Queen Viv has had many careers in her lifetime. When she was younger, one of her part time jobs was fruit picker and I was fascinated listening to her stories having never done it before. And for those of you that haven’t picked fruit before, she gave us the low down on the best fruits to pick. Raspberries are the best as they don’t require any crouching or much bending and are light. Apples are ok but are heavy to carry. Fruit such as strawberries require a lot of bending over are the most difficult to do.
On our way back from Mapua to Nelson, my husband and I spotted a PYO (Pick Your Own) orchard. We didn’t realise this, just thinking it was an orchard selling fruit but when we drove up we saw a big sign that said “Pick Your Own Raspberries $4 kg”. I was shocked. Raspberries are $9 at my local fruit store for a 150g punnet so the chance to pick our own and pay only $4a kg was exciting. I wondered for a second if the sign meant that we would get $4 if we picked a kilo, in which case I would only have a fleeting interest in trying it just to see what picking fruit is like but my husband set me straight.
The woman behind the counter passes me a white tray and tells us directions to the raspberry picking area. We are to pick any raspberries from rows 1-6. And how do we tell which are ripe for the picking? “You’ll tell pretty quickly once you taste them” she answers. Music to my ears.
We get lost on the way of course, we turn left instead of right and I am horrified when I see the rows in which I have to pick from. The grass is quite high and although my husband reminds me that NZ has no poisonous snakes or spiders or creatures I refuse to go in. However once we realise that we are indeed in the wrong spot, and find the correct spot I’m relieved to see that it’s walkable having been trimmed.
One thing I will say for the Allens Lollies people is that the ripe raspberries hanging do look exactly like the lollies, down to the shape and colour. Who knew that they’d be that accurate? And if you don’t know the colour of raspberry to pick simply remember the colour of the Allens raspberry lollies and that’s pretty much it. If you tug on the fruit and it doesn’t yield, do not keep pulling. It’s not ripe. Some of them have little flies or bugs inside them and these tend to be the very ripe ones so we discard those. We’re also sharing space with bumblebees but they’re pretty shy creatures that don’t seem to have a grudge or want to take you out.
After picking for about 30 minutes we’ve amassed almost an entire trayful so we bring this back to the shed to have weighed. They’re also selling a large range of berries (all very cheap, although not as cheap as picking it yourself of course) and “Real Fruit” ice creams where ice cream is blended with fruit. We learn that we’re lucky – the price is usually $9 a kilo but as there are rains predicted, the rubied fruit will only get washed away so they’ve reduced the price to $4 a kilo.
And the total weight for our bounty? 665grams for the princely sum of $2.66NZD. Yes that’s right $2.66NZD which translates to about $2AUD for 665grams of the freshest, sweetest most recently plucked fruit you could ever dream up.
That night we stayed at the stunning Warwick House in the Bayview Suite. It is a bed and breakfast of sorts, more like a luxury hotel where breakfast is included. Built in 1854 it is quite a sight to behold and our room is spacious and full of lovely fittings, Gothic touches and a Bay window overlooking Nelson. We’re in good company too with John Key the New Zealand Prime Ministers occupying the same suite as well as the British High Commissioner, Ambassadors, a US Senator and several NZ television personalities also staying here. We don’t have a chance to look at the grounds (alas the peacocks who roamed the grounds were relocated to a Marlborough vineyard as they got too noisy) as it is raining day and night but take advantage of the free Wifi and relax in our room.
The next morning, we go downstairs to the Grand Ballroom (the perfect setting for an intimate wedding) and have our continental breakfast. A very nice way to start the day indeed. And yes I coveted the large teapot!
Berrylands
108 Appleby Highway, Appleby, Nelson, New Zealand
Tel: + 64 (03) 544 2099
Warwick House
64 Brougham Street, Nelson, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (03) 548 3164
Email: enquiries@warwickhouse.co.nz
NQN and Mr NQN stayed as guests of Warwick House
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37 Comments | Add your own
Nice raspberries. I ve rarely seen them here. They re not much plentiful, Nice photos
Lucky you! I love love love raspberries warm just off the vine!
