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Pick Your Own Farms

Fruit picking in Far North Queensland

Cane field beneath mountains in Far North Queensland
A view from Far North Queensland. Confirm opening and crop availability with individual farms before travelling. "CSIRO ScienceImage 11477 Cane Field" by CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

In September, strawberries, blueberries and citrus are picking in Far North Queensland. We list 4 farms across this region — browse the listings below and call ahead to confirm what's ripe before you travel.

Far North Queensland is a long way from any state capital — Brisbane is well over 1,700km south, closer to a two-hour flight than a practical drive — so most visitors base themselves around Cairns and the nearby Atherton Tableland instead. This tropical region is famous for mangoes and lychees on a commercial scale, and up on the Tableland, Shaylee Strawberries at Atherton runs a genuine pick-your-own strawberry patch through the region's dry season, roughly July to November. Elsewhere, Rykers Farm at Mary Farms lists a broad mix of tropical fruit and vegetables for picking, from melons and mangoes to pumpkins and herbs, though its current details are unconfirmed, so a phone call before you visit is essential. Cooler tableland nights make this a different picking climate to the coast below.

Around Cairns and the Atherton Tableland

Compare farms in this region

Farms compared by picking status, typical season, price, booking and whether they suit kids.
Farm Status Typical season Entry / price Booking Kids
Shaylee Strawberries In season Jul-Nov Pay for what you pick; bulk containers available for purchase; exact per-kg pricing not published online No booking needed Yes
Tolga Sunflower Farm In season Blooms around April; open weekends only, 9am-5pm, weather permitting. Farm was closed 2023-2024 and reopened April 2025 -- confirm current-season dates via Facebook before visiting. As of April 2025: $1 per stem, or 20 stems for $20. Earlier seasons (2021) used a gold-coin donation model for picking/photos, with proceeds to the Ronald McDonald Foundation -- pricing model may vary by season. — Yes
Atherton Christmas Tree Farm In season soon Tagging weekends in Nov; farm-gate selection first weekends of Dec — No booking needed —
Rykers Farm Unconfirmed · call ahead — Call ahead Booking required —

Open or in season now in this region

  • Shaylee Strawberries Atherton · Strawberries View
  • Tolga Sunflower Farm Tolga · Sunflowers View
  • Atherton Christmas Tree Farm Upper Barron · Christmas Trees View

Farms in this region

4 farms

Farm experiences in this region

Compare farm experiences here

Farm experiences compared by type, access, current status and location.
Farm Experience Access Status Where
Cape Trib Farm Farm tours Booking required Currently offered Far North Queensland, QLD
Hook-A-Barra Farm tours Booking required Currently offered Far North Queensland, QLD
Jack Murat Coffee Farm tours Booking required Currently offered Far North Queensland, QLD
Nerada Tea Plantation Farm tours Booking required Currently offered Far North Queensland, QLD
Currently offered Last verified 19 Jul 2026

Nerada Tea Plantation

Malanda · Far North Queensland

Guided tour of Australia's largest tea estate; tea-growing and production explanation; tea-room tasting

Access
Booking required
View farm
Directions

Farms in Far North Queensland

View farm list

8 farms

Nearby regions

Brisbane & South-East Queensland 21 farms Christmas Trees · Strawberries · Sunflowers Sunshine Coast 11 farms Strawberries · Flowers · Sunflowers Bundaberg & Wide Bay 9 farms Strawberries · Christmas Trees Granite Belt 5 farms Strawberries · Apples · Christmas Trees Mackay & Whitsundays 3 farms Strawberries · Blueberries · Sunflowers

Plan your day in Far North Queensland

Last verified 3 Sep 2026. We check listings against farms' own sources and re-verify regularly. How we verify Report a change

Frequently asked questions

Where can I pick strawberries near Far North Queensland?

Shaylee Strawberries at Atherton, on the Tableland above Cairns, is the region's confirmed pick-your-own strawberry farm, open through the dry season from roughly July to November. It's a pay-for-what-you-pick setup with bulk containers available if you want to take home more than a punnet. Exact per-kilo pricing isn't published, so ask when you call.

What else can you pick in Far North Queensland?

Rykers Farm at Mary Farms lists a wide range of tropical produce for picking, including sweet corn, melons, mangoes, bananas and mulberries. Its listing status is unconfirmed, so call ahead to check current opening days and what's actually ready to pick.

When is the best time to visit Far North Queensland for picking?

Shaylee Strawberries' season runs roughly July to November, overlapping the region's cooler, drier months, which also suit visiting the Tableland generally. The wider area's mangoes and lychees ripen further into summer but aren't offered as confirmed pick-your-own here. Always call ahead, since tropical growing seasons can shift with wet-season timing.

Do I need to book ahead for picking in Far North Queensland?

Rykers Farm asks visitors to book, while Shaylee Strawberries doesn't require booking. Since Rykers Farm's listing details are unconfirmed, calling ahead is worthwhile regardless of the official booking policy, just to make sure the farm is open on the day you plan to visit.

How far is Far North Queensland from Brisbane?

It's a very long way — well over 1,700km, which most people cover by flying into Cairns rather than driving. Once you're in the region, Atherton and the Tableland farms are a manageable hour or so inland from Cairns itself, making it a realistic day trip once you've arrived.