New Brunswick’s microclimates make it one of the better apple-growing corners of Canada, and most of the good orchards cluster in two places: the Saint John River Valley and the Acadian Coast. Season usually runs late August through October, though it depends on the weather and how fast things get picked over. Here’s how the go-to spots stack up if you’re hauling kids, a wagon, and a picnic blanket along with you.
1. Everett Family Orchard — Island View (near Fredericton)
Eight generations of the same family have run this orchard since 1792, and it shows in the little touches: a pale grey farmhouse, a red barn, horses in the pasture, and panoramic views over the Saint John River Valley as you climb higher into the rows. The orchard provides wagons, the ten main apple varieties are colour-coded with ribbons so kids can hunt for their favourite, and sampling is allowed as you go — always a hit with the under-10 crowd. It’s a smaller, quieter operation than some of the others, which is exactly why families with young kids tend to rate it highest: less crowding, more wandering.
Good for: young kids, photo-ops, a slower-paced afternoon.
2. River View Orchards — Keswick
This one leans into the full “fall outing” experience: a duck pond, a corn maze, and a tractor-pulled wagon shuttle out to the fields so nobody has to walk the whole orchard with a toddler in tow. It’s an easy pick for families who want apple-picking to be one stop on a bigger fall day rather than the whole event.
Good for: families combining apple picking with a corn maze and other activities in one trip.
3. Charlotte’s Family Orchard — Gagetown
One of the province’s original full-time u-picks, open since 1983, with over 30 apple varieties plus pears and plums. The on-site farm market (set up in an old blacksmith’s shop) sells vegetables, jams, jellies, pickles, cider, and honey, so there’s plenty to do even after the picking bags are full. Families who’ve been going for years tend to be loyal to this one simply because it’s been reliably good for four decades.
Good for: variety-seekers, and anyone who wants a proper farm market stop built in.
4. Gilbert’s Farm — Burton
Right on the river, with MacIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Cortland among its varieties, plus Bosc and Anjou pears and a full lineup of pumpkins, jams, and apple butter. The resident cows are apparently as much of a draw as the apples for the youngest visitors.
Good for: combining apple picking with a bit of a petting-farm feel.
5. Mackay’s Apple Orchard — Long Reach
A Saint John River spot that families with older kids and cider fans tend to rank highly, mostly because of what comes after the picking: Yip Cider has a cider house just a few kilometres away for tastings and a tour once the baskets are full.
Good for: parents who want a reward stop after the picking is done.
6. Belliveau Orchard — Memramcook
Open daily, with several u-pick varieties, a market, a seasonal bar, weekend food trucks, and their own SCOW cider. It’s the pick for families in the Moncton area who don’t want to drive all the way to the river valley, and the food truck factor makes it an easy full-afternoon outing.
Good for: Moncton-area families, and anyone who wants food on-site without packing a picnic.
7. Bostwick’s — Kingston Peninsula
A more traditional, no-frills u-pick that keeps coming up as a favourite for families who’d rather skip the corn mazes and cider bars and just go pick apples. Simple, reliable, and less of a production.
Good for: a low-key, back-to-basics picking trip.
A few things worth knowing before you go: most of these farms are cash-only, hours can shift with the weather, and availability of specific varieties changes week to week as the season goes on — so it’s worth checking each orchard’s Facebook page or website before you make the drive.
