Jackson Orchards

On the highway just out of Cromwell, keep an eye out for a big tin building with pops of raspberry pink and you’ve found Jackson Orchards, a family-owned and operated orchard that’s been growing some of New Zealand’s finest fruit since the 1860s (spanning five generations!).

Locals know it as their go-to store for fresh, seasonal produce all year round. Visitors? They quickly learn to pull over for a taste of the region’s best, and a real fruit ice cream that’s practically a rite of passage around here.

The bustling roadside store is packed with goodness: cherries, apricots and peaches in the summer, and a colourful array of crisp apples and pears in the cooler months. The range is always impressive, with many fruits available in at least three or four different varieties. Think Granny Smith, Royal Gala, Greengages, Black Doris plums and even Peacharines, a juicy peach-nectarine hybrid. Alongside fruit, you’ll find seasonal vegetables, artisan bread, flowers, and locally made pantry favourites like honey, dried fruit, preserves and sauces.

Recently, the store expanded to welcome some new foodie locals, including Kitchen Window, serving fresh salad bowls, wraps and toasties alongside their small-batch chutneys and sauces. She Bakes tempts with sweet and savoury treats, and Cookie Space is a haven for the biscuit-obsessed. And yes, the real fruit ice cream cart still holds pride of place outside, expect queues in summer.

As well as being a brilliant place to tick off your grocery list, the store also offers a front-row seat to the behind-the-scenes action, with a view into the packing shed where the team sorts the day’s bounty using some seriously slick high-speed tech. For the full immersive experience, hop aboard the orchard’s bright yellow electric bus for a scenic 45-minute tour. Running year-round, it’s a joyful ride through rows of fruit trees, with the chance to pick and snack straight from the tree in summer, or admire golden leaf carpets in autumn.