Fruit Picking Sydney: A month-by-month guide of where to go and what to pick
One of our new favourite activities is fruit picking in Sydney. We are so lucky to have so many pick-your-own orchards within 90 minutes of Sydney. Depending on the season, choose from strawberry picking, apple picking, orange picking and more.
All of the farms and orchards listed are within a 2-hour driving distance of Sydney’s CBD, making them all do-able for a weekend outing.
Fruit & Nut Picking Seasons
These are the peak seasons and locations for where fruit picking occurs in Sydney. Some crops run longer than others and crossover seasons.
January to June – Apples, Persimmons, Plums (Bilpin)
March to April – Chestnuts & Walnuts (Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine)
July to October – Oranges & Mandarins (Hawkesbury), strawberries (Bilpin and Thirlmere), sunflowers (Bilpin)
November to January – Peaches (Bilpin) and berries (Thirlmere, Bilpin and Dapto)
As the weather impacts the time when fruit will be ready for harvest it is advisable to call the orchards below and check which fruit is ready for picking as the charts on the various websites may vary by up to 2 weeks.
Tips on fruit picking in Sydney
Get all the info first
Check the orchard’s Facebook page for the most current information on their stock levels. Many orchards are bookings only. Some require and entrance fee on top of cost per kilogram for purchasing the fruit at the end.
Wear appropriate clothes
It can be dirty work, picking fruit, through muddy fields, so wear appropriate clothes. Most nut farms provide gloves for picking, but double check before turning up to pick prickly nuts. Most farms are an hour and a half drive out of Sydney and the temperature might be different to that at home, so check the weather before leaving home. Bilpin in particular can get cold.
Bring your own bags
Heavy duty reusable supermarket bags are best. Some people take boxes which is a good option for keeping fruit safe from bruising. Most orchards will provide you with plastic bags if needed.
Stock up on produce
Most orchards sell other pre-packed produce either grown on their own farm or locally. You will be able to pick up fresh eggs, juice, fruit, vegetables and often fruit pies.
Fruit Picking during COVID-19
Many orchards are open during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict social distancing rules in place. Entry to farms are limited by numbers so if the farm doesn’t take bookings, I suggest arriving when the farm opens as that’s when the least amount of people will be there. During this time it is especially important to look at the farm’s most recent updates on their opening hours and social distancing procedures before driving all the way there and being turned away.
If you are self isolating but want to pick up fresh produce, many farms are doing contactless pick up of their produce, usually by phone order or they have stalls out the front with pre-packaged produce.
Fruit picking with kids
Kids of all ages generally love fruit picking. It’s a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. When visiting a farm with kids, remember to keep a close eye on them. Any fruit picked must be bought – before it’s eaten. Remind kids before starting to pick fruit of the rules. Anything picked goes into the bags, and definitely no throwing fruit, or trampling the plants on the farm.
Farm Reviews
Bilpin Fruit Bowl strawberry picking.
Summer: Peaches, nectarines, strawberries, oranges, nectarines, plums, apples, lemons, pears, quinces, blueberries, blackberries, figs, raspberries, tomatoes
December
Blueberries
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blackberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Peaches
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Nectarines
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Oranges
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Plums
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
January
Peaches
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Apples
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee.
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Shields Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee. Call ahead to reserve your spot.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Peaches
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Lemons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Oranges
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Pears
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Quinces
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Plums
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blueberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blackberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
February
Apples
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee;
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Shields Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee. Call ahead to reserve your spot.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Peaches
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Lemons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Pears
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Quinces
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Plums
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Persimmons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Figs
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Raspberries
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blackberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blueberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Tomatoes
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Autumn: Apples, lemons, limes, pears, quinces, plums, persimmons, walnuts, chestnuts, tomatoes, figs, mandarins, oranges
March
Apples
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Shields Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee. Call ahead to reserve your spot.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Lemons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Pears
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Quinces
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Plums
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Persimmons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Figs
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Raspberries
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Walnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Nutwood Farm at Mt Irvine: Weekends, no admission fee.
Kookootonga at Mt Irvine
Chestnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Fern Hill Farm at Mt Wilson
Nutwood Farm at Mt Irvine: Weekends, no admission fee.
Kookootonga at Mt Irvine
Tomatoes
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
April
Apples
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: Weekends, entry fee
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Lemons
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Pears
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Persimmons
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Quinces
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Figs
Bilpin Springs Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee but min purchase $5 per adult
Walnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Nutwood Farm at Mt Irvine: Weekends, no admission fee.
Kookootonga at Mt Irvine
Chestnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Fern Hill Farm at Mt Wilson
Nutwood Farm at Mt Irvine: Weekends, no admission fee.
Kookootonga at Mt Irvine
Tomatoes
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
May
Apples
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Shields Orchard: Weekends, no entry fee. Call ahead to reserve your spot.
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Walnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Chestnuts
Pine Crest Orchard: Fri, Sat & Sun, public holidays, no admission fee.
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Tomatoes
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Winter: Apples, cumquats, lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, persimmons, pecans
June
Apples
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Cumquats
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Watkins Family Farm: Weekends, no entry fee.
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Pecans
The Pecan Lady
Persimmons
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
July
Cumquats
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Watkins Family Farm: Weekends, no entry fee.
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
August
Cumquats
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Watkins Family Farm: Weekends, no entry fee.
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Spring: Cumquats, lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, peaches, plums, nectarines
September
Cumquats
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Limes
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Watkins Family Farm: Weekends, no entry fee.
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
October
Lemons
Kathleen Groves Farm: Weekends.
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Mandarins
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Oranges
Ford’s Farm: Entry fee, bookings only.
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: bookings essential, entry fee.
Sunflowers
Glenbernie Family Farm: Entry fee, bookings essential.
November
Oranges
Wyuna Farms: Bookings only
Anderson Farm: Closed Thursdays, cash only.
Peaches
TNT Produce: Weekends, entry fee.
Plums
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Nectarines
Canoelands Orchard: Weekends, entry fee, bookings essential.
Strawberries
Berrylicious Strawberries, Thirlmere: Weekends only, bookings essential, entry fee.
Bilpin Fruit Bowl: bookings essential, entry fee.
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blueberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
Blackberries
Kareelah Farms, Dapto
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Where is your favourite place to go fruit picking in Sydney?
