Here’s an outdoor family activity that’s full of Vitamin C! Take the kids orange picking at Cedar Farm, Dooralong to give them a refreshing taste of country life.
Tucked away in the foothills of Wyong State Forest, Cedar Farm is a friendly, down-to-earth place with over 15 acres of orchards to explore. Kids big and small will relish the satisfaction of finding their own fruit – lots of the trees have oranges that small hands will be able to reach, and there’s picking sticks to use for fruit higher up.
There’s some good challenges for the kids too – they can hunt for the biggest, ripest oranges, see how many they can carry, and predict how much their bags will weigh. Plus, they’ll get a valuable first-hand experience of where our food really comes from. They can meet the resident rescue hens, and spot farm animals in the surrounding properties.
How does it work?
When you arrive, sign your family in at the trestle tables behind the carpark. Then, grab your bags, collect a picking stick and head out into the orchard. When your bags are full, head back to the tables to weigh your haul. Oranges are currently $1.50 a kilo (cash and eftpos accepted). There’s often also fresh produce from local farm for sale – we were lucky enough to pick up some duck eggs from Grace Springs Farm when we visited.
This is a back-to-basics way to spend quality time outdoors with your family. And afterwards, you can head home to fill the fruit bowl, and make some delicious farm-fresh orange juice with the kids. Perfect!
Cedar Farm, Dooralong
What to Take: You need to take your own bags for the oranges, so make sure you pack a few. You can take your own mug for a free cup of tea, and you are welcome to picnic in the orchards too. Dogs on leashes are welcome to come along.
Accessibility: Children aged two and up will manage walking around the orchard with ease. The ground around the trees is a little bumpy and soft, but still manageable for strollers as well as toddlers on foot. Closed-in footwear is recommended.
Facilities: There are no bathroom facilities, but the Community Hall at the start of Ditton Road does have toilets, electric BBQs and a small playground available.
Hours: Oranges are available for picking between July and September. The farm is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 4pm. Check the Cedar Farm Facebook page for updates before you head out, as the operating hours can change.
Location: Cedar Farm is at 48 Dittons Road, Dooralong. (Turn off Dooralong Road into Dittons Road at the Dooralong Community Hall and Oval. Follow the dirt road to the carpark at the end).
Written By: ALISON MCCANN
Contributor
Alison is a busy local mum who enjoys exploring the Coast’s spectacular natural spaces. You’ll often find her out on a bush trail with her husband and three kids. With a background in media production, communication and marketing, she loves sharing stories about the wonderful region we get to call home.
