What fruit is in season in April?

New South Wales

Apples and pears remain at their best from Bilpin to Orange and the Illawarra, late strawberries and figs linger in the Hawkesbury and Orange, and olive picking gets underway around Orange.

Victoria

Apples are at their peak in the Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, Gippsland and Geelong, pumpkins are ready around Ballarat and Bendigo, and chestnuts start in the Dandenongs.

Queensland

The Granite Belt around Stanthorpe stays busy with apples, pears and table grapes, with the last of the strawberries still around and olives continuing in the Scenic Rim.

South Australia

Apples are at their best in the Adelaide Hills, with the last of the season's strawberries and figs still trickling through and lavender still on offer.

Western Australia

Apples and pears are ripe across the Perth Hills and South West, chestnuts and persimmons come into season, and the first kiwifruit and olives appear in the Perth Hills and northern suburbs.

Tasmania

Apples, pears and hazelnuts take over statewide as the last of the berries wind down.

Australian Capital Territory

Apples and pears are at their peak around Pialligo, and chestnuts begin at Hoskinstown.

Northern Territory

The dry season is just starting, with passionfruit and citrus the main pick-your-own crops across the Top End and Katherine.

Fruit picking near Melbourne in April

Near Melbourne, the Yarra Valley's Rayner's Orchard in Woori Yallock carries pears, apples, persimmons and figs into April, alongside the last of its plums. On the Mornington Peninsula, Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm in Main Ridge and, further out in the Yarra Valley, Kookaberry Strawberry Farm in Wandin North both run their strawberry seasons through to the end of April, though picking slows as the month goes on. Call ahead to check what's still open before driving out. For a broader Melbourne-region rundown, see the guide to fruit picking near Melbourne.

Fruit picking near Sydney in April

Near Sydney, Bilpin's orchards are the main April drawcard. Shields Orchard and Bilpin Botanic Orchard both pick apples through April and into May. Further southwest at Thirlmere, Cedar Creek Orchard has apples running through April, with persimmons starting from April into May. As with any autumn visit, ring ahead to confirm which blocks are open, since varieties ripen at different times through the orchard. See the guide to fruit picking near Sydney for more options.

Fruit picking near Perth in April

Near Perth, the Perth Hills at Pickering Brook are busy with apples through April — The Fruit Corner picks apples from April onward, and Core Cider House has apples and pears running into May. Down in the Swan Valley, Grapes on Swan in Henley Brook carries its grape picking through to the end of April. See the guide to fruit picking near Perth for the full regional picture.

Fruit picking near Brisbane in April

Options close to Brisbane itself are limited in April, but Forest Dragon Fruit Farm at Forestdale has dragon fruit through the month, sitting inside its February-to-May peak. For the bulk of Queensland's April picking — apples, pears and table grapes — the Granite Belt around Stanthorpe is the main destination, about a three-hour drive southwest of the city. See the guide to fruit picking near Brisbane for more on both.

Fruit picking near Adelaide and Hobart in April

In the Adelaide Hills, Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf carries its strawberry season through to the end of April, and Dahlia Hills Farm in Longwood is picking into April too, with bookings essential. Near Hobart, Sorell Fruit Farm at Sorell has berries, stone fruit, apples and vegetables running well into April, while Earthenry Farm in Lower Snug picks through to the end of the month. See the guides to fruit picking near Adelaide and fruit picking near Hobart for more.

Early April versus late April

Picking shifts noticeably across the month. Early April still carries some of March's momentum — the last strawberries and berries linger in cooler pockets of NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, and grape picking in WA's Swan Valley is finishing up. By late April, the balance has swung firmly to apples, pears and chestnuts, Victoria's pumpkin patches are in full swing, and early persimmon and olive picking is underway in the Perth Hills and NSW's Central West. Individual farms don't all move at the same pace within the month, so it's worth calling ahead to check where a particular patch sits in its own season before visiting.

Where April sits in the season

April follows March, when the last of summer's stone fruit and berries are still around, and leads into May, when apple and pear season starts to wind down further and citrus picking gets underway. For the full year-round picture of what's ripe when across Australia, see the fruit picking season calendar.