Perth Hills sit up in the escarpment about 45 minutes east of Perth, and they're WA's real fruit-picking heartland — a cluster of orchards around Carmel, Pickering Brook, Walliston and Karragullen growing cherries, apples, plums and stone fruit across almost the whole year. Carmel Cherry Farm and Mr Peter Orchard Farm kick things off with cherries from November into December, with Carmel Cherry Farm following up with a short lychee window in February. The Fruit Corner and Core Cider House at Pickering Brook keep the orchard going through summer and autumn with plums, apples, pears and citrus, and S&R Orchard's festival events span stone fruit right through to March. Tony's Summer Fruits at Carmel adds nectarines, apricots, peaches, figs and even avocados. It's a working hills district rather than a manicured attraction, with gravel car parks and weather-dependent hours, so a phone call before you drive up is always worthwhile.
In the hills about 45 minutes east of Perth
7 farms
Pickering Brook · Perth Hills
Walliston · Perth Hills
Pickering Brook · Perth Hills
Carmel · Perth Hills
Carmel · Perth Hills
Karragullen · Perth Hills
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Piesse Brook · Perth Hills
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Carmel Cherry Farm and Mr Peter Orchard Farm, both around Carmel and Karragullen, are the region's main cherry patches, picking from late November into December. It's a short season and can finish early in a hot year, so ring ahead to check fruit is still on the trees before you drive up.
The Fruit Corner and Core Cider House at Pickering Brook both grow pick-your-own apples, with the season running broadly from January through to July depending on variety, and the main autumn harvest peaking March to May. Early Granny Smiths give way to Pink Lady and other varieties later in the season.
Perth Hills has fruit on and off almost all year. Cherries and lychees run November to February, stone fruit and plums through summer, and apples, pears and citrus carry the orchard through autumn and winter. Whatever the month, call the farm first, since picking windows shift with the weather.
Entry fees are typically modest, often around $5 to $10 per adult, with fruit then charged per kilogram, roughly $1 to $2/kg for apples up to around $25/kg for cherries depending on the source. Some orchards also run festival-style events with their own ticket pricing, so confirm costs when you call.
Most of the smaller orchards take walk-ins on their advertised open days, but festival events at farms like S&R Orchard and cherry season at Carmel Cherry Farm can get busy, so a quick call ahead is worthwhile, especially on weekends during peak cherry and stone fruit weeks.