Bellevue Orchard

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.