Berry and flower picking farms near Sydney

Have you gone fruit picking on a farm before? The weather has been so amazing lately and with Covid restrictions easing for Sydney, I've been dreaming about a mini road trip. I randomly got it into my imagination how wildly romantic it would be to go strawberry picking since it's strawberry season at the moment (and give me occasion to wear my spring picnic outfits!). It would also be a great way to catch up with friends with young children who might enjoy a fun day running about on a farm. While I was doing my research online, the information seemed to be all over the place so I decided to jot down the highly recommended farms and collate all the information here in the one spot to share with you all. My search was specifically targeted at strawberry picking, but many farms have a variety of fruits and vegetables that you could pick throughout the year. I also came across a lovely sunflower farm that claims to be the most instagrammable spot, so of course a must visit. I've listed place that are easily driveable from Sydney and also within the current Covid travel restrictions for Greater Sydney though restrictions will likely be easing again soon. 

If you have been berry/fruit picking in NSW or your state, please share your experience down in comments below and would love to hear your travel suggestions. I'll be posting about our berry picking road trip afterwards so be sure to come back to read all about it!

*Information is current as of 23rd Oct 2021 and would suggest to click on the links to check out individual websites and Facebook page for the most up to date information. 

1. Berrylicious Thirlemere, 2. Bilpin Fruit Bowl, 3. Glenbernie Farm, 4. Canoelands Orchards

1. Berrylicious Strawberries - Thirlmere 

• Undercover strawberry picking all year round. Just strawberries.
• Location: Thirlmere, 30 minutes drive from Campbelltown, 1 hr drive from Sydney
• Opening hours: Mon to Thu 10am to 12pm, and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. One hour slots. 
• Entry fee: $20 per adult, $10 per child (2 yo and under free entry). Can eat as you pick. 
• Take home strawberries $20 per kg. 
• Website/Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/berryliciousstrawberries/
• Bookings https://www.trybooking.com/BUTUB (tickets appear to sell out fast!)

2. Bilpin Fruit Bowl - Bilpin

• Fruits: peaches, nectarines, apples, strawberries - check website for when each fruit is in season.
• Location: Bilpin, 30 minutes drive northwest of Windsor/Penrith, 1.5 hr drive from Sydney.
• Opening hours: farm open to public on weekends and public holidays, 10am to 4pm. 
• Entry fee: $20 per adult, $10 per child (2 yo and under free entry) for two hr session. Can eat as you pick.
• (One blog site mentioned $20 per kg for strawberries).
• Bookings advisable but can buy on site on the day.
• Website: https://bilpinfruitbowl.com.au/

3. Canoelands Orchards - Canoelands

• Location: halfway northwest between Hornsby/Gosford (1 hr drive from Sydney)
• Opening hours: daily, check website for public holidays. 
• Entry fee: $5 for adults, $3 for kids, under 5 yo free entry. Two hour time slots. Accept Dine & Discover vouchers. Can only pick to taste, fruits picked to be purchased by weight. 
• Pick your own fruit: $6/kg for stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums), $6/kg for apples, $6/kg for tomatoes/eggplant, $10/kg for strawberries and $20/kg for blueberries, $6/kg for citrus (various seasons).
• Bookings advisable. 
• Website: www.canoelandsorchard.com/

4. Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries - near Port Macquarie

• Location: 221 Blackmans Point Road, Port Macquarie, NSW (might be one to visit when on a road trip to Port Macquarie, ten minutes north of Port Macquarie). 
• Entry: free, and pay for what you pick to eat and take home (i.e. cannot eat as much as you like while there, which is more the case with the other strawberry picking farms). 
• Pick your own fruit: price/kg n/a
• Cafe on site. No bookings needed (free entry). 
• Website: http://www.ricardoes.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricardoestomatoes/
• I later found out after chatting with a friend who regularly does family trips up to Port Macquarie. They usually stop by Ricardoes on the way there and recommend this place to visit. Open daily all year round except closed on Christmas Day. 

5. Huntley Berry Farm - Huntley, NSW

• Location: Huntley, NSW (close to Orange)
• Opening hours: currently closed til November 2021
• Website: https://huntleyberryfarm.com.au/
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/huntleyberryfarm/

Not strawberry picking but this place looks like a lot of fun: 

6. Glenbernie Farm - sunflower picking and other flowers available

• Location: Bells Line of Road, Kurmond (northwest of Windsor, Sydney). 
• Openings hours: Sat & Sun 9 am to 4pm, weekdays Wed, Thu and Fri 10 am to 2pm
• Entry fee: $10 per adult, $5 per kid, kids 2 yo and under free. Ticket for one hour time slot. Tickets available online as well as at the gate. 
• $4 per sunflower cut. Bring your own bucket and cutters. 
• Website: www.glenberniefamilyfarms.com.au/