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Pick Your Own Farms

Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider)

Pick your own apples, peaches, nectarines and plums in Darkes Forest, NSW · plus farm experiences

In season soon Pick-your-own & farm experiences
Last verified 24 Aug 2026 Farm details can change. Check before travelling.
Illawarra & Southern Highlands
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Is Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) open right now?

Out of season

September falls outside every picking window this farm has recorded. The next one opens in November.

Last verified 24 Aug 2026

Six-generation family orchard on ~100 acres with 22,500 fruit trees, in the northern Illawarra escarpment near Dharawal National Park. Bookings essential for picking tours. Partnership with Earthwalker & Co. for onsite food. Listed as pet-friendly (enquire) by Visit Wollongong.

What you can pick and when

Swipe to see all months. Windows are typical for this state — call ahead to confirm what's ripe.

Typical picking months at this farm
Crop Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Apples Available Peak Peak Peak Available
Peaches Peak Available Available Peak Peak
Nectarines Peak Available Available Peak Peak
Plums Peak Available Available Peak Peak

Farm experiences

Beyond picking, Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) offers hands-on farm experiences. Each runs on its own schedule and availability can change, so check with the farm before you travel.

Farm tours & Tractor & wagon rides

Currently offered

Farm-experience tours and Orchard Explorer/blossom tractor rides provide an interpreted look at orchard operations; cider/mead tasting is also available.

Access
Booking required — Book ahead; sessions can sell out.
Booking
Bookings essential for farm-experience tours and scheduled rides.
Price
Varies by event; confirm on What's On/booking page.
When
Tours and rides on scheduled dates; picking seasonal; farm shop/tastings broader year-round.

Confirmed from the farm's own website on 19 Jul 2026. Availability, times and prices can change, so check with the farm before you travel. Source: Official farm website.

Getting there

259 Darkes Forest Road, Darkes Forest NSW 2508. In the Southern Highlands and Illawarra, around 90 minutes from Sydney.

Where Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) is

View farm list

1 farm

Before you go

Bring a hat, closed shoes, water and cash or a card for what you pick. Rows can be uneven underfoot, so a pram may be harder going in wet weather. This farm is listed as suitable for children.

Check before you drive

Seasons shift with the weather. Always call the farm to confirm what's ripe and that they're open before you drive out.

Nearby farms in Illawarra & Southern Highlands

Closed for season Last verified 18 Jul 2026

Pinehaven Chestnut Farm

Wingello · Illawarra & Southern Highlands

Season
Mid-March to late April, weekends only
Price
$10 per kg for handpicked chestnuts, plus $5 per car entrance fee
Open
Weekends, 10am-4pm, during chestnut season
Booking
No booking needed
View farm
DirectionsCall
In season Last verified 17 Jul 2026

Southern Highlands Flower Farm

Penrose · Illawarra & Southern Highlands

Season
Mar-Apr; Sep-Oct
Price
'Golden Hour' Pick-Your-Own Bouquet Experience approx.
Open
NOT open to the public outside of ticketed Flower Farm Experiences
Booking
Booking required
View farm
Directions

See more picking near you

Explore farm experiences

Before you visit

Practical reading for the trip out to Darkes Forest.

Last verified 24 Aug 2026. We check listings against farms' own sources and re-verify regularly. How we verify Report a change

Sources: Official farm website, Official farm website, visitnsw.com, foodfairnessillawarra.org.au, visitwollongong.com.au. Is this your farm? Tell us what's changed.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book to visit Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider)?

Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) is recorded as follows — booking required. That can change week to week, and peak weekends go early — worth checking the farm's website before you set out.

What can you pick at Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider), and when?

Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) at Darkes Forest grows Apples, Peaches, Nectarines and Stone Fruit. Picking usually runs from mid-Nov; late Jan to end of Apr. A warm or wet run can pull that forward or push it back, so check the current state of the crop first.

What facilities does Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) have?

Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) has a cafe or farm shop, according to what the farm has told us. Facilities not named above simply haven't been confirmed either way. Ask ahead if you're relying on shade, parking close to the rows, or paying by card.

Is Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) good to visit with young kids?

The details we hold mark Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) as child-friendly. The farm also has a cafe or farm shop, which helps on a longer visit. Rows can be uneven and some crops need ladders, so for a visit with toddlers it's worth a quick call to confirm what suits their age.