Pick Apples In Bilpin
Rattling along the Bells Line of Road, towards Bilpin, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I was going to have to pick some apples in Bilpin – as the trees closed in around the road and the air started to cool on my arm as it poked out the window, I was itching to get out & grab some. This stretch of the Australian Blue Mountains has a long history of being a fruit growers country – a proper food bowl of Sydney where families still grow their fruit the old-fashioned way, the way that takes time & follows the seasons. You’re not here for some slick tourist experience. You’re here for big bags of fruit, sticky fingers, chickens clucking around the barns, & the simple happiness of biting into a just-picked apple.
The Real Heart of Orchard Country
Bilpin’s stuck along the Greater Bells Line of Road – where the altitude and cooler air & mountain mist all come together to make for perfect conditions for apple growing. It’s the sort of place where ‘chemical free’ isn’t some marketing phrase they’re slapping on their website – it’s just how many of the older, family-run orchard farms have always done things.
A lot of these orchards sit on big properties carved out by families over the years – like the Tadrosses, the Galbraiths, & the long-standing Hawkesbury growers who send their fruit off to the Sydney Flemington fruit market. Some specialise in pick-your-own adventures, cider from local cellar doors, or just an old-fashioned fruit stall selling whatever’s in season that morning.
Bilpin has more pick-your-own orchards than most NSW towns – you could easily spend the whole day wandering from gate to gate, which is exactly what loads of guests on those Blue Mountains Tours do.
Why Apple Orchards Thrive Here
- Nights that are cool enough to keep the apples nice & crisp
- Clean mountain air, which means minimal fruit fly worries
- Soils that are made up of volcanic & sandstone stuff
- A long history of growing apples
- A February to May apple season that suits heaps of different varieties
Of course, you’ll also find stone fruit & even pick your own strawberries just outside the village – but apples are still the stars of the show around here.
Best Time to Pick Apples (and What Each Month Feels Like)
Apple-picking season in Bilpin tends to run from February to May, with the peak in March & April. If you turn up too early, you’ll be stuck waiting around for the good stuff to come on. But if you show up too late, the best varieties are likely to have been stripped bare by all the Sydneysiders who come out over the public holidays.
Month-By-Month Breakdown
Here’s how the season usually plays out:
| Month | What’s Happening | Atmosphere In Town |
|---|---|---|
| Late Jan | Early varieties: Royal Gala | Hot, busy, weekend crowds |
| Feb | Gala, Red Delicious | Warm days, orchards buzzing |
| Mar | Granny Smith, Fuji | Crisp air, perfect picking weather |
| Apr | Pink Lady | Cooler mornings, ideal for long stays |
| May | Late stragglers | Quiet, relaxed, final harvest runs |
Note: Bilpin weather can swing hard. I’ve picked here on 35°C scorchers and on misty mornings cold enough to see your breath. Pack for all seasons, always.
Best Apple-Picking Spots Worth Visiting
There are heaps of orchards, but a few consistently deliver. Each has quirks — some are small-batch growers, some have playgrounds, some have cider tasting rooms where you might forget you came for apples at all.
Bilpin Fruit Bowl
Arguably the most well-known, and for good reason. Big orchard, plenty of variety, shop full of homemade pies. It’s the classic family pick.
Best for: First timers, families, anyone hungry
Tip: Get in early — parking backs up like a Sydney peak hour slip lane by 11 am.
Shields Orchard
Quieter, more relaxed. Signs everywhere, helpful staff, and a great range.
Best for: Variety and calm
Tip: Ask what’s tasting best that morning — they’ll tell you straight.
Bilpin Springs Orchard
Organic leaning, friendly owners, and rustic vibe. You’ll feel like you’re picking from a neighbour’s trees.
Best for: Simplicity and authenticity
Tip: Take cash — EFTPOS can be hit-and-miss.
Pine Crest Orchard
Great for kids. Educational signs about apple varieties and a feel-good setup with long rows and great shade.
Best for: Learning, wandering, taking your time
Tip: Try their seasonal pears — underrated hero.
Apple Varieties And What They’re Good For
Knowing your varieties makes all the difference when you’re picking your own apples or choosing produce straight from the tree.
Bilpin’s Big Seasonal Performers
- Royal Gala — Sweet, snack perfect, early season
- Red Delicious — Better fresh from an orchard than any supermarket
- Fuji — Sweet, crunchy, until late March
- Granny Smith — The queen of cooking apples
- Pink Lady — Balanced, crisp, long-lasting
- Sundowner — Good for cooking and juicing
Best Uses
- Pie making: Granny Smith, Pink Lady
- Fresh eating: Fuji, Royal Gala
- Cider blends: Sundowner, mixed crates, seconds fruit
A lot of Bilpin orchards offer seconds at reduced prices — great for cider makers or anyone who doesn’t mind a wonky apple.
Little Local Quirks You Should Know Before You Go
Bilpin is gorgeous, but it runs on its own rhythm.
Things Most Visitors Don’t Know
- Not all orchards are open mid-week
- Cash is still king at small orchard gates
- Entry fee varies by farm — always call the operator or book a time if required
- price per kilogram changes depending on season and yield
- Some orchards allow dogs, but most don’t
- Many are right off Bells Line of Rd, but parking fills up fast
- Chickens and roosters roam free at several farms — part of the fun, just don’t chase them
And for families: several orchards have tractor rides, like the orchard explorer tractor train at the bigger places.
Apple-Picking Prices You Can Expect
Prices change each year depending on crop levels, weather and crowd numbers, but the structure stays the same.
Typical Prices
- Entry fee: $5–$10 per person
- Per kilo charge: $6–$10 per kg
- Kids under 3–5: Often free
- Extras: Bags (if you forget), pies, drinks, local honey
For a family of four, expect to spend $40–$80, depending on how keen the kids are and how many snacks you add during the “We’re starving” stage of the drive home.
Local Food Stops Worth Pulling Into
After a few hours of apple picking, you’ll be starving. Luckily, Bilpin has plenty of honest, homegrown options.
Hillbilly Cider Shed
Local icon. They use Bilpin-grown apples and stone fruit in their ciders with a relaxed outdoor space.
Black Barn at Bilpin
Great for produce, local goods, and snacks on the way back to Little Hartley.
Pie In The Sky Roadhouse
Long time stop on Bells Line of Road, famous for its savoury pies and fruit pies.
Local Fruit Stalls
You’ll see them everywhere — many run by the same families who’ve worked the land for decades.
My First Picking Story
My first Bilpin trip as a young tour guide is etched in my memory. I’d parked the bus beside Pine Crest as John Galbraith waved us in with a grin. Mist was lifting off the rows, apples were glowing like lanterns, and a backpacker from Spain bit into a Granny Smith that nearly took his jaw off.
Later, as we loaded crates onto the bus, Margaret Tadrosse from a neighbouring farm wandered over with a bag of stone fruit “for the road”. That’s Bilpin — generous, unhurried and full of history and tradition of apple growing.
FAQ
Do I need to book ahead?
Some orchards require bookings during busy weekends and public holidays, especially during peak apple season.
Can I pick stone fruit too?
Yes — several orchards offer stone fruit picking earlier in the season, though apples dominate from February to May.
Are there toilets and wheelchair access?
Larger orchards have toilet facilities and accessible paths. Smaller ones vary — check ahead.
Can I adopt my own peach or apple tree?
A few growers offer seasonal tree adoption programs. Check each year.
Are pets allowed?
Most say no for biosecurity reasons, but a couple allow on-lead dogs near the entrance.
