Fruit Picking inMelbourne

Higham Blueberries has been growing and selling blueberries at Kinglake Central for more than 30 years, making it one of the district's longest-running u-pick farms. The berries are grown without pesticides on Extons Road in the cool hills an hour north-east of Melbourne, and picking here feels like visiting a farming family rather than a tourist attraction. What You Can Pick Blueberries - January and February, by appointment Activities Frozen fruit packs available year-round direct from the farm Blueberry pies and fruit at the Lancefield and District Farmers Market stall Good to Know Picking is by phone appointment only: call ahead to book a time and check how the fruit is ripening before you drive up. Entry fees and per-kg prices are set each season, so ask when you book. Because visits are scheduled, the rows never feel crowded, which makes for easy, unhurried picking with kids, and the fruit is never stripped bare by a weekend rush. Frozen blueberries from previous pickings are usually available at the farm gate year-round, and the blueberry pies sold through the Lancefield market stall have their own local following. Pro tip: combine your visit with the Kinglake National Park lookouts; the farm sits right in the middle of the ranges.

Summerberries Blueberry Farm is a family-owned organic blueberry farm at Glenburn, about 80km north-east of Melbourne between Yarra Glen and Yea. Set across 10 hectares with a shady picnic ground, it offers abundant, easy-to-reach fruit through the height of summer. What You Can Pick Blueberries - mid December to the end of February, $20 per kg Activities Picnicking in the shady picnic ground; allow at least two hours for a visit Scenic drive through the Kinglake ranges or Yarra Valley on the way Good to Know There is no entry fee; you pay $20/kg for what you pick. The farm closes Thursdays and Fridays, and picking sessions can be booked through the website. The season depends on the crop, so check the farm's website or socials before setting out. Bring hats and water; the bushes are in open sun even though the picnic area is shaded. The farm asks visitors to allow at least two hours, which suits the setting: picking is unhurried, the picnic ground invites a long lunch, and the drive home through Glenburn and Yarra Glen rounds out the day. Fruit is weighed and paid at the shed on the way out. Pro tip: January is peak ripeness, when you can fill a bucket in under an hour.

Wandin Yallock Farms runs its raspberry u-pick behind Warratina Lavender Farm on Quayle Road at Wandin Yallock, which makes for one of the Yarra Valley's more charming double acts: pick soil-grown raspberries, then wander the lavender rows and finish with scones at the tea rooms. What You Can Pick Raspberries - February and March, eat as many as you like while picking; take-home fruit is $9.90 per 500g punnet Activities Warratina Lavender Farm - tea rooms and lavender gift shop at the entrance Pram-friendly rows right behind the tea rooms Good to Know Entry has recently been around $15 for adults and $10 for children (4-12, under 4 free, family passes available) including punnets; confirm current pricing before visiting. Open Wednesday to Sunday, roughly 10am-4pm in season, walk-up with no bookings. The late-summer season is short, so follow their Facebook for crop updates before making the trip. Raspberry picking here is deliberately low-key: soil-grown canes at a comfortable height, punnets supplied, and rows compact enough for toddlers to manage. The lavender farm entrance adds a gift shop and tea rooms to the visit, and the two experiences together fill a relaxed half day in the Yarra Valley. Pro tip: this is the rare autumn raspberry fix after most berry farms have wound down.

Jay Berries is a family-run berry farm on Wandin Creek Road in Wandin East, about 50 minutes from Melbourne in the Yarra Valley. It is a smaller, quieter alternative to the district's big-name farms, with a simple weigh-and-pay system and a friendly welcome that regulars rave about. What You Can Pick Strawberries - the farm's mainstay, October to May Raspberries and blackberries - through summer and autumn Blueberries - December to February Homegrown seasonal vegetables are often available at the farm gate too. Activities Picking with the kids - rows are easy to navigate for little legs Farm gate stall with fresh produce Good to Know U-Pick entry is $10 for adults (15+), $5 for children (4-14), $8 concession and free for under 4s, then you pay per kilo for what you take home. Open 8.30am-4.30pm six days a week (closed every Saturday) from October to May. Strawberries are usually reliable; for other berries, phone ahead to check what's ripe before you visit. The weigh-and-pay system keeps things simple: pick what you like, have it weighed at the shed, and pay only for what you take, with punnets and guidance provided for first-timers. Pro tip: visit midweek for the pick of the patch without the crowds.

Silvan Cherry and Berry Farm has run u-pick on Edmund Road at Silvan since 1988, growing around 20 cherry varieties that ripen in waves across the season plus raspberries and blueberries. It is an independent, old-school operation: tickets at the gate, cash only, and the season simply ends when the cherries run out. What You Can Pick Cherries - November to January, roughly 20 varieties, extra fruit about $10/kg Raspberries and blueberries - through the season Activities Farm shop with pre-packed blueberries, lemons, on-site honey and jam Plant sales - take home cherry and berry plants for your own garden Good to Know Reported entry is about $15 for adults including 1kg of cherries and $7.50 for children (5-14, under 5 free). Open most weekends November to January; watch their Facebook for the closed-for-season notice. Cash only, no EFTPOS, and no bookings; just turn up at the gate. Lemon trees on the property supply the farm shop, and the on-site honey comes from hives that work the orchard blossom each spring. Arriving early in the day gives the best pick of whichever varieties came ripe that week. Pro tip: with 20 varieties ripening in sequence, mid-season visits offer the widest tasting spread.

Yellingbo Berries is a certified organic blueberry farm (OGA certification 785) on Carson Road at Seville, in the quiet green corner of the Yarra Valley near the Yellingbo conservation reserve. The season is short and sweet: January and February only, which concentrates the whole year's harvest into a few golden weeks. What You Can Pick Blueberries - January and February, certified organic Activities Farm gate sales of pre-picked fruit (pre-order by email) and organic blueberry jam Yarra Valley loop - Seville's cherry and berry farms are minutes away Good to Know Open Saturday to Wednesday during the season, largely by appointment, though drop-in windows are sometimes posted on Facebook for long weekends. Phone or email ahead to lock in a picking time and check how the crop is ripening. Certified organic blueberries straight off the bush are the draw; quantities are limited, so early February is safer than late. Certification is through Organic Growers of Australia, and the farm's practices extend to the jams made from surplus fruit. The surrounding Yellingbo bushland is a conservation area for the helmeted honeyeater, which gives the drive in a distinctly local character. Pro tip: pre-order a tray of picked fruit when booking, then top it up with your own picking on the day.

