In September, citrus picking is in season near Sydney. We list 12 farms within about 90 minutes of the city — compare seasons, prices and booking below, then call ahead to confirm what's ripe.
Citrus picking near Sydney clusters in two spots: the Hawkesbury around Laughtondale and Sackville, and the Central Coast hinterland around Somersby and Peats Ridge. Both run on a similar winter calendar, with mandarins, oranges, lemons and limes typically ready from May through September and peaking around June and July, which makes the depths of winter the best time to go.
Nearly all these farms are within about 90 minutes of the city, making for an easy day trip along the Hawkesbury River or up through the Central Coast hinterland. Ford's Farm at Laughtondale is a lovely spot to start, with riverside picnic tables and coffee and cakes for sale alongside its per-kilogram citrus pricing. Expect muddy riverside tracks after rain, and call ahead — winter picking days can be cancelled at short notice if the paddocks are too wet to walk.
| Farm | Status | Typical season | Entry / price | Booking | Kids | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Farm | In season | Jun-Aug approx (2026 season opened 6 Jun) | $5 entry for adults/10+ | — | Yes | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
| Eastcoast Beverages (Bambino's on the Farm) | In season | Single annual ticketed event, early June (part of the Central Coast Harvest Festival) -- confirmed 8 June 2025 and 7 June 2026, 10am-3pm. No evidence of standing/season-long pick-your-own access outside this event. | 2025/2026 'Bambino's on the Farm' event tickets: Adult (13+) $10, Child (12 and under) $5, free for children 12 months and under; optional tractor ride add-on $10 per person. Every entry ticket includes a fruit bag to pick oranges in the orchard. | Booking required | Yes | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| Ford's Farm | In season | May-Jul (2026 season opens 9 Jun) | $5 per car entry; $5/kg mandarins, limes, lemons, oranges; $12/kg cumquats | Booking required | Yes | Around the Sydney basin |
| Goodmayes Orchard | In season | Harvest Festival period (Jun) | — | Booking required | Yes | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| Hillsdale Citrus Orchard | In season | — | Pay-per-bucket pricing at the gate: one detailed 2012-era visitor account (Pauline Morrissey blog) reports being given a bucket to fill for $12; a separate secondhand reference cites $10. No current price confirmed from a 2024-2026 source. | Booking recommended | Yes | About 2 hours north of Sydney |
| Meliora Farm | In season | Jun-Dec (selected weekends); varies | — | Booking required | — | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong (Cedar Farm) | In season | Jul-Dec (weekends in winter, peak Nov-Dec and Jul-Oct) | Pay for what you pick (per kg/bag pricing at gate) | No booking needed | Yes | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| S & S Peruch Avocado Farm | In season | — | — | Booking required | Yes | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| TNT Produce | In season | Jan-Jun (approx late Oct/Nov opening, apples through June) | Online entry fee booking required; remainder (picked produce) paid on-site | Booking required | Yes | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
| Watkins Family Farm | In season | May-Sep | Minimum $12.50 per bucket; $2 per bag animal feed | No booking needed | Yes | Around the Sydney basin |
| Wyuna Farms | In season | Nov-Aug (varies), peak Dec-Feb and Jan | Approx $15 per bag | — | — | About 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| Bilpin Springs Orchard | Unconfirmed · call ahead | year-round | Call ahead | No booking needed | Yes | Around the Sydney basin |
12 farms
Sackville North · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Kulnura · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Laughtondale · Sydney Basin
Around the Sydney basin
Somersby · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Milbrodale · Hunter Valley
About 2 hours north of Sydney
Peats Ridge · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Dooralong · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Somersby · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Laughtondale · Sydney Basin
Around the Sydney basin
Kulnura · Central Coast
About 90 minutes north of Sydney
Bilpin · Sydney Basin
Around the Sydney basin
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
All citrus picking in Australia Citrus picking in New South Wales All pick-your-own near Sydney
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
There are two main clusters: the Hawkesbury River farms around Laughtondale and Sackville, and the Central Coast hinterland around Somersby, Peats Ridge and Dooralong. Both are within about 90 minutes of the CBD and grow a similar mix of oranges, mandarins, lemons and limes. With this many options, it's worth picking one cluster for your day out rather than combining both in a single trip.
The Hawkesbury farms around Laughtondale and Sackville are about an hour north-west of the city via Wisemans Ferry or the Hawkesbury River, while the Central Coast hinterland orchards are a similar distance north via the M1 and Peats Ridge Road. Both routes involve some winding country roads, so allow extra time, especially if you're bringing a picnic along for the day.
The main citrus season here runs through winter, roughly May to September, with June and July the peak — meaning midwinter is genuinely the best time to visit, not the quiet season it is for berries or stone fruit. A few Central Coast growers also pick valencia oranges later, into autumn. Ring ahead, since a wet week can close paddocks to walkers temporarily.
Most farms charge by the kilogram rather than a big entry fee. Ford's Farm asks $5 per car plus around $5 a kilo for mandarins, limes, lemons and oranges, with cumquats a little dearer at $12 a kilo. Watkins Family Farm sets a minimum bucket charge instead. Because models differ across farms, check pricing when you call to confirm the visit.
