You love your coffee but have you ever considered picking your own? ‘It’s a unique experience,’ enthuses Richard Bradbury, visitor manager for Wirui Estate coffee, ‘and one that is only available for a short while each year’.
Coffee-harvest workshops are available at a plantation in Carool (50 minutes north of Byron Bay). Wirui Estate has recently opened its gates to allow you to get up close and personal with how coffee is grown, processed and roasted.
Richard will show you how to pick the ripe red coffee cherries, as well as guide you through the journey the coffee takes before it reaches your cup. He’s also an expert barista, and starting your visit with a coffee of your choice will ensure you’re in the mood for all things coffee.
‘You will not find a more knowledgeable and informative guide,’ says a recent visitor. ‘The views are spectacular and the hospitality was magnificent.’
Harvest workshops are running on selected dates through September and into October, costing $66 for a three-hour experience. Tasting and roasting tours operate throughout the year. Bookings are essential and workshops are not appropriate for children under 15. See wiruiestate.com for full information and bookings.