Willowbank Cherries is a family-run cherry orchard at Whanregarwen on the Goulburn River flats near Alexandra, about two hours north-east of Melbourne. It is a genuine country u-pick: quiet rows, friendly owners, eat as many cherries as you like while you pick, and pay only for what you carry home. What You Can Pick Cherries - late November to January, by appointment Activities Roadside stall at Molesworth on the Great Victorian Rail Trail during the season Rail trail riding - the orchard sits just off the Great Victorian Rail Trail, so cyclists can build it into a ride Good to Know U-pick is by appointment only, so phone or message the farm before making the drive. Pricing is set each season and paid by weight on what you take home; eating while picking is free. The trip pairs naturally with a day around Alexandra, Eildon or the rail trail towns. The Goulburn Valley's warm days and cool nights suit cherries well, and the small scale of the orchard means fruit is picked at full ripeness rather than early. Roadside stall stock moves quickly on summer weekends, so the orchard appointment remains the reliable way to secure fruit. Pro tip: appointment-only picking means the trees are never stripped; even late-season visits find good fruit.

Chappies, formally Chapmans Berry and Fruit Farm, is a fourth-generation family farm at 21 Parker Road, Silvan, where the Chapman family has farmed fruit for more than 125 years across 50 hectares. It is one of three separate Chapman-family farms on the same road, alongside neighbouring Blue Hills, and holds its own loyal following for cherries and cane berries. What You Can Pick Cherries - November to late December, from about $10/kg, including white and sour varieties Raspberries, blackberries and karakaberries - December to February Activities Farm shop with homemade jams and pre-picked fruit Rare varieties - white cherries and karakaberries you will not find in supermarkets Good to Know Cherry u-pick entry is $9 for adults and $3 for school-aged children, under 5 free; berry u-pick is $13 including your first kilogram. No bookings required; open seven days through November-December (8.30am-5pm in cherry season, last tickets at 4pm, closed Christmas Day), with berry picking running into summer. The shop also sells pre-picked fruit for anyone short on time, and the jams made from the farm's own berries are a reliable takeaway once the picking season has passed its peak. Pro tip: ask for the white cherries; the season is short and regulars clear them fast.

Farnsworth Apple & Cherry Orchard is a century-old family orchard on Paringa Road at Red Hill South, where the Farnsworth family planted their first 40 acres in the 1920s. Around 20 cherry varieties and hybrids grow here, and the farm gate keeps selling crisp apples for most of the year after the summer cherry crowds have gone. What You Can Pick Cherries - late November to January u-pick Apples are sold at the farm gate from March right through to November. Activities Farm gate shop seven days a week during apple season Red Hill wineries and markets minutes away for a full Peninsula day Good to Know Prices are set each season and paid by weight; phone ahead to confirm picking days and how the crop is ripening. The orchard is a quieter alternative to the Peninsula's busier cherry farms, with the depth of varieties that a century of planting brings. Paringa Road sits in the middle of Red Hill's food and wine country, so the orchard combines easily with cellar doors and the village cafes, and apples picked in autumn store well for weeks somewhere cool. Pro tip: ask which of the 20 varieties is at peak; the family knows the trees by name.

Lanidale The Cherry Well is a family-run orchard on Beenak Road at Wandin North, where the Yarra Valley wine district meets the foot of the Dandenong Ranges. The farm grows multiple cherry varieties, from large sweet types through to small tangy ones, plus tree-ripened apricots, and its relaxed walk-in picking has earned it a 4.8 Google rating from more than 130 reviewers. What You Can Pick Cherries - late November to January, around $15/kg to take home Apricots - December to January, ticketed separately with a combined option Eating as you pick is included, so graze your way down the rows while you fill the bucket. Activities Variety hopping - compare sweet and tangy cherries across the orchard Fresh cherry sales if you would rather skip the picking Good to Know Recent visitors report entry around $18 per adult with discounted child rates, then $15/kg for what you take home; confirm on arrival as pricing can change season to season. No bookings are needed, and the season runs November to January. The farm's old website is gone, so its Facebook and Instagram pages are the place to check opening announcements. Pro tip: apricot picking sells out fast when ripe, so grab the combined ticket if it is offered.

Bellevue Orchard has been the Russo family's apple orchard at Officer since 1953, and three generations later it is one of the closest genuine you-pick orchards to Melbourne's south-east. The farm is also home to Summer Snow apple juice, and its Farm Gate cafe and shop sit right among the apple trees. What You Can Pick Apples - March to May, including Pink Lady, with bookings essential Persimmons - autumn, in season at the farm gate Activities Farm Gate cafe among the trees, with food trucks on busy weekends Farm shop with apples, juice and local produce year-round Good to Know You-pick runs only during the autumn harvest (roughly March to May) and bookings are essential through the website; the rest of the year is farm gate and cafe only. The shop opens weekdays 9am-4.30pm and weekends from 9.30am. Pricing is published when each you-pick season opens. The orchard also grows the fruit behind Summer Snow, the family's apple juice label, and the shop stocks it alongside seasonal produce from neighbouring growers. Persimmons ripen after the main apple rush, giving autumn visitors a second reason to return before the farm settles into its quieter winter rhythm. Pro tip: autumn weekends book out; a weekday session gets you the same trees without the queue.

Blue Hills Berries & Cherries sits at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Silvan, where the Chapman family has farmed since 1894. Today the farm spans a berry orchard and two cherry orchards, making it one of the Yarra Valley's most popular summer picking spots. What You Can Pick Strawberries - October to April, $12/kg Cherries - November to January, from $18/kg Blueberries and boysenberries - December to January, $16/kg Sour Morello cherries - perfect for jams and baking, $14/kg All picking is all-you-can-eat while you're in the orchard, with takeaway fruit weighed on exit. Activities Food trucks and live music on December weekends Picking demonstrations included with cherry sessions Farm-gate kiosk for fresh fruit and treats Good to Know Berry picking entry is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children (5-14; under 5 free) and runs walk-up, no booking needed. Cherry picking is priced separately ($18-20 adults depending on the orchard, including bucket hire) and must be booked online. The season runs roughly November to April, 9am-4.30pm daily; check the farm's fruit report before visiting. Picnic tables under the trees make it easy to stretch a visit across lunch. Pro tip: come early in December for cherries, blueberries and strawberries all in one visit.

Macca's Farm is a 158-acre working farm at Glen Forbes, about 10 minutes from Phillip Island, and its strawberry picking takes a format few farms offer: a kilometre of hydroponic rows grown at waist height, so nobody bends and wheelchairs and prams roll straight down the rows. What You Can Pick Strawberries - spring through April, paid per 250g or 500g container from the produce store Activities Paddock-to-plate cafe serving the farm's own produce Free-range farm animals to visit around the property Lakeside picnics on the farm grounds Good to Know Open Wednesday to Sunday, 9am-5pm. Picking is weather dependent in the shoulder months, so call ahead in spring and autumn. The farm shop sells free-range pork, beef and lamb raised on the property, and cafe tables can be reserved by phone. It pairs perfectly with a Phillip Island day trip. Beyond the strawberries, the farm runs as a genuine working property, with free-range pigs, cattle and chickens raised on the paddocks and sold through the farm shop, and the cafe menu leans on the farm's own produce. The covered rows also mean picking can go ahead in light rain. Pro tip: waist-high rows make picking comfortable for grandparents and wheelchair users.

