Pick your own fruit farms in Victoria

Victoria's picking season runs roughly October to May, with little happening over winter. Cherries peak from mid-November to late December in the Dandenongs, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, strawberries and raspberries run October through into autumn, and apples pick from February to June in the Yarra Valley and Gippsland. Always confirm dates with the farm, as seasons shift with weather.

Many Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley berry and cherry farms ask you to book a picking window, especially on weekends in peak season, while some orchards allow casual walk-in picking. Booking policies vary farm to farm and can change through the season, so check directly with the farm before heading out.

Very little. Victoria's u-pick season is concentrated from spring through autumn, and by July most berry, cherry and stone fruit farms are closed until the next crop starts, generally from October. It's a good time to plan a spring visit instead — check individual farm pages for when bookings for the new season open.

The Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are Victoria's main cherry districts, typically picking from mid-November into January and peaking in December. Grampians & Ballarat, including farms around Bacchus Marsh, run a similar November-to-January window further west. All are within about two hours of Melbourne, so book ahead for peak weekends.

The Dandenong Ranges has the largest concentration of berry farms close to the city, picking raspberries, blueberries and blackberries from spring into autumn. The Yarra Valley runs a similar spread with a longer double-season raspberry window from November to June. Both are under an hour from Melbourne, making them the easiest day-trip options.