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Rayner's Orchard visit 2015

The Rayner's Orchard cafe, 'Peach Cafe' also sells a selection of stone fruit and speciality fruits to tourists and visitors.
The Rayner's Orchard cafe, 'Peach Cafe' also sells a selection of stone fruit and speciality fruits to tourists and visitors.
Rayners is quite possibly the largest grower of Feijoas within Australia. Feijoas are also called 'pineapple guavas' and although they are known for the amount grown in New Zealand, they come originally from the Southern Highlands of Brazil and Uruguay.
Rayners is quite possibly the largest grower of Feijoas within Australia. Feijoas are also called 'pineapple guavas' and although they are known for the amount grown in New Zealand, they come originally from the Southern Highlands of Brazil and Uruguay.
A small sample of tamarillos ready to be sold. We were lucky enough to taste each variety. They are juicy, and sweet but tart like a tomato. Perfect for your next salad for a change.
A small sample of tamarillos ready to be sold. We were lucky enough to taste each variety. They are juicy, and sweet but tart like a tomato. Perfect for your next salad for a change.
The Rayners bottle all their own fruit into jars, in classic combinations such as peach and passion fruit, or stand alone. They also do many more, and use some berries and other fruit bought in. They also do bottling classes.
The Rayners bottle all their own fruit into jars, in classic combinations such as peach and passion fruit, or stand alone. They also do many more, and use some berries and other fruit bought in. They also do bottling classes.
Tourists get taken around the orchard on tours.
Tourists get taken around the orchard on tours.
A tourist gets their picture taken on one of the mechanical fruit picking ladders. This is near the end of the tractor ride.
A tourist gets their picture taken on one of the mechanical fruit picking ladders. This is near the end of the tractor ride.
The view up there would be spectacular! Every one gets a turn on the ladder.
The view up there would be spectacular! Every one gets a turn on the ladder.
Tasting tours are on between 9am and 4pm daily, and they finish at the Peach Cafe with lunch.
Tasting tours are on between 9am and 4pm daily, and they finish at the Peach Cafe with lunch.
There are quite a few friendly pups running around the farm, or sleeping on their dog beds on the verandah of the cafe. They help keep pests at bay and love running around the orchard.
There are quite a few friendly pups running around the farm, or sleeping on their dog beds on the verandah of the cafe. They help keep pests at bay and love running around the orchard.
The middle line right underneath these rows is sprayed with weed killer to keep them at bay. The trees are not treated at all.
The middle line right underneath these rows is sprayed with weed killer to keep them at bay. The trees are not treated at all.
The Rayners grow more than 350 varieties of fruit. The guests who take tours get to sample what is growing at the time. Do you know what these are? Keep scrolling through the album if you want to know.
The Rayners grow more than 350 varieties of fruit. The guests who take tours get to sample what is growing at the time. Do you know what these are? Keep scrolling through the album if you want to know.
These are the red tomatillos. They are delicious!
These are the red tomatillos. They are delicious!
The luscious red colour means they are ready to eat. Salads, sauces, dips/chutneys. Anything you would use a tomato for you can use a tomatillo for pretty much.
The luscious red colour means they are ready to eat. Salads, sauces, dips/chutneys. Anything you would use a tomato for you can use a tomatillo for pretty much.
Giant Chinese quinces.
Giant Chinese quinces.
These Chinese Quinces are an acquired taste, that's for certain, but if you like different textures, and more astringent flavours give them a try.
These Chinese Quinces are an acquired taste, that's for certain, but if you like different textures, and more astringent flavours give them a try.
As it was autumn and picking happens every day there were many spots that were pretty bare of fruit. These citrus trees are only a couple of years old.
As it was autumn and picking happens every day there were many spots that were pretty bare of fruit. These citrus trees are only a couple of years old.
The incredibly delicious strawberry guava. It is exactly the flavour of a strawberry with the texture of a guava!
The incredibly delicious strawberry guava. It is exactly the flavour of a strawberry with the texture of a guava!
Some more getting ripe and ready to be picked.
Some more getting ripe and ready to be picked.
These are the fenced in rows. The Rayners are growing every type of citrus, including grapefruit and are experimenting with mandarins.
These are the fenced in rows. The Rayners are growing every type of citrus, including grapefruit and are experimenting with mandarins.
Cameron Rayner let us taste every variety of tamarillo, including the yellow. The orchard has 80,000 of these trees, and could be the largest grower of them in Australia.
Cameron Rayner let us taste every variety of tamarillo, including the yellow. The orchard has 80,000 of these trees, and could be the largest grower of them in Australia.
A close up of the fruit starting to ripen. You can see the way the colour changes from green to the lovely golden yellow.
A close up of the fruit starting to ripen. You can see the way the colour changes from green to the lovely golden yellow.
Kiwis almost ready to be picked. There is always something in season and something about to be ready here.
Kiwis almost ready to be picked. There is always something in season and something about to be ready here.
