Apples, berries, mandarins, peaches and even nuts – fill up your basket straight from the crop at these fun fruit picking spots across New South Wales!
When it comes to finding the best places for fruit picking in New South Wales, surprisingly there’s a fruit salad like mixture of farms available. These spots are great for family trips, short weekend escapes and, more importantly, some of the freshest fruit you’ll ever bite into.
Allowing you to pick straight from the crop, our guide on where to pick your own fruit and produce in New South Wales is filled to the brim with stone fruits, berries and nuts. Promising to be a fun and fresh experience, read on through our guide of the best fruit picking farms around New South Wales.
Before you head off to the best fruit picking spots in Sydney, scrub up on your etiquette with these 5 Tips for Visiting Fruit Picking and Flower Farms around Australia.
Canoelands Orchard, located in the scenic Hawkesbury region, is celebrated as one of the premier fruit-picking destinations in New South Wales. This charming orchard offers a delightful variety of fruits, including nectarines and peaches in October, and several different plums throughout November and December. The orchard is open daily, with extended hours on weekends, making it a perfect spot for a family outing or a relaxing day in nature.
Peach orchard. Photography by AlyoshinE via ShutterstockCanoelands Orchard
Cedar Creek Orchard, nestled in the picturesque hills near Picton, is renowned as one of the best fruit-picking farms in New South Wales. This family-owned orchard, now in its fourth generation, offers a delightful experience with a range of fresh and ripe fruits including apples, peaches, nectarines, and persimmons. Visitors can enjoy picking their own fruit during specific seasons: stone fruits like peaches are available from November to early January, while persimmons can be picked from April to May. The orchard is open for fruit picking sessions on select days, and bookings are essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Cedar Creek Orchard, Thirlmere. Image via Destination NSWCedar Creek Orchards
Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries, located just ten minutes north of Port Macquarie, is a fantastic destination for fruit picking in New South Wales. This farm offers a unique experience with hydroponically grown tomatoes and strawberries available for picking year-round. Visitors can enjoy the convenience of picking strawberries from vertical frames, making it easy and fun for all ages. And since the farm is open daily, Ricardoes is a must-visit for a delightful and fresh fruit-picking adventure.
Tomato farm. Photography by nnattalli via ShutterstockRicardoes Tomatoes
Photographed by Rebecca Magro. Image supplied to Hunter and Bligh.
Bilpin Springs Orchard
Nestled within the Blue Mountains, Bilpin Springs Orchard is considered as one of the most popular fruit picking spots in New South Wales. This charming roadside suburb is surrounded by apple orchards at every nook that you look. Producing granny smith apples, lemons and even quinces that are all available for picking, come February and March, visitors to Bilpin Springs Orchard can also expect peaches, pears, plums, figs and much more. Open to the public on weekends, we recommend you bring some cash along for your fruit picking experience.
Photographed by Amber Shadow. Image via Unsplash.
Ford's Farm
Mandarin lovers will be in heaven at Ford’s Farm which is just an hour-and-a-half from the Sydney CBD. Offering imperial, satsuma, emperor and hickson mandarins in the cooler months from May, Ford’s Farm is the perfect destination for a Sunday sojourn and afternoon picnic. Lemons, kaffir limes and cumquats are also on offer for picking during the early months of winter. As well as that, Ford’s Farm is also home to a delicious range of jams, chutney, cordial, pure honey, vinegars and oils year-round.
Photographed by Tom Hermans. Image via Unsplash.
Kookootonga Chestnut and Walnut Farm
If you’re looking for the best places for fruit picking near Sydney, Kookootonga Chestnut and Walnut Farm should be at the top of your list. During their on-season, surprisingly, Kookootonga is one of the very few farms that are open to visitors seven days a week. With a long tradition of allowing the public to pick and purchase produce, visitors to Kookootonga Chestnut and Walnut Farm will be offered chestnuts and walnuts that grow from trees that are over 100 years old!
Photographed by Jem Cresswell. Image via Destination NSW.
Nutwood Farm
Did you know that nuts are actually fruits? If you’re looking for something a little more savoury, Nutwood Farm should be your go-to for all your fruit picking needs! Set on the edge of Wollangambee National Park, just over a two hour drive north-west of Sydney’s CBD, Nutwood Farm features 20 hectares of stunning walnut and chestnut trees that have been around for over 30 years. Nutwood’s chestnuts start to fall mid to late March, will their walnuts falling just a few weeks after. Better yet, Bilpin is only a short drive away so you can pick some apples on your weekend trip too!
Photographed by Michael John Dela Cruz. Image via Destination NSW.
Pine Crest Orchard
Just across the road from Bilpin Springs, Pine Crest Orchard is a family business that is passionate about sharing their abundance of produce with the public. During February and March visitors will find a large variety of apples as well as white and yellow peaches, blood and ruby plums, raspberries, blackberries and even cherries. Thankfully Pine Crest Orchard has no entrance fee, all you have to pay for is the fruit you pick! Whether it’s a couple’s weekend or a family trip, Pine Crest Orchard is considered as one of the best fruit picking farms in Sydney.
Photographed by Jem Cresswell. Image via Destination NSW.
Shields Orchard
If you still haven’t picked enough apples, Shields Orchard has perhaps the largest array of apple varieties including the Julie apple which is bred exclusively at Shields Orchard. From February to May, Shields have Royal Gala, Jonathon, Bramley, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Red Delicious, Braeburn, Firm Gold, Fuji, Splendour, Granny Smith, Pink Lady and Sundowner apples. Despite this fruit farm being home to an extensive apple variety, Shields Orchard is a small, family-owned business that is open five days a week during the year’s most fruitful months.
Whilst you’re on the road, why not stop and smell the flowers at these 12 Best Lavender Farms to Visit in Australia. Or discover and visit the 10 Best Sunflower Farms in Australia. If you love to hunt and harvest, feast your way through these 10 Best Mushroom and Truffle Picking Tours around Australia.
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