Whilst to some, fruit-picking may sound like a niche hobby or an entry-requirement for backpackers, it can actually make for an incredibly wholesome, fun and tasty day out!
Depending on how fanatical you are when it comes to fruit, you could actually do it all year long. With harvest seasons varying across regions, something delicious is always in season.
So pack a basket, a picnic rug and pick your fill at three of our favourite fruit-picking spots in Regional Australia.
Apples & Stonefruit: Bilpin, Blue Mountains – NSW
Bilpin is a quaint country town 91km South of Sydney in the Blue Mountain Region. It’s renowned for its crunchy apples and Bilpin Apple Cider. But there are opportunities to pick fruit at various times of the year.
As a rough guide, January to June is prime season for apples, persimmons and plums and in the warmer summer months between November to Jan, you’ll find a range of stonefruits available to pick, with Bilpin best known for its juicy peaches and cherries during this season.
The Bilpin Fruit Bowl is a lovely place to stop for a spot of fruit-picking on the weekend. You do need to make a booking and there is an entry fee ($20 for adults and $10 for children), but this covers you for all the fruit you can eat whilst at the farm (and trust us; you’ll get your money’s worth)!
You can take your own bags or use the baskets provided to roam the 4-acre farm, choosing from peaches, apples and strawberries. There’s also veggie-picking available – broccoli, beans, cabbage, corn and kale among others.
There is a designated picnic area to enjoy your haul, but you’ll need to bring your own picnic rug or fold-out chairs.
You absolutely can’t take a trip to Bilpin without making a stop at the Bilpin Cider Co for a taste of one (or more) of their mouthwateringly crisp craft ciders. The Bilpin Cider Bar is open 7 days a week and is the perfect spot to sit and relax whilst sipping on the Blush Pink Lady Cider. There are delicious picnic hampers available for purchase and live jazz music every third Sunday from 12-4pm. You’re also welcome to bring your furry friends (as long as they stay on-leash).
Strawberries: Beerenberg, Harndorf – South Australia
South Australia’s Adelaide Hills is a beloved wine region, known for its cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The region also boasts some of the most delicious, fresh strawberries you’ve ever tasted – and Harndorf’s Beerenberg Farm, 30-minutes outside of Adelaide, is the place to pick them!
If the name Beerenberg sounds familiar to you, then it’s because it probably is! The Beerenberg Family Farm, owned and run by the Paech Family, has been in the fruit-picking business for six generations (since 1839) and they produce some of Australia’s most-loved relishes, jams, chutneys and sauces.
Strawberry-picking at the farm runs 7-days a week, November through April. It’s recommended to check out the website the day you plan to visit, just in case of any unexpected closures. It’s a $5 entry fee (kids 12 and under free) and you can pick strawberries to your heart’s content. You’ll pay by the kilo once you head back to the farm shop.
There’s plenty of other things to do while you’re at the Beerenberg Farm – with high tea available and a tour of the Strawberry Lane Museum.
Cherries: CherryHill, Yarra Valley – Victoria
Another prominent wine-producing region, the Yarra Valley, is also home to CherryHill Orchards in two primary locations – Wandin East and Coldstream. Thousands of visitors flock to CherryHill each summer between November and January to quite literally cherry-pick their take! There are more than 30 local varieties of cherries to choose from.
The Wandin East location was the original CherryHill – founded in 1940 by George Riseborough when he planted his first cherry tree. 2025 is CherryHill’s 85th anniversary and they remain a 100% Australian-owned family business.
Along with cherry-picking, CherryHill offers tour packages. If you’re a foodie with a sweet tooth – the cheese, cherry & chocolate day tour is one you won’t want to miss. This self-drive experience is the sweetest way to explore the Yarra Valley – a leisurely mid-week adventure that pairs local flavours with stunning scenery. Begin your day at the charming Yarra Valley Dairy, where you’ll enjoy a guided tasting of ten artisan cheeses before selecting your favourite to take home (complete with a cooler bag to keep it fresh for the journey ahead). From there, make your way to CherryHill Orchards in Coldstream, a 100-acre wonderland where you can wander through the rows, picking juicy cherries straight from the tree. Don’t forget to stop by the farm café for a cherry ice cream or to unwind in the picnic area before moving on. To finish, head to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and indulge in a fondue picnic pack for two – complete with rich, melted chocolate and an assortment of treats to dip while soaking in the valley views (and yes, those cherries you picked will come in handy here!).
Plan Your Visit
Harvest times can change with the weather, so it’s worth giving the orchards a quick call before you visit. Seasonal charts can differ slightly, sometimes by up to two weeks.
