North Island of New Zealand U-Pick Farms - 2024 PickYourOwn.ORG

Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in North Island of New Zealand? Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in North Island of New Zealand, sorted by county. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name  (see "What does Organic mean?"). The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. If you find anything outdated or inaccurate, see the customer and farmer menus (as appropriate) at the top menu bar to submit updates and corrections and help me keep each current!

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Note: Beware the copycat websites like the one that stole our name and uses .farm extension: they copied my work and do NOT even update the info! I make updates EVERY day. They use tech tricks to get higher rankings, but have many more inaccuracies and out-dated info. Obviously, I cannot check every farm every day, but I do check as many as I can every day, and respond to all requests.  They don't. Don't support the scammers!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! And if you know of any farms I missed and want to add a farm, please let me know!   I'm making updates for this year as fast as I can - if you find anything out-of-date, wrong or not working - please let me know! This website is supported by purchases you make through the links to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This allows me to continue to maintain the website and make improvements!

What's in season in December 2024, and other timely information:

Notes for December 2024:Apples are usually January to May; Blueberries are ready in December to mid January in MOST areas of Australia. Strawberries can have a long season, November to April - depending on the variety. See your area's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website.

Home canning and freezing directions. You can access it from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me!

North Island of New Zealand U-Pick Farms and Orchards, by area

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

This page provide listings and links to pick- your- own (PYO, U-pick, upickem, pick-it-yourself) farms in New Zealand, organised by Region and District. Or click here for Farm Markets in New Zealand.

If you have any to suggest or have any feedback about any you have visited, or want to suggest a farm, please email me via the feedback form or suggest a farm form! And if you own a farm and want to add it or correct the information, please let me know!

And if you want simple illustrated, instructions on making and canning (preserving, bottling, freezing, etc.) many common items, like how to make jam, applesauce, apple butter, spaghetti sauce, salsa, fruit pies, freezing vegetables, putting up peaches, green beans, etc., just click here. For tips on picking click here! If you want to start your own food business, at home or otherwise, see this page.

Harvest time calendar (tells when crops are available)

North Island

• Auckland
• Bay of Plenty (Kawerau, Opotiki, Rotorua, Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane)
• Gisborne (no farms here)
• Hawke's Bay (Central Hawke's Bay, Hastings, Napier, eastern Taupo, Wairoa)
• Northland (Far North, Kaipara, Whangarei)
• Taranaki (New Plymouth, South Taranaki, Stratford)
• Manawatu-Wanganui (Horowhenua, Manawatu, Palmerston North, Rangitikei, Ruapehu, Tararua, Wanganui)
• Waikato (Hamilton, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, southern Rotorua, South Waikato, Taupo, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato,Waipa, Waitomo)
• Wellington (arterton, Kapiti Coast, Lower Hutt, Masterton, Porirua, South Wairarapa, Upper Hutt)

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

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Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands and Roadside Stands, Etc.
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

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Local Honey Sources:

North Island

Bay of Plenty (Kawerau, Opotiki,Rotorua, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane)

• R n' Bees - Honey (retail), Raw honeys, Honey from hives on the farm
  132 Thornton Road, Whakatane, North Island 3192. Phone: 07 3080118. Email: graham@rnbees.co.nz. Open: Monday to Sunday, 8am until 5:30pm during Berry season (from mid October until end of February); Monday to Saturday 8:30am until 5:30pm in off season. Directions: On the right, 1.3km from the Whakatane/Matata intersection heading towards Matata. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page. R n' Bees (formerly R & B Berry Garden) is under new Ownership. We will bring you the same great tasting and value berries that R & B's were loved for. EFTPOS payment available during berry season. Home of 'Our Honey' - delicious spring Rewarewa honey -- loaded with Anti Oxidants, and multi-floral bush blend main crop from our bush sites, with Manuka. Our Honey is filtered, but not heat treated, and full of goodness.

