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Many Aussies would agree that summer is the best season, where days are made for lazing on our beautiful beaches and golden hour rolls effortlessly into balmy nights, perfect for sunset picnics and outdoor barbecues. But there’s another, often overlooked reason to love the warmer months Down Under – it’s prime fruit-picking season, and cherries are the star of the show right now.
If you’re looking for a sweet trivia nugget, Australia produces more than 20,000 tonnes of cherries every year. These sweet, heart-shaped gems come in all shapes and sizes, with 80 varieties grown across the country – from the humid Granite Belt in Queensland to the sun-soaked orchards of Victoria’s Sunraysia and the cool, temperate climate of Tasmania.
We reckon nothing beats biting into a big, juicy cherry plucked straight from the tree – and this summer, you can experience the sweetness for yourself on a cherry-picking adventure. Handily, the nation’s fastest-growing automotive guide – Chery (yes, we see what they did there) – has put together a state-by-state guide to the best pick-your-own cherry spots in Australia. For the best experience, the experts recommend setting off in the morning when it’s cooler and quieter, as cherries stay fresher when picked earlier in the day. While frolicking through the orchards, look for firm, plump fruits with a deep red-purple colour, and pick them with the stem on to keep them fresher for longer.
Cherry season lasts all summer long in Australia, but make sure to check each orchard’s opening days and hours. Find your closest cherry farm using the list below, or plan a cherry-picking road trip with the Chery Cherry Trail here.
NSW
- Wombat Heights/Hill-Lock Orchard, Wombat
- Allambie Orchard, Wombat
- Ballinaclash Orchard and Cellar Door, Young
- Roth Family Orchard, Eurunderee (near Mudgee)
- 10’S Estate, Mudgee
- Hillside Harvest, Borenore (near Orange)
- Stockmans Ridge Wines, Lidster (near Orange)
Victoria
- Blue Hill Berries and Cherries, Silvan
- CherryHill Orchards, Wandin East
- CherryHill Orchards, Coldstream
- Big Fella Cherries, Coldstream
Tasmania
- Richmond Peonies and Cherries, Coal Valley
- Lees Orchard, Dilston
- Aunita Cherries, Mount Direction
- North Motton Cherries, Sulphur Creek
- Sheffield Berry Gardens, Sheffield
South Australia
- Ancara Estate, Lenswood
- Everlong Orchard, Forest Range
- Plummers Pick Your Own, Forest Range
- Charleston Cherries, Charleston
- Harben Vale Orchard, Balhannah
- Kersbrook Cherry Farm, Chain of Ponds
- Birdwood PYO Cherries, Birdwood
- Marble Hill Cherry Farm, Ashton
- Fleurieu Cherries, Pages Flat
Queensland
- Nicoletti Orchards, Pozieres
- Sam’s Farm Fresh Fruit and Veg, Cottonvale
Western Australia
- Carmel Cherry Farm, Carmel
- Irymple Orchard - Cherry Farm, Roleystone