Find cherry picking near Melbourne at 12 farms within about 90 minutes of the CBD. The typical season runs November to January — check each farm's current status below and call ahead before you set out.
Cherry picking near Melbourne is dominated by the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, with further options on the Mornington Peninsula, giving you one of the biggest clusters of cherry orchards near any Australian capital. The season typically runs November through January, peaking in December, though a handful of Dandenongs farms stretch on into early February.
Most orchards sit under an hour from the city, through Silvan, Wandin East and Coldstream, or down to Red Hill on the Peninsula. CherryHill Orchards at Coldstream and Wandin East is a well-known standout, with more than 40 cherry varieties across its two sites, on-site cafes and a kids' play area, and its weekday-versus-weekend pricing structure is a useful guide to what similar orchards charge. Because so many farms cluster within a small area, it pays to check a couple of options before you commit, since some sell out on the busiest weekends before Christmas.
| Farm | Status | Typical season | Entry / price | Booking | Kids | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avonsleigh Berries | Closed for season | early Dec-mid Feb | Estimated family cost $20-$50; cash only | Booking required | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Big Fella Cherries | Closed for season | Nov-Jan approx (Christmas/summer period) | Entry fee applies plus fruit picked charged separately | — | Yes | About an hour north-east of Melbourne |
| Blue Hills Berries and Cherries | Closed for season | Nov-Jan; Nov-Feb | Cherry Blossom Show from $15; U-Pick cherries from $18 adult / $9 kid (4+); weekday/weekend pricing varies | Booking required | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Cherry Haven | Closed for season | mid Dec-Jan | $20 per adult; $10 for ages 4-13; under 3 free | Booking recommended | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| CherryHill Orchards | Closed for season | late Nov-early Jan | Weekdays approx $22.50 adult/$13 kids; weekends approx $25 adult/$15 kids; family packages available; all-you-can-eat while picking | Booking required | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Lanidale 'The Cherry Well' | Closed for season | Nov-Jan | $18 per adult; $15 per kilogram of cherries (per one source) | — | — | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Payne's Orchards | Closed for season | November to December; December to February | — | Booking required | Yes | In the Macedon Ranges, about an hour north-west of Melbourne |
| Rayner's Orchard | Closed for season | Nov-Dec; Dec-Mar | Guided tractor tour with tasting and u-pick; pricing not published (booking required via FareHarbor) | Booking required | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Ripe 'N' Ready Cherry Farm | Closed for season | mid Nov-mid Jan | Orchard entry (all-you-can-eat in orchard): $25 adults (15+), $10 children (3-15), under 3 free; cherries to take home $15-22/kg | — | Yes | About an hour south of Melbourne |
| Chapmans Berry and Fruit Farm (Chappies U-Pick) | Unconfirmed · call ahead | mid Nov-Jan | Call ahead | — | Yes | About an hour east of Melbourne |
| Cobrahah Orchards | Unconfirmed · call ahead | Nov-Jan approx | Call ahead | — | — | About an hour north-east of Melbourne |
| Silvan Cherry and Berry Farm | Unconfirmed · call ahead | Nov-Jan | Call ahead | — | — | About an hour east of Melbourne |
12 farms
Avonsleigh · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Coldstream · Yarra Valley
About an hour north-east of Melbourne
Silvan · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Wandin East · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Wandin East / Coldstream · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Wandin North · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Bacchus Marsh · Macedon Ranges
In the Macedon Ranges, about an hour north-west of Melbourne
Woori Yallock · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Red Hill · Mornington Peninsula
About an hour south of Melbourne
Silvan · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Wandin East · Yarra Valley
About an hour north-east of Melbourne
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Silvan · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
All cherry picking in Australia Cherry picking in Victoria All pick-your-own near Melbourne
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
The two main clusters are the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges around Silvan, Wandin East and Coldstream, with another option at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula. This is one of the largest concentrations of cherry orchards near any Australian capital, so you have real choice on variety, price and crowd levels. Compare a couple of listings before you go, since busy weekends can sell out fast.
Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges orchards around Silvan and Coldstream are roughly 45 minutes to an hour east of the CBD via the Maroondah or Warburton Highway. The Mornington Peninsula option at Red Hill is a similar distance south. Both routes get busy on December weekends, so allow extra travel time and consider a weekday visit if your schedule allows it.
The Yarra Valley and Dandenongs cherry season generally runs from November to January, with December the reliable peak across most orchards. A few Dandenong Ranges farms continue picking into early February in a cooler year. The Mornington Peninsula follows a similar mid-November to end-of-January pattern. Because timing shifts with the weather, call the orchard the week before you plan to visit.
Many of the bigger, better-known orchards, including CherryHill Orchards, Cherry Haven and the Silvan cherry farms, recommend or require booking, especially for weekend visits in the December peak. Some smaller growers take walk-ins without a formal system. Given how popular this district gets over the Christmas period, booking ahead where it's offered is the safer bet.
