Pine Crest Orchard is located in Bilpin – well known for growing delicious apples. I introduced myself and my family to apple picking for the first time in 2017 and we quickly became BIG fans… and I have a lot of stewed apples to show for it!

We’ve visited Pine Crest a number of times each year since, picking a variety of apples, pears, plums, peaches and most recently SUNFLOWERS!

Pine Crest Orchard will open for apple and sunflower picking on the Australia Day weekend from 9am to 4pm. And then open every weekend until about May. Thankfully their farm was mostly spared during the bushfire that ripped through Bilpin recently. 

It’s best to check their Facebook page for what fruit is available to pick when you are looking to go. And remember, you just turn up to this farm – no bookings and no entry fees!

The big draw cards of Pine Crest Orchard are that there is no entry charge, all apples you pick are $4kg (April 2019), they have toilets and picnic facilities and you don’t have to walk too far to pick the fruit – though the pink lady apples are at the back of the farm. Plus it’s a lovely family run business, surrounded by gorgeous bushland and views of the Blue Mountains.

You can pick a number of different varieties of apples at different times on Pine Crest Orchard. The season usually starts with Tydemans, Akane and Gala’s and then Jonathon, Delicious and Golden Delicious. Fujis are from late March, and Granny Smith and Pink Lady finish off the apple season in April/ May. Sweet Pink Lady apples are definitely our favourite. All apples were $4kg during the 2019 season.

But apples aren’t all you will find at Pine Crest Orchard. They also have cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, pears, persimmons and quinces at various times of the year. And now sunflowers!

Plus they sell homemade jams, local honey and nuts (when in season) in the farm shed.

Here is a rough schedule of what you can pick and when at Pine Crest Orchard:

• Cherries in October to November
• Peaches and plums from late December to January
• Sunflowers in January
• Apples from late January until late April
• Pears from mid January to March
• Chestnuts and persimmon in April and May

For a list of the different varieties available to pick at Pine Crest Orchard and roughly when they are available, check out their website.

For more than 40 years, Pine Crest Orchard has been a family run business. John and Erica raised their seven children on the orchard and now enjoy their grand kids visiting. It’s a lovely farm to visit and a great way to show kids how our fruit is grown. If you head up on a Saturday, there’s also the Bilpin Markets from 10am to 12pm to stop by. And on a warm day, you can combine apple picking with a swim at Yarramundi Reserve.

Opening Hours

Pine Crest Farm is open 9am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from Boxing Day to the end of the apple picking season (April/May). And at other specific times prior to this for stone fruit picking. There is no entry fee – you just pay for what you pick.

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Finding Pine Crest Orchard

Pine Crest Orchard is towards the end of Bilpin, just passed the Bilpin Public School. It is about an hour north-west of Parramatta, in the Blue Mountains.

You access the farm from Bilpin School Road and you park your car on this street as well.

Places of Interest Nearby

• Bilpin Markets every Saturday from 10am to 12pm at the Bilpin Community Hall, with fresh local veges, plants and local crafts.
• Bilpin Fruit Bowl
• Yarramundi Reserve – natural swimming spot
• Madison’s Mountain Retreat
• Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens
• Wildwood Garden – reopens 20th March 2020