Looking for a fun day trip for the whole family? Pick your own fruit farms and orchards are a great activity and most are only an hour’s drive from the North Shore! You can go at any time of the year, depending what fruit you are interested in. Always check the farm’s website in case the season has ended sooner than expected to avoid disappointment on the day. Happy picking! Here’s the best places for fruit picking near Sydney.
The kids will love picking their own fruit and taking it home to eat. Some farms also offer tours so you can experience life on the farm, see the sheds where they sell their own homemade produce and in some cases, get up close and personal with the animals through onsite petting farms. Each orchard’s seasons vary so make sure you check before heading out to the farms to make sure there is still fruit on the trees to pick!
Take a look at the links below to check out some of the best places for fruit picking near Sydney:
- Glenbernie Orchard – apples, peaches, nectarines, persimmons
- Watkins Orchard – mandarins
- Ford’s Farm – mandarins, citrus
- Anderson Farm – mandarins, oranges
- Wyuna Farms – oranges
- TNT Produce – apples
- Bilpin Springs Orchard – apples, pears, stone fruit
- Pine Crest Orchard – stone fruit, apples, pears, persimmons
- Bilpin Fruit Bowl – peaches, nectarines, apples
- Canoelands Orchard – tomato, nectarine, peach, plum, passionfruit, blueberries
- Berrylicious Strawberries – strawberries
Fruit Picking around Sydney in Autumn & Winter
Watkins Orchard (Mandarins)
Watkins Orchard is a family-owned ‘pick your own’ farm. The varieties of mandarins on the farm include Imperial, Emperor, Hickson and Cumquats, depending on the time of year. We last visited in June 2021, so read our top tips for your visit to Watkins Family Farm,
- Location: 1067 Singleton Road, Wisemans Ferry
- Season: June – October
- Opening Times: Weekends and public and school holidays, 10am to 3.30pm. Weekdays by appointment
- Fruit: Mandarins (Imperial, Emperor, Hickson), Cumquats
- Drive from Pymble: about 70 mins
- Website: watkinsfamilyfarm.com.au
Ford’s Farm (Mandarins and Citrus)
Located on the banks of the Hawkesbury River and only 15 mins from Wisemen’s Ferry, Ford’s Farm has been a Pick Your Own orchard for 20 years.
The orchard includes four varieties of Mandarins – Satsuma, Imperial, Emperor and Hickson Mandarins. Other citrus fruit for picking are Tahitian Limes, Lemons, Cumquats and Kaffir Limes. The 2023 season starts in May/June 2023.
As well as the fruit you will also find a variety of homemade jams, chutney and cordial which is all made on the farm. There is a small picnic area where you can also enjoy your own picnic lunch. You can also feed the friendly sheep!
- Location: 1275 Singleton Road, Laughtondale (via Wisemans Ferry)
- Opening Times: Every weekend during the season from 9am to 4pm, and public holidays
- Season: May/June onwards
- Fruit: Mandarins (Imperials, Satsumas, Emperor, Hickson) and Citrus (Tahitian Limes, Lemons, cumquats, Kaffir Limes)
- Costs: $10 per car and there after you pay $3 per kg for what you pick, cumquats are $10 per kilo. Bookings essential.
- Drive from Pymble: about 80 mins
- Website: fordsfarm.com.au
Anderson Farm (Mandarins and Oranges)
Set on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, Anderson Farm grow Emperor, Imperial and Hickson Mandarins where you can pick your own. Late in the season Seville oranges are also available for pick your own. There are also Washington Navel oranges.
Please note, they don’t take card, so bring cash with you on the day.
The 2023 season starts Saturday 17 June.
- Location: 951 to 968 Sackville Ferry Rd Sackville North
- Opening Times: Saturday, Sunday and Monday after June Long Weekend, 10am to 4pm
- Season: June/July
- Fruit: Mandarins (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson), Washington Navel Oranges, Seville Oranges
- Costs: $5 per adult, kids are free. $10 per bucket.
- Drive from Pymble: approx 65 mins
- Website: andersonfarm.com.au
Wyuna Farms (Oranges)
Located on the Central Coast, Wyuna Farms have the best oranges ever! Using chicken manure and no chemical sprays could be the reason why. This fourth generational farm has it evolved since Lorraine’s father, Ray Walpole, settled here in 1935, aged 15. Visit the Wilson’s Wyuna Farms, hear about the history of this fourth-generational farm and how it has evolved since Lorraine’s father, Ray Walpole, settled here in 1935, aged 15, so pop in for a chat with Rodger, Lorraine, Greg or Kate and pick your own oranges to take home.
- Location: 982-988 George Downs Drive, Kulnura
- Opening Times: Starting January, but check their site for an update. 9am-12pm.
By appointment. Call (02) 4376 1218 or 0417 451 764, or email
[email protected] - Fruit: Oranges (Valencia, Navel)
- Drive from Pymble: About 55 mins
- Website: facebook.com/wyunafarms
Fruit Picking all Year Round
Canoelands Orchard (Tomatoes, nectarines, peach, plum, passionfruit and blueberries)
Canoelands Orchard allows you to purchase direct from the farmer! Their main produce is Nectarines, but during the winter there are tomatoes. See what is harvesting as it varies throughout the seasons.
Also want to know and see how a working farm works? Canoelands Orchard also offer farm tours. There is also a stall where you can buy fresh produce as well a honey, jams, chutney, ice-creams and jewellery. There are also snacks, coffee and drinks available to purchase, or you can also bring your own picnic to relax and enjoy! Kids can also enjoy ride around the farm on the Tractor Trailer is $3 per person (under 2 free).
