The Complete Guide to New Zealand Berry Picking Farms

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I don’t know about you, but I love berry-picking farms. And while I haven’t been to many around the world, I can totally vouch for the New Zealand berry-picking farms.

New Zealand is a very popular destination for tourists, and while we’re still welcoming tourists back after a few years of grounded planes and silent airports, this summer will be the ideal time to check out some of the stunning (and delicious!) berry-picking farms around Aotearoa.

There are so many places you can pick berries in New Zealand, so in this blog post we’re going to take a look at a bunch of them, as well as tips for visiting the berry fields, when’s a good time to go, and things you need to think about before you set out.

Table of Contents

The Benefits of Going Berry Picking in New Zealand

But first! Just in case you needed a reminder of the benefits of going berry picking in New Zealand …

The scenery is beautiful

New Zealand is known for its stunning landscapes, and many of the berry-picking farms have breathtaking backdrops. The spaces are often wide and open, giving the Aotearoa scenery a moment to shine (not that it needs it, amiright?).

It can be educational

Bet you didn’t think this one was coming! But you learn about the different varieties of berries, as well as how they grow when you visit. Many, if not all of the farms are filled with people who not only love the berries they’re growing but they’re super informative when it comes to facts and details.

Whether you want to learn about how the fruit is grown or the way that they turn the berries into jams and other yummy things, someone will know and can get you up to speed.

It’s a great opportunity to take pictures

Um, did someone say ‘Instagram worthy’? Need I say more?

Visit the stores

If you’re not a fan of picking your own berries, you can always purchase fresh juice, jam, or other fruit products, as many of the farms will also have stores! This means that even if you’re not a fan of picking your own, you’ll be able to buy fresh berries straight from the store as well as any fruit products they make. Perfect time to stock up on your summer jams, for sure.

What you Need to Know about Berry Picking in NZ

The first thing you need to think about when choosing a berry-picking farm is what kind of berries you want to pick. There are many different types of berries that grow in New Zealand but some are more popular than others. The most popular types of berries are probably raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and, of course, strawberries.

The second thing you need to consider when choosing a berry-picking farm is the season and which of the farms you should hit up. There are many different berry farms in New Zealand but many of them only open up at certain times of the year for picking berries. Some farms may be open all year round, continuing to have their shops open, while others will only be open during a specific time period in summer.

And the third thing you need to do to go berry picking in NZ is to plan your day. Especially if you’re going to visit multiple berry farms in one day.

Let’s get into those a little more.

When do Berries Ripen in New Zealand?

Below is a list of different berries found in New Zealand with the season during which they are traditionally picked, some farms have different picking times than the season listed below though, so it is best to check the website for each farm.

Strawberries

Strawberries are in season between November to March in New Zealand from November to March, with peak picking times from January to February.

Raspberries

Raspberries are in season between December and June, but the peak times to pick your own are February to April.

Blueberries

Blueberries are in season between December and March, the peak months for picking being January and February.

What is the Best Time To Visit a Berry Picking Farm?

There are several factors to consider when deciding on the best time to visit a berry-picking farm. First, you need to consider the season. If you are looking for blueberries, then your best bet is in early summer. If you are looking for strawberries, then your best bet is in late spring or early summer.

The next thing that you need to consider is what type of berries you want. If you want a large number of berries and don’t care about the type as much, then it would be better to go during late spring or early summer when there will be plenty of berries available.

If you want specific types of berries and don’t care about quantity as much, then you can wait a little longer and head to the farms in later summer (when the crowds might not be too bad!).

How to Choose the Best Berry Picking Farm in New Zealand

Picking berries is a popular pastime in New Zealand – if you’re from NZ then you might have memories of stuffing your face with blackberries, staining your clothes, and getting scratches from the sharp thorns of the bushes.

Okay, so I’m speaking from experience.

We used to spend hours picking wild blackberries along the river when I was a kid, and yes, I did wreck many clothes this way.