More of the golden kiwifruit. These are an experimental crop for Rayners. They try out a couple of rows at first, then add more if they like the results.
More of the golden kiwifruit. These are an experimental crop for Rayners. They try out a couple of rows at first, then add more if they like the results.
These limes are exactly the same green as some of the leaves. They are gorgeously fresh though.
These limes are exactly the same green as some of the leaves. They are gorgeously fresh though.
Lush and green even in the summer. The Rayners used to irrigate with an automatic system, but it was fried during a lightning storm, so now they have someone who walks around and turns on the taps at night.
Lush and green even in the summer. The Rayners used to irrigate with an automatic system, but it was fried during a lightning storm, so now they have someone who walks around and turns on the taps at night.
Some citrus ripening on the tree.
Some citrus ripening on the tree.
More of the citrus. There was so much interesting fruit to taste on the tour!
More of the citrus. There was so much interesting fruit to taste on the tour!
Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements.
Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements.
Brightly coloured strawberry guava fruit hanging off the tree. They were truly delicious and the perfect bite sized snack fruit.
Brightly coloured strawberry guava fruit hanging off the tree. They were truly delicious and the perfect bite sized snack fruit.
A feijoa close up.
A feijoa close up.
A feijoa cut in half to show you the inside. Forget about kiwifruit - New Zealanders love these, and they used to grow rampant in people's backyards! They are making a real comeback so we're told.
A feijoa cut in half to show you the inside. Forget about kiwifruit - New Zealanders love these, and they used to grow rampant in people's backyards! They are making a real comeback so we're told.
These are another of the 350 plus fruits you'll find here. It's a Dutch Medlar. The closest thing to it in taste has to be a pear.
These are another of the 350 plus fruits you'll find here. It's a Dutch Medlar. The closest thing to it in taste has to be a pear.
The red and white tape you'll see around many of the rows here is to keep the kangaroos from hopping all over the baby trees. It helps give the fruit a chance to mature. Don't worry, there's still plenty of hopping space left for the kangaroos too.
The red and white tape you'll see around many of the rows here is to keep the kangaroos from hopping all over the baby trees. It helps give the fruit a chance to mature. Don't worry, there's still plenty of hopping space left for the kangaroos too.
A pepino hiding in among the leaves. It's from the melon family - like a small honeydew melon.
A pepino hiding in among the leaves. It's from the melon family - like a small honeydew melon.
A better view of the pepino and how it grows.
A better view of the pepino and how it grows.
Citrus, citrus, citrus. It smelt divine.
Citrus, citrus, citrus. It smelt divine.
Baby trees need to be protected from heavy footed kangaroos too, and there is a running bet between Rayner Snr and Jnr on whether the tape will work. We'll try and keep you posted if we find out any updates on who won.
Baby trees need to be protected from heavy footed kangaroos too, and there is a running bet between Rayner Snr and Jnr on whether the tape will work. We'll try and keep you posted if we find out any updates on who won.
Valancia oranges trees are only a couple of years old.
Valancia oranges trees are only a couple of years old.
Limes. Rayner's grows a lot of varieties - including finger limes.
Limes. Rayner's grows a lot of varieties - including finger limes.
The fruit on this tree was huge in comparison to the tree.
The fruit on this tree was huge in comparison to the tree.
…
Plump, juicy red tomatillos sitting on the weighing station. Rayners does all the packing and sorting by hand, in house.
Plump, juicy red tomatillos sitting on the weighing station. Rayners does all the packing and sorting by hand, in house.
The tomatillos were looking really good when we were there in the second week of May.
The tomatillos were looking really good when we were there in the second week of May.
School groups, bottling classes and tourists use this room, and get to sample the great produce at the same time. This helps kids learn to love eating fruit, according to Cameron Rayner who showed us around.
School groups, bottling classes and tourists use this room, and get to sample the great produce at the same time. This helps kids learn to love eating fruit, according to Cameron Rayner who showed us around.
These are the original boxes they used to pick the fruit a hundred years ago. The Rayners built the frames they are sitting in themselves.
These are the original boxes they used to pick the fruit a hundred years ago. The Rayners built the frames they are sitting in themselves.
This is also an original grading machine that sorts the fruit according to size. It is cranked by hand, and still works.
This is also an original grading machine that sorts the fruit according to size. It is cranked by hand, and still works.
The machine uses old school measures such as '11/8 inch' - and there are old original inscriptions showing the different sizes.
The machine uses old school measures such as '11/8 inch' - and there are old original inscriptions showing the different sizes.
The last of the plums - everyone else has finished stone fruit by this point, so these are in high demand.
The last of the plums - everyone else has finished stone fruit by this point, so these are in high demand.
Boxed plums ready to be sold at markets or picked up by visitors.
Boxed plums ready to be sold at markets or picked up by visitors.
Cameron and his brother work at Rayners to help their father Len and his wife Heather. It's very much a family affair.
Cameron and his brother work at Rayners to help their father Len and his wife Heather. It's very much a family affair.