Sydney autumn means one thing, yes the chestnut picking season. The season is usually around March to mid April, so timing is quite limited. After finishing a Blue Mountains trip we stopped by on the way back, very easy to add into a day trip.
Chestnut Picking in Mount Wilson
The Kookootonga Chestnut & Walnut Farm is in Mount Wilson, free entry and no booking needed. They provide buckets and metal tongs on site, and staff will show you how to pick properly. Last time we met an older Aussie lady there and she was honestly so nice. Chestnuts and walnuts are priced by weight when you leave.
Getting there is mostly easy driving, just follow M4 to M7 then towards Mount Wilson. The last section of the road is narrow and a bit rough with potholes, so just take it slow. Public transport is basically not an option, driving is the easiest way.
What to wear actually matters a lot here. Definitely bring thick gloves because the chestnut shells are very spiky, normal thin gloves don’t really help. Wear fully covered shoes, preferably thick sole or even rain boots, because you will be stepping on the shells to open them and it really hurts if your shoes are too thin. You can also bring your own tongs but they do provide them.
The farm has been around for over 100 years and the trees are huge. You don’t pick from trees, everything is collected from the ground. The good chestnuts are usually the bigger and harder ones. Some are still inside the spiky shells so you’ll need to use tongs to get them out. Walnuts are easier, just pick from the ground, pretty much all decent quality.
Chestnuts are around $10 per kg and walnuts around $12 per kg. No entry fee, no parking fee, just pay for what you pick. You can easily spend a couple of hours there without noticing.
Right now early in the season, some maple trees are just starting to turn red, but not fully yet. If you wait a bit longer into April, the autumn colours will be even better.
Before you go, check their Facebook page to confirm if they are open and if there’s still enough to pick. Late in the season the big chestnuts go very fast, so better not leave it too late.
Kookootonga Chestnut & Walnut Farm
Address – 259 Mount Irvine Rd, Mount Irvine NSW 2786