Ravens Creek Farm at Moriac, fifteen minutes from Geelong, is a regenerative, chemical-free farm where summer berry picking sits alongside true free-range pork and pasture-raised eggs. Visitors grab a tray, wander the rows of raspberries, brambleberries and strawberries, and pay by weight on the way out. What You Can Pick Raspberries, brambleberries and strawberries - summer, announced on the farm's socials Activities Farm animals and a playground for the kids Farm shop and cafe with the farm's own pork and eggs Events - the farm hosts weddings, birthdays and paddock-to-plate gatherings Good to Know Berry picking is seasonal and crop dependent, so check the farm's Facebook or phone before visiting; farm gate sales run by appointment. Prices are paid by weight at the farm. The berry rows are part of a broader regenerative system, with rotational grazing and no synthetic sprays across the property. Kids gravitate to the playground and the animals while adults finish the picking, and the farm's eggs and pork have their own following at local markets. Summer weekends are the liveliest time to visit. The Moriac location also puts the farm ten minutes from the Surf Coast road, easy to fold into a Torquay trip. Pro tip: the farm's free-range bacon and eggs turn a berry run into a full weekend provisioning trip.

Sanders Apples is a third-generation, family-owned apple orchard at Three Bridges in the upper Yarra Valley, about 90 minutes east of Melbourne. During autumn the family throws open the orchard gates so visitors can wander the rows and pick crisp apples straight from the tree, choosing from varieties like royal gala, pink lady, granny smith and kanzi as they ripen through the season. What You Can Pick Apples - mid February to mid May, with royal gala first and pink lady finishing the season Pricing bundles entry with fruit: $12.50 per person includes up to 2kg of apples, couples pay $15 for 2kg, and groups of up to four pay $25 for 4kg. Bring a reusable bag for your haul. Activities Tractor rides around the orchard grounds, bookable in advance Picnicking among the apple trees Farm gate stall for extra fruit to take home Good to Know The orchard opens on selected dates during the season, typically Fridays and weekends, with dates published on the website; private bookings are available year-round for groups. Book your picking session online before making the drive, as open days depend on the crop. Pro tip: different varieties peak at different times, so ask the family what is eating best when you arrive.

Rayner's Orchard is a family-run orchard in Woori Yallock, in the heart of the Yarra Valley about an hour east of Melbourne. Growing more than 450 varieties of fruit across the property, it has something ripening almost every month of the year, from summer peaches and plums to exotic tamarillos, feijoas and pepinos ripening through the year. What You Can Pick Something is ready to pick almost every month of the year, with all U-pick fruit weighed at $7 per kg: Stone fruits - peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums through summer Apples, figs and persimmons - from autumn Citrus and kiwi fruit - oranges, mandarins and lemons through winter and spring Exotics - tamarillos and other rare finds Activities Tractor Fruit Adventure Tours - guided trailer rides through the orchard with fruit tasting straight from the tree Farm animals to meet along the way Peach Cafe serving farm-style meals Good to Know Entry to the cafe and farm shop is free; orchard access and picking is via the booked tractor tour, so reserve online ahead of your visit. Open seven days (closed Christmas Day), roughly 9am to 4pm in the cooler months and until 5pm December to February. Pro tip: tours run regularly through the day, but the first and last tours (around 9.30am and 3.30pm) are quietest.

Otway Blueberries is a family farm at Gellibrand in the Otway Ranges hinterland, growing 100% pesticide-free blueberries since 1994. Six to seven hectares of netted Brigitta and Northland bushes sit in a quiet bush setting, and the no-fuss format has made it a summer institution for Colac and Great Ocean Road holidaymakers. What You Can Pick Blueberries - January to early March, $17 per kg (dropping to $14/kg over 5kg) Activities Picnic spots in the bush setting Otway day trip - waterfalls, redwoods and the Old Beechy Rail Trail are all nearby Good to Know There is no entrance fee; just turn up with your own containers and pick, with a minimum of 1kg per adult. Open daily 9am-5pm in season, including public holidays. Cash and cards accepted. Bus and tour groups should book a couple of weeks ahead; everyone else can simply arrive and start picking. The bush setting means birdlife and the odd kangaroo keep early pickers company, and the mature bushes carry heavy crops through the peak weeks, so even large groups fill their buckets quickly. Allow an hour or two; the rows are long and the picking is steady rather than rushed. Pro tip: the netted rows stay comfortable even on hot days, and February fruit is the sweetest.

The Little Organic Paddock sits right next door to Otway Blueberries at Gellibrand, and has been certified organic since 2019. The family grows Brigitta, Northland and Denise blueberries plus several strawberry varieties, with farm animals to meet and picnic spots that make it the more kid-oriented of the two neighbouring farms. What You Can Pick Blueberries - December to April, $16 per kg ($13/kg over 5kg) Strawberries - December to April, $10 per kg Activities Farm animals for the kids to meet Picnic areas and toilets on site Farm gate extras including organic garlic, blueberry wine vinegar and frozen berries Good to Know No entry fee; open daily 9am-5pm through the season, no bookings needed. Bring your own containers. Ready-picked berries can be arranged with advance notice if someone in the group would rather watch than pick. Certification covers the whole property, so everything from the berries to the garlic is grown to the same organic standard. The farm animals are a reliable hit with younger visitors, and the picnic tables make it easy to turn picking into a slow morning. Bring hats in high summer, as the strawberry rows sit in open sun. Pro tip: do both farms in one trip; they are 100 metres apart and their seasons overlap all summer.

Monbulk Blueberry Farm, formerly known as Mountain Blueberries, sits on its own Blueberry Lane in the Dandenong Ranges about an hour from Melbourne. It is a small, old-fashioned operation: pre-picked punnets at the farm gate for passers-by, and u-pick sessions for its registered customer list in summer. What You Can Pick Blueberries - December to February; u-pick for registered customers, with pre-picked punnets (around $13 per 500g) at the farm gate Activities Farm gate stall for fresh punnets through the season Dandenongs day trip - Monbulk sits between Olinda, Silvan and Emerald attractions Good to Know U-pick is limited to registered customers: email the farm to join the list before the season starts, then book your session. Bring cash, as there is no EFTPOS on site. Prices for picking are confirmed at booking rather than published, and the farm gate runs on the honesty of a true small family business. The farm gate runs on simplicity: punnets picked that morning and no queues, while u-pick sessions are scheduled for when the crop peaks, which keeps the picking generous for those on the list. Punnets sell quickly on weekend mornings in the peak weeks. Pro tip: register in spring; the u-pick list fills before the December flush.

