Growing apples in Greytown for over 30 years
Molewood Orchard in Greytown sits on some of the most productive agricultural land in New Zealand. Situated on ancient floodplains at the foot of the mighty Tararua Ranges, Molewood Orchard’s apples and pears are born of the rich alluvial soils of the Wairarapa.
The Orchard is in Bloom…
And we’d love you to join us to celebrate the sensory experience that is an apple orchard full of spring blossom.
On Saturday 5 October, we will be hosting the first ever Apple Blossom Picnic at Molewood Orchard.
There will be delicious fire-grilled porchetta provided by renowned chef Dale Keith, harp music and a blossom photography competition.
Pick Your Own!
A wander through an orchard picking a basket of apples is a wonderful thing! And in early 2025 you can experience it yourself!
We had thousands of lovely pick-your-owners visit the orchard during the 2024 harvest season, especially during the Greytown Harvest Festival.
And while you wait for the 2025 pick your own season to begin, we are working on new ways to open the orchard during winter and spring.
Molewood Orchard in
New Zealand Gardener
Look out for us in February’s edition of New Zealand Gardener.
There’s a lengthy article with beautiful photos of the orchard, featuring Wendell and Ed Cooke hard at work.
The pear block will be OPEN for Pick Your Own :)
Last year, we provided ready-picked pears at the orchard shed, but this year we decided to throw open the pear block for Pick Your Own.
We have four delicious varieties of pear in the block, each with rich characteristics: Beurre Bosc, Doyenne du Comice, Taylor’s Gold and Packham’s.
Molewood Meadows
This season we are also excited to introduce: Molewood Meadows!
Two of the open spaces within the orchard (formerly a health-and-safety hazard of tree stumps and hidden holes) have been plowed and flattened and planted with fresh grass.
Molewood Meadows is an idyllic space to relax with your picnic and rest from the exertion of apple picking.
Radio NZ Interview
During picking season in 2023, Radio NZ journalist Sally Round visited us in Greytown for the Country L:ife program on RNZ.
It was great to be able to tell our story and chat about the immersive experience of picking your own apples - and how excited we were about welcoming the public to the orchard.
Our Varieties
Molewood Orchard grows a wide range of apples and pears that have served both international and domestic markets.
Different varieties have different degrees of sweetness and tartness, many perfectly suited for baking or eating fresh.
Follow us on Facebook!
To stay updated with life on the farm, pick your own opportunities and more, go to our Facebook page and like or follow us.