Autumn Means Apple Picking

Apple Crate 

Since coming back from my trip back to the US over Christmas and New Year's break, I've decided to make the most of my warm weekends before the cold weather settles in. February 28 was the official last day of summer, but it still hasn't felt like fall or autumn as Aussies refer to the season. Last weekend, the weather did turn a bit on Sunday when Sydney felt one of the windiest days of the year. I played a soccer game that was like playing with a jumping ping pong ball. Our friend Justin, who took us snorkeling in Gordon's Bay last weekend suggested we go apple picking. We didn't have time to go that weekend, but instead we planned on a trip the following Saturday.

We woke up Saturday, and it was hot! It was 30 degrees Celsius - not the autumn weather we expected for apple picking, but at least it wasn't raining. Justin rented a Go Get van (a popular car share service great for city dwellers who need a car, but don't want to buy one). The van was only $85 per day and we filled it with eight friends.

Since we were coming from Coogee, Bondi and Elizabeth Bay, we decided to meet at Surry Hills to have breakfast and head out on our 1.5 hour trip to Bilpin, New South Wales. Dave's main concern when we woke up was what shoes he'd wear because he wanted to climb the trees.

I had never heard of Bilpin or apple picking in Australia, so I asked around at work. Quite a few Australians were surprised I wanted to go. "You're paying for their labour", they'd say. It's a funny turn of events because when Dave and I came to Australia on our working holiday visas, we were nervous we couldn't get jobs and even thought about extending our visas for another year by fruit picking for three months. I found out that this option wasn't even a a possibility for me because Americans don't get to extend their visas. Here we are now, settled nicely in Australia and we're going fruit picking on our own volition! A few Australian colleagues who had gone before said it is actually a nice thing to do on a weekend when the weather is good and the apples are in season.

To get to Bilpin, you drive on the M2 towards Western Sydney. We passed Blacktown where we have gone many times to visit my mom's best friend (only 45 minutes by train). So when we passed Blacktown, we knew we weren't too far away. We climbed up the Blue Mountains for about 30 minutes are arrived at our destination at noon. Bilpin is quaint areas of less than a thousand people. There are about 10 visible orchards from the main road. Justin and his girlfriend Adrienne had come last year, so they knew which orchard was best.

In our excitement, we came up with the ABC game where you have to name an apple variety with every letter of the alphabet. I'm surprised at how many of our friends knew!

Today's Options

Fruit in Season

At the orchard entrance there was a listing of all in season and available fruit. Most of them cost about $2 per kilo! This was a much better deal than the grocery stores in Sydney and straight from the source.

The Rules. Dave Broke the Last Two

Ready. Set. Pick!

A Basket & an Appetite is All You Need

My First Taste

Granny Smiths Are Too Sour For Me

Fuji Apples

Granny Smith Apples

Summer Oranges Ending Their Season

Tall Apple Trees

Picking Red Delicious

Friends in the Apple Orchard

Checking Out the Smallest Braeburn Apples

Dave has had a lot of experience picking apples. As a child, he and his family always went apple picking. After the guide left us to venture on our own, we all gathered around Dave because he gave us a lesson in how to pick the best apple and even showed  us how to shine it with his shirt. He also told us there is a game his family would play.

Who could pick...

The biggest/heaviest apple

The smallest apple

The most beautiful apple

The ugliest, but edible apple

All for bragging rights of course.

Entering the Pear Orchard

Pears & Quinces Are Also Grown Here 

Pears Not So Ready to Pick

Inspecting Fruit from Row X

One unwritten rule we overheard from a tour group was that you shouldn't eat fruit from a row marked with an 'X'. Dave of course ate from any row he saw 'edible' looking fruit.

Nashi Pears in Full Bloom

 I discovered that I really enjoy Nashi Pears. They aren't as grainy and mealy as other pears I've had. But best of all, they aren't sour. They are crisp and sweet. I liked them more than the apples and ended up buying a dozen! 

Roses Are Grown Here Too

2 Hours of Apple Picking is Enough

  

Weigh Off To See Who Got the Heaviest/Largest Apple

Enjoying a Bilpin Cider

After two hours in the sun picking more fruit that we needed, we took a lunch break at the aptly named Apple Bar in Bilpin. The menu incorporates apples or pears into their dishes. Dave had the biggest pork loin I'd ever seen with caramelised apples and I had salt & pepper cuttle fish (I know - strange selection considering we're kilometers away from the ocean) with rocket salad with Nashi pears. It was surprisingly pricey for such a small country town (mains are approximately AUD $30), but the quality was fantastic - they are regulars in Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide.

26 Apples & Pears Cost Only $14!

After lunch we stopped by a road side diner to have the one thing that we couldn't miss out on an apple picking trip - having a slice of apple pie. However at this stage of the day, we were a bit over the apple taste, but the apple pies were delicious.

We were back on the road to Sydney and kept the road trip banter up with trivia questions and constant replays of the YouTube viral video 'Goats Yelling Like Humans' - hilarious 2 minutes of your life! But if you do have a free weekend this autumn, go apple picking. It's cheap, delicious and a great outdoor activity not too far out of Sydney.