About | Blueberry Country
Blueberry Country in Ngatea is an absolute delight. If you love blueberries or even just want to experience a blueberry orchard and have someone you know who’d be extremely thankful for some blueberries – this is the place to go!
Tucked away in Ngatea, we’ve driven past so many times on road trips to the Coromandel, Waihi or Tauranga and never known about this place. Not too far off the highway, this makes a great pit stop while you’re passing through. Let the kids have a run around, experience a blueberry orchard and help you pick blueberries, taste some real fruit ice cream and leave with some scrumptious fruit to enjoy on the road or at home.
Tip: Bring something to keep them cool if you’re travelling a long way.
Eat them by themselves, on top of your favourite brekkie or turn your pickings into muffins, smoothies, cake or sauce. The Blueberry Country website has some recipes if you’re looking for inspiration.
As well as being in Ngatea, Blueberry Country is also in Ohaupo (by Hamilton) and Otautau (Invercargill).
Open
Pick your own is open from early December to late February. Check the Blueberry Country website for dates.
Hours: 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week (except Christmas).
Cost
Entry fee: $4 per adult (or those over 12), $2 per child (5 – 12 years old), under 5s go free.
Price of blueberries per kg: please check the Blueberry Country website.
Cafe (summer only)
Drop in to buy some pre-packed blueberries, real fruit ice cream or smoothie, cabinet food or order something from their cafe menu.
3 Fun facts about blueberries
- A single blueberry bush can produce up to 6,000 blueberries a year!
- Blueberries were once called ‘star berries’ by Native Americans because of the star shape on them.
- Blueberries are considered a superfood and are great for your health. They can help fight cancer, lower blood pressure, prevent hair loss, lower cholesterol, help with weight loss and memory loss, boost brain and heart health as well as enhance your mood – making great antidepressants! Wow. Eat up, guys!
Nearby
Ngatea Water Gardens
Location
There are three locations:
Ngatea: just a short drive off State Highway 2, down Central Road. There are a few access points, the first one to the cafe and further down is where you can pick your own blueberries.
Ohaupo (Hamilton): 397 Jary Rd
Otautau (Invercargill): 513 Otautau-Drummond Road
Photos
When we arrived at Blueberry Country, there was a lady there that asked if we wanted to head to the cafe or pick blueberries and then told us to enter through another gate for blueberry picking. Coming through Gate 4, a man gave us a bucket and piece of paper, told us where they were picking blueberries that day and showed us where to park.
The boys aren’t actually huge fans of blueberries themselves but were excited to pick them for family back home. Though my mother has some blueberries growing at her home, they’d never seen a blueberry farm and really enjoyed seeing it. They went walking down the line, looking for the juiciest and biggest blueberries.
We had just finished our line when another group had finished up and were walking past us but before they went they shared with us that there were some really big ones in a line further out. They were right and the boys were ecstatic. Easy pickings.
