Should I pick Fuyu or Hachiya persimmons?

For most people, Fuyu is the better choice for pick-your-own. Fuyu persimmons are non-astringent and can be eaten while still firm, like an apple — no waiting required. Hachiya persimmons must be fully soft before eating, which means you may need to let them ripen at home for a week or more after picking. Most Australian U-pick farms grow Fuyu or Fuyu-type varieties, but confirm with the farm before you pick.

Where can I pick persimmons near Sydney?

The closest cluster is in Galston (Sydney Hills District), about 45 minutes from Sydney CBD, where Aviani Persimmon Farm and The Persimmon Place both offer pick-your-own persimmons. Bilpin, about 90 minutes northwest via the Great Western Highway, also has persimmons at Bilpin Fruit Bowl and TNT Produce alongside apple picking. Cedar Creek Orchard in Thirlmere is an option for visitors from Sydney's southwest.

Do persimmons need to be fully ripe before I pick them?

It depends on the variety. Fuyu persimmons can be picked and eaten while firm — no ripening required. Hachiya persimmons, by contrast, must be left to soften fully before eating; if you pick them firm, you will need to leave them at room temperature for a week or more until they are jelly-soft. Ask farm staff which variety is available and whether the fruit on the trees is ready to eat.

Are there pick your own persimmon farms in Western Australia?

Yes. The Perth Hills area has two options: Weemala Orchard in Carmel, which specialises in persimmons, and Core Cider House in Pickering Brook, which grows persimmons alongside apples, pears, citrus, and plums. Core Cider House runs fruit picking as ticketed events advertised via its website and social media. Both farms are around 40 minutes from Perth CBD.

Do I need to book before visiting a persimmon farm?

Most pick-your-own persimmon farms in Australia recommend or require bookings, especially on weekends in peak season (April–May). TNT Produce in Bilpin requires an online entry fee booking in advance. Core Cider House in the Perth Hills runs specific ticketed picking events. For other farms, check the individual farm page and call ahead to confirm availability and opening hours before you travel.

Crop guide

Pick Your Own Persimmons in Australia

Q: When is persimmon season in Australia?

Persimmon season runs from March through to June — autumn in Australia. Peak season is typically April and May. This makes persimmons one of the few pick-your-own crops available well into the cooler months, after most summer stone fruit and berry seasons have finished. Exact timing varies by farm and location, so call ahead before visiting.

Persimmons are one of autumn's most distinctive crops — deep orange, rich-flavoured, and available exactly when most summer fruit is finished. While not every region has them, a handful of dedicated persimmon farms and mixed orchards across New South Wales and Western Australia open for pick-your-own from March through June, giving you a proper reason to head into the countryside well into the cooler months. This guide covers every farm, the key variety question you need to answer before you visit, and what to expect on the day.

By Pick Your Own Farms editorial team · Reviewed 21 Jul 2026

Understanding persimmon varieties: Fuyu vs Hachiya

Before you visit any persimmon farm, it helps to know the difference between the two varieties you are likely to encounter at pick-your-own operations.

Fuyu persimmons are non-astringent. You can eat them when they are still firm, much like an apple — crisp, sweet, and ready to bite into straight off the tree. This makes them the practical choice for U-pick: you can eat one on the spot, carry them home in a bag without fear of bruising them into mush, and enjoy them over a couple of weeks. Fuyu are squat and round, often compared to a slightly flattened tomato in shape. The majority of pick-your-own persimmons in Australia are Fuyu or Fuyu-type varieties.

Hachiya persimmons are astringent. If you bite into one before it is fully ripe, the tannins will leave your mouth feeling like cotton wool. Hachiya must be allowed to soften to a deep jelly-like consistency before eating — at which point they are extraordinary, with a custardy, almost honey-like sweetness. They are acorn-shaped, pointed at the base. Some farms grow them, but confirm the variety with staff before picking, and understand you may need to let them ripen at home for a week or more after picking.

When you arrive at a farm, ask the staff which variety is on offer and whether the fruit is ready to eat now or needs to ripen. Most pick-your-own operators in Australia have moved toward Fuyu for exactly this reason.

When is persimmon season in Australia?

