What Is Beerenberg Farm?

Beerenberg strawberry picking in Hahndorf is one of Adelaide’s most beloved farm experiences.

Beerenberg is an iconic South Australian family-owned farm located in Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, about half an hour out of Adelaide city centre. It has been passed down for six generations and is now a famous producer of jams, chutneys and sauces that you can find all over Australia. Beerenberg Farm has a café, shop and best of all, strawberry picking!

One of my favourite things about their products though is that they don’t use any of that nasty stuff, and all their glass jars make me feel so much better about not poisoning myself with microplastics.

When to Visit Beerenberg Strawberry Farm

The Beerenberg strawberry picking season runs from November to April and the patch is open from 9am with last entry at 4.15pm daily, except Christmas Day. It is important to know that they do get ‘picked out’ at times and have to close the fields so that they can rejuvenate, or they might close for extreme weather, so it is important to check on their website or Instagram for updates.

If you can, my suggestion would be to go mid-week or early morning. More people attend on the weekends, nabbing all those yummy strawberries, so the earlier you can go, the more there should be.

What to Expect at Beerenberg Strawberry Picking

Beerenberg Strawberry Picking costs $5 per person entry and $13.50/kg for what you pick. The process is pretty simple.

1. Head to the farm shop and pay $5 per person (children under 12 are free).

2. You will get a wristband and a cardboard container.

3. Follow the strawberry signs to the patch.

4. Pick as much as you want.

5. Head back to the shop to buy what you have picked for $13.50/kg.

6. Try not to eat them all at once.

You can really take as long as you’d like, but I’d recommend about an hour to pick. However, the entire place is really amazing, so by the time you look around the shop and stop in at the café, which has some really wonderful options, it is more of a three-hour experience.

Sensory Notes for Neurodivergent Visitors

Shoes

The Beerenberg strawberry picking fields are quite close to the farm shop, but you would still want to wear comfortable footwear. I would suggest closed toe shoes rather than sandals or thongs, simply because if you get tired of squatting and want to kneel, you won’t get as dirty. Also, the strawberry rows are mounded up with walkways in between, so if there has been a lot of rain those can end up muddy. My experience was primarily dry and clean. In fact, the soil between each row was surprisingly compact.

Granted you can wear adorable heals, but I wouldn’t recommend them for picking.

Sun

There is no shade out on the fields so it is best to wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, as the glare can be a bit much. I was lucky enough to go on an overcast day, but I could imagine that being out there in the beaming sun could be quite warm.

Strawberries

Pull and twist (if you are a Harry Potter fan, think of it like Swish and Flick). Make sure the strawberries are red and plump. There are plenty around, so there is no point picking anything that isn’t perfectly ripe. I chose to go in a row so that I could be methodical about it, but I imagine if I were to have taken my very ADHD mum, she would likely have skipped between rows like a pinball every time she saw a new monster strawberry.

The Beerenberg Farm Café

The Beerenberg Farm Café is located within the giant shed. I was expecting terrible acoustics and a cold, uninviting environment. Yet the space has been designed thoughtfully. The café is to one side, the shop to the other, and a little ordering and coffee making island sits in the middle.

Despite the wide-open space, the wooden chairs on concrete floors, high ceilings and an abundance of young children, the volume was actually really reasonable. Often these types of places put me on edge like I’m in a shopping centre food court, but somehow the Beerenberg Farm Café felt uncrowded despite the many people there.

Breakfast only goes until 11.30, which I understand from a kitchen perspective, but it always makes me sad when I want a breakfast item after hours. However, many of their items reflect their produce, centred around their jams, sauces or fresh strawberries – which makes it interesting for sure.

I visited with my husband Adam, and we had scones so that we could try their jams. For once I was served good quality cream. I tire of that aerosol spray that just melts into oblivion on your plate the minute the air touches it. It must have been the first time I didn’t have to ask for more toppings when ordering scones. Although I was expecting two and received one, it was a big scone and still certainly enough for one person.

We also shared a Hungarian goulash pie which had homemade pastry and a really interesting filling. It was served with salad, naturally with their local dressing and a strawberry on the side. The pie was really nice, especially the pastry, but I think I would prefer to get one of their formal meals next time as they look far bigger and better in value. I was stoked that we got a tiny pot of tomato sauce to go with the pie though, even if it did make me sad that the tub was so tiny it probably cost more for the glass than the sauce inside.

