What to pick in New Zealand, month by month
New Zealand picks something nearly all year round, though summer is when most of it happens. The table shows the usual season for each crop, running from spring through summer to winter, so a berry season that crosses New Year reads as one run rather than two. Exact dates move from year to year and from farm to farm, so check the farm's own listing and its own announcements before you travel.
| Crop | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| strawberries (10) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| blueberries (12) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| cherries (2) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| raspberries (6) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| boysenberries (4) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| blackberries (3) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| currants (1) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| tayberries (1) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| apples (1) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| pears (1) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| lavender (1) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| vegetables (2) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
● = usual season · the number in brackets is how many farms we list for that crop · the year runs September to August, so summer crops read left to right
Crop by crop
- Strawberry Picking: usually November to February (10 farms)
- Blueberry Picking: usually December to March (12 farms)
- Cherry Picking: usually December and January (2 farms)
- Raspberry Picking: usually December to February (6 farms)
- Boysenberry Picking: usually December and January (4 farms)
- Blackberry Picking: usually January to March (3 farms)
- Currant Picking: usually December and January (1 farm)
- Tayberry Picking: usually December and January (1 farm)
- Apple Picking: usually February to May (1 farm)
- Pear Picking: usually February to April (1 farm)
- Lavender Picking: usually December to February (1 farm)
- Vegetable Picking: usually November to April (2 farms)
Common questions
When does strawberry picking season start in New Zealand?
Strawberries open in November and run through to about February, with the peak over December and January. Warmer districts start first, so Auckland and the Bay of Plenty are usually picking before Canterbury and Otago.
When is cherry picking season in New Zealand?
December and January, peaking around Christmas. Central Otago is the cherry district, around Cromwell, Roxburgh and Clyde, with a smaller run in Canterbury and Marlborough. Cherry orchards often open for only a few weeks and some take bookings, so check before you drive out.
When can you pick blueberries in New Zealand?
December to March, the longest berry season on the calendar. Blueberries are the most widely grown pick-your-own crop in the country, with farms across the Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, the Wellington region and Canterbury.
What can you pick in autumn and winter?
Apples from February to May, pears and grapes through autumn, feijoas from March, persimmons from April, nuts in April and May, and citrus from about June to September. Winter is much quieter than summer: most self-pick farms here are berry farms and they close by March.
Why do the dates vary so much between farms?
Ripening depends on the weather, the variety and the district, and some farms open only on announced days. The farm's own announcement is what counts: on every listing we carry the most recent dates we could confirm from the farm itself, along with the date we checked.
Find a pick-your-own farm near you on the map
Last checked 27 August 2026