Family Fruit Picking Near Sydney

Are you looking for a day trip with a difference? Need a kids activity that lasts the whole day? We love the idea of taking the whole family fruit picking. It’s loads of fun out in the fresh air and it really gives the kids a bit more of an insight about where their food really comes from.

You only pay for what you pick at most places and price varies depending on the current market prices for fruit. You’ll find it costs way less than your local supermarket charges and the fruit tastes infinitely better! Make sure you check individual websites to confirm opening days and times as these may change due to weather or seasonal changes.

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SPRING SEASON September – November

Stone Fruit – Peaches, Nectarines, Plums

Canoelands Orchard (One Hour’s Drive North-West from Sydney) 31 Canoelands Road, Canoelands. Call: 0419 688 039. Season: Late October/Early November to Mid-January. Canoelands Orchard now has sweet and juicy peaches and nectarines ripe for the picking. Canoeland’s fresh raw honey is available all year round, as well as animals, chutney jam and an onsite cafe! Open 9am-5pm every day except Christmas Day. Please call ahead weekdays on 0419688039. The cost is currently: Adults (over 15yrs) $5 each to pick, Kids $3, Under 5s FREE, and then around $5.50 per kilo. Fun Tractor Rides are also available for $3, under 2s go FREE. Follow Canoelands Facebook page for the latest info.

Bilpin Fruit Bowl (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 2093 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW. Call: 02 4567 1152 or 0404 061 262. Season: Mid-November-late February. Pick your own peaches starting in mid-November- closed before then! Open weekends for pick-your-own from 10am to 4pm, entry costs $2.50 per person, under 3s go FREE. Follow Bilpin Fruit Bowl’s Facebook page for up-to-date info.

Strawberries

Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries (ten minutes north of Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of NSW) 221 Blackmans Point Road, Port Macquarie. Call: (02) 6585 0663. Season: All Year Round. A visit to this farm would probably be part of a weekend away but it would be worth it for these plump juicy hydroponic strawberries & tomatoes! Entry is FREE. You only pay for what you pick. Follow Ricardoes Facebook page for the latest info. 

Huntley Berry Farm (near Orange, 3 and a half hours drive from Sydney) Huntley Road, Huntley. Call: 02 6365 5282. Season: November – May Fields of juicy strawberries, raspberries, blackberries & more are waiting to be picked. There's a picnic area, a shop selling berry ice blocks, gourmet jams and fruit syrups, as well as free range chooks to say hello to. The season begins mid-November so start planning your getaway to Orange. The perfect time to visit is Saturday 25 November 2017 because Huntley Farm will be hosting their annual Family Fun Day! There will be markets stalls, a free sausage sizzle and a jumping castle. Follow Huntley Berry Farm Facebook page for the latest info.

Cherries

Stockman's Ridge (near Orange, 3 and a half hours drive from Sydney) 21 Boree Lane, Lidster. Call: 02 6365 6212. Season: Mid-November – December. Last year, Stockman's announced that they would be re-locating to a larger cherry orchard with 4 x the amount of trees, expected to open this November 2017! Pick your own cherries (and have a glass of wine or two) at this cellar door and fruit farm. Follow Stockman's Ridge Facebook page for the latest info. 

While you’re in Hawkesbury, check out The Australiana Pioneer Village, a tourist attraction portraying the life of the early settlers.

Mandarins

The mandarin season is not over yet at Watkins Family Farm! They will be open every weekend and during the first week of school holidays including and ending on the October long weekend. Entry is free, you just pay for the mandies you pick by the bucket load! 

AUTUMN SEASON March to May

Chestnuts & Walnuts

Kookootonga Chestnut & Walnut Farm (2 hours North of Sydney) 247 Mt Irvine Rd, Mt Irvine NSW. Call: 02 4756 2136. Season: March to April. Kookootonga is one of the original farms to be established in the gorgeous region of Mount Irvine in the Blue Mountains. Season begins 11 March 2017.

