What fruit is in season in February?

February brings apples and pears into their main season alongside grapes, while the last berries and stone fruit are still going in cooler climates. Apples ripen from the Yarra Valley and Orange to the Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills, pears follow close behind, and table grapes start around the Hunter, Yarra and Swan Valleys. Cherry season has ended in most regions by February, and sunflowers are near their peak in several states.

Yes, though the peak has usually passed. Strawberries are still picking in February at the Adelaide Hills, the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania's statewide season, and Queensland's Granite Belt, along with Orange and the Hawkesbury in NSW. Plants can slow down in hot spells, so yields vary farm to farm. Call ahead to check the patch is still open before you drive out.

Early apple varieties are typically ready from February, with the main harvest building through March and April. Bilpin and the Illawarra in NSW, the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs in Victoria, and the Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills all start picking apples this month, though the widest variety choice comes a little later in autumn. Confirm with the orchard which varieties are ready.

Near Melbourne, February means apples and pears building in the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs, berries still going on the Mornington Peninsula and around Geelong, plus stone fruit and grapes around Bacchus Marsh. It's a good month for a mixed picking day since several crops overlap. Always check a specific farm's status before heading out, as availability shifts with the weather.

Booking isn't always required, but it's worth calling ahead in February since apple and grape season draws crowds on weekends, and some smaller berry patches may already be past their best. Farms with online booking systems, common for apple orchards and vineyard experiences, should be booked in advance. Otherwise a quick phone call on the day confirms opening hours and what's currently ripe.

February is the peak of Australian summer, so preparation matters. Bring at least two litres of water per person — more if you have children with you. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen before you arrive; there is little shade in most berry patches and orchards. Closed-toe shoes are recommended as rows can be uneven and wet from irrigation. Arrive early — many farms are at their quietest in the first hour after opening, the temperature is cooler, and the best fruit goes fast. A small cooler bag helps keep picked fruit fresh on the drive home.

Victoria has the widest spread of u-pick farms open in February, with the Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong regions all active across berries, stone fruit, apples and flowers. Western Australia is close behind thanks to the Perth Hills and Swan Valley offering stone fruit, apples, pears, figs and table grapes. New South Wales is strong too, led by the Bilpin apple belt and Central Coast regions. South Australia's Adelaide Hills, Queensland's Granite Belt and Tasmania all round out the national calendar with strong strawberry, berry and early apple seasons.

Yes — late February is actually a good time to visit in several regions. Apple and pear picking is just ramping up in Bilpin (NSW), the Yarra Valley (VIC), the Adelaide Hills (SA) and the Perth Hills (WA), so orchards are opening rather than closing. The Granite Belt (QLD) stays busy with strawberries through to May. The main crops winding down by late February are cherries (already closed), and some berry patches on the mainland that struggle in the heat. Call ahead to confirm a specific farm is still open before making the drive.