Apple Orchards in and Around Canberra

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"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" goes the famous proverb that we all know from our childhoods.

The apple is indeed a wondrous fruit with plenty of healthful benefits and that's been grown for thousands of years. Originating in Central Asia, the apple also has religious and mythological significance in many cultures, appearing, for example, as the forbidden fruit that tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as the poisoned fruit that a wicked old woman gave to Snow White, and also as the fruit that was fought over by the Greek goddesses and which indirectly caused the Trojan War.

Here in Australia, apples have been grown since the earliest European colonial settlements. Major apple-growing regions include the Goulburn Valley and Yarra Valley in Victoria, Orange and Batlow in NSW, and Stanthorpe in Queensland.

Canberra is too small to be a major apple-growing region but we do have our very own orchards. And right now, they're all bursting with delicious fruit and are ripe for picking! Here are five orchards where you can get your apples fresh from the trees.

1. Tanbella Orchard.
The wonderful Tanbella Orchard is a self-pick orchard, which means you are welcome to wander amongst the trees in the orchard and pick your own apples. First planted in the 1970s, Tanbella Orchard grows a wide variety of apples including rare, heritage and international varieties such as Cox's Pippin from England and Belle De Buscop from Holland. It also grows peaches, pears, nashi pears, nectarines, garlic, herbs, and vegetables. Tanbella Orchard is located at 20A Beltana Road, Pialligo. It is open daily from 11am-4pm during the season (January-May).



2. Kerrison's Orchard.
For over thirty years Kerrison's Orchard has been producing apples of the highest quality. Owned by Ken and Fay Kerrison (who both have a long association with Canberra), Kerrison's Orchard grows a good variety of apples including Royal Gala, Jonathan, Red Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith. It also grows pears and quinces.

Kerrison's is not a self-pick orchard. Instead, you drive through the orchard to the apple shop in the middle of the property where you can buy your fresh fruit.

The orchard is located at 5 Beltana Rd, Pialligo. Opening hours: 9am-5.30pm. However, please note that during peak periods, the orchard will close earlier if all of their apples are sold out. For more information about Kerrison's Orchard, visit their website here.

3. Beltana Grange.
Beltana Grange Orchard was established in the 1930s. The Hauptmann family took over in 1952 and were the first to grow Gala apples in Australia. The orchard grows apples, pears and quinces. Open seven days from 9am-5pm. For more information, call the orchard on 026249 8921. Beltana Grange is located at 4 Beltana Road, Pialligo.

4. Pialligo Apples.
An organically certified orchard with a well-known roadside stall. There are more than 60 apple varieties grown here, including many heritage, special purpose and modern varieties. Fresh apple juice and apple cider vinegar are also available. Pialligo Apples is located at 10 Beltana Road, Pialligo. Open 9am-5pm weekends, Thursday- Friday if fruit available. Call 02 6248 9228 if you would like more information.

5. Loriendale Orchard.
Located north of Canberra, Loriendale is a boutique orchard that grows an international selection of over 120 varieties of heritage and modern apples. The orchard also grows nectarines, peaches, nashi pears, hazelnuts and a selection of berries which mature through the summer month. The orchard sells is fruit at the Capital Region Farmers Market every Saturday.

Unlike the Pialligo Orchards, Loriendale is only open to the public by prior appointment on Saturday afternoons during the harvest season, as well as their annual Open Day which will be held this year on March 30 from 1.30pm-5pm. The Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to stroll through the orchard, have a picnic under the apple trees, enjoy live music and local producer stalls, and watch the pressing of fresh apple juice on the wooden apple press.

Loriendale Orchard is located at 16 Carrington Road, Wallaroo. For more information, visit their website here.



%%"The woman (Eve) was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too."

From Genesis 3:6, New Living Translation%%

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