Pick your own fruit farms in the ACT
The ACT's pick-your-own scene is small but distinctive, most of it clustered in the Canberra Region around Pialligo, just minutes from the city centre. Tanbella Orchard is the mainstay, with apples, pears, nashi pears, peaches and quinces typically ready from January through to May and peaking in autumn. Nearby, Pialligo Apples adds its own apple and pumpkin patch, and Pialligo Harvest runs pick-your-own chillies and vegetables through the warmer months. Out at Majura, families head to a sunflower maze and cut-your-own corn in late summer, and in December Christmas Tree Keng in Canberra lets you cut your own tree. Cherries ripen briefly around the Canberra region from December into January.
Regions in the ACT
Crops you can pick here
All farms
5 farms
| Farm | Region | Crops | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Tree Keng | Canberra Region | Fresh produce | Dec 1-24 (trades approx 3 weeks in December) | Closed for season |
| Majura Valley Farm | Canberra Region | Sunflowers and flowers | Mar (weekend event, dates vary yearly) | Closed for season |
| Pialligo Harvest | Canberra Region | Fresh produce | Jan-Mar (approx, closed outside season) | Closed for season |
| Pialligo Apples | Canberra Region | Apples and pumpkins | Call ahead | Unconfirmed · call ahead |
| Tanbella Orchard | Canberra Region | Apples, peaches and pears | Feb-May | Unconfirmed · call ahead |
Frequently asked questions
When is fruit picking season in the ACT?
There's no single season — the ACT's main pick-your-own window runs from January to May at Pialligo, where apples, pears, nashi pears and peaches ripen through summer and autumn. Sunflowers and chillies are typically ready in late summer, cherries have a short window from December to January, and Christmas Tree Keng opens for cut-your-own trees in December. Always check with the farm before you drive out.
Do I need to book to go fruit picking in the ACT?
It varies by farm. Tanbella Orchard and Pialligo Apples typically run casual weekend picking during their open months, while smaller operations such as Pialligo Harvest and Majura Valley Farm's sunflower maze are more likely to ask you to check opening days or book ahead, especially for weekend visits or larger groups. Confirm directly with the farm before you drive out.
Where can I pick apples near Canberra?
Pialligo, just east of the city centre, is the ACT's apple-picking hub. Tanbella Orchard typically has apples ready from January through to May, alongside pears, nashi pears and peaches, with picking usually peaking in autumn. Pialligo Apples, nearby, also runs a pick-your-own apple and pumpkin patch. Both are a short drive from central Canberra, so check current opening days before heading out.
Can you pick cherries in the ACT?
Cherry picking in the ACT is limited and short-lived, with orchards in the Canberra region typically open from December into January. Many Canberra families instead drive north to Young, in NSW, where a much larger cherry harvest runs from November through to February. Whichever you choose, cherries are especially weather-sensitive, so call ahead to confirm the trees are still fruiting.
Where can I pick sunflowers or pumpkins near Canberra?
Majura Valley Farm runs a sunflower maze that typically opens in late summer, from February into March, with cut-your-own corn alongside it. Pialligo Apples grows pumpkins for picking later in the year. Both are family-friendly outdoor outings close to Canberra, but opening dates depend on the season and weather, so check the farm's page before you visit.