Bilpin is a very famous apple town in New South Wales, home to many apple orchards and other fruit farms. TNT Farm is open today for apples and persimmons. The apples they have Pink Lady. The persimmons are the firm variety, quite juicy, with decent sweetness. Because there were too many people, we didn’t line up to buy apple pie!
Apples and persimmons are in season in April and May. Make sure to go right when the orchard opens. On Easter it opens at 9 am, and you need to arrive by 10 at the latest.
When we arrived at 10, the parking lot inside was almost full. By the time we left around 12, cars were already parked along the road up to one kilometre outside the orchard, with people walking in.
We drove from Sydney, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. There are many beautiful views along the way, so it doesn’t feel too long — just chatting and taking photos, and you’re there.
When you arrive in Bilpin Town, you’ll notice many orchards lining both sides of the road. The orchard we went to requires following the Google Maps directions — you actually pass by a few other orchards before reaching TNT Produce. The entrance and exit are at the same place. Show your email to the staff when you arrive.
On the left is the orchard, and on the right is a small animal area, which is perfect for families with kids on a weekend.
At the entrance you collect a basket or trolley. Entry fee is $10 per adult and $7.50 per child, and the fruit you pick is charged by weight. You can take a shuttle bus directly to the orchard. If you take the bus, you don’t need to bring a trolley, they are available where you arrive.
You can pick apples with your eyes closed, every one is good! The persimmons are crisp, sweet, and not astringent.
Along the drive there are many other orchards open nearby. If you don’t want to squeeze through crowds, you can choose another one. When passing The Fruit Bowl, we also saw it completely full of cars. Remember to bring a peeler, you can try the apples and persimmons while picking.
At The Grumpy Baker, we bought chicken and beef pies. The filling had visibly large chunks of meat and tasted good, but the popular apple pie was sold out.
Two minutes’ drive back from the orchard is Bilpin Cider. We ordered a tasting set where you can choose four flavours yourself. If you don’t drink alcohol, there are non-alcoholic options. At this time most people are in the orchards, so there are not many people at the tasting area and enjoying the sunshine.
On holidays or Easter, the crowds are huge. If you want a relaxed picking experience, avoid public holidays. On the right side of the parking lot there is a small farm with many swans! There are also cute alpacas and little sheep, very suitable for taking kids out!
You need to book your entry and pay in advance.
Simply search “TNT Produce” on Google to make a reservation.
Although some people try to buy tickets on the spot, we recommend booking online in advance.