Insta-worthy strawberry ice cream that’s worth trip to Bundaberg region

They’re not just an Ekka delicacy! Strawberry sundae cravings can be satisfied every day at this sweet country Queensland fruit farm. Take the video tour here.

From the windmill to the potted plants, strawberry fields and authentic farmyard complete with friendly chooks, Tinaberries has managed to market nostalgia for all generations.

The Bundaberg farmgate business sells its specialty fruit ice-cream year round and right now strawberry season means every day is strawberry sundae.

Visitors to the farm on Zinks Road, Woongarra, near Elliot Heads, can also pick their own strawberries.

Tinaberries’ Tina McPherson said this year would mark the farm’s 15th strawberry season and so far things been “pretty good”.

She said there had been bit of a slow start to the season with some industry-wide issues with runners (runner plants are what the strawberries grow off), which meant a later strawberry harvest.

But it didn’t deter the crowds of people from heading out.

Pick Your Own strawberries started on Saturday and has been going well – with both school excursions and the general public.

Tina from Tinaberries

She said the PYO option was production-based, ensuring there were enough strawberries in the patch to meet demand.

Whether it’s people craving strawberry ice-cream around Ekka time or the general influx of Queensland tourists holidaying in their own backyard amid COVID-19 restrictions, sales have been increasing each week.

Open every day with the exception of Christmas Day and Good Friday, ice cream is on the menu year round and flavours follow the seasons.

Ms Mcpherson said the team cut and froze their second-grade fruit which not only meant delicious ice cream for visitors, but also minimised waste on the farm.

Five years ago their waste was about 20%, but they have been able to reduce that significantly to about 1%.

A similar approach has been achieved with their passion fruit crop, where waste is down to about 4%.

STRAWBERRY SEASON: Nono Wen picking at Tinaberries.

With more than a decade of experience in the strawberry industry, Ms McPherson said there was a shift about six years ago.

Industry leaders either opted for a small, niche and boutique business style or big commercial production with millions of plants and not a lot of room in the market for those in the middle.

This shift wasn’t unique to the strawberry fields but also across a lot of horticultural crops and dairy.

At Tinaberries there’s 100,000 runner plants.

Its open everyday 9am – 5.30pm and you do not have to pre-book for the PYO experience.

Farm fresh ice cream served up daily at Tinaberries. Photos: Tinaberries

Ms McPherson said they were open daily to make it easy for people because picking strawberries or going for ice cream could be a spontaneous activity.

She said their hours also made it ideal for those who were planning a trip to Elliott Heads beach or Bargara and timing their visit with the tide.

The customer base was fairly evenly split between locals and visitors – with a lot of repeat business from locals.

The “authentic farm setting” at Tinaberries is one for everyone, she said, as kids enjoyed being outside and having an ice cream while some of the older generation got a sense of nostalgia.

PYO strawberries will likely run until the first week of October, depending on the weather.

Originally published as Insta-worthy strawberry ice cream that’s worth trip to Bundaberg region