Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, but fruit is a much tastier option! And if you’re in Perth, you’ll be happy to know that you can twist your tongue around juicy fruit all year round!
Each season brings something new to orchards and farms around Perth and it’s never been easier to plan a visit and fill your basket with freshly picked produce.
From succulent spring strawberries, sensational summer peaches, autumnal apples and wintry citrus, Perth and the surrounding areas are choc-full of places to visit where you can fill your basket (and your tummies) with the most delicious fresh fruit.
And the surroundings are pretty special too.
Many of the farms and orchards are in the picturesque Perth hills and the Swan Valley where there’s something new in nature happening all the time. From an abundance of beautiful blossoms in spring and autumn’s vivid colour contrasts to long, leisurely summer days in green pastures and leafy orchards. Even winter has its own unique appeal.
There’s no doubt that fruit eaten straight from the tree tastes better than anything you’ll find in a supermarket. Harvesting your own means saying ‘no’ to plastic packaging and cold storage and ‘yes’ to sweet, juicy and flavourful fruit that’s just the way nature intended.
Fruit-picking is good, healthy outdoor fun and a great way to spend time with friends and family. It’s also a great way for visitors to Perth to enjoy some warm WA hospitality and experience country life first-hand.
With many different destinations to choose from, all within easy access from the city, perfect weather and different types of fruit ripening throughout the year, it’s little wonder that fruit-picking has become such a popular pastime in Perth.
People flock to the farms on weekends and during the holidays and things can get busy in high season – but did you know that there is a way to beat the crowds?
Some tour operators have close ties with farmers and local property owners and can arrange private tours of Perth farms where guests have the entire place to themselves! This means first choice of the best fruit, the best pics (with no unwanted photobombers!), exploring the farm in your own time and privileged access to orchards and sheds – even during the peak season.
And it’s not just about fruit.
There are heaps of other activities and discoveries on offer on a leisurely day out in and around Perth. From farm stalls selling homemade jams and preserves, fruit juice tastings (and don’t forget that wine comes from grapes and cider comes from apples and there are wineries and breweries dotted ALL around the area!), hands-on discovery tours of local industries and producers, cooking masterclasses, honey harvesting with local beekeepers and a whole lot more. And remember, whilst you can’t bring honey into Australia, visitors from many other places like Singapore and Malaysia are welcome to take it back to their own countries.
To help you plan your fruit-picking fiesta, here’s a basic guide to what’s in season in the Perth region during the year:
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
| Strawberries, avocados, blueberries, mangoes, Valencia oranges, mulberries | Grapes, Royal Gala apples, cherries, mangoes, peaches, plums, nectarines, strawberries | Fuji, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples, grapes, mandarins, olives, pears, persimmons, macadamias | Mandarins, oranges, macadamias |
So if plenty of picking in pretty Perth pleases you, you should think about putting a date in your diary to head for the hills and enjoy a leisurely day filling your basket with the freshest fruit around. And if you’re after something really special, why not get in touch with Up Close and Local Tours, a boutique tour operator that will hand-pick (pun intended!) the best places to visit and personalised itineraries that will make your outing truly memorable.
To take advantage of their local connections and insider knowledge, give their friendly team a call on +61 423 126 254 or visit www.upcloseandlocaltours.com.au.
