A Berry Good (and Sustainable) Day in the Adelaide Hills

Hahndorf is the jewel in the crown of the Adelaide Hills tourism experience. A town with a great German heritage, its main street abounds with great produce, dining and shopping experiences. Just a short stroll away from the main street is Beerenberg Farm.

Just 28kms from Adelaide’s CBD (a 20-25 min drive from the Adelide suburbs), Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf, South Australia is the perfect destination for a day of strawberry picking with friends or family.

If you didn’t already know, the opportunity to pick juicy, ripe strawberries in Beerenberg’s abundant fields has become an Adelaide institution, with thousands of people coming to enjoy the simple pleasure of picking their patch every season (which runs from November to April). 

Beerenberg Farm is open to keen strawberry pickers seven days a week from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas Day). As the strawberry patch may intermittently close (due to factors such as poor weather or being “picked out” during the busy season) make sure you head to their website to make sure they’re open which is updated daily.

Upon arrival at Beerenberg, visitors will be given a basket and instructions on how to pick their strawberries.  It’s just $5 per person (12 years and under are free) to enter the patch and then you’ll pay for the weight of any berries you pick. Strawberry pickers will be given a wristband and a recyclable, cardboard picking container – more on Beerneberg’s commitment to sustainability shortly! Beerenberg also recommends you wear comfortable, flat shoes, a hat, and sunscreen as there is limited shade out in the patch – and you wouldn’t want to end up looking like a strawberry at the end of the day now, would you?

Once you’re all setup, all punters need to do is follow the red flag to the strawberry patch and pick to their heart’s content. Visitor’s to the strawberry patch are also encouraged to post their day out to Instagram and tagging #PickMeBeerenberg – where you can win some great prizes!

Once the strawberries have been picked from the berry patch, you can take your haul to Beerenberg’s very own café where you can sample your freshly acquired fruit or enjoy something from their ever-changing seasonal menu. The cafe incorporates local produce, such as fluffy scones with our famous jams, as well as gourmet sandwiches, burgers and salads, all accompanied by Beerenberg’s flavourful relishes, sauces and dressings.  The farm also sells an array of jams, sauces, preserves, and other products – some of which are exclusive to the Beerenberg Farm Shop!

Strawberry picking and eating aside, Beerenberg have plenty of other things to do at their strawberry farm, including exploring their farm shop, cooking demonstrations and wait for it, farm-made ice cream! With over 10 flavours to choose from, each delicious ice cream is made with freshly churned local milk and the highest quality fruits, chocolate, and other delicious ingredients – a PERFECT summer accompaniment to a nice day out in the strawberry patch.

All that deliciousness and adventuring aside, what a lot of people don’t know though is how serious about sustainability the Beerenberg business is. Established in 1839, the Paech family have been farming land in the Adelaide Hills for almost 200 years and it’s why they want to continue to doing it right (and sustainably) for another 200. The family is committed to doing things the right way and making sure they adhere to sustainable farming and business pratcices.

Some sustainability facts you might not know about Beerenberg Farm;

– Beerenberg Farm carefully collects and preserves their precious Adelaide Hills rainwater, making sure that every drop is put to good use.

– All of Beerenberg Farm’s packaging is made using recycled materials, and every glass jar, lid, and carton can be recycled by their customers as well.

– Beerenberg Farm is officially classified as a “large off-grid solar farm,” and they capture as much sunshine goodness as they can.

– Beerenberg Farm uses energy-efficient technologies, such as sensor lighting and LEDs, all managed by a hybrid energy system.

– Across Beerenberg Farm and their offices, they recycle all cardboard, paper, plastic, and clean glass.

– Beerenberg Farm minimizes the use of pesticides by using beneficial insects to help with pollination and pest control.

– Beerenberg Farm composts all of their organic waste, which they then use to grow the crops needed to create the products their customers love.

So, whether you’re looking for a fun family outing or just want to get away from it all for a day, Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf is sure to provide an enjoyable experience for everyone. With its beautiful scenery and abundance of activities, it’s no wonder why so many travelers choose to visit this charming farm each year. If you’re looking for something different to do while you’re in South Australia, be sure to check out Beerenberg Farm – a BERRY good day out!

Did you know!?

• Origins of Beerenberg date back to 1839.
• Johann George and Anna Rosina Paech sail with their five children from Prussia to South Australia. With 52 other families, they establish a village in the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf, naming it after their ship’s captain.
• 1975 – In the spirit of mouth-watering ideas, Grant and Carol pioneer a ‘pick your own strawberries’ concept and within a short time, Beerenberg becomes a busy tourist destination for visitors and locals alike.