Autumn is persimmon season around Sydney. If you enjoy fruit picking, this is the perfect time to head out of the city and visit a persimmon orchard. Many farms allow you to pick your own fruit, and some also sell freshly harvested persimmons on site. Here are several persimmon farms around Sydney worth visiting.
Where to pick persimmon in Sydney
The Persimmon Place
Location
375 Galston Rd, Galston NSW
Located in Galston, this is one of the closest persimmon orchards to Sydney, about 40 km from the city. The farm usually opens for pick-your-own around late April. At the moment they mainly sell fresh soft persimmons known as Nightingales. Bookings are required before visiting.
Entry is around $12.5 for adults and $5 for kids. Persimmons you pick cost around $7.5–$8 per kilogram. The orchard provides bags and scissors to make picking easy.
The farm is not very large but there are plenty of persimmons to pick. For the best fruit, look for ones that are deep red, large, and without dark spots. May is usually the best time to visit for peak harvest. If you do not want to pick, the farm also sells persimmons directly. Sometimes smaller persimmons are sold at a discounted price.
Opening hours
Daily 9am – 5pm
Aviani Persimmon Farm
Location
304 Galston Rd, Galston NSW
Also located in Galston, Aviani Persimmon Farm is another popular persimmon orchard close to Sydney. Pick-your-own season usually starts in late April and bookings are required.
Entry is about $10–$12.5 for adults and $5–$8.5 for kids. Persimmons are around $7.5 per kilogram. The farm grows two types of persimmons. One is a large soft variety and the other is the crunchy Fuyu persimmon commonly seen in supermarkets. Both are very sweet.
The farm provides scissors and peelers, while visitors usually bring their own bags. You can also buy boxed persimmons directly from the farm without picking.
Sanctuary Organic Farm
Location
140 Niclins Rd, Mangrove Mountain NSW
This organic farm is about a one and a half hour drive from Sydney. After parking, you can collect a bucket from the shop before heading into the orchard to pick persimmons.
Visitors are allowed to taste fruit while picking. Once finished, you bring the bucket back for weighing. Persimmons are around $6 per kilogram.
The farm is surrounded by nature, making it a relaxing place for a day trip.
TNT Produce
Location
153 Kurts Rd, Bilpin NSW
Located in the Bilpin region near the Blue Mountains, this farm is about a one and a half hour drive from Sydney. It is recommended to book through their website before visiting.
Entry costs around $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 3–12. Picked persimmons are approximately $10 per kilogram.
Cedar Creek Orchard
Location
269 Mulhollands Rd, Thirlmere NSW
Cedar Creek Orchard in Thirlmere also offers persimmon pick-your-own experiences. Booking online is required before visiting. Entry is around $12 for adults and $7 for kids aged 3–15. Persimmons cost about $8 per kilogram.
The orchard mainly grows the crunchy Mikawa Jiro persimmon variety.
Visitors usually bring their own bags. Picking sessions are limited to one hour. The orchard is generally open on weekends and selected weekdays.
Persimmon Orchard in Bilpin
Location
6 Hanlons Rd S, Bilpin NSW
This orchard in the Bilpin area also allows visitors to pick persimmons. Two varieties are available, soft and crunchy. Persimmons are around $10 per kilogram.
Watkins Family Farm
Location
1006 Singleton Rd, Laughtondale NSW
This farm is about one hour from Sydney’s northern suburbs and is popular for fruit picking. No booking is required.
Each adult needs to purchase a bucket at the entrance. Large buckets are around $25 and small buckets around $12.5. The more you can fit inside the bucket, the better the value.
Besides fruit picking, the farm also has a few small animals such as goats that visitors can feed. There is no mobile signal once you enter the orchard, so it is best to arrange meeting points with friends beforehand. Bringing snacks is also recommended as there is no food sold on site.
The farm is open on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Nearby towns such as Dural or Picton have restaurants if you want to stop for a meal after your visit.