There’s a sweet reason to head south these school holidays, with one of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s favourite strawberry picking destinations reopening for its biggest season yet.
Harvest the Fleurieu in Mount Compass officially reopened its pick-your-own strawberry patch on Wednesday, October 7, after planting an additional 70,000 strawberry plants.
“Last season was our busiest yet and so we made the decision to plant another 70,000 plants for this season to allow for many more strawberries to be picked & enjoyed from our patch,” owner Allis Sherry said.
She added that the experience has become particularly popular with families looking for something to do together outdoors.
“Absolutely, especially in families with young children. The opportunity to get the kids involved in a hands on experience whilst outdoors is hard to beat and made even sweeter by having their own strawberries to take home with them too,” she said.
And once the punnet is full, there’s plenty more to explore at the Mount Compass property.
Visitors can stop by the café for coffee and house-made bakery treats, before cooling down with a scoop (or two) of the farm’s house-made ice cream.
The strawberry ice cream is made using fruit grown on the farm, along with Fleurieu Milk Company milk and cream.
For Allis, getting to the farm early is the best way to make the most of the day.
“My favourite time of the day out in the patch is when we first open at 9am,” she said.
“So I would say head up early and get your strawberries picked before the crowds hit, then head in our cafe and fuel up with a coffee and something delicious.”
There’s also a small change aimed at making busy days run more smoothly, with Harvest the Fleurieu introducing an outdoor weigh station for the new season.
Rather than having to queue inside the café after filling their punnets, customers can now have their strawberries weighed outside, helping streamline the process for both visitors and staff.
The farm’s fertile patch in Mount Compass is also well suited to growing strawberries, thanks to its natural conditions.
“We are very lucky to have amazing water and soil here in Mount Compass as well as a slightly cooler climate which the strawberries seem to love,” Allis said.
Once visitors have finished picking, the farm’s market hall is another reason to linger, stocking produce and products from more than 80 South Australian suppliers.
The Sherry family has three generations of farming knowledge behind the business, with Ryan and Allis Sherry now running Harvest the Fleurieu’s operations.
There is one thing to keep in mind before making the trip south: the strawberry patch can occasionally fill up or be picked out.
“But can also pre-book your spot in the patch via our website which is especially helpful during busy weekends & school holidays,” Allis said.
Harvest the Fleurieu
Where: Mount Compass, Fleurieu Peninsula
When: 9am–4pm daily during the season
Entry: $5 per person, with children aged 12 and under free
Bookings: Walk-ins initially, with online bookings also available via the farm’s website
Check Harvest the Fleurieu’s website or social media before visiting for the latest picking conditions, entry arrangements and availability.
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