Fruit in Season Australia: Month-by-Month Guide

Fruit always tastes best in season. It's picked ripe, travels a shorter distance and usually costs less. This guide shows what fruit is in season in Australia each month, so you can buy the sweetest fruit and choose gifts that look and taste their best.

Seasons can shift by a few weeks depending on the weather and where the fruit is grown. Queensland fruit often arrives earlier, and Victorian and Tasmanian fruit later. The months below are when each fruit is at its peak on the east coast.

Fruit in season in summer (December to February)

Summer is Australia's biggest fruit season. It's the time for cherries, mangoes, stone fruit and berries.

• Cherries: November to January, with the best around Christmas
• Mangoes: September to March, peaking in December and January
• Stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots): December to March
• Lychees: December to February
• Berries: blueberries, raspberries and blackberries peak in summer
• Melons: watermelon and rockmelon are at their sweetest
• Grapes: from January

A box of cherries or mangoes is one of the most loved Christmas gifts in Australia. See our cherry boxes and Christmas hampers.

Fruit in season in autumn (March to May)

Autumn brings crisp apples and pears and the last of the summer grapes.

• Apples: new-season Royal Gala, Granny Smith and Pink Lady from March
• Pears: Williams, Packham and Beurre Bosc
• Grapes: red and white grapes until about April
• Figs: February to April
• Persimmons and kiwifruit: from April
• Custard apples: from April, through winter

Fruit in season in winter (June to August)

Winter is citrus season. It's the perfect time for a vitamin C boost and for get well gifts.

• Navel oranges: peak June to August
• Mandarins: Imperial, Afourer and Murcott
• Lemons and grapefruit
• Apples and pears: still at their best from cold storage
• Kiwifruit and custard apples
• Strawberries: Queensland strawberries from about July

Sending a get well soon hamper in winter? Fresh citrus is always a welcome choice.

Fruit in season in spring (September to November)

Spring is when tropical fruit and berries return.

• Strawberries: peak in spring
• Mangoes: the first Kensington Pride mangoes arrive from September
• Pineapples, papaya and bananas: at their peak
• Avocados: Hass avocados peak
• Valencia oranges: juicy oranges for spring and summer
• Cherries: the first cherries arrive in November

Fruit in season month by month

How to choose the best fruit

• Smell it: ripe mangoes, pineapples and melons smell sweet at the stem end.
• Feel it: stone fruit and avocados should give slightly when gently pressed.
• Check the colour: cherries should be deep red with green stems, and citrus should feel heavy for its size.
• Store it right: keep berries and cherries in the fridge, and ripen mangoes and stone fruit at room temperature.

Wondering whether to wash your fruit? Read our guide on whether you should wash fruit.

Send a fruit gift that's in season

Every iGift fruit basket is packed with the best fruit available that week, so the fruit changes with the seasons. Not sure which to choose? Our guide on how to choose a fruit basket can help. For a gift with a bit more, try a fruit and wine hamper.

Fruit in season – FAQs

What fruit is in season in Australia right now?

In spring (September to November), look for strawberries, mangoes, pineapples, papaya and avocados. Cherries arrive in November. Check the month-by-month table above for any time of year.

When are cherries in season in Australia?

Australian cherries are in season from November to January, with the best fruit around Christmas.

When are mangoes in season in Australia?

Mangoes are in season from September to March, and they're at their best in December and January.

What fruit is in season in winter in Australia?

Citrus is the star of winter, with navel oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruit at their best. Apples, pears, kiwifruit and custard apples are also good choices.

Why does seasonal fruit taste better?

Seasonal fruit is picked closer to ripeness and spends less time in storage and transport. That gives it more flavour, better texture and often a lower price.