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There are some places you go that just make you feel good. Turners Beach Berry Patch has all the happy feels. This family-run berry farm is always humming with locals enjoying alfresco wood-fired pizza through to travellers who happen upon the welcoming café and stay on for the live tunes.
Just 10 minutes from Devonport, this is no ordinary café and farm shop experience. Don’t be surprised to see children climbing hay bales, competing fiercely at outdoor chess or flinging gumboots. By design, the Berry Patch ignites joy. Others may be celebrating a milestone birthday in the restored tram, raising a glass of Tasmanian bubbles. In these parts, though, it’s PYO: pick your own. During the summer, folk flock to pick some berries, wandering through fields of plump red strawberries. The seasonal menu is a moving feast of locally sourced and foraged foods. Tasmania’s north west has been coined the food bowl of Australia for its rich fertile soil and bounty of produce – so expect the freshest regional flavours across the menu. Rustic dishes change with the seasons, from the farmer’s breakfast complete with free-range eggs, bacon, local Preston Ridge sausage and more through to buckwheat galette French savoury crêpes. At the helm, husband and wife duo Craig and Wendy are down-to-earth locals who have put their heart into this coastal experience. Through the years, they have employed hundreds of pickers and staff members – from the neighbourhood as well as backpackers from all over the globe. Each brings a colourful addition to the Berry Patch family and sometimes menu ideas arise from their homeland. In warmer months, Friday evenings are about relaxing on the wide-open grass and outdoor seating to enjoy live music. The Berry Patch is a big supporter of local artists and talent – it’s often a launch pad for emerging musicians, and you’ll also find well-established names who return time and again for the relaxed, jovial atmosphere. Whether dropping in for pre-picked fruit, floral blooms or exquisite jams, a visit isn’t complete without a house-made berry ice cream. There’s good reason it’s not just the children lining up. And with vegan coconut berry ice cream available, everyone can enjoy a delectable cone. As for the gourmet pizza, whipped up to order in the fiery oven, many have a distinctly local flavour. The Bass Strait is topped with Tasmanian smoked salmon, and the Raspberry Apple Crumble dessert pizza comes with the farm’s zesty raspberry jam, Tasmanian green apples, oats, hazelnut crumble, and is drizzled with berry sauce alongside that aforementioned delish ice cream! Come for the blueberries and stay for the tunes. Come for a yurt lunch and stay for the berry picking. Whatever draws you to the Berry Patch, know that it’s served up with happy vibes and good feels. This is a family-run Tassie experience at its finest – authentic, friendly and delicious! 4 Blackburn Drive, Turners Beach theberrypatch.com.au (03) 6428 3967 [email protected] Open Wednesday – Sunday 8.30am – 4.00pm, later on Friday nights |