In September, strawberry picking is in season in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. We list 68 pick-your-own strawberry farms across Australia — check the season table below for your state, then browse farms near your city.
Strawberries are the one crop you can usually find somewhere in Australia at any time of year, because the season flips between climate zones. In Queensland's south-east and around Bundaberg, strawberries are a winter crop, typically picked from May to October with a July-August peak, so it's the exception that runs through winter rather than summer. In the cooler southern states it's the opposite: Adelaide Hills, Victoria and Tasmania run a spring-to-autumn season from roughly October to April, peaking December to February, while the Sydney basin and Hawkesbury stretch across spring, summer and into winter depending on the farm. Queensland's cool Granite Belt also runs a summer season, opposite its own coastal winter patch. Picking itself is simple: most patches hand you a punnet or bucket and charge either a small entry fee plus per-kilogram picking, or a flat price per punnet. Expect to pay somewhere around $5 to $13 a kilogram, or $15 to $25 for entry that includes as much picking as you like, though pricing varies a lot by farm and season.
Most pick-your-own farms grow a handful of well-established commercial strawberry varieties, chosen for flavour, yield and how well the fruit holds its shape once picked. Because Australia's strawberry season splits into a warm-winter crop in Queensland and a spring-summer crop in the southern states, different varieties tend to dominate in each climate. Farms often plant more than one variety in the same patch, so treat this as a general guide rather than what you'll find at any specific gate.
| Variety | Peak months | States commonly grown | Flavour & texture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rhapsody | May–October | QLD, northern NSW | Bred for warm winters; sweet, deep-red berries that hold their shape well in a punnet |
| Sundrench | June–September | QLD (Bundaberg, south-east) | High-yielding warm-climate variety with a good balance of sweetness and firmness |
| Albion | October–April | VIC, SA, NSW | Day-neutral variety that keeps cropping over a long season; large, firm and reliably sweet |
| Cambridge Rival | November–February | VIC, TAS, cooler NSW districts | Older European variety; softer berries with a strong, old-fashioned flavour |
| Adina | October–March | NSW, VIC | Mid-season variety bred for eastern Australia; firm berries that travel and pick well |
Here's a closer look at standout pick-your-own strawberry farms near Australia's biggest cities, using real season windows and pricing from each farm.
Sydney: Sydney's strawberry picking is concentrated in the Bilpin district, about 90 minutes north-west of the CBD along the Bells Line of Road. Bilpin Fruit Bowl grows strawberries as part of a wider fruit-and-vegetable patch, picking from mid-November through to the end of May — pay for what you pick, with entry pricing not published. Nearby, TNT Produce lists strawberries alongside its stone fruit and other crops from around January to June, though it requires an online entry booking. See strawberry picking near Sydney for more.
Melbourne: Melbourne families can reach strawberry patches in several directions. In the Dandenong Ranges, about an hour east of the CBD, Blue Hills Berries and Cherries at Silvan picks berries from November to February alongside its cherry season. Down at Mount Duneed near Geelong, Surf Coast Strawberry Fields runs an entry-inclusive punnet system — around $10 for 500g or $14 for a kilogram — from October/November through to late April. Further out in Gippsland, The Berry Dairy at Maffra charges $3 entry (free under five) plus punnets from $6, open October to May. See strawberry picking near Melbourne for the full list.
Brisbane: Brisbane's strawberry season runs opposite the southern states, picking through the cooler months. Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm, south-west of the city, opens June to November with pick-your-own typically running August to October — adult entry is around $15 and includes a 500g punnet, with extra fruit charged by the kilogram. North at Caboolture, Oasis Berries opens its patch for a short window around September and October to coincide with its annual Strawberry Festival, so it pays to book ahead. See strawberry picking near Brisbane for more.
Adelaide: Adelaide's strawberry farms cluster in the hills and down the Fleurieu Peninsula. Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills picks from November to April, with $5 entry (children 12 and under free) and strawberries at $13.50/kg. About an hour south, Harvest the Fleurieu at Mount Compass runs a longer window, October to May, also with $5 entry (children under 12 free) and strawberries at $12/kg. Both make an easy day trip from the city — see the South Australia farm guide for the wider region.
