What fruit can you pick in Australia in winter (June–August)?

Citrus is the headline crop across most of Australia in June, July and August — mandarins, oranges, lemons, limes and cumquats are all in their best winter window at farms in NSW (Hawkesbury River, Central Coast) and Western Australia (Swan Valley, Perth Hills). Queensland runs a distinct winter strawberry season from roughly June to October in subtropical growing regions. A small number of farms operate greenhouse strawberry operations that stay open year-round regardless of season, including Berrylicious Strawberries at Thirlmere in NSW.

Are any pick-your-own farms open in winter near Sydney?

Yes — winter is actually one of the busier pick-your-own seasons north of Sydney because of the Hawkesbury River citrus farms. Ford’s Farm and Watkins Family Farm at Laughtondale both pick mandarins, lemons, limes and citrus varieties through May to September (roughly). Anderson Farm at Sackville North and Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge on the Central Coast add to the winter options. Berrylicious Strawberries at Thirlmere is also open through winter with its greenhouse strawberry operation. Most citrus farms require booking ahead.

Do you need to book pick-your-own farms in winter?

For most NSW winter citrus farms, yes — Ford’s Farm, Meliora Farm and Berrylicious Strawberries all require advance booking, typically online. Watkins Family Farm does not require booking, which makes it a more flexible option if you are planning a last-minute outing. Western Australian farms vary: The Orchard Perth requires booking for its tractor tour experience, while Swan Valley Sisters is more walk-in friendly. In Queensland, the strawberry farms generally ask you to check current opening days before visiting but do not always require formal bookings.

Is picking strawberries a winter activity in Australia?

It depends on where in Australia you are. In Queensland’s subtropical regions, winter (June to October) is actually the peak strawberry picking season — the cooler months suit strawberry production better than the humid summer heat. In southern states, open-field strawberries are a spring and early summer crop, broadly October to January. The exception in the south is farms running greenhouse or hydroponic operations, such as Berrylicious Strawberries at Thirlmere near Sydney, which keeps picking through winter inside a covered facility.

What citrus can you pick your own in Australia?

The most common pick-your-own citrus in Australia is mandarins, oranges (navel and valencia), lemons and limes. Cumquats appear at a handful of farms — notably Ford’s Farm at Laughtondale, which charges $12 per kilogram for them compared with $5 per kilogram for other citrus. Grapefruit appears occasionally. Avocados, while technically not citrus, are often grown and picked at the same farms and are available at Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge. The peak window for most Australian citrus is June to September, though The Orchard Perth operates citrus picking year-round.

What is open to pick in Tasmania in winter?

Very little, based on verified farm data. Tasmania’s berry and orchard farms are mostly closed from May or June through to September or October, with the growing season concentrating in spring and summer. No pick-your-own farms in our Tasmanian data are confirmed open for picking in June, July or August. If you are planning a Tasmanian farm visit, the season opens again from October, with the east coast and Huon Valley farms usually first.

Is avocado available for pick-your-own in winter?

Occasionally, but it is not a reliable or widespread pick-your-own crop. Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge on NSW’s Central Coast includes avocados in its winter and spring programme alongside citrus, but availability varies year to year and by crop maturity, so it is worth checking current status when you book. Tony’s Summer Fruits in the Perth Hills carries avocados, but those are a summer crop there rather than a winter one. Outside of these two farms, we have not verified other pick-your-own avocado operations in our current data.

seasonal

Australian winter fruit picking: what’s actually open in June, July and August

Winter in Australia is not the dead season for pick-your-own — it’s citrus season. From the Hawkesbury River citrus groves north of Sydney to the Swan Valley orchards outside Perth, June to August is when lemons, oranges, mandarins and limes come into their best picking window. Add Queensland’s winter strawberries and a handful of year-round greenhouse operations, and there is more to do on a winter farm day out than most people expect.

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

Why winter is actually good for pick-your-own

Most people think of summer when they picture a fruit-picking day out, and it’s true that cherries, berries and stone fruit are warm-weather crops. But the Southern Hemisphere winter brings a different set of produce into season — one that is genuinely better picked fresh than bought from a supermarket. Citrus fruit is at its sweetest after cool nights. Queensland’s subtropical strawberries peak between June and September when temperatures moderate. And a handful of farms run greenhouse operations that stay open regardless of what the weather is doing outside.

The key to planning a winter pick-your-own trip is knowing which state you are in. NSW has the most active winter citrus scene; Western Australia’s Swan Valley and outer Perth carry strong citrus options through July and August; Queensland runs a distinct winter strawberry season that is largely invisible to southern visitors; and Victoria’s Yarra Valley has Rayner’s Orchard, which maintains a year-round picking roster. Tasmania closes most of its berry farms for the off-season but picks up again in October.

