Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Sydney Area of New South Wales, Australia,? Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Sydney Area of New South Wales, Australia,, sorted by area. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name. The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. Updated frequently during the growing season, I've been maintaining this for 20 years. Help me keep this up to date, please tell me via the let me know of any changes, corrections and updates!
And if you know of any I missed and want to add them or correct the information, please let me know!
What's in season in December 2024, and other timely information:
Notes for December 2024:Apples are usually January to May; Blueberries are ready in December to mid January in MOST areas of Australia. Strawberries can have a long season, November to April - depending on the variety. See your area's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website.
Home canning and freezing directions. You can access it from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me!
Sydney Area of New South Wales, Australia, U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2024, by county
Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map. If you know of any other PYO farms I've missed, please write me via the Suggest a farm form (or if you own the farm, use the Add My Farm form).
Australia Harvest Calendar / Typical Crop Ripening Dates for Australia
If you want to start your own food business in Australia, at home or otherwise, see this page.
Keep in mind that the wildfires have devastated many farms and orchards. That, along with COVID, means many farms may not be open this year, or have restrictions. Give them your support!
Sydney area
- 10s Estate Cherry Orchard - cherries, figs, oranges, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked,
157 Craigmoor Road, Eurunderee, NSW 2850. Phone: 291 607638. Email: lester@10estate.com.au. Open: Call for current hours. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Cherries season is typically November to January Figs season is typically February to April. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. (UPDATED: November 01, 2019) Uses natural growing practices - Anderson Farm - Oranges
951 to 968 Sackville Ferry Rd, Sackville North, NSW 2576. Phone: 0245791120. Mobile: 0414503955. Email: ulinbawn@gmail.com. Open: from June to the following September each year. They grow Emperor, Imperial and Hickson Mandarins and Washington Navel Oranges for Pick Your Own. Later in the season they have Seville Oranges for Pick Your Own. (UPDATED: October 5, 2020, JBS) - Berrylicious Strawberries - strawberries
200 W Parade, Thirlmere, NSW 2572. Email: berryliciousstrawbs@gmail.com. Open: almost year round , peak season is summer; the farm stand is open Monday- Friday, 9:00-13:00. The farm is not open all the time Email before you go. Directions: an hour south west of Parramatta, passed Campbelltown, near Picton. Our strawberries are picked daily and are available 365 days a year! We grow strawberries in a different system, the plants are in tunnels elevated two meters from the ground. This way we eliminate most of pests and bacteria so we do not need to spray as much as normal strawberry growers do. The strawberries are under cover and we pick all around the year hail rain or shine. -
Canoelands
Orchard -
tomatoes, eggplants, nectarines, peaches, plums, Honey from
hives on the farm, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm
animals, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call
for info)
27 Canoelands Road, Canoelands, Sydney, NSW 2157. Phone: 041-968-8039. Email: nandjchristiepl@gmail.com. Open: Thursday till Saturday from 9am. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. November dec. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page.. Check with us for tomatoes to pick. Eggplant will return but were all picked over Easter so we are awaiting the next cropto come through. open 9.30 till 3 weekends or by booking weekdays. 2019 Entry is $5 adults, $3 children (5-15), under 5 free then $6 per kilo for EVERYTHING you pick. (UPDATED: October 5, 2020 JBS) - Cedar Creek Orchard - persimmons, peaches
269 Mulhollands Rd, Thirlmere, NSW 2572. Phone: +61 246 818 457. Email: marksilm@bigpond.com. Open: Bookings must be made online, or by phone for ALL SESSIONS - ANY DAY of the week, to allow groups to be transported to and from the picking areas. During some of our fruit seasons, we allow people into the orchard to experience picking their own fruit. This becomes very busy on weekends! There is plenty of free parking available.Stonefruit picking is usually on select dates in November, December and early January. Persimmon picking usually operates from mid-April, to the end of May. (CHECK ONLINE for dates we are operating, or ring us) - Minimum of 8 ADULTS required per group on any WEEKDAYS - You can join other groups. We confirm by email, after booking, if session will go ahead. WEEKENDS: 'Pick-Your-Own' allows you to be taken on a tractor ride into the orchard and shown how, what, and where, to pick your persimmons; also to allow you to taste ONE of our beautiful persimmons whilst picking. You will be transported in our special "Persimmon Express" people-mover, and allowed to stroll through the persimmon trees for approximately 60 minutes, making your own choice of fruit to pick and buy. Special Note: Please wear appropriate footwear - Closed in shoes best.Already harvest apples;. (UPDATED: January 02, 2020, JBS)
-
Cedar Farm Pick Your Own Dooralong - No pesticides are used, oranges, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food
48 Dittons Rd, Dooralong, NSW 2259. Phone: 0402295531. Email: cbs@ozemail.com.au. Open: from early July until September for navel orange picking; weekends only from 10 am to 4 pm; open during the winter school holidays 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm; Closed in wet weather; Always check facebook; Valencia oranges are available from October until November ;Weekends only from 10 am to 4 pm. Directions: Once you have turned onto Dittons Road continue for 1km until you see the reception area. The road is narrow please drive slowly. Follow the signs. Click here for a map and directions. We do not use pesticides on the crops. People regularly tell us they're are the best oranges they've ever eaten, so don't miss out! Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. (ADDED: January 28, 2022) -
Darke's
Glenbernie Orchard - apples, peaches and nectarines, wedding
venue
Glenbernie Orchard, 259 Darkes Forest Rd, Darkes Forest, NSW 2508. Email: orders@glenbernie.com.au. Open: 7 Days from 10am to 4.30pm, Bookings are essential. Directions: The 60 hectare farm is located an easy 60 minutes drive south of Sydney on the Illawarra Escarpment, next to the Dharawal National Park. Pick fruit straight from the tree to take home. Fruit Picking is seasonal. Pick your own experiences are run when fruit is available and at its premium November-December for stone fruits and January-April for apples. Designed for those who seriously desire to pick for eating, cooking and reducing food miles! Closed footwear is essential. There can be significant walking distances involved in this tour. 4 generations of the Fahey family have grown apples and other fruit in Darkes Forest since 1939. Now, we also make apple cider, apple cider vinegar, honey wine and conduct experiences and events on the farm.