I wish I could try this-do you know anywhere where I could pick fruit closer to sydney? It looks like fun.
How lovely to pick your own raspberries and at such a great price! Warwick House looks gorgeous.
I love picking my own fruit. Two great places around here and one does all berries and the other place apples. Great to go get lost for a Saturday doing just that. Although strawberries do suck because you are constantly bending over.
Picking your own berries sounds like fun. Did you try the icecream?
Those look wonderful! I don’t often buy raspberries here. Can’t stand the disappointment of bad fruit at $9 a punnet.
Warick House looks lovely. And I work at Nestle (Allens) so I will pass on the praise of the accurateness of the rasberry lollies!
how gorgeous
You guys had so much fun in NZ…need to start planning our next trip…
wow i absolutely wanna go there! that is, if i ever go to nz hehe
i’m a berry lover, especially raspberries, and that self-service reminds me of picking cherries in france =) so much fun!
p.s. they cost 20 times that price at woolworths lol
gosh, I have never seen PYO raspberries that cheap before. You got a great deal! Raspberries are by far my favourite berry. and that B & B looks stunning!
I’ve fruit picked and your friend is absolutely correct. Strawberries are hard and apples can be heavy for those that can’t carry a lot. This place looks good and the prices are exceptional.
How fun! I was happy to see the first berry in the strawberry patch in my backyard today.
So did you eat all of them all at once? I would imagine you’re far away from your kitchen, thus cannot make any raspberry things…
wow, picking raspberries look so fun! i want to try!
Why is it that fresh raspberries are so sweet … and without fail every box of frozen ones I have bought have been sour and nasty?
I’ve only picked strawberries before and it really wasn’t any cheaper than buying them. At least they were really fresh though. I would LOVE to pick raspberries though- especially at that price!
At the moment I am tossing up between New Zealand and Tasmania for a holiday, and all your NZ stories are making me lean that way!
Hi Lorraine, it looks like you had a wonderful time!! The B&B looks lovely!! How good that you can pick your own fruit!! I know that you can do that too in some parts in the UK but not in Belgium & that is a pity. I come from the part in Belgium where the fruit grows, like apples, pears & strawberries. It would be nice to pick my own fruit there ,but I can only dream,…!!
Hi snooky doodle-thankyou! I was so excited to do this
Hi Barbara-Thanks! I know, I loved eating them and you’re right, they are slightly warm!
Hi Brianna-I wish I knew!
It would be so much fun and so worth it for raspberries!
Hi Anita-It was one of those serendipitious stops
It was really nice indeed.
Hi Jeff-Yes Queen Viv warned me about strawberries. I really need to find somewhere close to us!
Hi Arwen-We didn’t try the real fruit ice cream here but we did it elsewhere and it’s very nice. I think NZ Natural does a similar thing called a Fruit Flo?
Hi Y-Yes and there are always some that are about to turn mouldy too!
Hi Vita -Oh cool and lucky you working there! haha yes do pass that on. I was really struck at how much they look like the lollies
Hi Tiffany-We did, I wish we could go back!
Hi David-Apparently there are a lot of places like that in Nelson/NZ! Me too and they’re good for you too! Aw lucky you picking cherries in France!
Yeah I know it’s expensive being a berry lover isn’t it!
Hi tammy -I think we were very lucky that day!
I am a berry fan if they’re sweet (and these were). it was very nice indeed! 
Hi Mike-Yes she was spot on with her NZ recs!
Hi Sara -Oh lucky you! I wish I had a strawberry patch!
Hi Taiko Tari -We both ate them over a day. No but eating them straight is the best way to eat fresh berries!
Hi DessertObsessed-It’s lots of fun and it’s amazing how quickly you can fill a container
Hi Carol-Hmm it’s true, fresh ones seem much nicer!