What’s picking in winter by state

State	What’s in season (Jun–Aug)	Farms open	Notes
NSW	Mandarins, oranges, lemons, limes, cumquats; greenhouse strawberries	Ford’s Farm, Watkins Family Farm, Anderson Farm, Meliora Farm, Berrylicious Strawberries	Hawkesbury River and Central Coast are the main citrus corridors; book ahead for most citrus farms
QLD	Strawberries (subtropical winter season)	Shaylee Strawberries (Atherton), Ballantyne’s Strawberry Farm (Mackay), Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm (SEQ)	QLD strawberry season runs roughly June–October; genuinely different to southern strawberry timing
WA	Oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes	Swan Valley Sisters, The Orchard Perth, The Fruit Corner	Swan Valley and Perth Hills carry citrus through the cooler months; The Orchard Perth picks year-round
VIC	Mixed fruit year-round; apples and pears through May	Rayner’s Orchard (Woori Yallock)	Rayner’s runs guided picking tours across a wide range of varieties throughout the year
TAS	Off-season for most berry farms; opens from October	—	No verified open-winter PYO farms; plan a spring trip for Tasmanian berries
SA	Off-season for most farms	—	Most Fleurieu and Adelaide Hills farms are closed June–August

NSW: the main citrus picking corridor

New South Wales has the most concentrated pick-your-own citrus scene in the country, spread across two districts north of Sydney: the Hawkesbury River corridor and the Central Coast hinterland.

Ford’s Farm — Laughtondale

Ford’s Farm on the Hawkesbury River at Laughtondale picks mandarins, oranges, lemons, limes and cumquats through its winter citrus season, which opened 9 June 2026. Entry is $5 per car, then $5 a kilogram for mandarins, oranges, lemons and limes, or $12 a kilogram for cumquats. Sessions are booked in advance — the farm runs visitors by appointment rather than an open gate, so book online before you drive up. There are picnic tables and coffee at the shed, which makes it worth pairing with the Watkins farm a short drive away.

Watkins Family Farm — Laughtondale

Watkins Family Farm sits on the same Hawkesbury River stretch as Ford’s Farm and picks mandarins, lemons, cumquats, limes and grapefruit from roughly May to September. No booking is required, which makes it a more flexible option for last-minute trips. Picking runs on a minimum $12.50 per bucket, and there is a $2 bag for children to feed the farm’s lambs. Bring your own food — there is no cafe on site.

Anderson Farm — Sackville North

Anderson Farm at Sackville North picks oranges, mandarins and lemons across a winter season that opened 6 June 2026. Entry is $5 for adults and children ten and over. The farm adds a second citrus operation to the Hawkesbury district for visitors wanting to compare variety across two properties on the same day.

Meliora Farm — Peats Ridge

Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge on the Central Coast picks lemons, oranges, mandarins, limes and avocados across selected weekends from June to December, with online booking required. Avocado picking windows vary year to year, so check current availability when you book. It is the Central Coast’s most reliable winter citrus option and easy to combine with a visit to the Hawkesbury farms on the same trip — the two districts are roughly 30 minutes apart.

Berrylicious Strawberries — Thirlmere (greenhouse, open year-round)

Berrylicious Strawberries at Thirlmere grows its strawberries in greenhouses with the plants suspended from the ceiling, which means no muddy knees and a season that runs almost year-round regardless of the weather outside — peak supply is September to June, but the farm stays open through winter. Entry is $22 for adults on an eat-as-much-as-you-like basis, $11 for children, and under-twos are free; take-home fruit is $25 a kilogram. Booking is required.

Queensland: winter strawberries

Queensland’s strawberry season runs opposite to the south — subtropical growing conditions mean the June-to-October window is prime picking time in SEQ and the Atherton Tablelands, when the weather is cool enough for berries to set properly. Shaylee Strawberries at Atherton in Far North Queensland picks July to November; Ballantyne’s Strawberry Farm at Mount Charlton near Mackay runs roughly July to September (call ahead — exact opening depends on fruit growth each year); and Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm south of Brisbane runs pick-your-own sessions typically August to October, priced around $15 for adults including a 500g punnet. If you are in Queensland in June or July and want to pick something fresh, this is your best option.

Western Australia: Swan Valley and Perth Hills citrus

Western Australia’s citrus picking concentrates in the Swan Valley and the Perth Hills east of the city. Swan Valley Sisters at Henley Brook picks oranges, lemons and mandarins from July to September on a walk-in basis. The Orchard Perth at Lower Chittering runs citrus picking year-round across roughly 10,000 trees as part of a paid tractor tour and picking experience — mandarins peak May to October, and six navel orange varieties are available through winter. In the Perth Hills, The Fruit Corner at Pickering Brook picks apples from April to July alongside its citrus, which makes it one of the few farms in Australia where you can pick both apple and citrus on the same winter visit.

Victoria: Rayner’s Orchard year-round

Rayner’s Orchard at Woori Yallock in the Yarra Valley is a notable exception to Victoria’s otherwise quiet winter picking season. The orchard maintains a year-round roster of at least eight fruit varieties available across guided tractor-tour-and-picking experiences, and its citrus comes into season as summer stone fruit finishes. Booking is required through FareHarbor; exact pricing is not published on the farm’s own site so confirm when you book.

What to bring for a winter farm visit

Winter farm visits need a slightly different kit to summer ones. A few things make the difference between a good day out and an uncomfortable one.

Warm layers and a waterproof jacket — citrus groves are open ground with no overhead cover, and mornings at Hawkesbury River farms can be genuinely cold in July.
Closed shoes or gumboots — winter soil holds water and orchard rows can be slippery after rain.
A crate or box in the boot for citrus, which bruises if it rolls around on the way home.
A booking confirmation and the farm’s phone number saved to your phone — most winter citrus farms require booking, and several are on properties with no mobile signal at the gate.
Cash as a backup, especially at smaller Hawkesbury River and Swan Valley operations.

For more general preparation advice see the what to bring fruit picking guide, and for understanding how pricing models differ between farms see our guide to pick-your-own pricing. Whatever the season, always call ahead to confirm a crop is ready and the farm is open before you drive out.