Bilpin sits along Bells Line of Road about an hour's drive from the Sydney CBD, and it's the district most Sydneysiders picture when they think of apple picking. Orchards here have been growing apples and stone fruit on the mountain-fringe soil for generations, and you'll also find chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons and berries scattered through the wider Hawkesbury. Bilpin Fruit Bowl combines fruit with a large pick-your-own vegetable patch, while Pine Crest Orchard runs a long season across apples, stone fruit, pears, raspberries, walnuts and chestnuts. The season rhythm runs roughly November to June: stone fruit and early apples through summer, main apple varieties from February to May, and chestnuts and walnuts a short window in March and April. Citrus growers further down along the river near Sackville pick through winter instead. Always call ahead to confirm what's ripe before you drive out.
About 90 minutes north-west of Sydney
12 farms
Sackville North · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Kurrajong · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Kurmond · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Mount Irvine · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Mount Tomah · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
Bilpin · Bilpin & the Hawkesbury
Details may have changed. Call before travelling.
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TNT Produce in Bilpin grows pick-your-own strawberries alongside apples and persimmons, with its season typically running from around November through to June. It's the main dedicated strawberry option in the district, so it's worth calling ahead to check picking is open before you drive up.
Bilpin's apple orchards typically pick from January or February through to May, with the main varieties peaking February to April. Shields Orchard and Bilpin Botanic Orchard both run into May or June for later varieties. Exact dates shift with the season, so a quick call before visiting saves a wasted trip.
Late summer to autumn (February to April) is the sweet spot, when apples, stone fruit, pears and persimmons typically overlap. Chestnuts and walnuts follow in March and April at Nutwood Farm. Spring and early summer suit berries and early stone fruit instead, so match your visit to the crop you want.
Most orchards charge no entry and you simply pay for what you pick by the kilogram, though a few, like TNT Produce, use an online booking fee for entry. Nut picking at Nutwood Farm and Tomah Farm runs around $8-11/kg. Prices vary by farm and season, so confirm current rates when you call to book.
It varies by farm. Shields Orchard requires booking, Bilpin Botanic Orchard recommends it, and TNT Produce takes online bookings for entry, while Pine Crest Orchard doesn't require one. Given how popular Bilpin gets on autumn weekends, calling or booking ahead is always the safer option.