By Adeline Soh
Farm tours in Australia offer a delightful experience for nature lovers and families with kids, combining fresh produce, scenic landscapes, and hands-on fun. From plucking juicy cherries to exploring exotic tropical fruits, farm tours provide an opportunity to connect with nature while enjoying farm-fresh produce. A must-try activity includes picking seasonal fruits and joining guided tractor tours to learn about sustainable farming practices. Whether you’re seeking a relaxing countryside escape or an engaging educational adventure for children, Australia’s farm tours promise a memorable experience for all ages.
Here are a few of the top orchards in Australia that offer a fun and interactive farm tours for everyone:
1. Rayners Orchard, Yarra Valley, Victoria 🍑🍐
Photo credit: Rayners Orchard
Located in the picturesque Yarra Valley, Rayners Orchard is a family-run farm offering year-round fruit-picking experiences. With over 450 varieties of fruits, visitors can pick fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, and persimmons, depending on the season. The farm also offers guided tractor tours, where you can learn about different fruit varieties and taste them straight from the trees.
Exciting news at Rayners Orchard! Starting 1 April 2025, the orchard’s new U-Pick & Fruit Tasting Adventure Tractor Tour will offer even more interactive experiences. In addition, you can now enjoy feeding the friendly farm animals, cracking and tasting fresh macadamias or sampling Rayner’s house-made jams and sauces.
Photo credit: Rayners Orchard
Best time to visit:
- Summer (December – February): Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums
- Autumn (March – May): Plums, lemons, limes, pomegranate, persimmon
- Winter & Spring (June – November): Tamarillos, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, kiwi, gooseberries, cumquat
2. Tropical Fruit World, Duranbah, New South Wales 🥑🥭🍌
Photo credit: Visit New South Wales
Tropical Fruit World sits in the lush Tweed Valley, just 15 – 20 minutes south of Gold Coast Airport. Tropical Fruit World boasts over 500 varieties of tropical fruits, including mangoes, bananas, dragon fruit, lychees, and even the rare black sapote (chocolate pudding fruit). Visitors can enjoy guided farm tours, taste unique fruits, and even take a boat ride through the property’s lush landscape. For the little ones, meet and feed friendly farm animals, including kangaroos, miniature horses, sheep, lambs, donkeys, goats, chickens, and ducks for a fun and interactive experience.
Photo credit: Visit New South Wales
Best time to visit:
- Summer (December – February): Mangoes, bananas, lychees
- Autumn (March – May): Avocados, longans, soursop, mandarin
- Winter (June – August): Citrus fruits
- Spring (September – November): Star apples, passionfruit, reed avocado, tamarillo
3. AppleShack at Glenbernie Orchard, New South Wales 🍏🍎
Photo credit: Visit Wollongong
Situated in Darkes Forest, just an hour south of Sydney, AppleShack at Glenbernie Orchard is an ideal place for apple picking. Glenbernie Orchard spans 100 acres and is home to 22,500 fruit trees. The farm also produces Darkes Cider, crafted from homegrown apples, which visitors can enjoy through tastings at the farm shop. The farm can only be accessed by car and entry to the orchard is by booked experience only, no walk-in allowed.
Photo credit: Visit Wollongong
Best time to visit:
- Late Spring (October – December): Stone fruits
- Early Summer (December – January): Stone fruits
- Late Summer (February – March): Apples
- Early Autumn (March – April): Apples
- Late Autumn (May – June): Persimmons
4. Hillwood Berry Farm, Tamar Valley, Tasmania 🍓🫐
Photo credit: Hillwood Berry
Nestled along the Tamar River, Hillwood is a scenic horticultural hub, just 30 km (25 minutes) from Launceston. Hillwood Berry Farm is a berry lover’s paradise. Here, you can pick fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. The farm also offers delicious berry-inspired treats, including homemade jams, ice creams, and berry pancakes.
Photo credit: Hillwood Berry
Best time to visit:
- Summer (December –January ): strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries
5. CherryHill Orchards, Yarra Valley, Victoria 🍒
Photo: Tourism Australia
For cherry lovers, CherryHill Orchards is a must-visit! Located in Yarra Valley, Victoria, Cherry Hills Orchards is just making it perfect for a day-trip. This family-owned orchard has been growing cherries since 1940. Every summer, CherryHill Orchards welcomes thousands of cherry enthusiasts for its Pick Your Own Cherries experience. Visitors can hand-pick ripe, juicy cherries straight from the trees while soaking in breathtaking views and sharing memorable moments with family and friends at this stunning location.
Photo: Tourism Australia
Best time to visit:
- Mid-November to early January for the cherry-picking season.
Australia boasts a fantastic range of farm tours with fruit-picking experiences, ideal for nature lovers and those wanting to explore the countryside. From flourishing orchards to scenic berry farms, these tours offer a unique chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying fresh, locally grown produce. Make this unforgettable experience a part of your Australian adventure! Come and Say G’day by contacting our Premier Aussie Specialist today to customize the perfect farm tour for you. For ready-made Australia packages, check them out at https://cit.travel/australia/
Sources:
- https://www.australia.com/en-my/things-to-do/seasonal-travel/farmer-for-a-day-summer-fruit-picking-in-australia.html
- https://www.raynersorchard.com.au/
- https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/the-tweed-area/kingscliff/attractions/tropical-fruit-world
- https://www.darkes.com.au/
- https://www.hillwoodberries.com.au/
- https://cherryhill.com.au/
