We had a weekend trip with friends to the Nutwood Farm in Mount Irvine for some chestnut picking! We were super excited for this countryside adventure! The farm has a picnic area, and you can even bring your dogs!
Nutwood Farm is a bit remote. The nearest shops and petrol stations are in Mt Victoria and Bilpin. There are no petrol stations near Mt Irvine, so make sure to fill up before you go!
Simply search Nutwood Farm, no booking needed. Just say hi to the friendly staff at reception, get a quick briefing, and grab a small bucket for your chestnuts!
What to Bring
Chestnuts have spiky outer shells, so protective gear is a must. Here’s what we packed:
- Thick gloves – Essential. The farm provides some free gloves at reception, but supplies are limited. We recommend bringing your own gardening gloves with rubber grips (available at Bunnings).
- Tongs – We used regular long-handled BBQ tongs to help open the chestnut burrs.
- Scissors – Not the most effective, but useful for peeling.
- Hat & Sunscreen – It gets pretty sunny out there.
Chestnut Picking Tips
You can collect both chestnuts and walnuts at the farm.
- Walnuts – A bit past peak season, so harder to find. We only managed about 20 walnuts after searching for a while. If you love walnuts, you can buy fresh ones directly from the farm.
- Chestnuts – Absolutely everywhere. Most are big and plump, though some may be cracked or shriveled.
Pro tip: No need to pick from the trees. Ripe chestnuts fall naturally, so just gather them from the ground. Be careful though—chestnuts and burrs can fall from trees, so watch your head.
We picked over 5kg of chestnuts in 3 hours and great value for fresh, high-quality chestnuts!
Chestnut Picking Season
- March 15 (Saturday) – Late April
- Weekends & some public holidays, 9 AM – 4 PM
- Best part? Free entry
Address: 22 Danes Way Trail, Mount Irvine, NSW 2786
Getting There:
From Burwood, it’s about a 2-2.5 hour drive. Not too far, but the last stretch involves narrow mountain roads, which can feel a bit nerve-wracking. Look out for yellow farm signposts along the way to guide you.