Fruit picking in Illawarra & Southern Highlands

We don't currently list a pick-your-own berry farm in the Illawarra or Southern Highlands — no blueberry, raspberry or strawberry patch in the region is open to visitors on our records. The nearest options are both north towards Sydney: Berrylicious Strawberries at Thirlmere runs a greenhouse strawberry patch on an eat-as-much-as-you-want ticket at $22 an adult and $11 a child, with fruit to take home at $25 a kilogram, and Blueberry Hills on Comleroy at Kurrajong runs ticketed blueberry sessions through summer, roughly November to February. Both need booking, so lock in a session before you drive.

Peaches, nectarines and other stone fruit are typically pickable November to February, peaking December to January, while apples run January through into autumn, best from February to March. Exact opening dates shift with the season each year, so ring the orchard the week you plan to go.

Southern Highlands Flower Farm's pick-your-own bouquet experience runs about $100 per person, a flower farm tour and dahlia harvest experience is around $175, and shorter flower therapy sessions are about $50. Prices can change between seasons, so confirm the current rate when you book.

It varies by farm. Southern Highlands Flower Farm's experiences are ticketed and should be booked in advance, while orchard picking at places like Glenbernie is generally more casual. Always call or check the farm's website or Facebook page beforehand, especially on weekends in peak season.