In October, plum picking is in season near Sydney. We list 6 farms within about 90 minutes of the city — compare seasons, prices and booking below, then call ahead to confirm what's ripe.
Plum picking near Sydney has two main options: Bilpin in the Hawkesbury foothills, about 90 minutes north-west of the city, and Canoelands, a little closer in towards the Hills District. The season starts early here, generally from October through to January, with the Bilpin district's blood plums often the first stone fruit ready each year, well ahead of peaches. Canoelands Orchard is a clear-pricing option, charging $8 for adult entry and $6 a kilo for what you pick, with a family ticket available too. In Bilpin, growers including Pine Crest Orchard and Bilpin Springs Orchard fold plums into their broader stone fruit picking, usually charging a small per-person entry fee. Either drive suits a half-day trip rather than an overnight stay.
| Farm | Status | Typical season | Entry / price | Booking | Kids | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canoelands Orchard | In season | Oct-mid Jan | $8 adult, $5 child (3-15), family $25, under 3s free; PYO $6/kg | Booking required | Yes | Around the Sydney basin |
| Glenbernie Orchard (Home of Darkes Cider) | In season | from mid-Nov; late Jan to end of Apr | — | Booking required | Yes | In the Southern Highlands and Illawarra, around 90 minutes from Sydney |
| Pine Crest Orchard | In season | Jan only; Nov only | Entry $5/adult, $2/child; pay for what you pick on top of entry. | No booking needed | Yes | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
| TNT Produce | In season | Jan-Jun (approx late Oct/Nov opening, apples through June) | Online entry fee booking required; remainder (picked produce) paid on-site | Booking required | Yes | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
| 4 Winds Farm | Unconfirmed · call ahead | — | Call ahead | — | — | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
| Bilpin Springs Orchard | Unconfirmed · call ahead | late Jan-early Jun | Call ahead | — | — | About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney |
6 farms
Canoelands · Sydney Basin
Around the Sydney basin
Darkes Forest · Illawarra & Southern Highlands
In the Southern Highlands and Illawarra, around 90 minutes from Sydney
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
All plum picking in Australia Plum picking in New South Wales All pick-your-own near Sydney
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
Canoelands Orchard, in the Hills District north-west of Sydney, and the Bilpin orchards in the Hawkesbury foothills, including Pine Crest Orchard and Bilpin Springs Orchard, are the main options. Both areas grow plums as part of a wider stone fruit season and sit within about 90 minutes of the CBD.
Canoelands is a shorter drive, around an hour from central Sydney via the Hills District, while Bilpin is closer to 90 minutes north-west along the Bells Line of Road. Both make an easy half-day trip, so it's worth checking which farm has ripe fruit before choosing a direction.
Plums are typically the earliest stone fruit ready in the Sydney area, with picking starting as early as October and running through to January at farms like Canoelands Orchard. Bilpin orchards follow a similar window. As ever, ring the farm close to your visit, since an early or late season can shift these dates.
Generally no. Canoelands Orchard and the Bilpin growers are walk-up, pay-for-what-you-pick farms rather than ticketed experiences, so booking isn't usually required. It's still sensible to call ahead, particularly early in the plum season, to confirm the orchard is open and has fruit ready that day.