- Location: 27 Canoelands Rd, Canoelands
- Opening Times: 10am-2pm weekdays and 9am-2pm weekends
- Fruit: Tomato, nectarine, peach, plum, passionfruit and blueberries throughout the year
- Season: Check What’s Harvesting to see what’s available each season and when each season is
- Costs: $10 Adults $5 children (age 3-15, under 3 free) FAMILY (2 adults and 2 or more kids age 3-15) $30. Fruit picked is purchased at the per kilo price.
- Drive from Pymble: About 50 mins
- Website: canoelandsorchard.com
Berrylicious Strawberries (Strawberries)
The strawberries are grown in greenhouses, draping out of tunnels. It is a great place to walk around and very different to your traditional strawberry field. The owners say the system helps eliminate pests and bacteria, reducing their need to spray the fruit with chemicals. With everything under cover you can pick no matter the weather. This particular pick-your-own farm is super popular and regularly books out, so make sure to save yourself a spot over the phone before making the journey.
- Location: 200 W Parade, Thirlmere NSW
- Opening Times: various days, 9am to 3/4pm (Check their website to book)
- Season: All year round
- Fruit: Strawberries
- Costs: Entry is $22 per person, $11 for kids (under 10) and you can eat as many strawberries as you like. The ones you take home are $25 a kilo.
- Drive from Pymble: About 90 mins
- Website: facebook.com/berryliciousstrawberries
Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Peaches, nectarines, apples)
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- Apple picking at Bilpin Fruit Bowl
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- Apple picking at Bilpin Fruit Bowl
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- Apple picking at Bilpin Fruit Bowl
Bilpin Fruit Bowl is owned and operated by Simon & Margaret Tadrosse and their four children, who all help out. In their shop they stock local honey, local homemade jams, souvenirs, pottery, fresh fruit and seasonal summer fruits. They bake all their apple pies, meat pies, cakes, scones and slices onsite. In Summer they also sell peach pies made from peaches grown in their orchard. When other fruits are in season such as cherries, blueberries, mangoes, apricots and raspberries they are all made into fresh bakes you can taste.
- Location: 2093 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin
- Season: All year
- Opening Times: Weekends, 10am – 2pm
- Fruit: Peaches, nectarines, apples, strawberries, plums
- Costs: Entry fee of $20 for adults, $10 for children between the ages of 3 and 12
- Drive from Pymble: About 90 mins
- Website: bilpinfruitbowl.com.au
Fruit Picking near Sydney in Spring & Summer
TNT Produce (Apples)
A family-owned business located in the heart of Bilpin where you can pick your own quality apples.
Once you have picked your fruit you might like to visit The Pines Orchard Café for some hot food, tea or coffee, homemade apple pies, scones or slices and much more. Beyond the fruit picking, you can also browse through their many other products, including jams, honey, vinegar, Bilpin Apple Juice, Hillbilly Cider and more.
- Location: 153 Kurts Road, Bilpin
- Opening Times: Weekends and public holidays, 10am to 4pm
- Season: Season open from January till the end of June
- Fruit: Apples, plums, strawberries
- Costs: $3 per person, children under 3 free. $5/kilo for apples. Cash only.
- Drive from Pymble: approx 80 mins
- Website: tntproduce.com.au
Bilpin Springs Orchard (Apples, pears, stone fruit)
This small orchard in the Blue Mountains grows apples, pears, stone fruit and more. They also develop products to reduce fruit pests, and are well-known for hosting secondary students as an educational experience.
- Location: 2550 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin
- Season: Late January – June
- Opening Times: 7am to 1pm, weekends.
- Fruit: Apples, pears, stone fruit
- Costs: Fruit charged per kg, minimum spend $5
- Drive from Pymble: About 90 mins
- Website: bilpinspringsorchard.com.au
Pine Crest Orchard (Stone fruit, apples, pears and persimmon)
Pine Crest Orchard, Bilpin has been a family run business for more than 40 years. John Galbraith is an orchardist and horticulturalist, and has taught and lectured in horticulture and farming – specifically farming small areas – at university, TAFE and other institutions.
In the shed they have great jams, honey, juices, non-alcoholic ciders, cider vinegar and from mid March, walnuts and chestnuts.
- Location: 2549 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin
- Season: November – May
- Opening Times: 9am to 4pm Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays
- Fruit: Apples, peaches, plum, pears, nashi-fruit, berries, nuts.
- Costs: $2 per person. All apples are $5kg, and the price of other produce varies.
- Drive from Pymble: about 70 mins
- Website: pinecrestorchard.com.au
Glenbernie Orchard (Apples, peaches, nectarines and persimmons)
A 5th Generation Australian family farm, their farm shop ‘The Apple Shack’ is open 10am-4:30pm. Fruit available to buy year-round, along with their very own cider selection. Pick your own experiences by booking only during fruit season. The apples from their orchard are used in making ‘DARKES Cider’. Honey is also harvested from within the farm and made into DARKES honey mead.
- Location: 259 Darkes Forest Rd, Darkes Forest
- Opening Times: 10am-4.30pm, booking only
- Season: Stone Fruits, November – January | Apples, January – April
- Fruit: Apples, peaches, nectarines and persimmons
- CostL $25 adults, $18 children 3-15 years, under 3 free – includes tractor ride
- Drive from Pymble: about 80 mins
- Website: darkes.com.au
