Port Macquarie is a picturesque beachside town, almost 400km north of Sydney on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. It’s where we spent most of our family vacations during my childhood and the home of many fond memories. Settled in 1821 as a convict settlement, it has a rich history present in the architecture of many surviving buildings and even the lobby of our hotel was built with hand made ‘convict bricks’ each with unique markings. It had been quite a few years since my last trip up to Port, but I decided to join my family when they came up this year for a few days of rest and relaxation after Easter. Unfortunately the weather was not as nice as usual, in fact I think there was some record amounts of rain in the time we were up there! The beach was admired from afar, and I was more likely to put on a scarf than a swimming costume.
The highlight of the trip though, was going strawberry picking. I have long been wanting to pick my own fruit, and I know there are several places outside of Sydney to pick apples and cherries at different times of the year but I don’t drive, which makes things a bit more difficult. I was excited when I found out that there was a pick-your-own strawberry farm nearby and because the strawberries were grown in large greenhouses, you can pick them all year round. There is also a café and a small market where other fresh vegetables are available, including gorgeous vine-ripened tomatoes.
Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries are located about 10 minutes north of Port Macquarie. Entry is free and you only pay for what you pick. When you arrive, you are given a bucket that holds about a kilogram and a pair of scissors, then you’re sent on your way to the greenhouse where you’ll pick as many gorgeous red strawberries as your bucket will hold. It was so satisfying to scan the aisles and aisles of strawberry plants and come across a perfectly ripe strawberry to add to the bucket, and soon it was full. Even the air smelled wonderful.
The strawberries were tiny and sweet. I wanted to do something special with them, perhaps make some jam or to adorn a pavlova, but we ended up eating them either plain or for dessert with some nice vanilla ice cream. The kilo we picked disappeared surprisingly quickly, and we considered going back to pick some more but unfortunately there wasn’t time before we came home. We also bought some lovely tomatoes, which were absolutely perfect on some crusty bread with oil, vinegar and fresh basil for an appetizer. Strawberry picking would be a great activity to do with kids, but we all loved it too, and would definitely do it again!
10 Comments on “Strawberry Picking”
I was hoping there was a place within driving distance from Sydney where I could go berry picking. Great post, I love the photos!
It’s great that you can pick strawberries all year round! I’m not surprised you went through a kilo. When I picked apples we ate them in no time. It must be because they’re so fresh when you pick your own.
Your bucket of strawberries is so perfectly red and shiny! Wonder if they grow as well in an ordinary backyard? Very tempting, isn’t it?
Oh how funn! Can you eat them while you pick?
I so have to check this place out if I’m ever in the area.
It’s pretty hard to find decent stawberries in the stores so I imagine that these ones ripened on the vine would make for some sweet and flavoursome strawberries 🙂
Megan, it’s a shame Port Macquarie isn’t a little bit closer to Sydney! I’d love to go strawberry picking every few weeks 🙂
Arwen, we nearly went back to pick more before we left, though sadly there was no time! Where did you go apple picking?
Belle, it would be great to grow strawberries in the backyard!
FFichiban, well I don’t think you’re supposed to eat them while you pick but we snuck a couple 😛
Simon, it definitely is hard to find nice strawberries in the store. These were beautiful and sweet.
Yum – love strawberries – and yours look so perfect, red, shiny & plump. We have some wild strawberries growing in our back yard but their yield is low and 1 mouthful is never quite satisfying. Wish this farm was closer to Sydney..
I love strawberries and have always grown them. And I love Port Macquarie as I too spent my childhood holiday there and in Foster and Coffs Harbour!
It is a great idea to pick our own berries and fruits! Great post, the photos are beautiful! I have been to Port Macquarie but I did not know about such opportunities. Lisa, could please share any farms names around Sydney.
Mmmh! 🙂