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 and strawberries. And look forward to picking pears, plums, tomatoes 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 pick your own farms. 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, that this calendar is a guide only. Weather changes can affect when fruit is available for picking. We strongly recommend you check the farms Facebook page or website before visiting to see what fruit is ready to pick and when they are open.
1July
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson)
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
2August
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson);
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Tomatoes:Â Canoelands Orchard
3September
- Mandarins: Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson);
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel, Seville); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
4October
- Peaches:Â Canoelands Orchard
- Oranges: Anderson Farm (Washington Navel, Seville)
- Strawberries: Berrylicious Strawberries
5November
- Apricots:Â Pine Crest Orchard
- Cherries:Â Pine Crest Orchard
- Nectarines: Canoelands Orchard (yellow); Cedar Creek Orchards; Glenbernie Orchard
- Peaches:Â Canoelands Orchard; Cedar Creek Orchards;Â Glenbernie Orchard
- Plums: Canoelands Orchard (Candy)
- Raspberries:Â Glenbernie Orchard
6December
- 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
7January
- 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
8February
- 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)
9March
- 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
10April
- 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
11May
- 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
12June
- 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.
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.
