Nightingale Bros. Alpine Apple Orchards

Enveloped by apple trees, this cavernous shed acts as a farmgate for the Nightingale Family’s many orchards, and also stocks the oils and preserves of small local food producers.

The family has been growing crunchy apples in Wandiligong’s valley since 1954. They have five orchards in total: two at Wandiligong, one in the Buckland Valley near Mount Buffalo, one at Stanley and one at Batlow in New South Wales. This equates to 240 hectares of apples. Chestnuts grow on another 160 hectares, and persimmons on two.

At the farmgate, you can take home every type of apple: Jazz, Granny Smith, Kanzi, Envy, Royal Gala, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Bonza, Fuji and Pink Lady. The Pink Lady also appears in a dry or sweet cider and as a sparkling apple juice. The company also makes still apple juice and sells Beechworth Honey’s sparkling honey drinks and jars of honey.

On the shelves you’ll find Bright Berry Farm’s jams; EV Olives oils from Markwood; Porepunkah-based Wreap muesli; Pumpkin Seeds Australia’s seeds; Granny’s Pantry kasundi, chutney and jams; Gundowring ice-creams; and biodynamic pastured eggs from Wandiful Produce.

There are also fresh and cold-stored apples, pears and citrus; and Snowline Fruits’ raspberries, logan berries, boysenberries, blackberries and gooseberries in the freezer.

Explore Bright further using our detailed Out of Town to Bright guide.