I love fresh fruit and veg and I think this stems from my upbringing. My first recollections of our family home in Bundaberg was of Citrus trees – Oranges and Lemons, clusters of Banana’s. Custard Apples so huge that as much as you tried, you could not finish one all to yourself. My Mum was a keen gardener, having been raised in Fiji she and my Dad understood the value in planting your own crops and tending to them to ensure they had food for their ever-growing young family. My most favourite memories are being in the garden with Mum picking pods of peas, gathering fresh eggs from the chook house, grabbing a Guava straight from the tree and tucking into these if I felt hungry after exploring the yard.
We are blessed in Australia with the abundant supply of great quality fruit and vegetables and a place dear to my heart is to visit is Tropical Fruit World. I think it’s because seeing the farm, the fruit trees, it takes me back to that moment in time of my childhood when I could want for nothing and if I was hungry would just pick something from a tree. In those early days I do not think we had “smoko” as such unless we had visitors. We ate breakfast, did chores then it was time to play and unless Mum called us to come home, we spent our days outdoors playing forts with the other neighbourhood kids in the Flame trees that lined our street. We never came home till dinner time, what an idyllic lifestyle the early 70’s was, well for me anyway.
So enough about me, let’s talk about Tropical Fruit World. A family owned business, formally known as Avocardoland it is now, not just a working fruit farm but also a very popular tourism attraction. The farm itself grows over 500 fruit trees that come from all over the globe and a great way to see this is to take one of the guided tours through the property. The Plantation Safari will take you on a guided tractor tour of some of the 165-acre farm, allowing you to not just see but also stop and taste test the fine fruit flavours the farm has to offer and learn about seasonal fruits. This is one of my favourite parts of the tour – cracking open your own Macadamia Nuts and eating them fresh is truly a wonderful experience.
Take the Wildlife Boat Cruise as you enjoy the relaxed waterways and learn about the local flora and fauna. There is also a gorgeous Fauna Park where you can meet Kangaroos, Emu’s and Farm Animals. Allow a good 3 hours to really enjoy all the attractions on site and then of course make your way to the Plantation Café to refuel your body. Fresh local produce and seasonal farm fruits are always on the menu. You can even pair your made-to-order meal with a selection of beer and wine but make sure you leave room for dessert!
After you have eaten your fill, make your way to the Plantation Fruit Market and stock up on your favourite items and it’s not just fruit that you can buy, you’ll be surprised by the volume of great gift ideas as well. Purchasing straight from the orchard ensures you are not only taking home good quality fruit that has been grown using sustainable farming practises, but you are helping support a local farm & it’s community. Tropical Fruit World employs over 40 staff and entry to the Plantation Café and Fruit Market is free. Suitable for all ages but please note this is working farm with some naturally uneven pathways and walking surfaces. Enclosed shoes are recommended.
https://www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au/
For great local tourism information
https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/
or
https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/
