Morningswood Farm
Eganstown · Grampians & Ballarat
- Season
- Dec-Mar
- Open
- Picking days usually Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Grampians & Ballarat has 7 farms where you can pick your own Blueberries, Raspberries and Blackberries across the season. Picking windows shift with the weather — check each farm's status below and call ahead before you drive out.
The country west of Melbourne around Ballarat is roughly 70 to 100 minutes' drive from the city, stretching further out towards the Grampians. It's mostly berry country rather than orchard country. Blueberries at Thistleberry Farm at Scotsburn run from late December through to March, with Buninyong Blueberry Farm picking a shorter late-January-to-February window, and Ballarat Cherry Farm at Buninyong grows cherries alongside raspberries and blackberries over roughly December and January. Strawberries are picked at Morningswood Farm near Daylesford from December to March, Pick Your Own Sunflowers at Dunnstown opens its paddock in February and March, and two choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms — Sam's at Bungal and Victoria Christmas Tree Farm at Napoleons — open from late November. Always call ahead to confirm what's picking, as frost and heat can shift these dates from year to year.
Around Ballarat, about 90 minutes west of Melbourne
| Farm | Status | Typical season | Entry / price | Booking | Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morningswood Farm | In season soon | Dec-Mar | — | — | — |
| Ballarat Cherry Farm | Closed for season | roughly Dec-Jan (based on a Dec 2024 season update posted via a related Facebook page; farm's own site gives no fixed dates and directs visitors to check Facebook for current-season timing); not stated | Not published on the farm's own website or its dedicated Facebook page (site text: 'Please check our Facebook page for produce in season, opening hours and pricing'). A Dec 2024 post via the Naturipe Fruits Facebook page, referring to 'our Ballarat Cherry Farm', stated cherries at $15/kg with no entry fee — a historical data point, not confirmed as current. | — | Yes |
| Buninyong Blueberry Farm | Closed for season | late Jan-Feb | — | Booking required | — |
| Pick Your Own Sunflowers Dunnstown | Closed for season | Feb-Mar | Reasonable entry fee for pick-your-own flowers (exact price not published) | Booking recommended | Yes |
| Sam's Christmas Trees | Closed for season | Late Nov-20 Dec | — | — | — |
| Thistleberry Farm | Closed for season | late Dec-Mar | — | Booking recommended | — |
| Victoria Christmas Tree Farm | Closed for season | Last weekend Nov-22 Dec | — | No booking needed | — |
7 farms
Eganstown · Grampians & Ballarat
Buninyong · Grampians & Ballarat
Buninyong · Grampians & Ballarat
Dunnstown · Grampians & Ballarat
Bungal · Grampians & Ballarat
Scotsburn · Grampians & Ballarat
Napoleons · Grampians & Ballarat
| Farm | Experience | Access | Status | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Cat Truffles by Liam Downes | Farm tours | Booking required | Currently offered | Grampians & Ballarat, VIC |
| Chris & Julie's Respite Farm | Meet the animals & Stay on the farm | Booking required | Currently offered | Grampians & Ballarat, VIC |
| Rosehaven Farms | Meet the animals & Farm tours | Booking required | Currently offered | Grampians & Ballarat, VIC |
| Village Dreaming Cooking and Traditional Skills School | Hands-on workshops | Booking required | Currently offered | Grampians & Ballarat, VIC |
Wattle Flat · Grampians & Ballarat
Guided truffle hunts with trained dogs and farm-based tastings
Daisy Hill · Grampians & Ballarat
Guest animal feeding; specific animals and session details require operator confirmation
Laharum · Grampians & Ballarat
Hands-on working-farm tour with miniature donkeys, alpacas, miniature goats and Dorper sheep
Blampied · Grampians & Ballarat
On-farm preserving, fermenting, sourdough and traditional-skills classes
Choose a crop and location. We will email you when local farms begin opening.
Ballarat Cherry Farm at Buninyong is the region's cherry farm, growing cherries alongside raspberries and blackberries over roughly December and January. It publishes its open days, hours and prices on its Facebook page rather than its website, so check there and call ahead — cherry seasons are short and weather-dependent.
Thistleberry Farm at Scotsburn and Buninyong Blueberry Farm both grow pick-your-own blueberries close to Ballarat, with Buninyong's season running late January into February and Thistleberry picking from late December through to March. Both recommend or require booking ahead, so reserve your spot before you drive out, especially on weekends when the bushes are at their best.
Pick Your Own Sunflowers at Dunnstown opens its paddock from February into March, once the flowers reach full bloom. Booking ahead is recommended, since sunflower fields open for a short window and can sell out on good-weather weekends. Bloom timing shifts year to year with rainfall and heat, so check the farm's socials before you head out.
Summer is the highlight, when cherries, stone fruit and blueberries overlap from December through February around Harcourt, Scotsburn and Buninyong. Sunflowers extend the season into March at Dunnstown, and apples at Harcourt run on through to May. Whichever crop you're chasing, ring ahead, since Victoria's changeable summer weather can bring a season forward or cut it short.
Exact pricing isn't published for most of these farms, but pick-your-own here is typically charged by the kilogram at the orchard gate, with sunflower picking priced per stem or bunch. Booking fees may apply where booking is required, such as at Thistleberry Farm and Buninyong Blueberry Farm. Call the farm directly to confirm current prices before you visit.