Strawberries are the one crop you can usually find somewhere in Australia at any time of year, because the season flips between climate zones. In Queensland's south-east and around Bundaberg, strawberries are a winter crop, typically picked from May to October with a July-August peak — in season right now. In the cooler southern states it's the opposite: Adelaide Hills, Victoria and Tasmania run a spring-to-autumn season from roughly October to April, peaking December to February, while the Sydney basin and Hawkesbury stretch across spring, summer and into winter depending on the farm. Queensland's cool Granite Belt also runs a summer season, opposite its own coastal winter patch. Picking itself is simple: most patches hand you a punnet or bucket and charge either a small entry fee plus per-kilogram picking, or a flat price per punnet. Expect to pay somewhere around $5 to $13 a kilogram, or $15 to $25 for entry that includes as much picking as you like, though pricing varies a lot by farm and season.
Swipe to see all months. Peak and available windows are typical only and shift with the weather.
| State | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | |
| Victoria | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | ||||
| Queensland | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Peak |
| South Australia | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak | ||||
| Western Australia | Available | Peak | Peak | Peak | Available | |||||||
| Tasmania | Peak | Peak | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Peak |
Thirlmere · Sydney Basin
Wagga Wagga · Riverina & South Coast
Mogood · Riverina & South Coast
Wombat · Riverina & South Coast
Wallington · Geelong & the Bellarine
Kialla West · Goulburn Valley
Silvan · Yarra Valley
Wandin North · Yarra Valley
Stanthorpe · Granite Belt
Meadowvale · Bundaberg & Wide Bay
Chambers Flat · Brisbane & South-East Queensland
Applethorpe · Granite Belt
Hahndorf · Adelaide Hills
Mount Compass · Fleurieu Peninsula
Gnangara · Swan Valley
Wanneroo · Swan Valley
Neerabup · Swan Valley
Carabooda · Swan Valley
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Adventure Bay, Bruny Island · Hobart & the Huon Valley
Hillwood · Tamar Valley & Launceston
Richmond · Hobart & the Huon Valley
Longford · Tamar Valley & Launceston
Ripe strawberries are fully red from tip to stem with no white or green shoulders — colour won't develop much more after picking, so pick red, not pink. Snap the stem just above the cap rather than pulling the berry itself, which bruises easily. Keep picked berries in a single layer where possible and out of direct sun on the walk back to the car. At home, don't wash strawberries until you're ready to eat them, and store unwashed in the fridge for two to three days at most.
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
It depends where you are. South-east Queensland and Bundaberg pick strawberries in winter, roughly May to October, peaking July-August. Southern states — Adelaide Hills, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania — run spring through autumn, roughly October to April, peaking December-February. Because the two seasons are opposite, there's almost always a patch open somewhere. Always check the farm's current status before driving out.
Most farms charge either an entry fee of roughly $5 to $8 per person plus picking by weight, or a flat punnet price. Per-kilogram picking typically runs $10 to $20, and some farms charge $15 to $25 for all-you-can-eat entry while you're in the patch. A handful of farms don't publish pricing online, so it's worth calling ahead if cost matters to your day out.
Yes. The Hawkesbury and Sydney basin district, around Bilpin, has strawberry farms with a season stretching across spring, summer and into winter depending on the grower. It's roughly a 60 to 90 minute drive from the Sydney CBD. Farms in this district vary in their exact opening months, so confirm current picking dates before you go.
Yes, in several directions. The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, and Geelong/Bellarine district all have pick-your-own strawberry farms, generally open from spring through autumn (roughly October to April, some into May). Drive times range from about 45 minutes to just over an hour from the Melbourne CBD depending on the district you choose.
In July, strawberry picking is open in south-east Queensland and the Bundaberg/Wide Bay district, which run their strawberry season through the cooler months. Southern states are out of season in July, with their patches typically reopening from around October. Weather can shift these windows either way, so a quick call to the farm before you drive out is worthwhile.