Apted's Orchards has been farmed by the same family at Arthurs Creek since 1912, making it one of the longest-running orchards near Melbourne. Just an hour from the city, the farm combines a genuine working-orchard experience with beautiful valley views, and its roadside stalls at Arthurs Creek and Kinglake West are a local institution for farm-fresh produce and freshly squeezed apple juice. What You Can Pick Cherries - summer, from late November Apples and pears - February to May, across heritage and modern varieties Activities Picnicking among the fruit trees Roadside farm stalls stocked with fruit, vegetables and juice Good to Know U-pick runs on selected weekends only, roughly one weekend a month through the apple and pear season plus summer cherry weekends. Dates and pricing are announced on the farm's website and social media, and sessions are booked online, so plan ahead rather than turning up on spec. The Arthurs Creek stall is open daily if you just want to stock up, and the Kinglake West hut opens from Friday lunchtime through Monday or until sold out. The valley views from the picnic spots reward lingering, and autumn visits pair naturally with the drive through Arthurs Creek and Strathewen countryside. Pro tip: follow their socials; picking weekends are announced there first and popular sessions fill quickly.

Avonsleigh Berries has been run by the Edlinger family since 1980, on Avon Road at Avonsleigh near Emerald in the Dandenong Ranges. The farm grows blueberries and sour morello-style cherries without pesticides, making it one of the very few places near Melbourne where you can pick your own sour cherries for pies, jams and preserving. What You Can Pick Blueberries - December to mid February Sour cherries - summer, available only to u-pickers and farm gate customers Activities Farm gate sales of fresh berries through the season Emerald village and Puffing Billy country a few minutes away Good to Know Booking is essential for u-pick: ring three days to a week ahead, or use the booking request form on the website. U-pick runs from 27 December until the crop sells out, and prices are set each season and confirmed when you book. The farm runs along natural lines with no pesticides, and the sour cherries in particular draw preserving enthusiasts from across Melbourne every summer. Bring containers for the fruit and an esky for the drive home, as both blueberries and sour cherries freeze well; many visitors preserve their haul the same weekend while the fruit is at its peak. Pro tip: sour cherries never reach shops fresh; this is your chance to stock the freezer for a year of pies.

Berry World at Timboon is the Great Ocean Road's pick-your-own stop, about 15 minutes inland from the Twelve Apostles. The strawberry fields come with an unlikely twist: a fully licensed authentic Thai restaurant on the farm, plus a cafe, farm animals including a Clydesdale horse, and even Airbnb accommodation overlooking the rows. What You Can Pick Strawberries - October to April, advertised from $5.50 Activities The Berry Good Thai - licensed Thai restaurant on the farm Farm animals to meet, including the resident Clydesdale Farm stay - on-site accommodation above the strawberry fields Good to Know Open Tuesday evenings from 5pm and Wednesday to Sunday from 11am, with pre-picked berries in the fridge if the fields are picked over. Pricing starts from $5.50; confirm the details on arrival. Timboon's distillery and ice creamery are minutes away for a full food-trail day. Pre-picked punnets wait in the refrigerated display for anyone short on time, and the farm animals keep younger visitors happy between the rows. Timboon itself is a food-trail town, so the farm slots naturally into a day of distillery, cheese and ice cream stops. Pro tip: pick a punnet in the afternoon, then stay for Thai dinner on the farm.

Buninyong Blueberry Farm is one of Victoria's original blueberry farms, established in 1982 on the Midland Highway just south of Buninyong, ten minutes from Ballarat. The farm grows both commercial-grade and prime dessert-grade varieties, and summer picking under the shade trees has been a Ballarat family tradition for four decades. What You Can Pick Blueberries - summer, typically December to March, from the start of the season Activities Picnicking under the shade trees Ballarat pairing - Kryal Castle, Sovereign Hill and Mount Buninyong are all close Good to Know Enter from Innes Lane off the Midland Highway rather than the highway itself. Season dates and prices are announced on the farm's Facebook page each summer, so check before travelling. Weekend opening hours extend once the season is in full swing. Picking is relaxed and unhurried, with buckets provided and no minimum beyond what you choose to take home. The bushes range from head-height old plantings to younger rows, so both adults and children find fruit at a comfortable level. Summer weekends are the busiest window, and weekday mornings offer the quietest picking of the season. Pro tip: dessert-grade varieties are the ones to ask for; they rarely make it to shops.

Big Fella Cherries is a picturesque family-run cherry orchard on Boundary Road in Coldstream, in the heart of the Yarra Valley wine country. The netted rows keep the birds off and the fruit pristine, and the relaxed, no-bookings approach makes it an easy summer day trip from Melbourne. What You Can Pick Cherries - mid November to early January, with eat-as-you-pick included in entry and take-home cherries at $16.50/kg Activities Farm animals - say hello to Big Ben the resident steer Shaded picnic area for a rest after picking The Shed - the farm's roadside stall selling freshly picked cherries during the season Good to Know Admission is $14 on weekdays and $17 on weekends, children $8 and under 5s free. The orchard opens Friday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, during cherry season only, and days can shift with weather and fruit supply, so check the farm's Facebook page before setting out. No bookings are taken; just turn up, grab a bucket and start picking. The netting overhead protects the crop from birds, which keeps the fruit in better condition deep into the season than at many open orchards. Pro tip: cherry quality peaks in December, so aim for the middle of the season for the sweetest fruit.

Cherry Haven is a family-owned u-pick cherry orchard perched on a hillside at Wandin East, with sweeping views over the Yarra Valley less than an hour from Melbourne. With more than 30 varieties of cherries planted across the orchard, every visit offers something different as varieties ripen in waves through the season. What You Can Pick Cherries - late November through December, with take-home fruit weighed at around $15/kg Entry includes all-you-can-eat cherries while you are in the orchard, plus bucket hire and a picking demonstration to get you started. Activities Variety tasting - wander the rows and compare more than 30 cherry varieties Hillside views over the Yarra Valley, perfect for photos Good to Know Entry is about $20 for adults and $10 for children (4-13), with children 3 and under free; weekday entry has historically been cheaper than weekends. Pick more than 5kg per person and you earn a free entry card for your next visit. No pre-booking is required; the farm opens roughly 9am-5pm on weekends and 10am-4pm on weekdays during the season, which depends on the crop, so check their website or socials for opening announcements. Pro tip: the season is short, so aim for early December when the most varieties overlap.

