries, boutique fruit wines/liqueurs and native connoisseur produce.
Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm, Cnr Mornington-Flinders Rd and Shands Road, Main Ridge, information@rockycreek.com.au, +61 3 5989 4500
14. The Bramble Farm, Langwarrin
Sometime in early November or December, remember to preserve a watch out for The Bramble Farm’s fruit-picking actions!
The farm is about an hour’s drive south-east of the CBD and is residence to round 10,000 vines of summer season cropping brambleberries, and 28,000 canes of summer season and autumn cropping raspberries; each of that are in all probability a number of the greatest you’ll ever style within the space.
The Bramble Farm’s harvest time takes place over a number of months, normally from November to April. During this time, you’ll get to spend a really pleasant hour or two selecting your individual selection of brambleberries and raspberries.
The Bramble Farm, 25 Lyppards Road, Langwarrin, brambleb@bigpond.com, +61 3 9776 7018
15. Lomas Orchards, Wallington
In addition to bringing you scrumptious seasonal produce from their farm in addition to providing different regionally made crafts, Lomas Orchards can also be a fantastic spot to go strawberry selecting with your loved ones and buddies.
Though in addition they develop a variety of fruit and greens resembling heritage apples, pears and apricots, strawberries are the one fruits allowed to be picked from the property.
If you’re seeking to take one thing scrumptious residence with you, you’ll be glad to listen to that Lomas Orchards has lately opened a brand new farm store proper on the property.
Lomas Orchards, 570 Wallington Road, Wallington, lomasfruit@hotmail.com, +61 438 503 993
16. Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm, Murroon
Head on over to Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm the place you may decide your individual organically grown raspberries. On high of raspberries, the farm additionally provides quite a lot of different berries together with brambleberries, youngberries, boysenberries, marionberries, strawberries, jostaberries, loganberries and pink and black currants.
The cafe at Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm referred to as Ciderhouse Cafe serves mild meals, snacks and refreshing chilly drinks that are excellent for refuelling after berry-picking.
Be certain to have a style of their well-known freshly-cooked scones and jam alongside some stress-free afternoon tea. Other issues to strive whilst you’re there are their berry gins and soda plus the recent berry ice lotions, which have been a staple for a few years.
Lastly, the farm additionally has a comfortable, self-contained cottage lodging which is obtainable for {couples} to ebook year-round.
Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm, 115 Division Road, Murroon, information@pennyroyalraspberry.com, +61 3 5236 3238
17. Surf Coast Strawberry Fields, Duneed
Together along with your children, hunt for the largest, ripest berries which are unfold all all through the wonderful 90 acres of Surf Coast Strawberry Fields!
In addition to having fun with berry-picking actions, children may also get to see tractors, uncover farm life and perceive the place their meals comes from as they wander by means of the farm’s vast open areas.
Surf Coast Strawberry Fields, 2 McCanns Road, Mount Duneed, strawberryfields.sc@outlook.com
18. Tuckerberry Hill, Drysdale
Tuckerberry Hill is a welcoming pick-your-own blueberry and strawberry farm that boasts panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay.
Children and their households, vacationers and locals alike are welcome to take pleasure in this improbable exercise in addition to take pleasure in scrumptious treats from the farm’s very personal onsite cafe and berry store.
The farm’s menu contains cool refreshments and low, sandwiches and desserts, plus all issues blueberry resembling freshly picked blueberries, home made blueberry muffins and blueberry ice cream!
Tuckerberry Hill, 35 Becks Road, Drysdale tuckerberry@bigpond.com, +61 3 5251 3468
19. Paynes Orchards, Bacchus Marsh
Just 40 minutes from Melbourne is Paynes Orchards – one in all Australia’s remaining small household orchards the place you may pick-your-own farm recent fruit that’s as ripe and juicy as could be!
The farm offers buckets for all of your fruit selecting wants in addition to help find the fruit you want. Fruits out there for choosing at completely different instances all year long are cherries, berries, nectarines, plums, apricots, apples and peaches.
Here is the standard schedule of the fruit’s availability at Paynes Orchards:
- Cherries – November/December
- Sour Cherries – Late December
- Berries – December/January/February
- Apricots – January/February
- Peaches and nectarines – January/February
- Apples – March/April/May
Paynes Orchards, 372 The Avenue, Bacchus Marsh, +61 3 5367 2548 / +61 3 8676 0172
20. The Strawberry Forest, Bacchus Marsh
Whether you’ve gotten a toddler, a foul again or are massively tall, The Strawberry Forest at Bacchus Marsh has the right top for you once you’re off fruit selecting, and it’s all due to their vertical rising crops.
All of the strawberries at The Strawberry Forest are chemical-free and to be sure that this expertise is accessible to everybody, all the crops are spaced out sufficient to make sure that there’s sufficient space for wheelchair and pram entry.
While you’re there wandering round and selecting your deliciously juicy fruits, remember to preserve a watch out for his or her ‘Strawberry Secrets’ Treasure Hunt! Where in case you discover 4 of the hidden secret treasures, you’ll get to obtain a 5% off voucher at “The Fruits of Life” the place you may take pleasure in some energising and refreshing drinks or high up in your farm-fresh fruit and greens.
The Strawberry Forest, 276 The Avenue Of Honour, Bacchus Marsh, +61 3 5367 0606
Best seashores in Melbourne for households
Things to do within the Mornington Peninsula with children
Best bike trails and biking paths for households in Melbourne
Best Italian Restaurants for Families Melbourne