Persimmons are an autumn fruit. In Australia that means the season runs from roughly March through to June, with the peak typically falling in April and May. This makes persimmons genuinely unusual in the pick-your-own calendar — almost every other popular U-pick crop peaks in spring or summer. If you are looking for something to do on a farm visit in the cooler months, persimmons are often your best option. Check individual farm pages and call ahead before you travel, as exact timing varies by location and season.

For a full picture of what is available month by month, see the fruit picking season calendar for Australia.

The Galston cluster — Sydney's dedicated persimmon farms

The best concentration of persimmon farms in Australia sits in the Sydney Hills District, in and around the suburb of Galston. This small area, about 45 minutes northwest of Sydney CBD, has produced persimmons commercially for decades and now hosts two farms with pick-your-own access.

Aviani Persimmon Farm in Galston is a dedicated persimmon operation — persimmons are the sole crop, which means the whole farm experience is oriented around them. This focus tends to produce good picking conditions and knowledgeable staff.
The Persimmon Place, also in Galston, is another persimmon-only farm. Having two specialist farms this close together means you have a fallback if one is fully booked or has finished its season early.

Both farms fall within the broader NSW pick-your-own network. Galston is accessible from Sydney's northwestern suburbs and makes a practical half-day trip. Book ahead if you are visiting on a weekend in April or May — these farms are not large and do fill up.

Bilpin and the Hawkesbury — apples and persimmons together

The Bilpin area, roughly 90 minutes northwest of Sydney via the Great Western Highway, is best known for apple picking, but several orchards here also grow persimmons, which extends your visit into one farm stop with multiple crops on offer.

Bilpin Fruit Bowl grows apples, peaches, nectarines, persimmons, and beans. It is one of the most established pick-your-own destinations in the region.
TNT Produce in Bilpin offers apples, persimmons, strawberries, peaches, and nectarines. Note that TNT Produce requires an online entry fee booking in advance; the weight of picked produce is then paid separately on the day.

The Bilpin area sits in the lower Blue Mountains and combines well with a scenic drive. For a full guide to what is available in the area, see the Bilpin fruit picking guide. If you are also interested in apple picking, Bilpin is the logical destination to combine both crops in one trip.

Further south in the Sydney Basin, Cedar Creek Orchard in Thirlmere grows apples, peaches, nectarines, and persimmons. Thirlmere is in the Macarthur/Wollondilly area south of Sydney, making it accessible from the southwestern suburbs.

Perth Hills — Western Australia's persimmon farms

Western Australia has a small but solid set of persimmon options in the Perth Hills region, about 40 minutes from Perth CBD. The hills climate suits persimmons well, and autumn in the Perth Hills is a pleasant time to visit.

Weemala Orchard in Carmel is a dedicated persimmon farm — like the Galston operations in NSW, persimmons are the primary crop here, which generally means a focused and well-managed pick-your-own experience.
Core Cider House in Pickering Brook grows apples, pears, citrus, plums, and persimmons. Core Cider House advertises fruit picking events via its website and social media rather than maintaining fixed open hours, so follow their channels and book when events are announced.

For more farms and activities in the region, see the Western Australia pick-your-own page.

The Riverina — for visitors already in the region

The NSW Riverina and Central West have two farms that include persimmons among a broader range of crops. Both are around four hours from Sydney, so they are best suited to visitors who are already in the region rather than making a dedicated persimmon trip from the coast.

Hill-Lock Orchard near Wombat (Cowra/Young area) grows cherries, strawberries, figs, persimmons, and plums.
Drive In Orchards in Young grows cherries, apricots, and persimmons. Young is well known as the cherry capital of Australia, and persimmons in late autumn provide a reason to visit the region outside cherry season.

What to bring when picking persimmons

Persimmons are not a particularly messy fruit to pick — they do not stain like berries and they are firm enough that a standard bag or box handles them well. That said, a few practical notes help.

Fuyu persimmons bruise more easily than apples once they begin to soften, so pack a box or rigid container rather than a soft bag if you are picking late in the season when fruit is closer to ripe.
Wear closed-toe shoes. Fallen persimmons become slippery underfoot, especially on slopes.
The season runs March to June — bring a light jacket, particularly for morning visits or farms at elevation (Bilpin, Perth Hills).
Most farms do not publish prices in advance. Budget for a cash or card payment on the day; confirm with the farm when you book.

For a full packing checklist, see what to bring fruit picking. If this is your first pick-your-own visit, how does pick your own work explains what to expect at the gate.