Fielderberry Farm is a family-run u-pick berry farm tucked into the Dandenong Ranges foothills at Cockatoo, about an hour from Melbourne. Visitors praise the relaxed atmosphere, friendly owners and the quality of the berries, reflected in its 4.9 Google rating. What You Can Pick Raspberries - November to April Blueberries - December to March Thornless blackberries - December to March, easy for little hands There is no entrance fee, eating while you pick is welcomed, and you pay only for the berries you take home. Activities Alpaca feeding - kids love meeting the friendly resident alpacas Berry ice cream and Belgian waffles made on site Picnic areas for a lazy afternoon Good to Know The season runs roughly November to April. The farm opens around Thursday to Monday, approximately 9am-5pm, with reduced hours on days over 33C and closures on Code Red fire days, Good Friday and Christmas Day. Seasonal picking prices are announced each summer on the farm's socials. No bookings required. Season and daily opening updates are posted on the farm's social pages, which is the quickest way to confirm picking conditions before the drive up. Pro tip: pair your picking with a waffle; regulars say they are worth the trip on their own.

Waterwheel Orchards is a small farm-gate berry orchard at Boolarra South in the Strzelecki foothills of Gippsland, best known for growing tayberries, a rare raspberry-blackberry cross that almost never appears in shops. Alongside them grow raspberries and blueberries, with jams and sauces made from the harvest. What You Can Pick Raspberries and tayberries - December to February Blueberries - in season, subject to the crop Activities Farm shop with frozen berries, jams and sauces year-round Strzelecki drive - the Grand Ridge Road and Tarra-Bulga National Park are nearby Good to Know Farm pick-up and picking visits are by appointment, so call ahead before making the drive, and bring your own containers. Prices are set each season. The farm's old website is gone; its Facebook page is the active channel for season updates. Tayberries carry a sharper, more aromatic flavour than either parent berry, which is why the small crop has a dedicated following among jam and dessert makers. The frozen berry supply runs year-round, making winter visits worthwhile for stocking up, and the jams and sauces are made on the property from the farm's own fruit. Pro tip: tayberries are the reason to come; ask when they peak, usually around Christmas.

Edible Forest at Dixons Creek is Victoria's largest food forest, with more than 300 edible and medicinal plant species growing across the hillside at Yarra Valley Estate. Featured on ABC's Gardening Australia, it offers a different kind of picking day: a one-hour guided Tour, Taste and Educate walk where you pick and taste whatever is ripe as you go. What You Can Pick Seasonal fruit, berries and edible plants - whatever the forest is offering, picked and tasted with your guide as part of the tour Activities Guided food forest tours through 300+ species On-site nursery selling the plants you taste Picnic hampers available with 48 hours notice Good to Know Tours are $27.50 for adults, $5 for children 4-6 and free under 4 (children 7+ pay adult price; groups of 10+ $22 each), with picking and tasting included in the price rather than paid by weight. Bookings are essential; winter tours run limited days with fewer fruit tastings. Paths suit wheelchairs and prams. The nursery is stocked with many of the same fruit trees, berries and herbs you taste on the walk, so a tour often ends with a boot full of plants for the home garden. Pro tip: book a late-summer tour, when the widest spread of the forest is fruiting at once.

Naturipe Fruit Farm sits on Bacchus Marsh's historic tree-lined Avenue of Honour, less than an hour west of Melbourne. This family-run farm has made the town a favourite destination for pick-your-own, with a long season that rolls from spring strawberries right through to winter apples. What You Can Pick Strawberries - late October to January, $14/kg Cherries - November to January, $15/kg Peaches and nectarines - January to March, $4/kg Apples - March to June, $3.50/kg Persimmons - autumn Activities Farm shop selling fresh fruit and gourmet produce Wander the rows at your own pace with a bucket from the farm staff Good to Know Entry depends on the fruit: strawberry picking is $10 for adults (includes 500g of berries) and $5 for children (includes 250g); cherry picking is $8/$5; and entry is free for peach, nectarine and apple picking; you simply pay by weight. Open roughly 9am-5pm when fruit is available, no bookings needed. Availability changes daily, so check the picking update on the website before you drive out. Buckets are supplied at the entrance, and picked fruit is weighed at the shed on the way out. Pro tip: tree fruit season (free entry, $3.50-4/kg) is one of the best-value picking outings near Melbourne.

Payne's Orchards is a genuine small family orchard on Bacchus Marsh's Avenue of Honour, where generations of the Payne family have grown fruit on the same fertile river flats. Picking here runs as relaxed 40-minute sessions, which keeps the orchard uncrowded and the experience personal. What You Can Pick Cherries - November to December Berries and apricots - December to January Peaches - December to February Nectarines - February to March Apples - February to June All fruit is paid by weight at the checkout as you leave. Activities Group tours and school programs by arrangement Seasonal events through the picking season Farm shop at the checkout Good to Know Entry is $5 per person aged 12 and over, $2 for children 3-11 and free for under 3s, among the cheapest picking entries near Melbourne, and VIP email-list members get their entry refunded at checkout. Sessions start on the hour between 9am and 3pm and must be pre-booked online via TryBooking. The orchard closes over winter once apple season ends around June. The Avenue of Honour setting adds history to the visit, with memorial elms planted after the First World War lining the road to the gate. Pro tip: book a morning session; fruit picked early keeps best on the drive home.

The Berry Dairy at Maffra in central Gippsland is a working dairy farm that took silver at the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards. Five patches of spray-free strawberries anchor the experience, with a petting zoo, playgrounds, a dog park and dairy tractor tours around them. What You Can Pick Strawberries - October to May, spray-free, across five picking patches Activities Petting zoo with animal food included in the Farm Pass Tractor tours of the working dairy Playgrounds, dog park and lavender patch, plus real fruit ice cream at the cafe Good to Know The cafe, shop, dog park and playgrounds are free to enter; picking and the petting zoo are covered by a paid Farm Pass bought on arrival (no pre-booking needed), which includes a strawberry credit toward a punnet. The farm runs seasonally from about October to May and closes over winter. It is a two and a half hour drive from Melbourne, so best planned as part of a Gippsland weekend. The dog park makes it one of the few picking farms where the whole household, four-legged members included, can come along for the day. Pro tip: the Farm Pass includes animal food; arrive early and do the petting zoo before the day heats up.

Emily Hill Farm is a certified organic farm (Australian Certified Organic 3147A) at Dewhurst near Emerald, where the Keon-Cohen family has grown blueberries since 1983. Alongside the u-pick blueberries, the farm gate sells organic lemons, limes, rhubarb, garlic and house-made jams, marmalades and cordials, and even blueberry plants to take home for your own backyard. What You Can Pick Blueberries - mid December to February, $25 per kg, certified organic Activities FarmGate shop with organic produce and preserves Blueberry plants for sale year-round for home growers Good to Know There is no entry fee, but each visitor aged 16 and over picks or pays for at least 1kg. Pre-register for u-pick via the website before visiting; picking days vary, and the farm asks visitors to text rather than call. Cards and cash accepted. Bring your own containers, and leave pets at home. GPS directions can be unreliable, so check the directions on the website before setting out. The FarmGate shop also carries the farm's own garlic and seasonal vegetables when available, and the house-made jams and cordials are produced from fruit grown on the property, all under the same organic certification as the blueberries. Pro tip: certified organic blueberries at $25/kg cost roughly half what they do in an organic grocer.

