Having been the bridesmaid, it was CherryHill Orchard’s turn to be the bride at the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards hosted by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC).
Having previously won both bronze and silver medals for Excellence in Food Tourism, the Coldstream and Wandin East-based business was crowned the winner in 2025.
General manager of customer experience, tourism and events at CherryHill Orchards Michael Appleton said they feel exceptionally proud.
“Receiving the gold award is an incredible honour and a true testament to the passion and hard work of our entire team, everything we do is centred around creating moments of joy for our customers, whether that’s through enjoying our fresh cherries, taking part in our seasonal events, or immersing themselves in our food-focused experiences,” he said.
“We’ve been steadily refining the CherryHill experience year after year, so to progress from bronze, to silver, and now to gold feels like genuine recognition of that growth.
“The Yarra Valley is known for its premium produce, stunning scenery and warm hospitality, and that’s exactly what people experience at CherryHill.”
Healesville’s Kangaroo Ridge Retreat won gold for Hosted Accomodation, Hop It won silver for Tour and Transport Operators, Liberty Balloon Flights took home bronze for Adventure Tourism while Eden Yarra Valley, Gillwell Park Adventure Centre and Your Exclusive Tours were also all finalists at the awards.
Mr Appleton he thinks it’s the combination of authenticity and innovation that helped them win gold.
“Our guests aren’t just tasting cherries, they’re stepping into a working orchard with a proud 85-year family history, guided by a passionate team who genuinely love what they do, we continually reinvest in our experiences, adding new sustainable product offerings including our artisan cherry beverages and our signature ice creams, all of which add depth to the food tourism journey at CherryHill,” he said.
“A huge part of what makes the experience special is our team, we’re incredibly proud of our diverse group of local and international staff who bring so much warmth, energy, and genuine care to every guest interaction, they are the heart of what we do, and we simply couldn’t deliver these experiences without them.
“We also act directly on guest feedback, ensuring we’re constantly refining and improving what we offer, we’re proudly accessible, we’re always evolving, and I think all of these elements keep our guests coming back, along with the beautiful blossoms and, of course, our big, sweet, juicy cherries.”
A couple of recent exciting developments at CherryHill Orchards have included the development of a new pure cherry juice made of 2kg of CherryHill Orchards cherries with minor cosmetic imperfections such as small cracks or missing stems to reduce waste as well as the upcoming Christmas Market at the Coldstream orchard over 20 to 21 December.
Mr Appleton said food tourism is a wonderful way for us to connect with their discerning, cherry-loving consumers, giving them the opportunity to experience their produce straight from the source.
“It allows guests to connect with our product, explore cherries in all forms, learn how they’re grown, and discover the many ways we’re preserving and celebrating the fruit through our events and product range,” he said.
“It also helps diversify the business, extending the season through unique experiences and product lines that create year-round engagement and a lasting connection with CherryHill.
“We’re proud to be part of a region that celebrates food so passionately, and we work hard to ensure our experiences reflect that wider story.”
CherryHill Orchards thanks its team, suppliers, collaborators and customers for their support year after year and wanted to especially thank the teams at Tourism East, VTIC and Visit Victoria for their support.
