Nestled in the magnificent heartland on the Mornington Peninsula, you’ll find a massive strawberry field right in the midst of its thriving wine region.
The Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria. Most people visiting the farm often bring their kids along for a one-of-a-kind strawberry picking experience and to enjoy eating freshly made strawberry ice cream and other strawberry themed desserts.
Established in 1964 by Italian immigrants, this family-owned and operated farm is the brainchild of Pietro and Rosa Gallace. Their family moved from Melbourne to the scenic bushland and rolling hills on Victoria’s hinterland property in Main Ridge to fulfil their lifelong dream of owning a farm.
The family originally had apple and cherry trees, but they soon realised that these could take up to seven years to bear fruit. They then decided to plant strawberries in the interim as these bear fruit after only a few months of being planted.
More than 50 years later, Sunny Ridge remains in the Gallace family and is currently managed by their son Mick and his wife, Anne. Through their passion and love for strawberries, the farm continues to thrive, making them the largest producers of strawberries in Australia.
Strawberry Picking
Strawberries are known to be the first fruits to ripen during Spring, so make sure to book your vacation between November to April if you want to go strawberry picking. Sunny Ridge also have other berry varieties available for picking such as blueberries (January to February), Blackberries (January to March), and raspberries (December to June).
Sunny Ridge Café
Aside from picking strawberries, visitors also come to dine at their café. In 2017, they completed a major refurbishment at their café, retail, and gift emporium.
The café offers a variety of famous strawberry desserts, farm-made ice creams, jams, fresh and healthy brunches, and their famous Belgian chocolate fondue paired with fresh strawberries and honeycomb. They also have local produce such as artisan cheeses and strawberry-themed gifts that you can take home as souvenirs.
Sunny Ridge is definitely one of the best places to visit if you’re traveling with your family, especially if you have youngsters. It’s a go-to place for the kids and kids at heart.
