The Montague Apple Harvest Festival 2023 is a bigger deal than you might think. This family friendly event is the third Apple Harvest Festival held by the orchard and will no doubt build on the success of the last two. Join the Montague folks to celebrate the harvest of the new apple season where other fruits get a look-in too. Join one of the tours of the orchard or the packing house, pick your own fruit, browse the Farmers Market for top quality produce, watch the kids enjoying activities just for them, listen to live music, enjoy fruit tastings, or get a bite and something to drink from the food trucks.
Click here to register your interest.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
The knowledgeable Montague folks are offering 45-minute educational and entertaining tours of The Little Orchard, where not only are apples grown but also pears, plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines. These people are passionate about their fruit and hope to inspire you to plant a tree of your own at home. Children are welcome on the tours but note that the ground in the orchard can be a little uneven and sensible, so please wear closed-toe shoes. The tours run at 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm. Tickets which include up to 1 kilogram of fruit picked, are $20 for adults and children over 13, $10 for children between 6 and 12, $55 for a family (2 adults and 2 children) and children under 5 are free.
Click here to book your tickets. The tours are also available on Saturdays and Sundays throughout March and April.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
If you'd like to know how a modern fruit packing facility works, this is the tour for you. Your tour guide will explain the process as you move through the packing house, talk about the impact of technology on the fruit industry, growing and distributing the fruit and will give a brief history of the Montague family who started this business in 1948. Children are welcome on the tour and they encourage questions. The tour which lasts 45 minutes runs at 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and children over 13, $10 for children between 6 and 12, $55 for a family (2 adults and 2 children) and children under 5 are free.
Click here to book your tickets.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
For a selection of local foods, crafts, and homewares or to chat with representatives of local community groups stroll about the farmers' market. This runs from 8:30am to 3:00pm on the lawn area.
Enjoy the Festivities: There will be live music playing throughout the day and plenty of activities for the kids.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves fresh, local, seasonal produce, including fruit from the orchards. The restaurant is in a beautiful setting offering views of landscape gardens, the lake and the orchard. Stella's Kitchen is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 4:00pm and for dinner Friday and Saturday from 6:00 pm until late.
Click here to make a booking or telephone them on 03 9658 5912.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
The store sells fresh seasonal produce, preserves, homewares and gifts. In addition to the local produce, you can expect chocolates, chutneys, teas to ceramics and homewares, including those from Robert Gordon and Kip and Co. The store is open Monday from 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Friday from 9.30am to 5:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. They can be contacted on (03) 9658 5913.
Photo in the public domain via Pixabay
The Montague Apple Harvest Festival 2023 is on Saturday April 1st from 8:30am to 3:00pm at the Montague Apple Orchards, 18 Horswood Rd Narre Warren North.
Click here to register your interest and book tours of the orchard and packing house via the Festival website. Entry to the festival is free. Tours run 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm and cost $20 for adults and children over 13, $10 for children between 6 and 12, $55 for a family (2 adults and 2 children) and children under 5 are free.
Click here to book the Pick Your Own Fruit Orchard Tour or
click here to book the Packing House Tour.