Weddings: Glenbernie Orchard is a unique location for your special day. We are taking limited bookings for wedding ceremonies. This ensures that the farm remains with the same amazing allure that brought you to us.
We can tailor your event to suit your style. Our farm is a blank canvas upon which you can create your own story, express your own unique approach. -
Fords Farm -
Mandarins, limes, lemons, cumquats, oranges, honey
1275 Singleton Rd, Laughtondale, NSW 2775. Phone: +61 2 4566 3127. Email fordsfarm1275@gmail.com. Open: usually opens in May or June, in the winter for the month of June, likely on June Long Weekend from 9am to 3pm until all the fruit has been sold. Our Satsuma Mandarin is a seedless variety, easy to peel, full of juice and sweet. We have a reasonable crop considering the drought, bushfires and floods. They are the children's first choice as they are easy to peel, very juicy and is a seedless variety. Imperial Mandarins are the mandarin you know from the supermarket and will be ready in June. Other citrus available when in season are lemons, limes, cumquats, oranges and kaffir limes. There is plenty of honey this year as there has been a good flow of honey, unlike last year when we had no honey at all due to the drought. You can purchase your favourite citrus trees, we will only have Satsumas and Imperials available this year. We would be happy to give you hints as to how to look after your own tree, whether in a unit or on a house block. . Good drive near the Wiseman's ferry across the hawkesberry river. Very helpful host. Note: Do not forget to bring your own scissors for harvesting. At this time we are only allowed a limited number of people on the property at any one time and you will be required to book online through our website. We cannot let you enter if you do not have a booking. You will be required to follow all social distancing regulations and you will not be allowed on the property if you are ill. Our website will be updated regularly should the situation change. -
Roth Family Orchard - sweet cherries
108 Eurunderee Lane, Mudgee, NSW 2850. Phone: 61 428 195 485. Open: November and December, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings in season from 7:30 am to 1pm. Our range of sweet cherry varieties ripen over just 3 weeks in late November / early December. We love seeing visitors and families enjoy the orchard. It's best to come early in the morning as this is when cherries are at their best - before the days' heat sets in. We loan you a picking lug and harness to use in the orchard. To cut back on waste we encourage you to bring boxes/eskies to take your cherries home. If travelling a long distance we also suggest an esky to keep the cherries cool. FRESHLY PICKED CHERRIES Our farm packed cherries are on sale at the farm on picking days until sold out. We also planted new Morello sour cherry trees in 2018 - it will be a few years before these fruit. -
Sydney Christmas Tree Farm - Christmas trees,
choose and cut
'Namba Forest' 6 Namba Road, Duffys Forest, NSW 2084. Phone: 02 9450 2027. Email: info@sydneychristmastreefarm.com.au.. Directions: 5 km off Ring Road 3 (Mona Vale Rd) 3 doors before Waratah Park Wildlife Park . Directions: 5 km off Ring Road 3 (Mona Vale Rd) 3 doors before Waratah Park Wildlife Park . We are open December, weekdays 4.30 to 6.00pm; weekends 9-5, from December 1. -
TCP Farmgate Tours - apples, blackberries, boysenberries,
lemons, loganberries, nectarines, oranges, other berries, other citrus,
pears, peaches, pecans , plums, strawberries, walnuts, Honey from hives
on the farm, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the
premises)
Po Box 71, Lawson, NSW 2783. Phone: 02 4759 3040. Email: tcpfarmgatetours@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2020, Their Facebook page is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were Every Friday leaving Penrith Railway Station at 9;30, all year round. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. This is a tour only. The minibus picks you up at Penrith Railway Station and takes you to Pick Your Own orchards, roadside stalls, honey farms, organic farms etc. -
Thornbrook Orchard - Apricots, Nectarines, cherries, peaches, plums, figs,
grapes, mulberries, apples and pears
