All the places you can pick your own fruit in Queensland

Rolling hillsides met with lush rainforests, majestic mountain ranges and just a few world-famous beaches makes any day trip to the Sunshine Coast an outdoor lover’s paradise. Just make sure you stop in at one of these pick your own fruit farms for the ultimate day trip.

Cooloola Berries

Boasting ten strawberry varieties (plus a bumper blueberry harvest at the end of the year), PYO season is your chance at becoming a berry connoisseur at Cooloola Berries. While picking your own fruit is a must, the farm, café and shop is open to visitors during the season too. Here you’ll meet the makers of their infamous strawberry cider, learn about the hard work that goes into farm life and - if you can - time your visit for their ‘Paella in the Paddock’ Sundays with live music.

Location: 856 Tagigan Rd Wolvi, 2 hours north of Brisbane
PYO season: Cooloola Berries (including the farm and cafe) is open between May and October only

Rolin Farms

If you’re on the hunt for the season’s freshest strawberries and you’ll wind up at Rolin Farms. Not only is it home to some of the lushest strawberry fields in Southeast Queensland, but it’s also where you’ll find Australia’s very own giant strawberry - the perfect photo opp. Fill up your punnets then head to the farmhouse to sample and take away jams, honey and ice creams.

All that’s left to do is hit up the strawberry-themed café for a well-deserved coffee and a sweet treat, while the kids run amuck in the playground.

Location: 124-190 Rutters Road, Elimbah, 1 hour north of Brisbane
PYO season: June to October

McMartins Strawberry Farm

Fill your punnet with McMartins strawberries, then once you’ve farmed your heart out, make your way over to the Strawberry Lane Ice Creamery—home to their multiple award-winning ice cream.

If all that wasn’t enticing enough, this PYO farm also grows mandarins and limes, all for sale in their produce store.

Location: Sports Rd Bli Bli, 1.5 hours north of Brisbane
PYO season: May to October

Still hungry for more? Check out these kid-friendly cafes on the Sunshine Coast or explore all the ways you can eat like a local.

Gold Coast

Best known for its coastal towns and sun-kissed beaches, the Gold Coast and surrounding hinterland is also abundant with quaint PYO farms, roadside honesty boxes and homemade condiments. 

Freeman’s Organic Farm

Organic is a way of life at Freeman’s Organic Farm. This award-winning property on the southern Gold Coast has family-run for over 100 years, developing an incredible selection of produce using sustainable practices. While not technically PYO, Freeman’s is well worth a visit if you’re after fresh organic fruit and veg, growing everything from bananas and avocadoes to kale and broccoli. 

Drop into the farm shop, stay for a coffee and the organic menu at the café open on weekends, and if your timing is right, stay for a yoga class on the lawn, a walking farm tour, and live music.

Location: 618 Tomewin Mountain Rd, Currumbin Valley, 1.5 hours south of Brisbane

Tropical Fruit World

Well known as one of the best family days out just south of the Gold Coast border, Tropical Fruit World is the perfect reprieve if you’re all beached out. More a tropical fruit tasting tour than PYO, this award-winning farm showcases the diverse and impossibly beautiful coastal farmland, allowing visitors to explore the property and meet some of Australia’s cutest wildlife on a boat cruise.

After all that excitement, settle in at the Plantation Café and get stuck into the exotic fruit ice creams made fresh on-site. Before you leave, take a lazy stroll through the farmers market to pick up some fresh produce to take home.

Location: 29 Duranbah Rd, Duranbah, 1.5 hours south of Brisbane

Get the most out of your Gold Coast day trip by stopping at these local favourites, from beaches to babycinos.

Brisbane

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and want to get your hands dirty, head to one of these pick your own spots within an hour of the city.

Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm

Walk amongst Chambers Flat’s pretty strawberry fields with a basket in hand; your mission is to pick the juiciest strawberries going. Located north-west of Tamborine National Park, this quaint property gives guests the true farm experience. Weigh your berry treasures at the shop, then celebrate your windfall with a bowl of strawberry ice cream and a flat white.

Location: 912 Chmabers Flat Rd, Chambers Flat, 40 minutes southwest of Brisbane CBD
PYO season: August to October, weather dependent. 

