Guide to Kate's Berry Farm: Sweet East Coast Flavours with a View of Freycinet

Three kilometres south of Swansea on Tasmania’s East Coast, Kate’s Berry Farm blends country charm with serious flavour. The Just Desserts Café perches above neat berry rows, serving warm, house-baked sweets with sweeping views across Great Oyster Bay to the pink-hued Hazards of Freycinet National Park. Whether you are road tripping the Great Eastern Drive or breaking a journey between Hobart and the island’s northeast, this is an easy, delicious stop where Tasmania’s cool-climate produce takes centre stage.

Why do people go to Kate's Berry Farm?

Visitors come for a true paddock-to-plate experience, where berries grown in Tasmanian sea air are turned into pies, compotes, jams, chocolates and fruit wines. It is one of those rare places where the scenery and the flavour profile tell the same story. The farm has a well-earned reputation for excellent cool-climate berries, with strawberries, raspberries and boysenberries harvested in season and sold in punnets when available. 

Handcrafted products line the shelves of the farm shop, from low-sugar jams and rich berry sauces to chutneys and marmalades. Families love the relaxed atmosphere and space to linger, while food-focused travellers make it a planned stop to stock the van with Tasmanian treats before heading to Coles Bay or beyond.

How long should I spend at Kate's Berry Farm?

If you are on a tight schedule, about 45 to 60 minutes is usually enough for coffee and a scone, a quick browse of the shop and a few photos over Great Oyster Bay. 

To slow down and savour the experience, plan 1.5 to 2 hours. This gives you time for a dessert-focused lunch in the café, an ice cream on the terrace and a deliberate sweep through the shelves to choose jars, chocolates and a bottle of berry dessert wine to take away.

How to get to Kate's Berry Farm

Kate’s Berry Farm sits on the Tasman Highway corridor, about 3 km south of Swansea, at 12 Addison Street. There are signs for the farm from the Tasman Highway.

From Hobart: The coastal drive via Sorell and Orford is roughly 2 hrs, depending on conditions. 

From Launceston: Allow a similar time heading east, then south to the coast. 

Best time to visit Kate's Berry Farm

Time of the year: For fruit lovers, the sweet spot is the November to May harvest season. This is when fresh punnets of strawberries, raspberries and boysenberries are most likely to be available, and when the full spectrum of berry flavours shows up in desserts and ice cream. Summer months bring long, bright days and clear views across Great Oyster Bay.

Time of day: The café operates from Friday to Tuesday from 9 am. The kitchen generally closes at 3 pm, although the café remains open after that for ice cream and coffee, so make sure to arrive earlier.  

Kate’s Berry Farm also closes for winter maintenance each year, typically for a several-week window in late winter. If you are travelling in winter, check the current dates and trading days before you set out.

Weather at Kate's Berry Farm

The East Coast of Tasmania enjoys relatively mild conditions, with calm, clear days common in summer and crisp, cool air in winter. Sea breezes can pick up in the afternoon, so a light layer is useful even when the sun is shining. Bring sun protection in warmer months and a compact rain jacket year-round, as coastal weather can change quickly. If you are planning to sit outdoors to enjoy the view, a hat and sunglasses will make a bright day more comfortable.

Best place to park your campervan at Kate's Berry Farm

• On-site day parking: Enter via the signed driveway; parking is adjacent to the café/shop and works for day visits in campervans (arrive outside the lunchtime peak for easiest manoeuvring). There is no overnight parking on the property.

• Overnight options nearby: Head into Swansea for powered/non-powered sites at Swansea Holiday Park (Schouten Beach) - a convenient base with an easy return to the farm the next day.

FAQs and quick answers

1. What should I try at Kate’s Berry Farm?
   House berry pies and scones, berry ice-creams, handcrafted chocolates (the chocolate-coated raspberries are a crowd favourite), plus jams, sauces and fruit wines for gifts or the van.

2. Do they sell fresh berries at Kate’s Berry Farm?
   Sometimes, in season—but stock varies, and the focus is on desserts and preserves, not punnets. (No option to pick your own.)

3. What are the views like from  Kate’s Berry Farm?
   From the deck and grounds, you’ll see across Great Oyster Bay to the Hazards in Freycinet National Park; bring a camera on clear days. 

4. Any winter notes for Kate’s Berry Farm?
   The Farm is closed for winter. Check the official hours page close to your travel dates.

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