It's no wonder cherry picking in Melbourne is so popular. There’s nothing that spells summer more than biting into a handful of ruby-red cherries, juice dripping down your chin.
Instead of just heading to the grocery store, why not work up an appetite by picking them yourself? Gather your friends, pack a sun hat, and spend the afternoon cherry picking in Melbourne with this list of our favourite spots.
Australia’s cherry season is only 100 days, running roughly from mid-October to late February, so don’t miss your chance to hit up one of these cherry picking spots just a day trip away from the city.
A guide to cherry picking in Melbourne
- This list contains the best spots for cherry picking in Melbourne
- Australia’s cherry season runs from mid-October to late February
- While the Yarra Valley is most famous, there are spots across regional Victoria
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Cherry picking in Melbourne’s east
A stunning Cherry Blossom Festival is happening in the Yarra Valley next month
Cherry Haven
- 470 Queens Road, Wandin East, VIC 3139 (End of Cherry Lane)
A 50 minute drive from the CBD will bring you to this little slice of paradise. They’re exclusively U-pick, which means the only way you’ll get to taste the Cherry Haven goods is if you get out in the field and put in the work. They have over 30 types of cherries on offer and they even encourage snacking as you go so you can find your favourite one. Isn’t that sweet? Whether you’re partial to rainier or bing, they’ll have something to satisfy you.
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Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Archerri Estate
- 4o Graham Road, Silvan VIC 3795
The cherries have been growing on Archerri Estate for over 100 years. They offer eight different red cherries and two imported white varieties, and guests are invited to pick to their heart’s content. Located in the Yarra Valley, they’re only a stone’s throw away from wineries, restaurants and cafes, so after you’re done picking, head on over to try some of the other local delicacies.
Blue Hills Cherries and Berries
- 30 Chapman Rd, Silvan, VIC 3795
- 55 George Rd, Silvan, VIC 3795
Pack the car and head on out for a day trip to Silvan. First, stuff yourself silly with sun-warmed sweets at Blue Hills Cherries and Berries. Buckets are provided and you’ll pay by weight for the fruit you want to take home, but your entry fee covers all-you-can-eat cherries, so go to town! Stock up on baked goods and jams from the farm store, before driving to the picturesque Silvan Reservoir Park. Next weekend’s plans, sorted.
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Big Fella Cherries
- 38 Boundary Rd, Coldstream VIC 3770
One of the more low-key options on our list, Big Fella Cherries has all the fixings for a laid back afternoon. Their produce is plump and juicy and they also offer ready-picked boxes if you’re feeling lazy. They run a charming, rustic wedding venue from the property, so getting married among the trees isn’t out of the question if you’re a cherry superfan.
Rayner’s Orchard
- 60 Schoolhouse Road, Woori Yallock VIC 3139
At Rayner’s Orchard, it’s all about the experience. Before fruit picking, you are taken on an hour-long Fruit Adventure Tour around the orchard with an expert farmer to learn the ins and outs of produce. With over 450 different fruits and vegetables on offer, there’s a lot to cover. On the tour, you’ll get to taste eight different type of fruit, before being unleashed on the orchard to pick for yourself.
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Cherry picking on the peninsula
Ripe N Ready
- 52 Arkwells Lane, Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula, VIC 3937
Located on the picturesque Red Hill, Ripe N Ready makes for the perfect day trip. The DIY picking options are bountiful and the estate has a lot more available than just cherries. Find a bee farm making cherry blossom honey, a farm gate with seasonal fruits and eggs and a sustainable farm where you can learn more about eco-friendly farming practices.
Cherry orchards in Melbourne’s west
Payne’s Orchards
- 372 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bacchus Marsh, VIC 3340
Picking at this family-run farm makes for a delightful afternoon. Sessions at Payne’s Orchard run for 40 minutes, but it shouldn’t take you long to fill a bucket with the bounty of cherries on offer. And it’s not just cherries either – December marks the beginning of harvest season for many stone fruits, so you should be able to sample some apricots, peaches and nectarines as well, if you’re lucky.
Naturipe
- 638 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
Fill up your whole fruit basket at Naturipe, with cherries, strawberries, nectarines and peaches available now. Sampling one or two of the fruits is okay, but Naturipe recommends that you wait until you head home to snack so that you can wash your produce first. Make sure you bring some cash (they keep it old-fashioned in that way). Enjoy the fresh air and get your hands dirty, before heading home to bake a farm-fresh pie. We couldn’t picture a better day.
For more information about cherry picking in Melbourne and Australia’s cherry season, head here.