And while we didn’t visit that many NZ farms to pick berries (opting for the wild spaces), as I got older I looked out for the places where I could head to and pick delicious raspberries, strawberries and other berries.

There are some things you want to think about when you’re choosing which farms in New Zealand to check out.

The location of the farm

While there are lots and lots of farms in New Zealand where you can pick your own berries, which ones you go to will be dependent on where you are. Whether you’re heading to one near your home, or you’re visiting a berry field on the way through (perhaps on a road trip!), pick farms that are going to work best for you and your location.

The season

The PYO berry season in New Zealand runs from about November through to March, depending on the berry, with the peak months being December – February. Berries ripen at different times, so be sure to make note of when the berry you want to pick is ripe.

The prices

Some berry farms will be pricier than others. If you’re looking to pick berries and you’re on a bit of a budget, make a short list of farms that would work for you (thinking back to location) and weigh up what is going to work for you and your budget.

How many berries you want

Just want a small punnet to eat in the car on your road trip? Or do you want masses of strawberries for a summer jam-making session? The number of berries you want/need may determine when and where you go. Plan accordingly.

How to Plan Your Day at a Berry-Picking Farm in NZ

If you’re hoping to spend a whole day berry-picking in a region, then it’s good to plan ahead to make the most of the day. Here are some tips for berry-picking around New Zealand.

Plot a route

There are multiple places you can pick perries in many regions around New Zealand, so why not hit up a few in a day? Especially if the ones in your region (or a region you’re visiting!) offer different berries. Grab the street address of the places you want to visit, plug them into Google Maps and form a route that you can follow throughout the day.

Choose wisely

While plotting a route is a good idea, you may not have time to visit all the farms you want to. Choose 2 – 3 and if you’re in the area for a few days you can always go and check out others on a different day.

BYO punnets

Some places will offer punnets and containers so you can fill them up. But some do not. Be sure to research via their websites what sort of punnets you need to take with you before you go. You don’t want to end up driving somewhere and not be prepared.

Pick your clothes carefully

Berries stain. And if you’re going with the children then chances are they’re going to get berry juice on them. And you might even get it on yourself! Either be super careful while you’re picking or wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained.

Slip, slop, slap and wrap

New Zealand summers are hot and the sun burns. Even when it’s overcast and you don’t think you need sunscreen … wear sunscreen. Always wear sunblock when you’re in NZ and be sure to take a hat or head scarf with you. You’ll be out in open fields for a while and you need that sun protection. Trust me.

Have a post-picking plan

What are you going to do with 5kg of strawberries? You might just eat them all in the car ride home and that’s totally fine. But if you’re doing lots of picking then you’ll need to have a post-picking plan as to what you’re going to do with all the berries. Here are a few ideas:

Make jam
Or compote
Berry crumble and other desserts
Make your own real fruit ice cream
Turn them into smoothies
Or ice blocks for the kids
Freeze them in smaller containers to use when you need to

The Ultimate List of Berry Picking Farms in New Zealand

From Northland in Te Ika-a-Māui all the way to Southland in Te Waipounamu, there are berry farms all over New Zealand where you can go and pick your own! All these places listed below will vary in berry types, and also when they offer picking times. Click through to visit the website (or in some cases, a Facebook page) and see when their opening hours are.

Northland

Auckland

Waikato

Fruitdale Orchard
Strawberry Farm at Punnet
Monavale Blueberries
Punnet
Ryburn Gardens
Lavender Backyard Garden
- Check out my blog post about the Lavender Backyard Garden here!
Whatawhata Berry Farm
Blueberry Country
Kaipaki Berries

Manawatū-Whanganui

Bay of Plenty

Hawke’s Bay

Wellington

Canterbury

Otago

Southland

Blueberry Country

Conclusion

Honestly, add that list of NZ berry farms to your phone, plot your road trip route, and make sure you take all the essentials with you. And get ready to get a lot of berries. Like, a lot.

Have you been berry picking in New Zealand? Where did you go?