Love cherry-picking? Every summer we choose a sunny day and head out to the Wandin East to visit Cherryhill Orchards to pick the freshest, plumpest cherries for our friends and family. Here’s everything you need to know about the experience!
To pick your own cherries Melbourne residents and visitors can book a timeslot to visit Cherryhill Orchards at their original Wandin East location or alternatively the new Coldstream orchard this summer.
When is cherry picking season in Victoria?
Cherry season usually starts from mid-November and runs through to early January.
Cherry Picking Melbourne
Cherryhill Orchards is located in a fruit-growing region in Wandin East which is only 1 hour away from Melbourne’s CBD. It is Australia’s largest U-pick cherry orchard and on busy weekends they’re known to have 3,000 people through the farm gate!
You will need to book your tickets online before visiting, and cherry-picking time slots are 2 hours, with additional time for getting in/out of the orchard and at the cafe.
Cherry-picking Wandin is particularly suitable for kids because there’s lots of low-hanging fruit which are easy to remove from the stem. You’re directed to which rows are good for picking so there’s no real need to go ‘cherry-picking’ the best fruit as it’s all good! Taste tests are unlimited and free :)
Note that you have to take a minibus to the actual u-pick orchard and sometimes the picking rows are set against steep hills. As such, you may find taking kids in prams more difficult.
Any cherries that are picked into your bucket are charged per kilo and a bucket fits about 5kg of cherries so it’s easy to go overboard. You can buy a Grab and Go Box with your ticket, then pick to fill the box with no need to pay at the end. A large box (1.5kg) is $22 and a small box (500g) is $8.50.
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Cherryhill Orchards, Wandin East
After our fruit-picking, we always head to the main site’s cafe for their famous soft-serve ice cream made with macerated pitted cherries mixed with vanilla ice cream.
For a luxurious experience, in 2022 Cherryhill Orchards are partnering with Posh Palais to offer a ‘Luxe Lounge’ experience from 18 Nov 2022 – 8 Jan 2023.
The $130 picture-perfect picnic is a 3-hour experience nestled amongst a private row in the cherry orchard fully catered with food and beverages that can be customised to suit your group size and unique needs.
The Luxe Lounge in the Orchard includes free entry into the Cherry Picking Festival with a 4 person minimum per booking; If you can’t meet the minimum, contact the team at the Posh Palais and they’ll arrange a fantastic alternative for you.
If you don’t have time to pick your own cherries Yarra Valley locals or visitors can stop past to pick up a box of cherries from Cherryhill Orchards without picking your own.
Fruit picking at Cherryhill Orchards is a fun half-day adventure when combined with nearby attractions like Warratina lavender farm, Seville Water Park and Blue Lotus water garden (re-opening 26 Dec 2022), not to mention vineyards and breweries to try out.
For more fruit picking fun check out The Strawberry Forest in Bacchus Marsh and Tuckerberry Hill in Drysdale.
Click here for more things to do in the Yarra Valley with kids
HOT Tips:
- Book your tickets online for your desired time slot.
- Take a hat, sunscreen and water. Book an early time slot to avoid the heat.
- Eat as many cherries as you like when you pick, take home picked cherries are charged per kilo. A bucket holds approx 5kg.
- Highly recommend the cherry ice cream!
- Combine your trip with a visit to Warratina lavender farm, Seville Water Park and Blue Lotus water garden (re-opening 26 Dec 2022)
- Location not really suitable for kids requiring prams as the paths are gravel and undulating and you need to take a bus to the U-pick orchard.
- Keep an eye on young kids. The orchard can be a great hiding place and there’s a partially unfenced dam at the end;
- Dogs are not allowed in orchards; and
- There are a few toiles blocks and at the orchard there are porta-loos, no baby change facilities.
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