Swipe to see all months. Peak and available windows are typical only and shift with the weather.
| State | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | |
| Victoria | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | ||||
| Queensland | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Peak |
| South Australia | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | ||||
| Western Australia | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | |||||||
| Tasmania | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak |
Thirlmere · Sydney Basin
Wagga Wagga · Riverina & South Coast
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Mogood · Riverina & South Coast
Kialla West · Goulburn Valley
Silvan · Dandenong Ranges
Boneo · Mornington Peninsula
Wandin East · Dandenong Ranges
Landers Shoot · Sunshine Coast
Stanthorpe · Granite Belt
Mount Charlton · Mackay & Whitsundays
Meadowvale · Bundaberg & Wide Bay
Hahndorf · Adelaide Hills
Mount Compass · Fleurieu Peninsula
Frances · Limestone Coast & South East SA
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Gnangara · Swan Valley
Wanneroo · Swan Valley
Neerabup · Swan Valley
Smith Brook · South West WA
Mountain River · Hobart & the Huon Valley
Hillwood · Tamar Valley & Launceston
Richmond · Hobart & the Huon Valley
Longford · Tamar Valley & Launceston
Ripe strawberries are fully red from tip to stem with no white or green shoulders — colour won't develop much more after picking, so pick red, not pink. Snap the stem just above the cap rather than pulling the berry itself, which bruises easily. Keep picked berries in a single layer where possible and out of direct sun on the walk back to the car. At home, don't wash strawberries until you're ready to eat them, and store unwashed in the fridge for two to three days at most.
Read our full How to pick strawberries: a complete Australian guide
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
It depends where you are. South-east Queensland and Bundaberg pick strawberries in winter, roughly May to October, peaking July-August. Southern states — Adelaide Hills, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania — run spring through autumn, roughly October to April, peaking December-February. Because the two seasons are opposite, there's almost always a patch open somewhere. Always check the farm's current status before driving out.
Most farms charge either an entry fee of roughly $5 to $8 per person plus picking by weight, or a flat punnet price. Per-kilogram picking typically runs $10 to $20, and some farms charge $15 to $25 for all-you-can-eat entry while you're in the patch. A handful of farms don't publish pricing online, so it's worth calling ahead if cost matters to your day out.
Yes. The Hawkesbury and Sydney basin district, around Bilpin, has strawberry farms with a season stretching across spring, summer and into winter depending on the grower. It's roughly a 60 to 90 minute drive from the Sydney CBD. Farms in this district vary in their exact opening months, so confirm current picking dates before you go.
Yes, in several directions. The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, and Geelong/Bellarine district all have pick-your-own strawberry farms, generally open from spring through autumn (roughly October to April, some into May). Drive times range from about 45 minutes to just over an hour from the Melbourne CBD depending on the district you choose.
In July, strawberry picking is open in south-east Queensland and the Bundaberg/Wide Bay district, which run their strawberry season through the cooler months. Southern states are out of season in July, with their patches typically reopening from around October. Weather can shift these windows either way, so a quick call to the farm before you drive out is worthwhile.
No — pricing splits two ways. Some farms charge no entry at all: Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries, on the NSW Coffs Coast, is free to enter and you simply pay per kilogram for what you pick. Others charge a small entry fee, sometimes with a punnet included — Beerenberg Farm and Harvest the Fleurieu in South Australia both charge $5 per person, while Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm near Brisbane charges around $15 for an adult, which includes a 500g punnet. Neither model works out cheaper across the board, so it's worth checking a farm's pricing style before you go if cost is a factor.
Yes — strawberries grow well in pots, raised beds or garden borders across most of Australia, given full sun and free-draining, slightly acidic soil. Runners are typically planted in autumn in warmer regions or early spring in cooler climates, with the first fruit following within a few months once the plant establishes.
Yes. Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills about 30 minutes from the city, picks strawberries from November to April, with $5 entry and berries at $13.50 a kilogram. Further south on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Harvest the Fleurieu at Mount Compass runs a longer season, October to May, also with $5 entry and strawberries at $12 a kilogram. Both make an easy half-day trip from the Adelaide CBD.