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Farm Venues for Weddings, Events, Activities, Parties and Meetings:

Waikato (Hamilton, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, southern Rotorua, South Waikato, Taupo, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato,Waipa, Waitomo)

• Monavale Blueberries Limited & Cafe Irresistiblue - Wedding Reception, Banquets / Dinners, Birthday parties, Business meetings, Classes, lectures or Speakers, School and educational groups, Other Private Parties, Restaurant onsite, Tables and chairs are Provided, Linens and table silverware are provided, Wine, Champagne, & Beer Only, Peach/Nectarine, Apricot, etc. Orchard, CD Player, Free Onsite Lot parking lot, children welcome, No smoking allowed, Vegetarian meals available, handicap accessible, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours
  Corner Turkington & Wallace Roads, Monavale, Cambridge, North Island, New Zealand 3495. Phone: 07 827 9456. Fax: 07 827 9485. Email: info@monavaleblueberries.co.nz. Open: Wednesday to Sunday, from 9am to 4;30pm Closed Monday and Tuesday Contact us if you would like to book your function for hours outside the standard. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Monavale Blueberries orchard and cafe is signposted off the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Road. Click here for a map and directions. Our organic blueberries are available October through to the end of March;. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Monavale Blueberries is a BioGro certifed organic orchard (BioGro number 511). Monavale Blueberries is the largest BioGro certified organic blueberry orchard in New Zealand with 50 acres of certified crop. We are a family owned and operated orchard and offer orchard tours from October through to March, and Pick Your Own from late December through to mid March. During our season we are at the Cambridge and Hamilton Farmers Markets as well. We have also recently opened an orchard cafe and shop - Cafe Irresistiblue.

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Farm Bed and Breakfasts (Farm Stays)

North Island

Manawatu-Wanganui (Horowhenua, Manawatu, Palmerston North, Rangitikei, Ruapehu, Tararua, Wanganui)

• Marahua Blueberry Farm -
  40 Owhango Road, Owhango, NA 3990. Phone: (07) 895 4410. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Directions: See their website for directions. Payment: Cash, only. Marahua Blueberry Orchard in New Zealand was established in 1979, with the planting of five original American blueberry varieties: Atlanta, Burlington, Concord, Dixie and Jersey. The orchard has been organically run under the present ownership since 1993, and boasts of the tastiest blueberries in the world, with the original plantings still in place. It has become a community treasure. WHAT ELSE HAS IT GOT TO OFFER? Set back from but close to Highway 4, and right opposite a ski shop, Marahua has a quiet and peaceful small farm atmosphere, comfortable accommodation close to the Mount Ruapehu ski-fields, numerous walks, the Wanganui River adventures on the doorstep, hunting, mountain biking, trout fishing in the local Whakapapa River , the Wanganui River and Lake Taupo, 45 minutes away and much more. Refer to local attractions. Pick your own berries in the season (January to March) which can be chiller stored and/or frozen for your convenience.
  A visitor writes on July 19, 2013: "the best farm stay in the whole world, I mean it cause I have travelled. We have been there twice so far planning a trip in Oct as well"

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New Zealand Crop Availability Calendar

New Zealand Pick-your-own calendar
October
November
December	Raspberries, Strawberries
January	Apples (early, starting mid-Jan), Blueberries, Melons, Raspberries, Strawberries, Sweet corn
February	Apples (early), Blueberries, Melons, Sweet corn
March	Apples, Some Blueberries (early March), Grapefruit, Lemons, Melons, Raspberries (Fall crop), Sweet corn
April	Apples, Grapefruit, Lemons, Melons, Oranges, Raspberries (Fall crop), Sweet corn
May	Apples, Grapefruit, Lemons, Mandarins, Oranges, Raspberries (Fall crop)
June	Apples, Mandarins, Oranges, Raspberries (Fall crop)
July
August
September

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• Picking Tips!
  • General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable
  • How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)
  • Selecting the right varieties to pick
  • All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!
  • Picking tips for Vegetables
  • Strawberry picking tips
  • Blueberries picking tips
• Recipes
• Simple instructions:
  • How to make jam
  • How to make applesauce
  • How to make apple butter
• Canning and Freezing
  • FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems
  • Comprehensive addition resources
  • Free publications to download and print

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Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!] [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ Easy Home Canning Directions] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]