Hi Bria-Oh I always thought that it would be cheaper although yes the freshness is a great advantage
Yes you can’t argue at $4NZ a kilo! 
I haven’t been to Tasmania but NZ is amazing!
Hi Sophie-We did! hubby loves fruit so he was in heaven
Oh lucky you to have the fruit grown near you!
I love raspberries! I’ve never picked my own though – looks like fun and so cheap!
Your accommodation looked great – you sure do live it up, lucky thing!
Ahhh PYO! I remember when I went Cherry picking with my family haha. I think we ended up eating more than we picked…
For Brianna: There are places to pick up cherries and strawberries in Young, NSW. Also look for some brochures at tourist information, there are some places offering strawberries picking.
I haven’t try the fruit picking job. My friend did once and admitted that it was in a very secluded place on the farm with other 10 friends. They were living on a trailer provided on the farm. It’s a bit harrowing as it is far from city and may be dangerous for a girl to go there unless if you do have lots of friends to watch over each other, but hey… when we are young who cares about danger? *a comment that not to be try at home*
i love love love raspberries!
and U pick is so much fun, your post brought back great memories of picking in Washington state.
You’re so lucky! I love raspberries and Warwick House looks beautiful.
ooh, Lovely. I love picking my own fruits. I have picked strawberries before as well as raspberries, and blackberries.
When I was little, there was alittle field in my families yard with wild flowering raspberries, delightful.
Here in England, Blackberries grow wild everywhere, so when they are in season, my hubby and I grab a container and just go pick ‘em.
Makes a wonderful blackberry pie. yum!
WOOOOW! I am so JEALOUS! that is FREAKING cheap and it’s making my eyes bling dollar signs! my friend just went to NZ for honeymoon…I should have begged her to bring a whole casket over!
what beautiful, luscious berries. well-worth a few thorn bites.
I’ve always wanted to go fruit picking. I don’t think they have any orchards in S. Tx- just cactus.
We do that here as well, way over in upstate NY. We also have pick your own strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. It is wonderful. If you spread them on a baking sheet lined with parchment, you can freeze them, and they will not stick together. Enjoy!!
Hi Forager-this was my first time too and I’d definitely do it again, especially at that price!
Thanks, we try to! 
Hi FFichiban-Mmm cherries are probably my favourite fruit. I would be dangerous around a cherry orchard!
Hi Lilia-Oh good to know!
this place was close to the city and I think that it’s more for the casual picker. I don’t think they’d have enough fruit for 10 people to pick!
Hi leslie-Me too! Oh great to hear! It’s always nice to reminisce
Hi foodie-central-Thanks, it was a really great day!
Hi ArtemisIII-Very cool! Which ones were your favourite to pick?
Oh you are SO lucky! Blackberry pie sounds utterly delightful!
Hi Sophia-It is isn’t it! freakishly so
Hehe I feel like asking my friends to do the same 
Hi grace-Oh there weren’t any thorns, or at least I didn’t get pricked by any?! I guess I should consider myself lucky about that
Hi Blond Duck-Aww well maybe you can if you go on holidays somewhere!
Hi Amy-That’s a great tip about freezing them! what a fabulous range of berries you get to pick!
Amazing!!! I can’t wait for raspberry picking season around here, which means I can make more jam!!
$4 a kilo! is unbelievable!! I wish I could do this berry picking with my kids & then eat a lot too..
I love berry picking! In the summer here I go out to the woods behind my parents’ house for raspberries and blackberries. I’ve been strawberry picking, too, and though it is hard work it’s definitely worth it in peak season. I plan to do as much berry picking as I can this summer – maybe even go blueberry picking.
I find it’s easier and far less messy to go and buy a punnet at the greengrocer
Hi Steph-Wonderful! I can’t wait to see your jams
Hi Soma-Yeah I know, I thought it was a misprint or something. Maybe they were missing a zero
Hi anna-you are so lucky! If I could go berry picking every day I probably would!
Hi ridves-Yep but it’s nowhere near as fun!
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