We all know the importance of eating at least two pieces of fruit every day, and that Australia produces the most sumptuous fresh fruit of all.
What better way to combine healthy eating with a day trip, coupled with the satisfaction of getting to pick your own fruit; strawberries, nectarines, peaches, oranges, apples, pomegranates and every berry you can think of!
There’s something so satisfying about seeing exactly where your fruit is grown; even better when you get to meet the people who lovingly run their orchards. Even better still when you get to take the fruit from the branches and savour the sweetness. Surely this makes the very act of choosing fruit from a dull supermarket pale in comparison.
Here’s your guide for tasting your way through our top fruit-picking farms around Australia.
Pick your own fruit at Sorell Fruit Farm, Tasmania
Sorell Fruit Farm opened for strawberry picking in 1989 and is now one of Tassie’s most popular fruit picking destinations. Owners Elaine and Bob Hardy say that about 50 percent of visitors are from Tasmania. And before COVID, the others came from both interstate and overseas. Apparently, the ‘pick your own fruit’ experience is especially popular with Singaporeans.
The farm also produces its own jams, sauces and vinegars. To these they added fruit wines and liqueurs which have won awards at the Australian Fruit Wine Show. The “Pick your own” services is very popular, with loganberries, blackcurrants, nashi pears and peaches. A highlight of the fruit season is the cherry picking. When the branches are laden down with cherries they are a “sight to behold” and the taste is said to be exquisite.
Go raspberry picking at Westerway Raspberry Farm, Tasmania
The Westerway Raspberry Farm is situated on the fertile river flats of the Tyenna River, running through the Derwent Valley in Tasmania’s rugged Western Wilderness region. The Clark family business at Lanoma Estate has been supplying thousands of kilograms of fresh and frozen raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and other seasonal soft fruits around Australia for over a decade.
Raspberries, which were common in the Derwent Valley 40 years ago, were first planted in the old hop fields in Westerway in 1995. You can take advantage of the short but sweet growing season from early December to late January. This is when The Farm Gate Shop is open from 9am to 6pm and you can pick your own raspberries too.
Fill your basket at Bidgee Strawberries and Cream in Wagga Wagga, NSW
At Bidgee Strawberries and Cream you can take an educational picking tour where you’ll be taken on an adventure through the farm and learn about hydroponic farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Included in the tour is a visit to the ancient “scar tree.” You can also pat and feed the sheep, check out the bee hives, taste test the three varieties of chemical-free strawberries and devour the homemade strawberry sorbet and ice cream.
You also have the opportunity to pick your own punnet of strawberries and, to top it off, a chocolate basket filled with strawberries and ice cream. If you’re not keen on doing the tour you can just pay to pick your own delicious chemical-free strawberries (which don’t need to be washed before eating!)
Pick your own fruit at Bilpin fruit bowl, New South Wales
Located 1.5 hours drive from from Sydney, Bilpin Fruit Bowl is open to tourists every weekend during harvest time – November to May.
Owned by Simon and Margaret Tadrosse since 1985, the farm really is a family business. Their three daughters make the apple pies, cakes, slices and scones while their son works part time on the farm. The couple’s grandson even helps out in the farm and the shop.
You can pick your own fresh fruit for just $5 for adults and $3 for kids; peaches, nectarines and apples.
There’s a shop stocked with peach pies made from peaches grown in the orchard. And, when other fruits are in season, such as cherries, blueberries, mangoes, apricots and raspberries, you can be tantalised with one of these fresh baked pies too.
Citrus galore at Anderson Farm in Sackville North, NSW
Situated on the banks of the beautiful Hawkesbury River, Anderson Farm grows a variety of oranges and mandarins for you to pick and devour.
Mandarins (Imperial, Emperor and Hickson) and oranges (Naval) are available for picking from June until about September. Later in the season they also have beautiful Seville oranges available at the estate.
Drink up at Core Cider, Pickering Brook WA
Core Cider is an authentic farm venue and bistro offering artisan ciders and orchard events. For more than 80 years visitors have enjoyed farm-to-table food from the Orchard Bistro, and cider tastings and events in the cellar door, Harvest Room. Core Cider is situated on 40 acres of orchards, with apples in autumn, stone fruit varieties in summer, and citrus in winter. All the fruit is used in the cider, wine, spirits, and jams and preserves. The grand deck of the Orchard Bistro and the Harvest Room have 180-degree views of the orchard and surrounding forest. You can sit back, relax and explore the orchard on a tractor before picking your own fresh fruit.
Go picking at Rayners Orchard Woori Yallock, Victoria
Rayner’s Orchard grows a huge variety of fruit in the Yarra Valley, including plums, tamarillo, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pomegranate, persimmon, figs, pepino, feijoa, guava, kiwi fruit, dutch medlar and more.
The “U pick and orchard tour” is very popular and held all year round. The Fruit Adventure Tours take you around the orchard with an expert guide. You’ll learn about the farming practices and discover everything you need to know about the orchard. It’s quite different from any other fruit farm. Due to the large quantity of fruit varieties on the farm, visitors need to take a fruit-tasting tour with one of the farm guides, in order to find the trees with fresh fruit ready for picking & tasting.
Pick your own cherries at CherryHill Orchards in the Yarra Valley, Victoria
The CherryHill Orchards’ story began in 1940 when George Riseborough planted his first cherry trees in Victoria’s fertile Yarra Valley. More than 80 years later, CherryHill still has its strong cherry growing tradition with the perfect conditions for mid to late season cherries. Home to ‘Pick Your Own Cherries’, thousands of visitors arrive to pick their own delicious cherries straight from the tree. From late September to early October the orchard celebrates its “Cherry blossom festival” which visitors need to book well in advance.
Get your fill at Harrisville Orchards in Lenswood, South Australia
Harrisville Orchards have won the Champion title at the Royal Adelaide Show for the past 20 years and are the only growers in the Adelaide Hills to offer “pick your own” cherries and apples.
It’s said to be one of the best fruit-picking experiences in the region. The first apple trees were planted in the spring of 190. Now, over 90 years later those trees were still producing quality apples, until they were removed to make way for some new varieties. Door sales include cherries, apples, apple and cherry juice and homemade cakes.
To discover more farm tours and tasting opportunities, click here.
Want to start fruit picking today? Explore the Rex route map for flights to these NSW regions.
