December is the big one for southern pick-your-own — early summer brings cherries, stone fruit and berries into peak season together across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, NSW and Queensland's Granite Belt. Cherries typically peak this month from the Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills to Orange, the Riverina, the Perth Hills and Young/Yass, and strawberries are usually at their best from the Hawkesbury down to Tasmania and across to the Swan Valley. Mangoes are typically peaking around Bundaberg and statewide in Queensland, while Far North Queensland's lychee season is wrapping up. Up in the Northern Territory, the dry-season crops of citrus and passionfruit are typically running down as the wet season approaches. If you only pick your own fruit once this year, December is usually the month with the most on offer.
Cherries are typically at their peak around Orange and the Riverina, stone fruit is ripe in the Hawkesbury and Southern Highlands, and strawberries continue in the Hawkesbury while starting around Orange and the Central West.
Cherries are typically at their peak across the Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, Mornington Peninsula and around Ballarat and Bendigo, alongside strawberries, raspberries and blackberries in full swing statewide.
Cherries and stone fruit are typically at their peak in the Granite Belt around Stanthorpe, and mangoes are usually at their best around Bundaberg and other commercial regions statewide.
Cherries are typically at their peak in the Adelaide Hills, with strawberries and raspberries also ripe there and on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Cherries are typically at their peak in the Perth Hills, while blueberries and raspberries continue in the South West around Manjimup and Pemberton.
Strawberries are typically at their peak statewide, and cherries are usually just starting, building toward a late-December-to-February window.
Cherries are typically at their peak in the Canberra region and the Young/Yass day-trip belt, the highlight of the ACT's short picking calendar.
Citrus and passionfruit are typically still going statewide around Darwin and Katherine as the dry season draws to a close.
| State | What's ripe | Where |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Riverina & South Coast |
| Victoria | strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Dandenong Ranges |
| Queensland | strawberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines and plums | Brisbane & South-East Queensland |
| South Australia | strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and flowers | Adelaide Hills |
| Western Australia | strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and peaches | Swan Valley |
| Tasmania | strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Hobart & the Huon Valley |
| Australian Capital Territory | cherries | Canberra Region |
Sackville North · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Stanthorpe · Granite Belt
Meadowvale · Bundaberg & Wide Bay
Thirlmere · Sydney Basin
Wagga Wagga · Riverina & South Coast
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Sydney Basin
Lorne · Coffs Coast
Brooklet · Northern Rivers
Kurrajong · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bostobrick / Dorrigo · Coffs Coast
Bucca / Nana Glen · Coffs Coast
Chambers Flat · Brisbane & South-East Queensland
Mogood · Riverina & South Coast
Pickering Brook · Perth Hills
Applethorpe · Granite Belt
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
December is typically the busiest month nationally. Cherries peak from the Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills to Orange, the Riverina, the Perth Hills and Young/Yass. Strawberries are usually at their best from the Hawkesbury to Tasmania, mangoes peak around Bundaberg and statewide in Queensland, and the NT's citrus and passionfruit are winding down as the wet season nears.
Yes, in most states. Strawberries are typically at their peak in the Hawkesbury and Orange in NSW, the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu in SA, and statewide in Tasmania. WA's Swan Valley strawberry season is usually finishing by December, so call ahead if that's your destination.
Yes, generally. December is typically the peak cherry month across the Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, the Adelaide Hills in SA, Orange and the Riverina in NSW, the Perth Hills in WA, and Young/Yass in the ACT. Tasmania's cherries are usually just starting and run on into the new year, so timing still matters — call ahead.
The Granite Belt around Stanthorpe is typically at its peak for cherries and stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots. Mangoes are usually at their best around Bundaberg and other commercial regions statewide, while Far North Queensland's lychee season is generally wrapping up by this point.