What can I pick right now? An Australian season calendar

Australia is large enough that something is always ripe somewhere. The trick is knowing which direction to drive.

Spring, September to November

Strawberries are the story. They are picking in Queensland from winter and come on in the southern states through spring. Tulip and early flower fields open, mostly in Victoria and the Adelaide Hills. Citrus carries on from winter, with navels finishing and Valencias starting.

Cherries begin at the very end of spring in the warmer districts, from about November in the Hilltops and Adelaide Hills.

Summer, December to February

The busiest months. Cherries peak either side of Christmas and are finished by late January in most districts. Stone fruit takes over: apricots first, then peaches and nectarines through January and February. Berries are at their height in the cool hills, with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries all picking in the Dandenongs, the Yarra Valley, Tasmania and around Orange.

Sunflowers open in warm districts, in short windows a few weeks apart.

Autumn, March to May

Apples are the crop that makes autumn worth it, running from about February to May in Bilpin, Orange, the Perth Hills and the Adelaide Hills. Plums and late stone fruit carry into March. Tasmanian and high-altitude berries run latest of all, into March and sometimes April.

This is the quietest and most comfortable time of year to pick, and most people miss it.

Winter, June to August

The south stops and the north takes over. Queensland strawberries are in full swing through the winter months, which is the single most useful fact in this calendar. Citrus is at its best: navels are a winter fruit. Blueberries start in the warm districts from late winter.

Christmas tree farms begin their short run at the end of winter, opening from about September and finishing before Christmas.

Two rules that override the calendar

Altitude and latitude move everything. A crop in Tasmania can be six weeks behind the same crop in Queensland. If you have missed something, look further south or higher up.

A calendar is not an opening time. Farms open and close on the week depending on weather, picking pressure and how the fruit is running. Every listing on this site carries the farm’s own contact details, and a check on the morning is worth more than any calendar.

Updated 10 September 2026