Showcase Tasmania: Sorell Fruit Farm

I’ve always been a fan of pick-your-own-fruit farms, ever since I visited one at the north of the state with my grandmother as a child. I hadn’t been to one for years though, which is a terrible oversight, as every year I lament the fact that I can’t buy enough fruit in bulk to make jam. Seems silly now that I think about it.

Sorell Fruit Farm is situated at Sorell, which is around 25 minutes from Hobart. When I was a kid, we used to spend weekends with friends down at Primrose Sands, and I’m rather a fan of that end of the state. I think it might be the sea air. In any case, I always feel better after a trip down there.

We headed down to check out the Cherry Blossom Festival last week and to photograph the farm for Showcase Tasmania.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and taking two quirky boundary pushing children anywhere is challenging at the best of times. I had nothing to worry about however, all of that fresh air and room to run made sure that the children were very well behaved and they had fun too.

Sorell Fruit Farm offers many different types of fruit and I am planning to head back in January sometime to pick fruit for jams and sauces. I’m stupidly excited about getting fruit in bulk.

On top of fruit, they also do a range of their own jams, vinegars and liqueurs, which I can safely say are divine. (If you haven’t made salad dressing using raspberry vinegar yet, then you haven’t lived. Who would have thought that raspberry and garlic taste so amazing together over salad?)

The farm has a rotation system in place for the strawberry beds, planting mustard before strawberries, for the anti-bacterial properties that mustard holds. The sea of yellow was striking and absolutely filled with insects. I could have stood on the edges photographing bees for hours, but Isaac demanded that I hold his hand. Bee photos are not terribly sharp when you’ve got a two year old tugging at your arm.

I settled for snapping photos of apple blossom instead.

It was a great way to spend an overcast but warm afternoon and I absolutely recommend that everyone visit and pick some fruit. There is a cafe and shop on site, as well as picnic areas for anyone wanting to bring their own lunch.

The best bit though? It was absolutely kid friendly and I was able to relax as we walked around.

And take your camera. There is not much better than wandering through an orchard with a camera, especially with the birds and insects around.

I will definitely be going back to visit again and I would love to get enough fruit to spend a weekend preserving.

Sorell Fruit Farm is located at 174 Pawleena Road, Sorell, Tasmania and is definitely worth your time.