Want a fun day out? Go fruit picking with your family. It’s the start of the valencia orange picking season on the Central Coast, just an hour south of Newcastle.
Head to the orchards at Cedar Farm at Dooralong on the Central Coast, just an hour south of Newcastle. There you can pick your own valencia oranges for $1.75 per kilogram.
Jack, the owner of Cedar Farm shared that it’s a great orange crop this year so there’s lots of oranges for everyone to pick.
Wander through 15 acres of orchards at Cedar Farm which is home to 3000 orange trees, that are a mix of mostly navel oranges plus valencia oranges.
Valencia oranges are ripe for picking from October to November depending on the weather and number of visitors. They are farm fresh and not sprayed with any chemicals.
We’ve gone in the past and it’s fun for the whole family to pick oranges straight from the tree.
Just bring your own bags. Your kids will love roaming through the orchard, picking oranges. It’s a great excursion to show kids where their fruit comes from.
Cedar Farm at Dooralong will be open for the season on the weekend of 25 & 26 October 2025 from 10am to 4pm and run until 15 & 16 November.
When you get there, you might be greeted by the owner Jack and his dog. He’ll offer you a sample of the oranges that you’ll be picking. They are delicious and will inspire you to pick lots of oranges.
He will also offer you a Picking Stick, a stick with two nails at the top. This stick will help you pick oranges at the top of the tree by hooking the orange so you can pick it.
Just be sure to catch it on the way down. The hooks come in different sizes so choose a length that’s suitable for you.
Jack also recommends heading to the back trees of the orchard to find trees laden with oranges. That’s where we head and we’re not disappointed.
There are trees full of oranges. Some we can pick straight off the tree while others require the hook implement. It’s not long until our bags are full of oranges.
There is plenty of space for everyone. Also, there are wide paths so you can bring strollers and wheelchairs so everyone can try fruit picking.
It’s a great family day out for the whole family including grandparents. Just be prepared to help them carry the 20 kilograms of oranges that they might pick!
You can choose different sizes of oranges depending on what your family wants to eat. We opt for a variety of orange sizes.
Once you’re done, simply bring your bags of oranges to be weighed. You’ll pay $1.75 a kilo this year for farm fresh valencia oranges that you’ve personally picked, and the juicing is an extra $1 per litre. There’s also local honey and for sale too.
As well as orange picking, there’s plenty of other fun for the kids. Your family has the option of taking a free hay cart ride to the orchards. There’s also kids pony rides for $15 per child.
You might even get a good bye from the resident farm dog.
Pick Your Own Oranges is highly recommended. Not only do you get a memorable family day out, but you’re also supporting local growers by buying directly from them.
Just be prepared to bring home lots of delicious tasting oranges!
Useful information
- Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong at Cedar Farm is located at 48 Dittons Road, Dooralong, 2259
- Cedar Farm at Dooralong is set to open for orange picking on the weekend of 25 & 26 October then every weekend only from 10am to 4pm until 15 & 16 November.
- There is no entry fee.
- Please check their Facebook page for the latest updates.
- The orchards can be closed due to wet weather or muddy parking lot so check the Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong Facebook page before leaving home to avoid disappointment.
- From the Newcastle region, it’s about an hour, give or take depending on what suburb you’re starting from.
- Driving directions – from the M1, proceed along Mandalong Road. Do not turn off Mandalong Road. At the Dooralong Road intersection continue straight, past the tennis courts for 800 metres, over the creek and through the orchards.
- This year, there are toilets at the farm. Previously you had to use the bathroom facilities located at Dooralong Community Hall.
- If you want to picnic in the orchard, bring a picnic rug or enjoy the tables and chairs set up on the field for picnics. Otherwise, BBQ facilities available at Dooralong Community Hall (5 min away).
- Oranges are $1.75/kg and an extra $1 per litre per kilo for juicing. Please BYO bags. The sturdier the better as oranges get heavy.
- Cash and EFTPOS are accepted for payment.
- For safety, please drive slowly on the unsealed roads and wear closed-in footwear for fruit picking.
- Also, please supervise your kids and ensure that they don’t try to climb the orange trees or do swordfights with the picking sticks.
- Dogs on leads are welcome
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Want more information about fruit picking with your family. Check out our article When & Where to Go Fruit Picking around Newcastle, Central Coast & Sydney
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