Overall, unlike most warehouse vibe cafes, this was really comfortable for a neurodivergent person. There were heaps of kids enjoying themselves, there was enough space not to feel cramped, and there was a huge range of options from cakes and chips to waffles and salads.

Of course, if you haven’t outdone your sweet tooth by the time you have finished lunch, you can also get a cup of strawberries with chocolate for $15 at their dedicated chocolate pot area, or a strawberry ice cream. I was super keen on both, but the scones had already exhausted my sweet palate. I will have to go back for both though, because anything homemade is a win for me!

The Beerenberg Farm Shop

Seeing as I couldn’t get the melted chocolate strawberry cups, I decided on some freeze dried strawberries covered in chocolate and they did not disappoint. The tart strawberry covered in quality chocolate had me one and done. It is great to have something enjoyable to eat that you don’t feel the need to overindulge on, whilst still appreciating it so fully. They are also huge, so be warned!

You can get pretty much anything at the Beerenberg Farm Shop. They sell a huge range of products from jams and sauces to chutneys and spreads. If it goes on food, they probably have it. If you aren’t into the jars of goodness though, they also sell souvenirs and kitchen related items like the most divine strawberry scented candle ever. It was like living inside of a strawberry and cream Chupa Chup!

Finally, if you aren’t interested in picking your own strawberries, they have plenty for sale in their fridges too.

Tips for Visiting Beerenberg with a Neurodivergent Brain

• Try to avoid peak times if you can and aim to do the Beerenberg strawberry picking early morning or mid-week to avoid the crowds.

• It gets busy. Even at 11.30 the café was pretty full, so just be prepared and maybe bring some earphones in case it is overstimulating.

• There is heaps to read and learn. The walls inside the shed are full of information, so give yourself enough time to explore all your interests.

• The café can feel a bit overwhelming as there are so many choices: savoury food, ice cream, a chocolate pot shop, and coffee. It might be best to go with a plan of what you want to focus on and come back again for something else. That way you can avoid disappointment when you can’t physically fit it all in.

• My suggestion would be: pick, sip, shop. Pick early whilst it’s not too hot and before too many people make it to the field, then have some brunch or lunch, keeping in mind it may be busy, and then head to the shop on your way out.

• The Beerenberg strawberry picking is quite sensory friendly. The only real considerations are sun, wind or other people, but as a general rule everyone is pretty respectful and the fields are huge, so it’s easy enough to find your own space.

• Toilet access is brilliant. They even have a bin next to the door for your hand towel so you don’t have to touch the door on exit!

• There is a big fresh, filtered water station to refill your water bottles, so never feel like you are going to run out, even on a hot day.

• Heating in winter could be an issue, so if you are going out of season, be sure to dress warm as the spot next to the fire would be highly sought after.

• Parking can fills up fast, but there is plenty more around the back of the shed.

Is Beerenberg Strawberry Farm Worth It?

Yes, the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm is absolutely worth the time and money! For starters, you can do it very affordably and just keep to the picking and strawberries. It is a leisurely, family activity that isn’t high stress or high stimulation, and is super sensory friendly. For that excitement of trying something new whilst not breaking the bank or overloading your brain with stimuli, it is the perfect activity.

If you have children under 12, I imagine the Beerenberg strawberry picking is even better because they would love the adventure of being out in nature, and it is super affordable. Just good luck with their squished strawberries.

If you want to make a day of it, I do highly recommend the café. There are lots of options, and even if you don’t want a full meal, trying their homemade ice cream is certainly special.

And of course, if the whole family is going and not everyone wants to pick, there is plenty to keep you occupied in the shed. From reading the information on the walls that explains all about the strawberry life-cycle, to deciding on which sauces to buy, you would be easily entertained.

I highly recommend the Beerenberg strawberry picking experience. It is made so much better by their fair prices and family run business. This isn’t a tourist trap. It is made for the families of Adelaide to enjoy.

For more sensory friendly activities around Adelaide check out this low sensory cupcake decorating class.

About the Author

Victoria-Rose Paris is an Adelaide-based content creator, blogger and
neurodivergent advocate. She writes honest lifestyle and experience reviews
through a neurodivergent lens, helping others navigate everyday life with
more ease and confidence. Find her on Instagram or read more on her blog.