The Longan Farm

Never picked (nor tried) a longan? Then you haven’t lived. The Longan Farm is a small working property dedicated to growing Queensland’s bumper crop of these small, sweet-tasting fruits (akin to a lychee)—and they want your help picking them.

These rare gems sell out fast, so call ahead before planning a road trip.

Location: 359 Raynbird Rd Narangba, 50 minutes north of Brisbane CBD
PYO season: weekends only, from February to April

Bundaberg

Hot days of brilliant sunshine matched with ocean breezes make the Bundaberg region fertile and full of farmland. Famous for sugar cane fields that stretch for miles, venture out a little and you’ll also spot olive groves and berry farms selling freshly picked produce.

Tinaberries

Late August throughout September is PYO season at Tinaberries, where fields of fresh strawberries stretch as far as the eye can see. Grab a coffee from the pop-up coffee cart on the property and nab a picnic bench in the shade to devour Tinaberries’ freshly churned strawberry ice cream. Visiting at another time of the year? You can always drop in for an ice cream. 

With plenty of lawn games to keep the entire family entertained, it’s the perfect way to spend a day amongst nature.

Location: 15 Zinks Rd Bundaberg, 20 minutes east of Bundaberg town centre
PYO season: August and September

SSS Strawberries

Just outside of Bundaberg in Queensland’s Wide Bay region lies one of Australia’s largest strawberry farms, SSS Strawberries. Home to over 140 acres of pristine strawberry fields, the pick-your-own experience at SSS is unlike anywhere else. Their expert farmers will take you around the strawberry fields, show you how to PYO (there is a knack to it, trust us) then send you on your way to explore and get amongst the strawbs.

Location: 11 Rosedale Rd Oakwood, 10 minutes north-west of Bundaberg town centre
PYO season: August to November

Bargara Berries

This small family-owned and run farm has big heart. Bargara Berries has been farming in the area since 1988. Come by the farm to purchase or pick-your-own strawberries, and devour homemade gelato made from their own fruit. It's also a great spot to throw out the picnic blanket and enjoy the peace and quiet of farm life. 

Location: 104 Hoods Road Meadowvale, 10 minutes drive from the heart of Bundaberg
Season: The Farm shop is open May-October. Call for pick-your-own availability.

While you’re here, try these fun-filled and kid-approved activities – or continue to DIY with this foodie itinerary.

Townsville and Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Where the days are warm and the evenings balmy, the regions of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef and Townsville are a kaleidoscope of colour, nature and ancient landscapes. Picking your own fruit in the tropics is harder to come by compared to the southern parts of the state but when you do, this remote part of the world really rolls out the welcome mat.

Wildwood, Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm

In the heart of the Daintree Rainforest lies Wildwood; an eco-friendly retreat and organic exotic fruit farm that truly embodies the phrase, ‘getting back to nature’. While actually getting here may be quite the journey, you’ll be rewarded with 15 pristine acres of World Heritage rainforest, boutique digs and some of the most exotic fruit orchards you’ll ever lay eyes on.

Guests are encouraged to explore the land and pick their own fruit; mangosteens, rambutans, papayas—whatever strikes your fancy. While access to the orchards are for staying guests, this is one of those vacations that will have you barefoot and max relaxed in no time.

Location: Nicole Dr, Cape Tribulation
PYO season: varying, year-round

Frosty Mango

A lasting icon of Queensland’s tropical north, the ever-quirky Frosty Mango is a mango-lovers mecca. Welcoming visitors since the late 80s, this eclectic café-slash-mango orchard-slash-slice of history still boasts a bucket load of charm, and is still making some of the most delicious, most outlandish mango-themed desserts, drinks and merch going.

Tour the orchards surrounding the property, sample the fruit fresh from the trees, or just drop by to taste their mango sorbet, mango ice cream, mango cake—and a photo with their giant mascot, the Mango Man, of course.

Location: 1 Bruce Hwy Mutarnee, 1 hour north of Townsville along the Bruce Highway. The café is open year-round.

While you're up north, fruit-fiends should add a visit to Cape Trib Farm to your itinerary, or make your way along the vibrant Daintree Food Trail.