March is the start of autumn, and it's arguably the best all-round month for pick-your-own in the southern states as apples and pears hit their main season everywhere from the Yarra Valley and Orange to the Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills. Late-season strawberries and berries are still around in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills and parts of NSW, while chestnut season begins in the Blue Mountains and Tasmania's north. Table grapes continue at wine-country farms in the Hunter and Yarra Valleys, sunflowers are winding down after their spring-summer run, and Victoria's pumpkin patches start to open. Persimmons appear in the Perth Hills. It's a quieter month up north, with Queensland's tropical fruit largely finished and the Granite Belt carrying the state's picking calendar instead.
Apples and pears are at their peak from Bilpin to Orange and the Illawarra, late-season strawberries and figs continue in the Hawkesbury and Orange, and chestnuts start in the Blue Mountains.
Apples and pears are in full swing in the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs, grapes continue at Yarra Valley wineries, sunflowers are winding down, and the first pumpkin patches open around Ballarat and Bendigo.
The Granite Belt around Stanthorpe remains the state's main picking region, with strawberries, apples, pears and table grapes all ripe, plus olives further south-east in the Scenic Rim.
Apples, pears and figs are at their best in the Adelaide Hills, with the last of the strawberries still available and lavender continuing.
Apples are ripe in both the Perth Hills and the South West around Donnybrook and Manjimup, persimmons appear in the Perth Hills, and grapes and figs continue in the Swan Valley.
Apples and pears take over statewide as the berry season tails off, with new-season hazelnuts starting around the Tamar Valley and Launceston.
Apples and pears are ripe around Pialligo, and sunflowers are still open in the Majura Valley as the warmer season winds down.
Picking options stay minimal in March; passionfruit and citrus are the main crops listed, both grown around the Top End and Katherine.
| State | What's ripe | Where |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Riverina & South Coast |
| Victoria | strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Dandenong Ranges |
| Queensland | strawberries, apples, pears, sunflowers and flowers | Brisbane & South-East Queensland |
| South Australia | strawberries, apples, pears, figs and flowers | Adelaide Hills |
| Western Australia | apples, peaches, plums, pears and figs | Swan Valley |
| Tasmania | strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries | Hobart & the Huon Valley |
| Australian Capital Territory | apples, pears, sunflowers and flowers | 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.
March is a strong apple and pear month, with both fruits at their peak from the Yarra Valley and Orange to the Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills. Late strawberries and other berries are still around in Tasmania and parts of NSW and SA, chestnut season begins in the Blue Mountains and Tasmania, grapes continue at wine-country farms, and Victoria's first pumpkin patches open. It's a quieter month in the tropical north.
In some regions, yes, though March is generally the tail end rather than the peak. Late-season strawberries can still be found in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills, Orange and the Hawkesbury, but plants are winding down and picking windows narrow quickly. It's worth calling the farm directly to check whether the patch is still open before making the drive, especially later in the month.
Yes, March is one of the best months for apple picking nationally. Orchards in Bilpin, Orange and the Illawarra in NSW, the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs in Victoria, the Adelaide Hills, and both the Perth Hills and South West in WA are all in full swing, with a wide range of varieties ripening through autumn. Tasmania's statewide apple season is also well underway.
Near Adelaide, March means apples, pears and figs at their best in the Adelaide Hills, with the last of the season's strawberries still trickling through on some farms. Lavender picking continues too. It's a good month to combine an orchard visit with a flower farm stop, though it pays to confirm which crops each individual farm still has ready before you go.
March apple orchards can get busy on weekends, especially during school holidays, so booking ahead is sensible where a farm offers it, though many smaller orchards still take walk-ins. Late-season berry patches may have limited stock, so a quick call first avoids disappointment. As with any month, confirm opening hours and what's currently being picked before you drive out.