Cherry picking at CherryHill Orchards Coldstream runs from 13 November 2026 to 8 January 2027, and kids can eat as many cherries as they like while they pick. This guide covers timing, prams, food and what to bring, so you can decide if it suits your family.
Coldstream is the newer of CherryHill’s two Yarra Valley orchards. It has a big open picnic lawn, a modern café and a kids’ play area, and it’s about an hour from Melbourne.
A favourite summer outing in our family is to head out and pick the freshest, plumpest cherries for friends and family. The blossoms have fallen and the fruit is growing, so cherry season is almost here. You get a two-hour picking session, then plenty of time for a picnic and a cherry ice cream on the lawn.
Cherryhill Orchards Cherry Picking Festival Melbourne
Cherry Picking Coldstream is running from 13 November until 31 December 2026.
There is also a location for Cherry Picking in Wandin that will run from 27 November until 8 January for the 2026 season.
Cherry Picking at CherryHill Orchards Coldstream: What to Expect
739 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream VIC 3770
Cherry picking is a timed two-hour session. You book a slot online and arrive at the time on your ticket. If you run late, you can still get in for up to 15 minutes after your slot starts.
You eat as many cherries as you like while you pick. Anything you put in your bucket is weighed and charged per kilo at the end.
Staff point you to the rows with the best fruit, so there’s no real need to go “cherry-picking” the best cherries. It’s all good.
Depending on the rows, you either stroll back to the main area or hop on a shuttle bus. CherryHill runs shuttles when the best picking is more than a 5 to 10 minute walk away.
Different varieties ripen through the season, which runs to 8 January. CherryHill grows more than 30 varieties across Victoria, so the fruit changes as summer goes on.
Highlights for Kids
- Free, unlimited cherry tasting while you pick
- Low-hanging fruit that comes off the stem easily
- A kids’ play area at Coldstream
- Wide lawns for picnics and running around
- Cherry ice cream at the café afterwards
Cherry picking suits kids because the trees have plenty of low fruit. Little hands can reach it without a boost.
What Parents Need to Know
Tickets and Booking
Book your timeslot online before you go. On weekdays, tickets are sometimes sold at the gate if there’s space. On weekends and public holidays, there are no gate sales at all.
Weekends and public holidays cost more than weekdays. Prices for the 2026 season show when you book.
Children aged 0 to 3 need a ticket, but it’s free. CherryHill gives 10% off for pensioner, Health Care and DVA Gold cardholders. Carers with a Companion Card get in free.
If you cancel or change your booking more than 3 days ahead, you get a full refund or a new date. Ticket Protection, which you add at checkout, lets you change your booking right up to your arrival time.
Prams and Accessibility
The paths in the main customer areas are wide and suit prams and wheelchairs. The orchard rows are different. This is a working farm, and some ground is uneven and steep.
Shuttle buses may not suit everyone with mobility needs, but CherryHill also has all-terrain vehicles. Call 1300 243 779 before you visit if you want to plan around a pram, wheelchair or mobility aid.
Toilets and Baby Change
There are all-gender accessible toilets near the main customer areas, and they have baby change facilities.
Food and Drink
The café and farmgate store sell cherry ice cream, cherry drinks and cherry treats. Food vendors set up on weekends and public holidays.
You’re welcome to bring a picnic to eat on the lawns. You can’t bring BBQs, stoves or your own alcohol, but you can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on site.
Parking
Parking is free on site, close to the main entrance. There are accessible bays and drop-off areas too.
Dogs
Dogs aren’t allowed in the orchard during cherry season. Registered assistance animals are welcome. Cherry pits, stems and leaves are poisonous to dogs, which is another reason to leave the family dog at home.
What to Bring
- A hat, sunscreen and a water bottle
- Flat, closed-in shoes (you may walk 5 to 10 minutes to the best rows)
- Cash or card, and your ticket on your phone
- A picnic rug if you plan to stay on the lawn
Book an early slot if you can. It’s cooler, and the orchard is open to the sun.
Keep an eye on young kids. The rows make a great hiding place.
….some food from the food trucks….
…and maybe a tipple of something special.
Though you are not allowed to bring your own alcohol, you can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to be consumed on-site or bottled to take home.
Make a Day of It: Mid-Week Cherry Experiences
CherryHill teams up with other Yarra Valley favourites on mid-week experiences. Both run from 16 November to 24 December.
Cherries, Cheese & Chocolate is a self-guided day. You start with a cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy, pick cherries at CherryHill, then finish with a fondue pack on the lawn at The Chocolateries Yarra Valley.
Book Cherries, Cheese & Chocolate
Check each booking page for child tickets and session times before you commit.
Buy CherryHill Cherries Without Picking
If you don’t have time to pick, drop into the farmgate store at Coldstream for a box of cherries. You’ll also find cherry drinks, preserves and local goods.
CherryHill cherries are also sold at Coles and your local grocer if you can’t make it out to the Yarra Valley.
Our Experience
We taste-test as we go, and the unlimited tasting is the best part. We always recommend the cherry ice cream.
Staff direct us to the best rows, so we don’t waste time hunting. We keep a close eye on the kids, because the rows are easy to disappear into.
FAQs
When is cherry picking at CherryHill Orchards Coldstream in 2026?
Cherry picking opens at CherryHill’s Yarra Valley orchards on 13 November 2026 and runs to 8 January 2027. Check the booking page for the first session at Coldstream.
Do I need to book cherry picking at Coldstream?
Yes. Book a timed session online before you go. On weekdays, gate tickets are sometimes available if there’s space. There are no gate sales on weekends or public holidays.
How long is a cherry picking session?
A session is two hours. Arrive at the time on your ticket, and you can enter up to 15 minutes late. After your session, you can stay on site until the orchard closes at 5pm.
Are cherries included in the ticket price?
You can eat as many cherries as you like while you pick. Cherries you take home are charged per kilo at the end.
Do babies and toddlers need a ticket?
Children aged 0 to 3 need a ticket, but it’s free.
Is CherryHill Coldstream pram friendly?
The paths in the main areas are wide and suit prams. The orchard rows can be uneven and steep, and shuttle buses run to the best picking. Call 1300 243 779 before you visit if you need help with mobility.
Can I bring my dog to cherry picking?
No. Dogs aren’t allowed in the orchard during cherry-picking season. Registered assistance animals are welcome.
Can I bring a picnic to CherryHill Orchards?
Yes. You can picnic on the lawns, but you can’t bring BBQs, stoves or your own alcohol. The café sells food and drinks too.
DON’T MISS OUT!
Book Cherry Picking
Click here for more things to do in the Yarra Valley with kids
For more fruit picking fun check out The Strawberry Forest in Bacchus Marsh and Tuckerberry Hill in Drysdale.
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