Nutwood Farm (2 hours North of Sydney) 22 Danes Way Mt. Irvine NSW 2786. Call: 02 4756 2191. Season: March to April. An established 20 hectare nut orchard on the edge of Wollangambee National Park with large, good quality, fresh chestnuts and walnuts.

Apples and Peaches

Bilpin is full of farms and orchards where you can pick your own. It’s a 90 minute drive away from Sydney, and we recommend you take the scenic route over the mountains to the western plains of New South Wales. You’ll find local artisans, coffee shops and charming accommodation in this pretty town. The Blue Mountains website and Hawkesbury Highlands websites have plenty of overnight options if you decide to make a weekend of it. All the attractions of the Blue Mountains are nearby including including one of our favourite spots, the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens.

Bilpin Fruit Bowl  (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 93 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW. Call: 02 4567 1152. Season: Early December-May. Pick your own peaches and apples, plus visit the excellent shop where you can pick up home made pies, jams, honey and souvenirs. There are also picnic grounds and a kids’ playground. You can see their latest updates on Facebook  or see our ellaslist review HERE.

Bilpin Springs Orchard  (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 2550 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin, New South Wales. Call: 02 4567 1294. Season: Mid January-Mid June. This small commercial orchard is open for the public to pick apples, pears (including Nashi), plums, and peaches from their trees. Families enjoy showing their children where apples come from, and older folks remember days when everyone grew their own fruit.

Pine Crest Orchard (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 2549 Bell’s Line of Rd, Bilpin. Call: 02 45671143 (after 7:30pm). Season: January-May. Open on weekends, at Pine Crest Orchard, you can pick your own apples, plums and pears. Local honey, jams and apple juice also available to purchase.

Glenbernie Orchard (90 minutes Sydney CBD) 259 Darkes Forest NSW, Darkes Forest 2508. Call: (02) 4294 3421. Season: November-April. This fourth generation family orchard are full of delicious, crunchy apples, peaches and nectarine. They offer tours for families that takes you through the orchard and of course the chance to pick apples!

Tomatoes

Canoelands Orchard (1 hour Sydney CBD) 27 Canoelands Road, Canoelands, NSW. Call: 0419 688 039. Season: late March-early August. Open 9am-5pm daily the tomatoes are usually looking fabulous and plentiful in the autumn season. They also have cherries, peaches, plums, apricots and blueberries with the main produce being nectarines throughout the year. We sent an ellaslist explorer there and she found a secret fairy garden, a play house and a tractor ride! Read her review HERE.

Persimons

Cedar Creek Orchard (80 minutes Sydney CBD) 269 Mulhollands Rd Thirlmere, NSW 2572. Call: +61 246 818 457. Season: mid April-end of May/early June. Open on weekends, be sure to call to make a booking and to check what days they’re open during the week. This is a family owned and run orchard that houses around 23,000 trees – including apples, peaches and nectarines! It can get very busy during the weekend but they offer tours and transportation to different picking sections.

WINTER SEASON June to August

Mandarins

Watkins Family Farm (90 minutes North West of Sydney) 1006 Singleton Mills, Laughtondale NSW. Season: June-September. Pick lovely, juicy Imperial mandarins at this orchard offering over 2,000 fruit trees. Situated in a beautiful mountain valley setting. Open every weekend from 31 May until season ends (around end of September). There’s no entry fee to the farm – you only pay for what you pick. Bring a picnic, feed the sheep and goats, and have a ball. It’s an easy day outing from Sydney, just a short country drive from the charming village of Wisemans Ferry. Find out just how much fun ellaslist & family had picking mandarins at Watkins Family Farm, plus get some top tips on finding the best fruit!

Fords Farm: (90 minutes North West of Sydney) 1275 Singleton Road, Laughtondale (via Wisemans Ferry), NSW Season: May-July/August. Pick your mandarins, oranges, lemons, limes and, in July, cumquats. There is no entry fee and you only pay for what you pick. There is a picnic area set aside for you to sit and enjoy the quiet bush surroundings or take a stroll through the orchard to feed the sheep.

