Five pick your own berry farms to explore this weekend
If you’re someone who reckons fruit doesn’t taste like it used to, here’s a chance to put your money where your mouth is.Pick your own berry farms let you and your crew raid the paddock for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries. You name it, you can take it home fresh from the plant. Now is the time that they’re growing aplenty so pack the car, get out in the countryside and give your tastebuds a treat.
Blue Hills Berries & Cherries, Silvan, Victoria
This gorgeous farm doesn’t just offer the chance to pick your own berries, it is also a fully fun day out from Melbourne. Up in Silvan on the fertile slopes of the Dandenongs, Blue Hills has a fully fledged cherry farm, plus one growing strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries and more. Pay on the way in, then pay for what you picked on the way out and fill your face on anything available in between. There’s even a gift shop with jams, bikkies and other goodies.
Hillwood Berries, Hillwood, Tasmania
You don’t really need a reason to explore the Tamar Valley north of Launceston given its famously picturesque countryside and sun-baked wineries. Then there’s Hillwood: a second generation berry farm just waiting to be raided by DIY pickers. They’ve got strawberries (just the lazy 1.3 million plants), raspberries, blueberries and blackberries to pick from the Farmgate Café, with free entry and a pay-for-what-you-take arrangement. Stay for scones and tea or other delicious desserts, then head home to make your own goodies with the spoils.
Huntley Berry Farm, Huntley, NSW
The kids are going to love this one, not just because the little ones can stuff their faces on juicy, healthy berries. Huntley Farm also has lots of grassy areas, animals everywhere (such as chooks, guinea pigs, goats and rabbits) so the berry picking won’t seem such a chore. It’s all on the slopes of Mount Canobolas near Orange, a few hours west of Sydney and berry varieties include the usual suspects plus loganberries and red currants. Huntley Farm is an Australian Disability Enterprise, so you’re also helping a good cause.
Beerenberg Farm, Hahndorf, South Australia
If you love strawberries and are somewhere near Adelaide over summer, Beerenberg is the place to be. This legendary farm out in the Adelaide Hills hasn’t missed a strawberry season since 1975 and for a few bucks the general public can drop in and help themselves – just check the website or Facebook page first to make sure there are strawberries available. Beerenberg has an excellent range of preserves in its farm shop, and you’re just outside Hahndorf with all its eateries and attractions.
Ti Farm, Bullsbrook, Western Australia
You have to love a place that warns amateur pickers that kids will get DIRTY (their use of capitals) and should consider bringing a change of clothes. Oh, what a challenge! Ti Farm is about a 40 minute drive north-east of Perth and has more strawberries than it can handle. This is where you come in - check availability, bring a hat, grab a tray and start filling it with all the juicy strawberries you can't gobble along the way.
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