It’s not an Auckland summer without sun-kissed strawberries by the punnet-ful, and what better way to enjoy them than to pick them straight from the source. If you’re like us and love a juicy berry punnet or two, then read on to find the best pick-your-own strawberry fields in Tāmaki (and beyond). We’ve hand-picked and tasted our way to find you the best PYO strawberries for that essential summer berry trifle.
Grab your sunscreen and hat, here are the best strawberry patches to plunder this summer.
Best Strawberry Picking In And Around Auckland
Clevedon Strawberries
291 Monument Road, Clevedon | PYO opened October 2024
Jumbo strawberry fields await at Clevedon Strawberries. As one of the firsts opened for PYO this year, we recommend going early to beat the queues. Get your pick on amongst the fragrant strawberries, and don’t forget to finish with their signature strawberry ice-cream—while admiring your jumbo berry haul. They have a shop at their Ardmore location and are at the Clevedon Farmers Markets every Sunday for all your strawberry needs.
Good Planet (Home of ZaberriWorld)
340 Riverhead Road, Riverhead | PYO opened October 2024
Pick-your-own strawberries and pick-your-own adventure at Good Planet. Jump aboard the Good Planet mini-train and head out to the strawberry fields, where you can pick and eat—yes, all you can eat—your way through the berry fields. They also have raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries and blueberries, depending on when they’re available to pick.
Once you’ve eaten and picked your full, cool off with real-fruit berry ice cream or many of the other strawberry-related treats at the cafe. Make your way to the Adventure Park and race your friends in zorbs, climb up an inflatable rock wall or whoosh down a 7m inflatable mega slide. Come December, you can also head to the inflatable waterslides at the Splash Park where you can cool off—literally. If you aren’t sick of strawberries yet (we’re definitely not), grab a season PYO pass for unlimited entry on that berry fix all summer long.
Jimmys Ice Cream
221 Airfield Road, Ardmore | PYO opened October 2024
Image credit: Jimmys Ice Cream | Instagram
Make it a day trip and head to South Auckland for strawberry thickshakes (waffles and ice-cream) and strawberry picking this weekend (or any day of the week, as they’re open 7 days). They’re open from 7.30am for the serious strawberry pickers, and make sure to pop next door at Maxx & Daisy’s Eatery, for that post-strawberry picking coffee and eggs benny fix too.
Strawberry Hills Bombay
202 Pinnacle Hill Road, Mangatāwhiri | PYO opened October 2024
Head down the hill from 202 Pinnacle Hill Road, and into the rolling strawberry hills of Bombay. Established in 2022, look for their sunflower patch in the summer months, planted to help increase the soil nutrition for their blueberry plants come April. PYO strawberries are currently available seven days a week, with extended opening hours over the weekend (just keep an eye on their socials in case they’re closed due to rain).
Make it a day trip and check out the hidden waterfall—just 10 minutes through the surrounding paddock. PSA: They’re bringing back their monthly Berry Nights (starting first Saturday of December), with Firewood Pizza Garden and Reka Heihei providing tasty kai from 4-8pm. Bring the family for a fun night with face-painting, followed by strawberry ice-creams, waffles and chocolate coated strawberry cups for dessert amongst the strawberry fields.
Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens
464 State Highway 16, Kumeū | PYO opens Boxing Day (26th) December 2024
Founder Phil Greig started out working in Orchards in Kumeu, where he found his love for quality produce, which evolved into Strawberry Gardens in 1990.
The strawberry picking season at Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens opens on Boxing Day, so until then get your strawberry matcha fix—of a latte or hand-made gelato variety as they’re open 7 days a week. Made with strawberries straight from their fields, you can also go for a strawberry ice-cream scoop on a freshly pressed waffle too.
Honourable mention: Zaknich Farms (Zakberry)
125 Waitakere Road, Waitākere | PYO stopped two seasons ago
Image credit: Zakberry | Instagram
Unfortunately Zaknich Farms (a.k.a. Zakberry) have stopped doing PYO two seasons ago, you can still get your hands on special deals on strawberry seconds when available (last time we checked, they were only $2 for a 500g punnet). Bring your own box because you will definitely want to get more than one punnet with this bargain. Keep an eye on their socials for the next strawberry drop.
Best Strawberry Picking Further Afield
Ruakura Berry Shop
11 Davison Road, Newstead | PYO opened October 2024
Did you know that fruit has the most nutrition eaten when just picked? Make it a day trip with the fam and drive an hour or so out of Auckland to Hamilton. Just five minutes drive from the University of Waikato is Ruakura Berry Shop. Open seven days (closed only on Christmas and New Years Day), pick your own berries with the buckets provided, but don’t forget to bring your own bag or container as they no longer provide these. Don’t forget to check out one of the best restaurants in Hamilton, Camarosa, conveniently located in the strawberry fields for a post-pick dinner lunch or dinner. Check out their second strawberry venture, St. Kilda Berry Farm in Cambridge too.
Whatawhata Berry Farm
1099 Whatawhata Road, Whatawhata | PYO opened October 2024
On the road from Hamilton to Raglan is Whatawhata Berry Farm. Part of the Golden Adventure Triangle Day Trip, this strawberry picking destination is part of a Kiwi must-do, alongside Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves. Open for strawberry picking Thursdays-Sundays, head for the fields for not only strawberries, but raspberries, boysenberries and blueberries (check out their socials for updates on when which berries are available for picking). Don’t forget an essential real fruit ice-cream, in berry flavours and also banana-berry soft serve.
Tauwhare Berry Farm
487 Tauwhare Road, Matangi | Opened November 2024
Image credit: Tauwhare Berry Farm | Instagram
Strawberry season is well and truly here, with the Tauwhare Berry Farm trailer at the Cambridge Farmers Markets on Saturdays and Hamilton Farmer Markets on Sundays. For those who want the berries straight from the source, head on over to the farm and farm shop in Matangi (bookings essential, and must be made online first). Keep an eye out for PYO raspberries and blackberries too—available after Christmas.
All this strawberry picking worked up an appetite? Check out:
Main image credit: Clevedon Strawberries | Vicki Young