The Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail

Langdale Farm

Number 56 Map 4 Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail maps

On 50 acres of land in Oakdale, about an hour outside of Sydney, Avril and her partner David grow olives from around 1200 olive trees and raise alpacas, sheep and cattle.  Originally Avril and David were going to settle on a much larger property in Grafton and raise cattle, Avril having studied animal husbandry. However family kept them closer to Sydney and Avril's interest in animal husbandry is satisfied by tending to her various animals. 

Both Avril and David grew up near farms in England - David would work on nearby farms in his holidays and Avril could see them from her bedroom window.  She thinks it is these childhood memories that led both her and David to owning their own property.

At the property you can wander around a beautiful rose garden and see the olives and animals.  You can also purchase jams , honey and of course olive oil.  The olives are picked by a willing band of helpers around Easter time each year and pressed off site. The Farm Shop is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10.00am until 4.00pm and tour groups are welcome, although bookings are essential.

For more information go to www.langdalefarm.com.au

Langdale Farm

1366 Barkers Lodge Road 

Oakdale

ph 02 4680 9001

Please visit the Hawkesbury Harvest website

Ambrosia Olive Farm

Number 55 Map 4 Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail Maps

Olives, apples, figs, quince, lemons, grapes, cherries, almonds, macadamias, mulberries, plums, cashew nuts and assorted vegetables.  Deer, chickens and emus.  Bees.

15 years ago this incredibly productive farm of 40 or so acres was bush.  That was until Steve Skarmoutsos and his wife moved here having run a restaurant for 25 years. The first olives were planted as "a bit of fun " - and now there are over 4000 trees.  In fact most things growing here were planted as a bit of fun but with 5 dams and plenty of fertiliser the crops are rich and varied and have become a serious venture now.

It means that visitors to the property can buy olives, olive oil, skin products (including soaps) and honey.  The olives are cold pressed each April on gleaming machinery imported from Greece and Italy and the oil produced is also bottled on the farm.

I also saw buckets of fresh eggs and lemons - perhaps Steve could be talked into selling those too if you asked him nicely.

The farm is open to visitors seven days a week from 9.00am to 5.00pm although bookings are essential.

For further information please go to www.ambrosiaolivefarm.com.au

Ambrosia Olive Farm

100 Eltons Road

Silverdale NSW 2752

Please visit the Hawkesbury Harvest website.