Warrandyte Berry Farm on Ringwood-Warrandyte Road is one of the closest pick-your-own farms to Melbourne, about 30 minutes from the city, with a loyal local following. Strawberries and blueberries fill the field, and the farm stall's strawberry sauce, jams, sundaes, hot jam donuts and homemade ice cream are half the reason people come. What You Can Pick Strawberries - November to April Blueberries - December to February Seasonal flowers - sunflowers and everlasting daisies in summer Activities Farm stall treats - sundaes, hot jam donuts and homemade ice cream Flower picking for a bunch to take home with the berries Good to Know Open in season Thursday to Sunday, roughly 10am-4.30pm with last field entry at 4.30pm. A recent promotion had entry at $10 adults / $7 children including 1kg of fruit; pricing varies by season, and updates are posted on Facebook and Instagram rather than a website. Being minutes from the eastern suburbs means the farm fills fast on summer weekends, and the picking field can close early once the ripe fruit is cleared, so mornings are the safer bet. Pro tip: order a hot jam donut before you head into the field; they sell out on busy weekends.

Phil Chapman's Cherries and Berries is a small family-run farm at 39 Parker Road, Wandin East, one of three separate Chapman-family farms strung along the same road in Silvan's berry country. It keeps things simple and cheap: pick your own cherries, raspberries and strawberries, or buy from the shed if you would rather not wander the rows. What You Can Pick Cherries - November to December, around $10/kg Raspberries and strawberries - November to January, subject to availability Activities Shed sales of pre-picked fruit through the season Berry country hopping - Blue Hills and Chappies are a minute up the road Good to Know Reported pricing is about $2 entry then $10/kg for what you pick, which is among the cheapest picking around Melbourne, though figures come from directory listings and are worth confirming by phone. Availability shifts with the crop, and updates are posted on the farm's Facebook page. Shed sales run whenever fruit is coming off the trees, picked fresh each morning rather than stored. Parker Road carries three generations of Chapman family farms, and visiting a couple in one loop is a popular way to compare the district's cherries. Pro tip: this is the low-key local alternative when the bigger Parker Road farms are queued out on summer weekends.

Castella Blueberry Farm is a small, no-fuss u-pick blueberry farm on Crooke Road at Castella, near Kinglake in the forested hills about an hour north-east of Melbourne. It is a classic summer-weekend outing: arrive early, pick plump sun-warmed blueberries at your own pace, and take home a haul for the freezer. What You Can Pick Blueberries - January and February, paid by weight Activities Berry picking in the hills - the drive up through Kinglake country is part of the day out Combine your trip with nearby Kinglake attractions and farm gates Good to Know The farm opens weekends from 8am to 5pm during the harvest season, which typically runs through January and February depending on the crop. Picking prices are set each season; phone the farm or check their Facebook page for current prices and crop updates before visiting. Blueberries freeze beautifully, so bring an extra container and stock up while the season lasts. Bring your own containers if you have them, along with hats and water, as the netted rows trap warmth on still summer days. Nearby Kinglake National Park picnic areas round out the trip. Pro tip: blueberries ripen in waves; a return visit a fortnight later can be a whole new crop.

CherryHill Orchards has been growing cherries in the Yarra Valley since 1940, and its Wandin East farm spreads across more than 85 acres of cherry trees about an hour from Melbourne. Each summer the pick-your-own season draws families from across Victoria for a summer harvest tradition stretching back decades. What You Can Pick From November to early January, the orchard opens for timed two-hour picking sessions: Cherries - eat as many as you like straight from the tree while you pick, then pay by the kilo for any you take home Activities Farm gate store famous for its cherry ice cream On-site cafe and sprawling picnic lawns Spring Blossom Festival - a separate dog-friendly event season when the orchard turns white with blossom Good to Know 2025/26 season entry started from $22.50 for adults and $13 for children, with weekend sessions priced higher; infants three and under enter free but still need a ticket, and family tickets are available. Sessions are limited and often sell out, so book ahead online. Wheelchair-accessible paths make the orchard manageable for prams too. Outside the picking and festival seasons the farm is closed, so check the website for dates before planning a visit. Pro tip: weekday sessions are cheaper and noticeably quieter than weekends.

Ripe 'N' Ready Cherry Farm spreads across 24 acres of rolling countryside in Red Hill, on the Mornington Peninsula's green hinterland. This family-run orchard keeps things simple: pay your entry at the farm shop, take a bucket, and eat as many sun-warmed cherries as you like while you wander the rows. What You Can Pick Cherries - mid November to January, all-you-can-eat in the orchard, with take-home fruit weighed on exit at roughly $15-22/kg depending on variety Activities Farm shop open year-round with berries, free-range eggs, honey, stone fruit and garlic in season Orchard wandering - 24 acres of trees means there is always a quiet row to find Good to Know Entry is $25 for adults (15+), $10 for children (3-14) and free for under 3s. No bookings are taken; tickets are bought at the farm shop on arrival, though entry can pause when the orchard is busy. Open 9am-5pm daily in season with last entry at 4pm. The picking window depends on the weather and the crop, so check ahead late in the season. Bring a hat and water in the picking weeks, as the orchard rows offer little shade once the morning cool burns off. Pro tip: mornings offer the coolest picking and the best fruit selection.

Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm occupies the original Sunny Ridge property in Main Ridge, where the Gallace family first planted strawberries in 1964, one of the Peninsula's earliest pick-your-own plantings. Now run by the family's fourth generation, it remains the Peninsula's classic strawberry outing. What You Can Pick Strawberries - November to April Blueberries, raspberries and blackberries - December to February in the mixed-berry fields Entry includes your first punnet: fill a 500g punnet as an adult or a 250g punnet for kids, with extra punnets available ($8 per 500g of strawberries, $16 for other berries). Activities Cafe serving strawberry sundaes and a choc-dip berry bar Farm gate shop stocked with seasonal produce Dogs welcome in the outdoor cafe area (not the fields) Good to Know Strawberry U-Pick is $12 for adults and $6 for children (4-12; under 4 free with a paying adult), or $30 for a family of four; mixed-berry picking is $20/$10/$50. No bookings needed; walk-ins are welcome seven days a week, 10am-5pm in peak season (November-April) and Friday-Sunday over winter. Weather closures are posted on social media. Sunscreen and hats are worth packing, as the fields are open to the sky. Pro tip: berries ripen fastest after a sunny week, so follow the farm's socials for picking conditions.

