I picked my fill in one go, and it was so much fun! I never realised as a kid that a farm could be this good. We drove from the city at the weekend and got to Canoelands Orchard in a bit over an hour, and it’s the perfect weekend escape when you’re sick of being in the city.
It’s a pick-your-own orchard with peaches, blueberries and more, the strawberry season is about to start, and there are tractor rides, alpacas, a farm shop and afternoon tea you can book ahead. Here’s everything we did.
Getting there
It’s about an hour’s drive north-west of the Sydney CBD, at 27-29 Canoelands Road, Canoelands. The farm owner, Nathan, took us through how the orchard is run, and he told us it’s been going for 106 years.
Picking the peaches
This week there were still peaches, and they were $6 a kilo, mostly crisp peaches, which are great for making syrup peaches at home. The yellow peaches were ripe, some softer and some firmer, so you have to pick by eye. The red ones are usually sweeter, but yellow peaches aren’t very sweet anyway. And the peaches were delicious! Some of the trees had been pecked by birds, haha.
Once you’ve paid your entry ticket, you can go in and pick. You pay for everything you pick, so remember that. At the end you weigh your fruit and pay, and I found it cheaper than the supermarket, but the main thing is that it’s so fresh.
Great for little ones
The trees aren’t tall, so kids can pick the peaches themselves and take a bite straight off the tree. It’s a great weekend outing with kids.
Strawberries, blueberries and mandarins
The strawberry and blueberry season is just about to start, and there are mandarins too, so check what’s ready before you book. Strawberries and blueberries are only small crops at Canoelands alongside the stone fruit, so don’t book just for the berries.
Tractor rides and alpacas
You can ride the tractor, and there are alpacas to pat on the head. It’s so relaxing, it feels like a little hidden paradise.
The farm shop and afternoon tea
The little shop sells honey, dried fruit and jams that the farm makes itself, with no additives, and the jam is great on toast. You can book an afternoon tea online ahead of time too, and enjoy it in the breeze.
What it costs
Listings show entry at $8 for adults, $5 for children aged 3 to 15 and $25 for a family, with under 3s free, and then you pay by the kilo for what you pick. Entry is charged even when there isn’t much fruit ready, so check what’s in season, and book online first, especially for weekends.
Is it worth it
Yes! It’s about an hour from the city, the fruit is fresh, the kids can pick it themselves, and there are animals, a tractor and afternoon tea. Go early, bring a hat, and check what’s in season before you book.
For more outings, have a look through our things to do with kids guide, and check the NSW school holidays and term dates when you’re planning your next one.