As the weather warms up, a number of local farms will open their orchards and berry patches to visitors. It’s an opportunity to roam around the grounds in your own time, pick sweet and plump fruit, and capitalise on the photo opp.
We’ve hand-picked the best of the bunch (pun intended). Hit the road, buy some local produce and make a day of it.
Ashbern Farms, Stanthorpe
Ashbern Farms is located just off the New England Highway. Since 2008, visitors have been able to pick their own strawberries from October to May, but you can also buy them packed from the farm shop. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s also a small range of takeaway treats, including homemade ice-cream and strawberry jam. Pick your own strawberries from 8am to 3pm, Friday to Sunday.
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SUBSCRIBE NOWChambers Flat Strawberry Farm, Chambers Flat
This farm is just 40 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD. Picking season runs from September to December. Entry is $15 for teens and adults (which includes a 500-gram punnet); $7.50 for kids aged three to 12 (which includes a 250-gram punnet); and free for littlies.
The fields are large enough to lose track of time, so make sure you leave time to browse the farm shop, which sells freshly picked strawberries, strawberry ice-cream and other strawberry goodies.
facebook.com/chambersflatstrawberryfarm
Tinaberries, Woongarra
This strawberry farm is located between Bundaberg and the seaside town of Elliott Heads. Here, strawberry season runs from June to early October. From late-August until October and you can pick your own strawberries from 10am to 1pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Strawberries are $15 per kilogram. The strawberry ice-cream is available year-round on weekends and during school holidays. Prices and opening hours are subject to change based on supply. Check Tinaberries Instagram for the most up to date details.)
Bunya Grove Produce, Amamoor
This farm, located just outside Amamoor in the scenic Mary Valley, grows sweet, seedless persimmons. (You can also buy pastured meat and free-range chicken and duck eggs.) The persimmon season begins at the end of February and runs through to May. Keep an eye on the farm’s Instagram account for dates, times and prices.
The Longan Farm, Narangba
This family-run farm grows the tropical tree species that produces longan fruit, which is similar to lychee and rambutan (they’re all part of the Sapindaceae family). It’s the perfect spot to try your first longan and pick some to take home. The farm also has mangoes for picking.
Pick-your-own season runs from February to April. Mangoes are $5 per kilogram and longans are $10 per kilogram; entry is $1 for people aged 15 and up, and free for under-15s. Cash only.
This article was originally published on December 14, 2020. It was updated on August 31, 2023 to reflect new prices and changes to availability. Please note that prices are constantly fluctuating and may have changed since the article was updated.
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