SUMMER SEASON December to February

Stone Fruit – Peaches, Nectarines, Plums

Canoelands Orchard (One Hour’s Drive North-West from Sydney) 31 Canoelands Road, Canoelands. Call: 0419 688 039. Season: October to Mid-January. Canoelands Orchard offers blood plums, candy plums, white nectarines and yellow nectarines for pick your own. Canoeland’s fresh raw honey is available all year round! Open 9am-5pm every day except Christmas Day. Follow Canoelands Facebook page for the latest info.

Pine Crest Orchard (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 2549 Bell’s Line of Rd, Bilpin. Call: 02 45671143 (after 7:30pm). Season: November-February. Pick your own yellow and white peaches, apricots and nectarines all at $4/kg. Open Boxing Day from 10am-4pm. Follow Pine Crest Orchard’s Facebook page for up-to-date info.

Bilpin Fruit Bowl (90 minutes North West of Sydney CBD) 2459 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW. Call: 02 4567 1152. Season: Mid-November-late February. Available for picking will be yellow flesh peaches, iceberg lettuce, cos lettuce, Chinese cabbage, curly leaf cabbage, savoy cabbage, purple cabbage, zucchini, kale and a limited amount of strawberries, and possibly raspberries and blueberries in February. Apples from early January, pears from late January. Open weekends from 10am to 4pm. Follow Bilpin Fruit Bowl’s Facebook page for up-to-date info.

Cedar Creek Orchards (90 minutes South West of Sydney CBD) 269 Mulhollands Rd, Thirlmere NSW. Call: 02 4681 8457 Email: enquiries@cedarcreekorchards.com.au. Season starts 6 November util late December. Pick your own peaches, nectarines and persimmons. Follow Cedar Creek Orchards’ Facebook page for updated info.

Glenbernie Orchard (30km North of Wollongong) 259 Darkes Forest Road, Darkes Forest. Call: (02) 4294 3421. Season: November-February. Pick your own peaches, plums, nectarines. Plus apples and Raspberries. Follow Glenbernie Orchard’s Facebook page for up-to-date info. To pick, you need to book an Orchard Experience Tour.

Berries

Clyde River Berry Farm (3 hours South of Sydney) 2000A River Road, Mogood NSW. Call: 02 4478 1057. Season: Early December-late January. Nothing tastes better than berries (primarily growers of blueberries, buy you might find strawberries, raspberries and other berries too) picked freshly in the height of summer with your own hands! Grab a bucket and pick enough to take home and freeze. Head to nearby Ulladulla or Bateman’s Bay for beautiful beaches and lots of accommodation options. Bush honey and homemade jams available too. Open every day from 10am to 5pm until the end of January except Christmas day. Follow Clyde River Berry Farm’s Facebook page for latest info.

Montrose Berry Farm (90 minutes South West of Sydney) Ormond Street, Sutton Forest NSW. Call: 02 4868 1544. Season: December-February. Pick blueberries, red raspberries, loganberries,  boysenberries, autumn raspberries, red currants and hazelnuts. The farm shop sells berry products and pies and there is is a gorgeous cottage on site if you want to stay the night. Entry for adults is $12.50 per person, including 0.5 kg of of berries. If you exceed 0.5 kg each, there’s a $2.50/100 gram charge. Young children enter for $7.50 including 300g berries.

Cherries

You’ll have travel at least 4 hours out of Sydney to pick cherries. Season: mid November-January. The perfect cherry picking adventure is wrapped up neatly for you at the National Cherry Picking Festival in Young in early Dec, which offers a kid-friendly festival, competitions and plenty of cherry picking! If you’re keen and don’t mind the drive, try Wombat Heights Orchard or Allambie Orchard near near Wombat, NSW. And there are plenty more farms a little further afield, The Hawkesbury Harvest website has loads of information on farms around NSW.

 

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