39 Nashdale Lane, Nashdale, NSW 2800. Phone: +61 427 269 437. Email: info@thornbrookorchard.com.au. Open: It is best to ring before coming to check availability, as fruit is available seasonally and not all fruit we grow will be available at all times of the year; Fruit availability in season can change on a day to day basis; that said, December hours are daily, from 9 am to 4 pm up to Christmas, Christmas Eve 9am to 2pm, Closed Christmas Day, Closed 26th to 31st December, then January to April on Saturday 9 am to 4 pm*, Sunday 9 am to 2 pm* (Closed weekdays (by appointment only), (* Public Holidays and Easter Long Weekend 9 am to 2 pm)(* Closed Anzac Day 25th April and Sunday 26th April), and from May to November there is no Pick you own available. We take advantage of the fertile volcanic soil to grow you the best fresh fruit. We grow cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, figs, grapes, mulberries, apples and pears. You can come and buy from the shop or wander around the orchard to pick your own fruit (seasonal availability). Where fruit quantity is limited it is first in, first served. Look at the weather forecast for Orange. Remember the weather at our farm may be different to where you live. Strictly NO pets. We are a smoke free. NO smoking is allowed in orchard or sheds. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. (ADDED: February 19, 2020, JBS) -
Watkins Family Farm
- mandarins, farm gates sales, honey from hives on the farm
1006 Singleton Rd, Laughtondale, NSW 2775. Phone: +61 418 233 466. Open: winter, weekends, from 10AM TO 4PM; LAST BUCKET SALES AT 3.30PM. Fun Family Day Out - easy drive from Sydney. Farm will re-pen for visitors weekends during fruit season winter. Check our website for updates and full details. Payment: cash, only. No electricity or phone service. Over 2,000 fruit trees in Beautiful Hidden Valley. Juicy Imperial and Hickson Mandarins when in season subject to availability. Specialising in Citrus Fruit and Growing Tahitian Limes, Seedless Lemons, Cumquats, Kaffir Limes, Farm Fresh Eggs and Honey from our Hives - All seasonal and subject to availability. You need to buy plastics bucket; two sizes, $10 (best for kids) and $20(can fill up a load) which you need to return at the exit. Free plastic bags are provided to carry the fruit home. Check all the rows by walking into them. People often miss the best trees!. (ADDED: October 6, 2020, JBS) -
Wyuna Farms - oranges
George Downes Dr, Kulnura, NSW 2250. Phone: +61 2 4376 1218. Mobile: 0417 451 764. Email: wilsonrl@bigpond.net.au. Open: in July we hope we will have a good crop. Winter Navels are not ready until July. l
North west
Click here for farms
in northwest NSW
The listings are frequently updated, but often they don't tell us current prices, so the prices unless you see this year's update date.
Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)
In addition to listings of farms, I hope the following pages are helpful to you!
Picking Tips!
General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable
How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)
Selecting the right varieties to pick
All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!
Simple instructions:
Canning and Freezing
FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems
Comprehensive addition resources
Free publications to download and print
Canning equipment
To can (bottle, jar) most acidic foods, like jams, jellies, salsa, fruit products like applesauce, apple butter,
peaches, etc, you need the following:
A canner - a large pot, usually 33 qts, which can hold 7 quart jars or 12 8 ounce jars. And large pot with a lid will work, so long
as each jar will be submerged by at least 1 inch of boiling water.
This is a good canner,
and here is a canning kit, but Amazon seems to have difficulty keeping them in stock.
If
you want to can low acid foods like canned green beans, sweet corn, meats, etc., you MUST use a
pressure canner. It reaches higher temperatures which are needed to kill mold and botulism. The jars, lids and other equipment are the
same.
Canning rack - The canning rack is critical, just be sure it fits inside your canning pot. It allows you to safely and easily lift the jars in and out of the canner.
Miscellaneous tools - Some kits contain most of the tools you'll need like this
canning
tools kit.
Jar tongs (to pick up hot jars)
Jar funnel - good ones also help you measure the headspace and cover the rim from splashes
Canning Lid rack - to hold the lids while they are sanitizing in a small pot of boiling water
Supplies -
canning jars - these come in the modern lid and ring system and some
older version. Most have change to the two piece lid and ring method since it ENORMOUSLY reduces spoilage. Like everything else, jars can be hard to
obtain. Some commercial products, like spaghetti sauce, sometimes come in a sturdy jar that fits the standard lid and ring.
lids and rings (a.k.a, "bands")
Pectin (if you are making jam or
jelly)
WECK Small-Batch Preserving: Recipes for Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More