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Pick Your Own Farms

Fruit picking near Mackay & the Whitsundays

In September, strawberries, blueberries and sunflowers are picking in Mackay & Whitsundays. We list 2 farms across this region — browse the listings below and call ahead to confirm what's ripe before you travel.

Central Queensland's picking season runs on the region's mild dry winter rather than a southern-style summer. Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm at Mount Charlton has historically opened for winter strawberries (roughly July–September) and blueberries in spring, though pricing and hours haven't been reconfirmed since a change of ownership — call ahead before visiting. At North Eton, Brightly Sunflowers runs a handful of ticketed spring events over one or two weekends each October, priced at $2 per stem plus a separate entry ticket, rather than staying open through the season.

Around Mackay and the Whitsundays on the Central Queensland coast

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
Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm In season Roughly July to September (a few sources say June-September), tied to school holidays; exact opening date each year depends on plant growth - recommended to call ahead; October to January Historical (pre-2024 ownership change) reports: ~$5/person entry plus punnet fill fee, roughly $10 for a large/500g punnet and $5 for each additional punnet. Not reconfirmed under the current owners - contact the farm directly for current prices. — Yes
Brightly Sunflowers In season Spring (planted June/July, flowering and events held around October each year) $2.00 per stem, paid on exit; separate ticketed entry fee applies per event (booked via EventBookings) on top of the per-stem picking cost. Visitors bring their own scissors/secateurs and a bucket or basket. Booking required Yes

Open or in season now in this region

  • Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm Mount Charlton · Strawberries View
  • Brightly Sunflowers North Eton · Sunflowers View

Farms in this region

2 farms

Farm experiences in this region

Farms in Mackay & Whitsundays

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3 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 Far North Queensland 8 farms Christmas Trees · Blueberries · Raspberries

Picking around Mackay & the Whitsundays

Central Queensland flips the conventional picking calendar. While southern farms chase summer stone fruit, the Mackay region runs on its warm, dry winter — and that's when the best picking happens. Strawberries at Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm near Mount Charlton ripen through July and August, with blueberries extending the season into late spring (October–January). Brightly Sunflowers at North Eton bursts into its brief, ticketed spring-event window around October — a completely different experience from a traditional pick-your-own farm, but unmistakably local. Outside those windows, the region doesn't have a broad roster of open farms, so timing your visit to the dry-season months (June–October) gives you the best chance of catching something open. Always call ahead — particularly at Ballantyne's, where opening dates shift with the season's growth each year.

Farm work in the Mackay & Whitsundays region

The Mackay–Whitsundays corridor is recognised as a significant working-harvest region — sugar cane dominates, but horticulture work (including berry picking) comes up seasonally. Working-holiday visa holders looking to extend their stay or meet visa conditions will find the broader Pioneer Valley worth considering. Before you arrive, read the farm work in Australia explainer — it covers the approved employer register, what Second and Third Year visa work is counted, and practical tips on finding genuine harvest work rather than relying on unlicensed agents.

Make a day of it

A farm visit pairs well with the Pioneer Valley drive west of Mackay — lush cane country, small-town cafes and a genuine sense of the regional pace. Eungella National Park, roughly 80 km from the city, is one of the best spots in Queensland to see a wild platypus: Broken River at dawn or dusk is reliably productive. Heading north, Airlie Beach offers an esplanade lagoon swim and some of the region's best waterfront dining — a natural top-and-tail if you're combining picking with a Whitsundays island trip. If you're passing through North Eton for Brightly Sunflowers, the WWII midget-submarine salvage ruins near Homebush are a 10-minute detour and genuinely unlike anything else in the state.

Plan your day in Mackay & Whitsundays

Last verified 7 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 Mackay?

Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm at Mount Charlton has historically run a winter pick-your-own strawberry season, roughly July to September, tied to school holidays. The farm changed ownership recently and current pricing hasn't been reconfirmed, so call ahead before you drive out.

When can you pick sunflowers near Mackay?

Brightly Sunflowers at North Eton runs ticketed sunflower-picking events over one or two spring weekends, historically around October, priced at $2 per stem plus a separate entry ticket booked through EventBookings. It isn't open for casual drop-in visits outside those event dates.

Is fruit picking near Mackay open all year?

No — both listed farms run seasonal windows rather than year-round opening: strawberries and blueberries at Ballantyne's follow the dry-season winter-to-spring calendar typical of Central Queensland, and Brightly Sunflowers only opens for a couple of ticketed weekends each spring.

Are there fruit-picking jobs in the Mackay and Whitsundays region?

Yes — the Pioneer Valley and surrounding cane-growing districts have a strong seasonal agricultural workforce, and harvest work does come up in the broader region. Strawberry and blueberry picking at farms like Ballantyne's at Mount Charlton tends to be hands-on work well-suited to working-holiday visa holders. For a full rundown of how farm work in Australia is structured — including visa requirements, approved employer registers, and what to expect — see our farm work in Australia guide at /guides/farm-work-in-australia-explainer/.

When is the best time to visit Mackay and the Whitsundays for fruit picking?

The picking sweet spot is the dry-season window from July through October. Strawberries at Ballantyne's Strawberry Farm (Mount Charlton) are at their best in July–September, with blueberries following through October–January. Brightly Sunflowers at North Eton typically opens its ticketed picking events in October, coinciding with spring bloom. Avoid the wet season (roughly December–March) — road conditions and farm access around Mount Charlton can be challenging after heavy rain, and no picking farms in the region are known to operate through summer.

What else can I do near Mackay and the Whitsundays while visiting a farm?

Pair a farm visit with a stop at the Eungella National Park — about 80 km west of Mackay — for platypus spotting at dawn or dusk along Broken River. The Pioneer Valley drive between Mackay and Eungella passes through lush cane country and small towns with local cafes worth a break. Closer to the coast, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays and worth an afternoon walk along the esplanade or a swim at the lagoon. The Mackay Marina precinct has good waterfront dining. If you're heading to Brightly Sunflowers at North Eton, the Homebush area is a short detour with well-preserved ruins of a WWII Japanese midget submarine salvage site — unusual and genuinely worth the 10-minute stop.