For countries in the northern hemisphere, November and December are the months when winter is about to arrive, bringing with it cold winds. However, for a country located entirely in the southern hemisphere climate zone, this is the season of golden sunshine and fruit-laden orchards.
Victoria, Australia, is said to have the most cherry farms in the country, as well as the best quality fruit due to its suitable climate and soil. Cherry season in Victoria starts from November to the end of January every year. Each cherry farm has different entrance fees, from 5 - 15 USD/person. Visitors can enjoy cherries directly in the garden, or buy them as gifts if needed.
Below are pictures of the peaceful countryside of Victoria, Australia, where people can pick ripe cherries and enjoy the cool taste of nature.
Cherry Hill Orchards
Cherry Hill Orchards is known as Australia's largest cherry garden, located 45 minutes by car from Melbourne, and is open to visitors every day of the week, from 9am to 5pm.
Besides experiencing the feeling of picking cherries yourself, visitors can buy cherries to take home, or products made from cherries by the gardeners themselves such as jam, wine, fruit beer... with prices ranging from 30 to 100 USD.
Red Hill Cherry Farm
With up to 4,000 cherry trees, Red Hill Cherry Garden is also one of the cherry gardens with the best yield and quality in Australia. If visitors want to pick cherries directly, the garden also provides bags or baskets.
Gardeners also have many products extracted from cherries such as dried fruit, jam, wine, beer and especially ice cream.
Blue Hills Cherry Farm
What could be more fun than being out in nature and picking your own fruit? Located in the Dandenong Ranges, an hour drive from Melbourne, Blue Hills Orchards offers you two options: cherries and berries!
Paynes Orchards
Paynes Farmhouse is located in Bacchus Marsh, a fertile valley northwest of Melbourne famous for its fruit orchards, historical sites and natural wonders. It is a 40-minute train journey from Melbourne’s Southern Cross station to this beautiful town.
If you love exploring nature, you can visit the gorges, glacial valleys and national parks around the Bacchus Marsh area such as Lerderderg Gorge, Werribee Gorge, Long Forest Nature Reserve, or Wombat National Forest.
Ripe N Ready Cherry Farm
Visitors will have a great time experiencing the moments of "trying to be a cherry farmer" when coming to Ripe N Ready garden.
To tell if a cherry is ripe, pay attention to how it feels when you pick it from the branch. If it is hard to pick, it is not ripe yet. If it looks a little mushy, don’t waste your time and try another bunch.
