In season
Last verified 17 Jul 2026
Ashbern Farms
Stanthorpe · Granite Belt
- Season
- Oct-May
- Price
- Free entry
- Open
- Friday to Sunday, 8am-3pm during strawberry season (Oct-May), closed public holidays
- Booking
- No booking needed
Fruit picking in the Granite Belt
In September, strawberries are picking in Granite Belt. We list 4 farms across this region — browse the listings below and call ahead to confirm what's ripe before you travel.
The Granite Belt sits around Stanthorpe, about three hours' drive south-west of Brisbane, and its cool, high-altitude climate makes it a genuine outlier on the Queensland picking map. It's the state's only cherry-growing district, with a short Christmas-timed season, and the only place in QLD where you'll find pick-your-own apples and pears. Nicoletti Orchards at Pozieres runs a long apple season from February through to June alongside stone fruit, while Ashbern Farms at Stanthorpe grows strawberries through the warmer months from October to May — the reverse of the winter strawberry season further north around Bundaberg. Add apples and strawberries at Eastern Colour near Applethorpe and there's a fair spread of picking across most of the year. Because the region sits well above sea level, frosts and hail can shift ripening from year to year, so it pays to call ahead before you make the drive.
Around Stanthorpe, about 3 hours south-west of Brisbane
Compare farms in this region
| Farm | Status | Typical season | Entry / price | Booking | Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbern Farms | In season | Oct-May | Free entry; pay by weight of strawberries picked (punnets weighed and paid for at farm shop) | No booking needed | Yes |
| Eastern Colour (Baronio Family Farm) | In season | Oct-May; May-Jun | Strawberries: pay by tray, free entry. Apples: approx. $5 per car entry (per one source) | Booking required | Yes |
| Granite Belt Christmas Farm | In season soon | Late Nov-late Dec | 2025 farm gate: 1.2-1.5m $100 rising to $600 for 4.2-4.6m. All prices include netting. | No booking needed | — |
| Nicoletti Orchards | Closed for season | Feb-Jun; Dec | Pay per kilo for apples picked to take home; stone fruit is pay for what you pick. Cash and EFTPOS available onsite. | Booking required | Yes |
Open or in season now in this region
Farms in this region
4 farms
In season
Last verified 17 Jul 2026
Eastern Colour (Baronio Family Farm)
Applethorpe · Granite Belt
- Season
- Oct-May; May-Jun
- Price
- Strawberries: pay by tray, free entry. Apples: approx. $5 per car entry (per one source)
- Open
- Pre-booked/RSVP PYO weekend events, roughly monthly during strawberry season
- Booking
- Booking required
In season soon
Last verified 31 Aug 2026
Granite Belt Christmas Farm
Applethorpe · Granite Belt
- Season
- Late Nov-late Dec
- Price
- 2025 farm gate: 1.2-1.5m $100 rising to $600 for 4.2-4.6m. All prices include netting.
- Open
- Nov-Dec: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 9am-3pm. Closed 24-26 and 31 Dec and public holidays.
- Booking
- No booking needed
Closed for season
Last verified 17 Jul 2026
Nicoletti Orchards
Pozieres · Granite Belt
- Season
- Feb-Jun; Dec
- Price
- Pay per kilo for apples picked to take home
- Open
- Scheduled PYO/guided tour days announced via Eventbrite and Facebook/Instagram
- Booking
- Booking required
Farm experiences in this region
Currently offered
Last verified 19 Jul 2026
Straw House BnB
Dalveen · Granite Belt
Unlimited guest time petting and feeding farm animals
- Access
- Contact the farm
Farms in Granite Belt
View farm list
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
Far North Queensland
8 farms
Christmas Trees · Blueberries · Raspberries
Mackay & Whitsundays
3 farms
Strawberries · Blueberries · Sunflowers
Plan your day in Granite Belt
Last verified 3 Sep 2026. We check listings against farms' own sources and re-verify regularly.
How we verify
Report a change
Know when picking season starts near you
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I pick strawberries near the Granite Belt?
Ashbern Farms at Stanthorpe grows strawberries from October through to May, with punnets weighed and paid for at the farm shop. Eastern Colour, near Applethorpe, also runs a free-entry strawberry patch across the same season. Both are warm-season patches, unlike the winter strawberry farms further north, so check what's ripe before you drive out.
Where can I pick apples near the Granite Belt?
Nicoletti Orchards at Pozieres is the region's main pick-your-own apple orchard, open from February to June and priced per kilogram picked. Eastern Colour near Applethorpe also offers a shorter apple window from May to June. The Granite Belt is the only part of Queensland cool enough to grow apples commercially.
Can you pick cherries in the Granite Belt?
Yes — it's the only cherry-growing region in Queensland, with a short season typically running from November into December timed for Christmas. Stock usually sells out well before New Year, so call ahead and book early if cherries are the reason for your trip; this listing focuses on the region's confirmed apple and strawberry farms.
When is the best time to visit the Granite Belt for picking?
Strawberries run longest, from around October to May, with stone fruit and cherries peaking in the lead-up to Christmas and apples taking over from February through autumn. Because the Granite Belt sits at altitude, seasons can shift with frost or hail, so ring ahead to confirm a farm is picking before you make the drive from Brisbane.
How much does fruit picking cost in the Granite Belt?
Ashbern Farms charges by the weight of strawberries picked, with free entry. Eastern Colour sells strawberries by the tray and charges around $5 a car for apple entry. Nicoletti Orchards charges per kilogram for apples, with stone fruit priced for what you pick, and both cash and EFTPOS are accepted on site.