Sherwood Park Orchard sits on the Old Princes Highway at Bunyip in West Gippsland, about an hour from Melbourne. Each autumn the orchard opens for u-pick so families can pull crisp Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples straight from the tree, with fruit hanging low enough for even toddlers to reach their own. What You Can Pick Pink Lady apples - April to June Granny Smith apples - April to June There is no advertised entry fee; you pay for the apples you pick, with past seasons priced at roughly $3-4 per kg depending on quantity. Activities Bakery cafe with a cosy farmhouse feel, serving coffee and freshly baked treats Farm shop stocked with seasonal fruit, vegetables, jams, sauces, eggs and juices Picnic spots around the property Good to Know The bakery cafe and farm shop open seven days (weekdays from 6am, weekends from 7.30am, both until 5pm), so the farm is worth a stop year-round; u-pick apples run seasonally from about April to June. No bookings needed. Confirm current picking prices with the orchard before visiting. Autumn weekends are the peak window, when the bakery and the orchard are both in full swing. Pro tip: come hungry; the bakery is as much of a drawcard as the apples.

The Bramble Farm in Langwarrin has been family-owned since 1985, growing from just 60 blackberry vines to around 10,000 brambleberry vines and 28,000 raspberry canes on the edge of the Mornington Peninsula. The berries are grown using integrated pest management (bugs to eat the bugs) rather than chemical sprays, and everything in the farm shop, from jams and sauces to juices and honey, is made on site. What You Can Pick Raspberries - November through April Brambleberries - December to February Picked berries are around $25/kg with a minimum pick-your-own purchase of about $10. Activities Playground to burn off post-picking energy Resident ponies to say hello to Coffee and farm shop stocked with house-made preserves Good to Know Entry is about $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 6-15, with under 5s free. The farm shop opens year-round, 9am-5pm daily, selling frozen berries and preserves even in winter; the picking field runs roughly 10am-4pm daily during the November to April harvest. Call ahead to check what is ripe before visiting. The integrated pest management approach means beneficial insects do the work of sprays, a story the family is happy to explain while weighing your berries. Pro tip: brambleberries are hard to find in shops; take a kilo home for the freezer.

The Farm Silvan runs summer u-pick blueberries on the corner of Parker and Monbulk-Silvan Roads at Silvan, in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges' berry country. The bushes sit at child-friendly height, tasting as you pick is encouraged, and the on-site Barn Owl Cafe with its secure kids' yard makes it easy to turn picking into a full morning out. What You Can Pick Blueberries - December to February, eat as you pick, then pay by the kg on exit Activities Barn Owl Cafe with a secure play yard for kids Berry country drive - Blue Hills and the Silvan dam are minutes away Good to Know Book u-pick sessions through the website; hours change with fruit stock and weather each season, so check the booking page or socials before visiting. An entry fee applies to pick, with current amounts shown at booking. The site is the former Hillbilly Farms blueberry property, now refreshed under new operators with the cafe as its heart. Buckets are provided at the gate, and the cafe's secure yard means parents can finish a coffee while children play in sight. Pro tip: low bushes make this one of the easiest picks for toddlers anywhere near Melbourne.

Sunny Creek Organic Berry Farm sits high in the Strzelecki Ranges at Trafalgar South in Gippsland, about 90 minutes east of Melbourne. Phil Rowe and Cathie Taylor have spent more than 30 years building a certified-organic collection of over a hundred varieties, including 40 kinds of raspberries in reds, golds, pinks and purples. What You Can Pick Berry picking runs December to April at $20/kg: Raspberries - December to April, in a rainbow of varieties Blackberries - January to April Boysenberries, loganberries, currants and gooseberries - December to January Strawberries - December to February Heritage apples and chestnuts - autumn Activities Picnicking on the peaceful hillside; BYO food and rug Farm gate shop for pre-picked fruit Good to Know Farm gate entry is $12 for adults and $8 for children (2-12; under 2 free). Bring your own containers and sturdy shoes; this is a working hillside farm, not a manicured attraction. Open 9am-5pm daily through the December-January school holidays (closed Christmas Day); at other times phone ahead to confirm what's ripe and book your visit. Gumboots are a good idea early in the season, when the hillside tracks can stay damp after rain. Pro tip: late summer is raspberry heaven, so ask which unusual varieties are ripe.

Surf Coast Strawberry Fields spreads across roughly 90 acres on the corner of McCanns Road and the Surf Coast Highway at Mount Duneed, between Geelong and Torquay. It is an easy add-on to a Surf Coast beach day: wander the strawberry rows, fill your punnet with sun-ripened fruit, then cool off with an ice cream from the farm store. What You Can Pick Strawberries - November to late April Entry includes your punnet: $10 for adults with a 500g punnet (or $14 for a 1kg punnet) and $7 for children aged 3-12 with a 400g punnet; under 3s are free. A family pack (two adult and two child punnets) is $30. Activities Sunflower patch in summer for photos Farm store with ice cream, cold drinks and strawberry treats Good to Know Opening days and hours vary with the weather and how much ripe fruit is available, so check the website or Facebook before driving out. No bookings are needed, and note the farm takes card payments only. The farm store's ice creams and cold drinks earn their keep on hot afternoons, and the flat rows make for easy walking with prams. Pro tip: visit a day or two after warm weather; that is when the ripe fruit is most plentiful.

The Strawberry Forest grows its chemical-spray-free strawberries vertically on the Avenue of Honour at Bacchus Marsh, an approach that won the Dellios family a 2018 Victorian Rural Water Award. Picking standing up means no bent backs, and the rows are genuinely accessible for prams, wheelchairs and anyone who finds ground-level picking hard. What You Can Pick Strawberries - October to March, around $12/kg, picked at standing height Activities The Fruits of Life farm shop on site, selling the farm's produce Avenue of Honour farm crawl - Naturipe and Payne's Orchards are along the same historic road Good to Know Entry has been reported at $2 per person with under 5s free; confirm on the farm's Facebook page, which is also where daily picking updates land. Berries often sell out by early afternoon, so come in the morning. There are no toilets on site, parking is free but limited, and pets stay out of the rows. The vertical towers also keep fruit off the ground, which means cleaner berries and far less waste after rain, and picking updates are posted daily through the season. Pro tip: standing-height rows make picking comfortable for grandparents, wheelchair users and anyone who prefers not to bend.

Thistleberry Farm grows spray-free blueberries in the foothills of Mount Buninyong at Scotsburn, about 15 minutes from Ballarat and 90 minutes from Melbourne. First harvested in the summer of 2020, it has become a popular picking outing for the Ballarat district, with a relaxed setup where all equipment is provided and kids can roam the rows. What You Can Pick Blueberries - late December to March, $20 per kg with a minimum 1kg per car Activities Farm stall with cold drinks and icy poles on hot days Mount Buninyong lookout and Ballarat attractions close by Good to Know No entry fee and no bookings needed; hours are generally 8am-8pm daily except Mondays, but they shift with the crop, so check the farm's Facebook or Instagram before driving out. Pre-picked orders can be placed through the website. Leave dogs at home; a working Maremma guardian dog lives on the farm. All picking equipment is provided at the stall, and pre-picked and frozen berries cover anyone who misses the season. The block sits high enough for cool evenings even in January, which is what the long twilight picking hours are built around. Pro tip: the long evening hours mean you can pick in the cool after a Ballarat day out.

