Thistleberry Farm

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.