Pick your own apples at Tanbella Orchard
As summer fades to autumn, Canberra's apple orchards are bursting with fresh ripe fruit that's as local as it comes. With orchards offering both pick your own experiences and farm gate sales, you can stock up on apples, pears, quince and more. The orchards and farm gates are all located in the suburb of Pialligo so you can visit one or all during your visit. Here are the details on what each orchard offers and when to visit:
Tanbella Orchard
Offering both an apple picking option and farm gate sales,
Tanbella Orchard has expanded their offering in recent years so you can spend a whole morning or afternoon at their orchard.
There's a huge variety of fruit including over 70 kinds of apples, pears and peaches available throughout the season. You can enjoy a changing choice of fruit each week, straight from the trees at their very best from February through to April.
As well as the fruit, you can stock up on produce from the veggie patch or pick up some apple juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, preserved jams and dried fruits all made onsite.
Once the hard work of apple picking is done, settle in on the picnic lawn and enjoy a coffee or some apple ice-cream (or both!) to replenish your energy.
Tanbella Orchard is open Friday to Monday from 10am—4pm during apple season, usually from early February to late April. Farmgate sales are available on other days.
Make sure you try the apple ice cream!
Apple picking in autumn, Canberra
Kerrison's Orchard
During the apple season, you can drive through
Kerrison's Orchard to their apple shop and buy freshly-picked fruit.
Because the fruit is picked when it is at its peak there are times when availability is limited or the shop is closed. You can check the website for updates on what types of fruit including apples, pears and quince are available before you visit. Harvest usually happens between February and May.
Beltana Grange Orchard
With some of their trees dating back to the 1930s, Beltana Grange has plenty of experience in growing premium Canberra fruit. The range includes apples, pears and quinces. With a season of fruit running from mid-February to May or until sold out, you can stock up on freshly picked fruit at their on-site shop. This is not a pick your own orchard. Get in touch
here for opening times
Pialligo Apples
Pialligo Apples is an organically certified orchard and the fruit is available from their roadside stall. The fruit is freshly-picked and tree-ripened. As well as apples, they supply other fruit and seasonal vegetables all grown on the block. Fresh apple juice and cider vinegar are also available.
The stall is open from February to May from 9am-5pm on weekends and some Thursdays and Fridays when fruit is available.
