Strawberry picking within reach of Melbourne stretches from the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs through the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong's Bellarine hinterland and out into Gippsland, all sitting within about a 90-minute drive of the CBD depending on which cluster you choose. Victoria's season is a long one, generally October through to May, with December to February the sweetest stretch. Pricing splits fairly evenly between punnet-based entry fees and straight pay-by-weight, so it's worth asking at the gate. The Berry Dairy at Maffra in Gippsland keeps things simple for families, with a three-dollar entry fee (free under five) and punnets from six dollars, running from September through to May. Closer to the city, Yarra Valley farms like Jay Berries add tractor rides for a bit of extra fun on top of the picking itself.
11 farms
Wallington · Geelong & the Bellarine
Around Geelong, about an hour south-west of Melbourne
Silvan · Yarra Valley
About an hour north-east of Melbourne
Wandin North · Yarra Valley
About an hour north-east of Melbourne
Glen Forbes · Gippsland
An hour or more east of Melbourne
Main Ridge · Mornington Peninsula
About an hour south of Melbourne
Trafalgar South · Gippsland
An hour or more east of Melbourne
Mount Duneed · Geelong & the Bellarine
Around Geelong, about an hour south-west of Melbourne
Maffra · Gippsland
An hour or more east of Melbourne
Drysdale · Geelong & the Bellarine
Around Geelong, about an hour south-west of Melbourne
Wandin East · Dandenong Ranges
About an hour east of Melbourne
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Coldstream · Yarra Valley
About an hour north-east of Melbourne
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
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All strawberry picking in Australia
Clusters exist in the Yarra Valley around Wandin, the Mornington Peninsula near Main Ridge, Geelong's Bellarine hinterland and further out in Gippsland around Maffra and Glen Forbes. All sit within about 90 minutes of the CBD, so most families pick whichever cluster suits their route.
The Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are both around an hour from the CBD in normal traffic, Geelong's Bellarine hinterland is similar, and Gippsland farms like The Berry Dairy at Maffra are closer to the 90-minute edge. Weekend traffic can add 15 to 20 minutes to any of these.
Melbourne-area strawberries typically run from October through to May, one of the longer windows nationally, with December to February the peak. The Berry Dairy at Maffra extends a little earlier, opening from September in a normal season, though it's worth calling ahead to confirm the patch is ripe before you drive out.
The Berry Dairy charges three dollars entry, free for children under five, with punnets priced from six dollars for a small size up to twenty dollars for a large one. Other farms vary: some charge purely by the kilo picked, so it's worth checking which pricing model applies before you start filling a container.
Most Melbourne-area farms don't require bookings and operate as walk-up visits through the season, though smaller operations like Kookaberry Strawberry Farm ask that you call ahead to check pricing and picking availability. A quick call also confirms which patches are ripe that particular weekend.