Pick-you-own-fruit farms and orchards are a fun activity the whole family can enjoy. We’ve sorted the ripest spots to pick farm-fresh fruit in every season of the year (and all within 90 minutes of Ryde district!). So, put your out-of-office on (and a sign on the laundry door), unplug those screens and stretch those legs in some fresh farm air at the below locations.
What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, some reusable bags and gumboots.
Seasonal fruit guide: For a quick snapshot of which fruit is ready when, click here. It’s a list that lets you scroll through and can show you when is the best time of year to set forth and find whichever fruit you’re craving.
Note: Always check the farm’s website in case the season has ended sooner than expected to avoid disappointment on the day.
Mandarins (Winter)
Watkins Family Farm
1006 Singleton Rd, Laughtondale near Wisemans Ferry NSW
You’ll find: Mandarins bought by the bucket- they’re $10 each and pretty huge. 1 bucket bought us about 6kgs worth of the juiciest, most delicious mandarins. The farm also has farm fresh eggs and local honey for purchase. Other amenities include basic toilet facilities, picnic tables and farm pets for the kids to meet
- Opening Hours: Open weekends from 10am- 4pm. Tip: Cash Only. (nearest ATM is a 15min drive)
- Drive time from Ryde: 60 minutes
- Phone: 0418 233 466
Ford’s Farm
1275 Singleton Road, Laughtondale near Wisemans Ferry NSW
You’ll find: Mandarins, lemons and limes are $2/kg Cumquats are $10/kg. The farm also has farm fresh eggs, their own local honey and jams for purchase. Other amenities include basic toilet facilities, picnic tables and some very friendly sheep – just don’t feed the sheep any citrus!!
- Opening Hours: Open weekends from 10am- 4pm. ($5 entry per car)
- Drive time from Ryde: 60 minutes
- Phone: 02 4566 3127
Stone Fruit – Peaches, Nectarines, Plums (Spring)
Bilpin Fruit Bowl
2093 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: an insane variety of things, so make extra space for this one. Depending on the type of year, you can find anything ranging from yellow peaches, strawberries, apples to iceberg lettuce, zucchini and kale.
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Canoelands Orchard
31 Canoelands Road, Canoelands.
You’ll find: blood plums, candy plums, white nectarines and yellow nectarines for picking your own. There is also fresh raw honey available all year round. (Plus a cafe onsite!)
- Opening Hours: Open 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day.
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 15 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Strawberries (Summer)
Berrilicious Strawberries
200B West Parade, Thirlmere, NSW
You’ll find: Thousands of strawberries, and they’re all undercover in a clever walk-through field, so rain, hail or shine, they’re ready.
- Also available: Stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums)
- Opening Hours: 8:00am Fridays
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 10 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Canoelands Orchard
31 Canoelands Road, Canoelands.
You’ll find: blood plums, candy plums, white nectarines and yellow nectarines for picking your own. There is also fresh raw honey available all year round.
- Opening Hours: Open 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day.
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 15 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Bilpin Fruit Bowl
2093 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: an insane variety of things, so make extra space for this one. Depending on the type of year, you can find anything ranging from yellow peaches, strawberries, apples to iceberg lettuce, zucchini and kale.
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Pine Crest Orchard
2459 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: Apricots, Nectarines and both yellow and white peaches, all at $4/kg
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 02 45671143 (after 7:30pm)
Cedar Creek Orchards
269 Mulhollands Rd, Thirlmere NSW
You’ll find: Nectarines, yellow and white peaches.
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 02 4681 8457
Apples and Peaches (Autumn)
You’ll come across the area of Bilpin a lot when searching for orchards and farms. It’s a beautiful area and we highly recommend taking the scenic route over the mountains to the western plains of New South Wales. If you’re thinking about making it a weekend away, make sure you check out the nearby attractions in the Blue Mountains – Scenic World and the Tomah botanic gardens are just a few!
Bilpin Fruit Bowl
2093 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: an insane variety of things, so make extra space for this one. Depending on the type of year, you can find anything ranging from yellow peaches, strawberries, apples to iceberg lettuce, zucchini and kale.
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 0419 688 039
Bilpin Springs Orchard
2550 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin, New South Wales
You’ll find: This boutique orchard is where you’ll find juicy Nashi pears, plums, peaches and apples.
- Opening Hours: Open weekends, 7:00am – 1:00pm.
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 02 4567 1294
Pine Crest Orchard
2459 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: Apricots, Nectarines and both yellow and white peaches, all at $4/kg
- Opening Hours: Open weekends,10am to 4pm
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 02 45671143 (after 7:30pm)
Glenbernie Orchard (now also called Darkes)
259 Darkes Forest NSW, Darkes Forest 2508
You’ll find: Tip: This awesome farm offers tours through their orchards, a lovely fourth-generation family owns this one.
- Opening Hours: 8:00am Fridays
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: (02) 4294 3421
TNT Produce
153 Kurts Road Bilpin NSW
You’ll find: This orchard is like a giant apple reunion with Royal Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji and Pink Lady varieties just waiting to be picked. They have a shed onsite that sells nuts, honey, vinegar and homemade jams. Fancy Persimmons? They grow these beauties onsite as well!
- Opening Hours: Weekends and public holidays 10am to 4pm and also school holidays.
- Drive time from Ryde: 1 hour & 30 minutes
- Phone: 0410676152 or 0450515096
Hot Tip: Jump online before your trip and double-check the farm’s website to make sure there is still fruit on the trees to pick, as some seasons end sooner than others depending on weather experienced throughout. (And naturally, Covid affected these guys too, so it’s great to know their set up prior to going, some might ask for casual appointments to be made so they know how many people to expect that day).
Extra Bits: Why not stretch out the fruit fun and whip up your very own breakfast jam or apple pies with the kids?
We’ve selected some kid-friendly recipes below:
- Apple Pie
- Marmalade
- Strawberry Jam with pectin*
*What is Pectin? We asked the same, and found it at Big W! Pectin is a fibre found in strawberries and other fruit that helps the fruit hold its shape—the harder a fruit is, the more pectin it contains. When pectin is cooked, it will thicken the liquid around it, perfect for Jam and it also means that if you want, you can skip the cups of sugar!