The Orchard at Montague is the home orchard of Montague, one of Australia's biggest fruit companies, at Narre Warren North beside Lysterfield Park. Picking here runs as a guided 40-minute Pick-Your-Own Fruit and Orchard Tour, with a kilogram of fruit included in every ticket, and the site also hosts Bill's Orchard Gate farm shop and the Stella's Kitchen restaurant. What You Can Pick Stone fruit - peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots from December Apples and pears - February to May Activities Guided orchard tours with picking included Bill's Orchard Gate farm shop and Stella's Kitchen restaurant Good to Know Tours cost $20 for adults (13+) and $10 for children 6-12, 5 and under free, with an automatic family-of-four discount, and each ticket includes 1kg of picked fruit. Tours run weekends at 9.30am and 11.30am in season and must be booked online at least 24 hours ahead. The shop and restaurant open daily. Between tours, the farm shop sells the orchard's fruit alongside Montague's broader range, Stella's Kitchen serves a full menu overlooking the trees, and the Lysterfield Park trails next door make it easy to build a full day around a morning tour. Pro tip: the December stone fruit tours are the pick of the calendar; book the 9.30am slot before the heat.

Gentle Annie Berry Gardens sits in the Pennyroyal Valley behind Lorne, in the Otways hinterland about two hours from Melbourne. It pairs pick-your-own strawberries and mixed berries with a licensed farmhouse cafe, which makes it a favourite detour for Great Ocean Road travellers wanting Devonshire tea with their picking. What You Can Pick Strawberries and mixed berries - Melbourne Cup weekend (early November) to the end of April Activities Licensed farmhouse cafe with Devonshire teas, berry pie and ice cream Farm shop selling house-made preserves, cordials, sauces and sorbet Summer Friday nights from 5pm with dinners and live music Good to Know Open daily through the season, but closed Thursdays in November, February and March, with seasonal hours; check before travelling. There is no shade in the berry rows, so bring hats and sunscreen for summer picking. Prices are set each season at the farm. The kitchen leans on the harvest, with berry pies, sundaes and preserves made from fruit grown metres away, and the farm shop's cordials and sauces travel well as gifts. The Pennyroyal Valley drive itself, winding through green dairy country behind the Otways, is one of the quiet pleasures of the trip. Pro tip: a summer Friday night visit gets you berries at golden hour and dinner with live music after.

Kinglake Raspberries is a 25-hectare family raspberry farm at Pheasant Creek, tucked into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range about an hour north-east of Melbourne. It is a wonderfully simple operation: grab a picking basket, get a quick demonstration if it is your first visit, and head into one of six blocks of raspberry canes to fill it with sun-ripened fruit. What You Can Pick Summer raspberries - mid December to the end of January Autumn raspberries - late March to June, with the best picking in April and May Each basket holds about a kilogram, and you pay only for what you pick. Activities Farm shop with pre-picked and frozen berries, jams and sauces Two picking seasons, so you can come back months apart for a completely different visit Good to Know There is no entry fee; you simply pay by weight for your berries, with current prices announced by phone and on social media. Open daily during picking season (closed Christmas Day), recently 8am-6pm in summer, and open weekdays between seasons for frozen berries and preserves. No bookings needed, but call ahead or check socials for crop updates before a long drive. Pro tip: the autumn crop is quieter than the summer holidays rush, and April picking is superb.

Kookaberry Strawberry Farm is Frances and Tony Caltieri's family farm on Lewis Road at Wandin North, in the strawberry heartland of the Yarra Valley. Beyond the picking rows, the farmgate shop has a serious reputation: its jams, syrups and vinegars won multiple medals at the 2024 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, including Champion for the raspberry balsamic vinegar. What You Can Pick Strawberries - November to April, subject to the crop Activities Farmgate shop with award-winning jams, syrups and vinegars made on site Group visits - buses welcome by appointment Good to Know Opening times move with the fruit season, so check Facebook or Instagram, or call ahead before visiting; the farm closes Christmas Day and Easter Day. Everything made on site is 100% Australian grown with no preservatives or artificial additives, which is why the pantry shelf empties as fast as the picking field. Strawberry availability moves week to week through the season, and the family posts picking updates on social media so visitors can time their run for ripe fruit. The preserves are made in small batches from the farm's own harvest, which is why the award shelf keeps growing and the stock keeps selling out. Pro tip: whatever you pick, leave room in the basket for a bottle of the champion raspberry balsamic.

Lomas Orchards has been growing fruit at Wallington on the Bellarine Peninsula since 1938, and is best known today for its heritage apple varieties and its long-running pick-your-own strawberries. The farm shop and cafe pour locally roasted coffee, making it an easy stop between Geelong and Ocean Grove. What You Can Pick Strawberries - roughly November to May, paid by weight Apples, pears and stone fruit are sold through the farm shop as they come into season. Activities Farm shop and cafe with heritage apples and local coffee Workshops - pruning and grafting classes run May to August, with apple tastings and educational tours by booking Good to Know Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, with hours varying between winter and summer; check their Facebook before visiting. The farm is cash only (nearest ATMs at Leopold, Ocean Grove or the Wallington servo) and pets are not allowed for biosecurity reasons. The heritage apple varieties are the farm's quiet specialty, with tastings that introduce visitors to apples that never reach supermarket shelves. Winter pruning and grafting workshops pass on skills from nearly ninety years of continuous orcharding, and places book out quickly once dates are announced each autumn. Pro tip: come in autumn to pair strawberry picking with the heritage apple tastings.

Tuckerberry Hill Berry Farm has been run by the same family at Drysdale since 1980 and is the Bellarine Peninsula's only pick-your-own blueberry farm, with panoramic views towards Port Phillip Bay. The blueberry rows are netted and shaded, making for comfortable picking even in the middle of summer. What You Can Pick Blueberries - mid December to early February Strawberries - mid October to December, then late February to late March There is no entry fee reported; you pay by weight for what you pick. Activities Cafe serving blueberry pancakes, muffins, ice cream and coffee Farm animals to meet and a local produce market Twilight picking sessions on summer evenings Good to Know The farm is highly seasonal: blueberry picking runs 9am-5pm daily over the summer school holidays and weekends thereafter, while strawberry picking runs on weekends in its two windows. Outside the season the orchard closes and produce is sold at the Bellarine Farmgate Market on Murradoc Road, Drysdale. No bookings required. Berries are weighed at the cafe on the way out, where the blueberry pancakes and muffins round off a morning in the rows. Pro tip: a twilight session in January beats the heat and the crowds in one move.