As a cherry enthusiast, cherry-picking season in Australia is the highlight of the year. On the first day of November, we drove to Young, the largest cherry and strawberry town in New South Wales. As we drove through the town, almost every household had a “pick your own” sign! We set out early from Sydney for a 4-hour drive to Young.
Our first stop is the Young Information Centre. It’s my travel habit to visit the local information center first. The staff there provide the latest updates on the town, such as which farms have started picking, the best cherries, and local attractions. Right next to the center is a large cherry sculpture from the Big Things series. On weekends, there’s a local market with stalls at the information centre.
Best places to pick cherries in Young
Ballinaclash Orchard and Cellar Door
This farm left a great impression last year. They have crisp and sweet white cherries and sell various cherry products, including jams, wines, ice creams, and pies. You need to book in advance for Ballinaclash. Entry fee is $6 per person, and PYO cherries are $12 per kilogram, with a minimum pick of 1 kg per person. If you prefer to buy cherries directly, it’s $25 per kilogram.
Top of the Hill Orchard
After leaving the first farm, we headed to a second one recommended by the information centre. The road to the farm was a bit rough with lots of potholes and dirt paths. The farm owner warmly welcomed us, and upon expressing our desire to pick larger cherries, she guided us to the right trees. Most cherries here are around 28mm, with some reaching 30-32mm, which is my ideal size. The only downside was that being early in the season, not many trees had ripened cherries yet, so we picked all the large cherries available.
No reservation is needed for Top of the Hill. The entry fee is $10 per person, PYO cherries are $10 per kilogram, with no minimum pick requirement. Children under 16 enter for free!
It was a fulfilling day, and for early cherry season, this was a great harvest. Comparing the two farms, Ballinaclash offers a variety of cherry products and other fruit-picking options like loquats and plums. Top of the Hill is perfect for fans of large cherries and those wanting to pick more to share with friends ($10 per kg for 32mm cherries is a great deal!). The farm owner mentioned that in two weeks, even more cherries will ripen, with sizes reaching up to 34mm. Looking forward to our next visit!
When is the cherries picking season?
November to December is the picking season in Australia!