Indulging in the pure delight of freshly harvested fruit straight from the vine or tree is an experience that’s hard to beat. For those who lack the space or time to cultivate their own orchards, the quest for the finest fruit-picking destinations near Melbourne begins. Whether you crave plump strawberries, juicy blueberries, delectable cherries, crisp apples, or a diverse fruit selection, Victoria offers an array of orchards where you can savour the joy of handpicking. These bountiful havens of natural sweetness are conveniently located just a short drive away from Melbourne.
The region surrounding Melbourne boasts an array of fruitful opportunities, with prime fruit-picking destinations centred around Red Hill, Bacchus Marsh, and the scenic Yarra Valley. For those willing to venture a bit further afield, the Dandenong Ranges beckon with its luscious berries, and the Beechworth area boasts its own fruitful treasures. If you’re eager to embark on a fruit-picking adventure, we’ve compiled a list of the top spots for picking your own fruit near Melbourne.
The Bramble Farm
Langwarrin
Established in 1985, The Bramble Farm is home to more than 30,000 vines of different berries. The minimum spend is $10 for picking your own berries, and you can visit the ponies on the farm which makes it a fun day out for kids.
They also sell a range of jams and cold-pressed honey. Harvest time usually runs from November until April.
What can you pick?
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Youngberries
- Jostaberries
- Red Currants
- Brambleberries
Sunny Ridge
Red Hill
Sunny Ridge is one of the most popular attractions in the Red Hill region, other than the wine that is. The farm has a range of activities, with the headliner being their ‘U-pick Strawberries’. Purchase a tub and head out into Sunny Ridge’s fields to find the juiciest, reddest strawberries and stash them before the next person gets them.
Sunny Ridge also has a retail store, that sells jams, frozen berries, chocolates, honey, oils, and more. There’s also a cafe on-site serving up scones, pancakes, and a range of cold drinks. On a hot day, you’ll find a crowd descending on the ice cream cart out the front which dishes up fresh ice cream that’s made in-house.
What can you pick?
- Strawberries
Blue Hills Berries And Cherries
Silvan
The Chapman family have been farming in Victoria’s Yarra Valley since the late 1800s, so you know you’re going to get the best fruit available for picking on a visit to Blue Hills Berries and Cherries. Unfortunately, the farm was unable to provide pick-your-own berries in the 2021/2022 season, but will hopefully be back next summer.
There are two session times for berry picking at Blue Hills, 9am until 1pm, and 1:30pm until 4:30pm with Blue Hills closing at 5:30pm.
What can you pick?
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
Chappies
Silvan
Still in Silvan, you’ll find Chappies which has u-pick berries and u-pick cherry orchards. Chappies is a fourth-generation fruit growing business, and the family has farmed in the Yarra Valley for 120 years. Sweet cherry and berry season at Chappies kicks off from November, with sour cherries coming into their own from December.
Chappies has a range of fresh, and frozen, berries available during their shop as well. Pick up some raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and Chappie’s ‘krimsonberries’.
What can you pick?
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Krimsonberries
CherryHill Orchards
Wandin East
CherryHill Orchards is one of the best known cherry picking orchards near Melbourne. They have orchards in both Coldstream, and Wandin East in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The family-owned orchard has been operating since 1940 and allows cherry picking from early November. Before the cherries are ready for the 2022 season, you can head to CherryHill’s famous Blossom Festival in spring.
What can you pick?
- Cherries
Naturipe Fruits
Bacchus Marsh
Naturipe Fruits in the fertile region of Bacchus Marsh has a range of cherries growing in its orchard. There are 15 types of cherry growing on the farm across six hectares of orchards. Naturipe has white cherries—otherwise known as Ranier cherries—red sweet cherries, and sour cherries on offer. The farm also has strawberries, apples, and peaches available. So, if you’re looking for places to pick strawberries in Bacchus Marsh, Naturipe is a great place to start.
What can you pick?
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Apples
- Peaches
Rayner’s Orchard
Woori Yallock
Rayner’s in Woori Yallock is open daily from 9am and hosts fruit tours all year round. You can also pick-your-own fruit at Rayner’s throughout the year depending on what’s in season. Rayner’s Orchard is home to more than 450 kinds of fruit, you can even learn to bottle your own fruit while you’re there.
What can you pick?
- Peaches
- Plums
- Nectarines
- Apricots
- Pomegranate
- Quince
- Currants
- Tomatoes
- Lemons
- Oranges
- And many more
Check out the full range of fruit available to pick yourself on the Rayner’s website.
