Want to pick your own strawberries? After all, it doesn’t get much better than enjoying sweet sun-ripened berries straight from the patch.
Lucky for us on the Sunshine Coast, there is a number of working farms that open up a few of their fields for this fantastic and family-friendly experience.
So why not teach the kids exactly where their food comes from, while letting them sample the fruits of their labour.
WHERE TO PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES:
MCMARTINS FARM
WHERE: 105 Sports Rd, Bli Bli (the driveway to the property is just beside the carpark for the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary.)
PYO SEASON: June to October
OPENING HOURS: Seasonally, 8.30am – 4.30pm
This is a family-run farm in Bli Bli, where you can pick fresh strawberries, before taking a seat at the on-site cafe to taste one of their delicious, award-winning ice-creams or enjoy a Devonshire tea with scones served with home-made strawberry jam. The cafe overlooks a playground for the kids to enjoy, while the shop also sells pre-picked punnets of strawberries, second-grade berries and other seasonal produce. This is one of our favourites because the strawberries are always so reasonably priced.
LUVABERRY
WHERE: 65 Ziviani Road, Wamuran
OPENING HOURS: Weekends only. Online bookings advised.
LuvaBerry offers ‘Peckish Picking’ sessions. Pay $15 adults/$10 children (5-12 years old) and enjoy eating fresh strawberries straight from the patch while filing a 500g take-home pack. Bookings are essential and can be made via the LuvaBerry website.
ROLIN FARMS
WHERE: 124-190 Rutters Road, Elimbah
PYO SEASON: June to October
OPENING HOURS: 8.30am – 4pm, 7 days a week
Closer to Brisbane, Rolin Farms is located just off the Bruce Highway at Elimbah. Like Strawberry Fields, it is signposted by the big strawberry out front. Attractions include a cafe and a shop which sell farm-made strawberry ice-cream or jams.
COOLOOLA BERRIES
WHERE: 856 Tagigan Road, Wolvi
PYO SEASON: June to November
OPENING HOURS: Seasonally, 8am – 5pm, 7 days a week
This award-winning farm is a little further north near Gympie. Cooloola Berries offers a pick-your-own strawberry season, as well as a pick-your-own blueberry season later in the year. A cafe is available on site, with a Paella in the Paddock lunch event held most Sunday afternoons. Jams, balsamic vinegars and berry ice creams are also for sale.
* Information correct at the time of publication.
