If you haven’t noticed already, I have a bit of a crush on pick your own fruit outings. There’s the hour drive to the countryside, fresh air, kids learning about where their food comes from, being outdoors, wearing gumboots and supporting local farmers. And let’s not forget, eating all the yummy fresh fruit! I mean what’s not to love? So far we have picked mandarins, nectarines, peaches, apples, oranges, strawberries and tomatoes. And look forward to picking pears, plums and cherries this year.
I am however forever forgetting what is available to pick when. And thought I may not be alone! So below is a listing by month of what fruit (and nuts) is available from nearby farms that let you pick your own. There are 13 farms listed so far and they are all roughly about an hours drive from Parramatta. We hope to add a few more throughout the year. And here is a Google Map of the different nearby pick your own fruit farm experiences. For other pick your own experiences, visit Harvest Trails and Markets website, a not for profit community organisation supporting farmers in the Sydney basin.
Please keep in mind that each farm experience will be very different. Some charge a small entry fee and have animals to pat as well as fruit picking. Others are free to visit and have picnic facilities. Make sure to read our review of the farm you are thinking of visiting beforehand.
And remember, this calendar is a guide only. Weather changes can affect when fruit is available for picking. We do our best to update it regularly. But strongly recommend you check the farms Facebook page or website before visiting to see what fruit is ready to pick and when they’re open.
1November
Apricots
- Pine Crest Orchard (late November)
Cherries
- Pine Crest Orchard (set times from 10th November, no bookings required)
- Bilpin Fruit Bowl (late November)
Nectarines
- Canoelands Orchard (open daily, no bookings required);
- Cedar Creek Orchards (set times on weekends and Wednesdays from 10th November, bookings required);
- Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018)
Peaches
- Canoelands Orchard (open daily, no bookings required);
- Cedar Creek Orchards (set times on weekends and Wednesdays from 24th November, bookings required);
- Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018);
- Bilpin Fruit Bowl (mid November)
Plums
- Canoelands Orchard (late November)
Raspberries
- Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018)
Strawberries
- Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings required);
- Bilpin Fruit Bowl (set times on weekends from 11th November, no bookings required)
2December
- Apricots:Â Pine Crest Orchard
- Cherries:Â Pine Crest Orchard
- Nectarines: Canoelands Orchard (yellow and white); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (yellow)
- Peaches: Pine Crest Orchard (white and yellow flesh varieties); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (yellow); Glenbernie Orchard
- Plums: Canoelands Orchard (Candy, Blood)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
3January
- Apples: Pine Crest Orchard (Tydemans, Akane); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Royal Gala); Glenbernie Orchard (Gala)
- Peaches:Â Pine Crest Orchard (white and yellow flesh varieties);Â Glenbernie Orchard
- Pears:Â Pine Crest Orchard (European varities)
- Plums: Canoelands Orchard (Blood);Â Pine Crest Orchard (Blood, yellow fleshed Narrabeen, Radiance)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
4February
- Apples:Â Pine Crest Orchard (Gala, Jonathon, Delicious, Golden Delicious);Â Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Royal Gala, Fuji, Jonathon, Red Delicious);Â Glenbernie Orchard
- Pears:Â Pine Crest Orchard (Nashi)
- Plums: Pine Crest Orchard (Blood, Ruby Red)
5March
- Apples:Â Pine Crest Orchard (Gala, Jonathon, Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji);Â Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Royal Gala, Fuji, Jonathon, Red Delicious); Glenbernie Orchard
- Chestnuts: Kookootonga Nut Farm, Nutwood Farm and Campanella Cottage
- Plums: Pine Crest Orchard (Autumn Giant)
- Quinces:Â Pine Crest Orchard
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
- Walnuts: Kookootonga Nut Farm, Nutwood Farm and Campanella Cottage
6April
- Apples:Â Pine Crest Orchard (Granny Smith, Pink Lady);Â Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Pink Lady); Glenbernie Orchard, TNT Produce (Pink Lady)
- Chestnuts: Kookootonga Nut Farm, Nutwood Farm and Campanella Cottage
- Passionfruit: Canoelands Orchard (available in 2019/20)
- Persimmon:Â Pine Crest Orchard;Â Canoelands Orchard; Cedar Creek Orchards
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
- Walnuts: Kookootonga Nut Farm, Nutwood Farm and Campanella Cottage
7May
- Apples:Â Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Pink Lady); TNT Produce (Pink Lady)
- Mandarins (from 26th May): Watkins Family Farm (Imperial, Hickson and Emperor); Fords Family Farm (Imperial, Emperor and Hickson), Canoelands Orchard (available in 2019/20)
- Passionfruit: Canoelands Orchard (available in 2019/20)
- Persimmon: Bilpin Fruit Bowl, Cedar Creek Orchards
- Strawberries:Â Bilpin Fruit Bowl
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
8June
- Cumquats: Watkins Family Farm ($6 per kg), Fords Family Farm [now CLOSED until 14th July]
- Eggplants:Â Canoelands Orchard
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (from 9th June); Watkins Family Farm; Fords Family Farm [now CLOSED until 14th July]
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Navels from 9th June); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Passionfruit: Canoelands Orchard (2019/20)
- Pecans: Pecan Lady
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
- Harvest Festival Central Coast is on for the 2nd year over the June long weekend.
9July
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson)
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
10August
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson);
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
11September
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (FINISHED for this year)
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries (late September/ early October)
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
12October
- Nectarines: Canoelands Orchard (from about mid-October)
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (until early October)
- Peaches: Canoelands Orchard (from about mid-October)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
- Tomatoes: Canoelands Orchard (until early October)
NOTE: Strawberries are available to be picked at Berrylicious Strawberries throughout the year when there is enough fruit to pick. They do generally open during the school holidays and bookings are required.
Hi I expected coming.when I can came???
Hi Nastaran, opening times for the different farms are available via the links in our calendar.