Hill Road Orchard & Farm Shop

Hill Road Orchard is the beating heart of Gisborne’s famous Hill Road Orange Juice: fresh, unpasteurised, and squeezed straight from oranges grown on their own sun‑soaked orchard. Taste it in local cafés, restaurants, and retail spots across the region, or sip it right where it’s made at their charming Hill Road Farm Shop. Step inside and you’ll find not just their signature juice, but a celebration of local craftsmanship, brimming with natural products from talented makers who call Gisborne home.

Set in the subtropical pocket of Ormond, about 20 minutes from central Gisborne, the orchard wraps protectively around the juicing room and Farm Shop. Inside, a love of antiques and re‑purposed treasures gives the space a warm, rustic feel that pairs perfectly with the textures and tones of the artisan goods. The fruit is grown with as few inputs as possible, nurtured slowly in the Gisborne sun. Some trees have been producing for over 50 years, yielding Navel oranges from winter into spring for a deep, sweet‑tart juice, and Valencia oranges in summer for a bright, light “Gizzy” flavour. Each harvest is picked to order, so the juice changes subtly with the seasons, a true taste of the orchard’s rhythm.

When founders Matt and Cath Carter took on the property in 2010, the orchard was tired and in need of some love. Restoring it took nearly six years, but they kept the long‑held juice tradition alive while working in horticulture, helped first by local teenagers, then by a self‑managing crew. 2021 saw the opening of the Hill Road Farm Shop, first in a portacabin, then in a purpose‑built shed. Through it all, a loyal team has stood beside them, proving that great fruit and great people grow together.

The Farm Shop shelves tell a story in flavours: “jams for grown‑ups” like Strawberry & Chardonnay, Blueberry & Brandy, and Plum & Gin. There’s the family‑friendly Sweet Orange Marmalade, dreamt up for their Paddington‑fan youngest son, plus the popular Orange & Sweet Chilli sauce and tangy‑sweet Finger Lime & Chilli Jam. These goodies minimise wastage by allowing imperfect local produce to be turned into exceptional jams and sauces. Alongside these, you’ll spot beeswax candles, wooden spoons, handmade soaps, and essential oils - all small‑batch, all natural, and all proudly local. Visitors leave not just with something delicious or beautiful, but often with a lead to buy direct from the makers, a concept encouraged to support local businesses.

Matt and Cath’s vision is to give artisans a place to showcase their work, help small makers grow their ideas, and turn “seconds” fruit into something worth savouring. It’s a space that especially lifts up women creators, bolsters the local economy, and keeps Gisborne’s distinctive food culture thriving. By holding onto what’s special about this remote region and sharing it generously, Hill Road isn’t just keeping traditions alive; it’s planting new ones for the future.