In September, citrus picking is in season in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. We list 19 pick-your-own citrus farms across Australia — check the season table below for your state, then browse farms near your city.
Citrus is a winter crop across most of Australia, which makes it one of the few pick-your-own fruits in season through the middle of winter. NSW's Central Coast and Hawkesbury districts run a navel orange, mandarin and lemon season from roughly May to September, peaking June to August, while Queensland's Mundubbera district — known as the Mandarin Capital — picks April to September, peaking June-July. Victoria's Yarra Valley and WA's Chittering Valley and Perth Hills follow a similar May-to-September winter window, peaking July-August. Some Central Coast growers also pick Valencia oranges through summer and autumn, extending citrus availability for part of the year. In the Northern Territory's Top End, lemons and limes are available over an unusually long stretch from March to December. Most orchards charge by weight or by bag, with typical pricing around $5 a kilogram for oranges, mandarins and lemons, or roughly $12 to $15 for a filled bag or bucket, plus a small car or entry fee at some farms.
Citrus picking in Australia runs roughly May to September across most southern states, with the main peak falling in June to August when navel oranges, mandarins and lemons are at their best. The season opens earliest in Queensland — the Mundubbera and Gayndah districts of the North Burnett typically start in April — while NSW's Central Coast and Hawkesbury orchards, Victoria's Dandenong Ranges, and WA's Perth Hills and Chittering Valley all follow a similar June-to-August peak. Some NSW growers extend their season well into spring and summer with Valencia oranges, which ripen later than navels. At the opposite end of the calendar, the Northern Territory's Top End offers lemons and limes over an unusually long window from around March to December. Always call ahead or check an orchard's social media before visiting — citrus volumes vary between orchards and seasons, and smaller operations often close for the day once picking is done.
| Variety | Ripens | States | Flavour notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navel orange | Jun–Aug | NSW, VIC, WA, QLD | Sweet, seedless, easy to peel — the classic winter eating orange |
| Valencia orange | Sep–Jan (and some year-round) | NSW, WA | Slightly tart, juicy, excellent for fresh juice; some seeds |
| Mandarin (Imperial) | May–Jul | NSW, QLD, WA | Delicate, sweet, easy to peel; one of the earliest mandarins |
| Mandarin (Murcott / Honey) | Jul–Sep | NSW, QLD | Rich flavour, high sugar content, some seeds |
| Lemon (Eureka) | Year-round, peak Jun–Sep | NSW, VIC, WA | Sharp and aromatic, the most common backyard and orchard lemon |
| Lime | Mar–Dec (NT); Jun–Sep (southern states) | NT, NSW, WA | Intensely tart; great for cooking and drinks |
| Grapefruit | Jun–Sep | NSW, WA, VIC | Bittersweet; less common in PYO orchards but available at a few |
Sydney has two main citrus-picking areas within 60–90 minutes of the CBD. The Central Coast — around Dooralong and Kulnura — is home to Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong (Cedar Farm), which runs a long navel and Valencia orange season from July through December on weekends, and Wyuna Farms in Kulnura, with a season centred around summer. The Hawkesbury district, closer to the city, has Ford's Farm at Laughtondale (mandarins, oranges, lemons and limes, $5/kg, season opens June) and Anderson Farm at Sackville North (navel and Seville oranges, mandarins, lemons, June–August). See the full citrus picking near Sydney guide for current details.
The Central Coast orchards that serve Sydney are also the closest citrus-picking option for Newcastle visitors heading south — Dooralong and Kulnura sit roughly 45–70 minutes from the Newcastle CBD. Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong (Cedar Farm) is particularly accessible, with no bookings required, a coffee cart on site and a dog-friendly policy. See the citrus picking near Newcastle page for the full list of farms and current opening details.
Perth's citrus-picking farms are split between the Perth Hills (Pickering Brook, about 45 minutes south-east) and the Swan Valley (around 30 minutes north-east). The Fruit Corner in Pickering Brook charges a small entry fee with produce priced per kilogram, Core Cider House in Pickering Brook runs seasonal citrus-picking events — check their website for dates — and The Orchard Perth in Lower Chittering includes citrus among its guided Orchard Tractor Ride. The season runs roughly June to September. See the citrus picking near Perth guide for booking requirements and current pricing.
Swipe to see all months. Peak and available windows are typical only and shift with the weather.
| State | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | ||
| Victoria | Available | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | |||||||
| Queensland | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | ||||||
| Western Australia | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Available | |||||||
| Northern Territory | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available |
Sackville North · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Hanwood · Riverina & South Coast
Kulnura · Central Coast
Laughtondale · Sydney Basin
Mary Farms · Far North Queensland
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Pickering Brook · Perth Hills
Henley Brook · Swan Valley
Pickering Brook · Perth Hills
Lower Chittering · Swan Valley
Ripe citrus should feel heavy for its size and come away from the branch with a gentle twist rather than a hard pull; a dull or slightly dented skin often ripens sooner than perfectly glossy fruit. Colour is a reasonable guide for oranges and mandarins, though some varieties stay partly green even when ripe. Citrus keeps well after picking — most oranges, mandarins and lemons will last two to three weeks in the fridge, or about a week in a cool spot on the bench.
Read our full When can you pick citrus in Australia (and how to spot a ripe one)?
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
Citrus picking is mainly a winter crop, running roughly May to September across the Central Coast, Yarra Valley and Perth Hills, peaking June to August. Queensland's Mundubbera district starts a little earlier, from April, and also peaks around June-July. Some NSW growers extend into summer with Valencia oranges, and NT lemons are available from March through to December.
Pricing is usually by weight or by bag, commonly around $5 a kilogram for oranges, mandarins and lemons. Ford's Farm at Laughtondale charges $5 a kilogram for mandarins, limes, lemons and oranges (more for cumquats), while Wyuna Farms in Kulnura charges about $15 a bag and Watkins Family Farm asks a minimum $12.50 per bucket. Some farms also add a small car or entry fee.
Yes. The Central Coast, about an hour to 90 minutes from the CBD, is Sydney's main citrus-picking district, with growers including Meliora Farm, Wyuna Farms and Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong (Cedar Farm) picking navel oranges, mandarins and lemons roughly May to September. The Hawkesbury district, closer to Sydney, also has citrus at farms like Ford's Farm and Watkins Family Farm over a similar winter window.
Yes. The Yarra Valley, about an hour from the Melbourne CBD, has citrus picking from roughly June to October, peaking July-August, with growers such as Rayner's Orchard listing oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons among their winter and spring produce. As with most citrus orchards, it's a smaller crop alongside other fruit, so call ahead to confirm what's ready.
Pick-your-own citrus orchards typically grow navel and Valencia oranges, mandarins, lemons and limes, with a few also offering grapefruit or cumquats. Which varieties are ready shifts through the winter season as navels give way to later mandarins and Valencias, so it's worth asking the orchard what's currently being picked when you call to check opening times.
Not citrus — Orange is a cool-climate inland town in the Central West of NSW, best known for apples, cherries and cool-climate stone fruit. The region's altitude and cold winters suit those crops, not orange groves. For PYO citrus in NSW, the Central Coast and Hawkesbury districts are the go-to areas. See the Orange & Central West region page for farms near that town.
Citrus grown from supermarket seed rarely produces fruit true to the parent variety and can take a decade to fruit — grafted nursery trees from a reputable grower are a far faster path to a productive backyard lemon, mandarin or orange tree.
