A Country Afternoon of Pizza and Pear Picking
Just beyond Canberra, the roads around Hall and Wallaroo have a way of making the city feel farther away than it really is.
Open paddocks replace suburban streets, vineyards appear along the roadside, and the pace of the afternoon seems to slow almost without trying.
For us, it was a simple family day — pizza in the little village of Hall, followed by a drive into Wallaroo to pick pears straight from the trees.
Nothing complicated, but exactly the kind of afternoon we were looking for.
Pizza in the Village of Hall
We started at 1882 Hall, tucked away in the quiet village of Hall.
There is something lovely about coming here for lunch. It feels removed from the usual shopping centres and busy suburban cafés, with old village streets and countryside just beyond.
We ordered two pizzas to share — Hawaiian for something familiar and easy with the children, and Prosciutto & Roquette for a slightly more grown-up flavour.
Warm pizza, a relaxed table and nowhere we needed to hurry to next.
It was a simple beginning to the afternoon, but a good one.
A Short Drive into the Countryside
From Hall, we continued towards Wallaroo.
It is only a short drive, but the scenery changes quickly. The roads become quieter, farms and vineyards spread out on either side, and Canberra starts to disappear behind you.
Our next stop was Wallaroo Cherry Farm.
Despite the name, the farm follows the seasons, and during our visit it was time for Asian pears.
Pears Straight from the Tree
For the children, this was the best part.
They had eaten pears countless times before, but seeing them still hanging from the trees was something completely different.
Walking between the rows, choosing their own fruit and finally picking a pear from a branch made an everyday food suddenly feel a little special.
There was no need to make much of it.
They simply explored, picked a few pears and proudly carried them with them when it was time to leave.
And somehow, that was enough.
Bringing the Afternoon Home
Perhaps one of the nicest things about visiting a fruit farm is that you take a small part of the day home with you.
The pears we picked came back to Canberra with us, ready to appear later on the kitchen table.
By then, they were no longer simply pears bought for the week.
They were the pears we picked together in Wallaroo.
It is funny how small experiences can give ordinary things a story.
A Little Escape Close to Home
Hall and Wallaroo are close enough to Canberra for an easy afternoon, yet far enough away to feel like a small country escape.
There was no major attraction and no packed itinerary.
Just pizza in a quiet village, country roads, fruit trees and children discovering the simple pleasure of picking something with their own hands.
By the time we headed home, we had a bag of freshly picked pears — and another little family memory to take with us.
1882 Hall
13 Gladstone Street, Hall ACT 2618
Website: 1882hall.com.au
Phone: (02) 6230 2113
Wallaroo Cherry Farm
559 Wallaroo Road, Wallaroo NSW 2618
Website: wallaroocherryfarm.com
Phone: 0414 016 699
