Spring & Summer on the Adelaide Hills Harvest & Bloom Trail

The warmer months are when the fertile soils of the Adelaide Hills really turn it on... Green paddocks, orchard blossom and vineyard budburst give way to berry-laden canes, cherry trees heavy with fruit, roadside stalls and flower fields bursting with colour. And with so much happening across the region at once, this is definitely not a trail to rush.

The Adelaide Hills Harvest & Bloom Trail brings it all together in one self-drive adventure. Pick up the illustrated map, follow what’s in season and take your time. Spend one day chasing cherries and berries, another among flower fields and farm gates, and stay a night or two locally so you can make the most of it!

Here's our top picks along the Adelaide Hills Harvest & Bloom Trail over the warmer months...

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Beerenberg, Hahndorf (Strawberries: Pick Your own / eat & drink)

Strawberry picking at Beerenberg is about as iconic as an Adelaide Hills summer gets.

The Paech family has farmed here for six generations, with visitors heading into the strawberry patch since 1975. From around November to April, grab a punnet and roam the rows in search of the biggest, reddest berries you can find.

It’s an easy family favourite and a brilliant way to show kids exactly where their food comes from. Once you’ve filled your punnet, there’s plenty more happening at the Farm Shop and café, including more than 100 jams, sauces and condiments, tastings and seasonal treats.

You can easily turn a quick picking stop into a half-day, especially if you add lunch, something sweet or a browse through the shop. Strawberry availability naturally depends on growing conditions, so always check that the patch is open before making the trip.

A.T. Thompson Cherries, Lenswood (Cherries: Pick Your Own / Farm Gate Sales)

Cherry season may be fleeting, but that’s half the fun.

A.T. Thompson Cherries opens for summer picking across December and January, giving visitors the chance to wander the orchard and pluck cherries straight from the trees.

The farm takes a biodynamic approach, with an emphasis on healthy soils and growing without weedicides, synthetic hormones or fungicides. That gives the experience an added sustainability story, especially for families keen to learn a little more about how fruit is grown.

Short on time? Fresh pre-picked boxes are also available from the farm gate, so you can still stock up without heading into the orchard. Either way, it’s one of those summer stops that's very much tied to the season, so checking opening days and fruit availability before you leave is essential.

Jauma Farm, Lenswood (Cherries: Pick Your Own / Eat & Drink)

Jauma Farm is the full package, even bringing a splash of wine to cherry season.

The certified organic orchard opens for selected picking weekends when the fruit says it’s ready, inviting visitors to wander among the trees, taste different varieties and fill their own boxes.

Afterwards, head to the rustic cellar door in a restored farm cottage for Jauma’s natural wines and farm-inspired snacks. On cherry weekends, the atmosphere spills outdoors with food, picnic rugs and a laid-back summer festival vibe.

It’s less about rushing in, filling a box and leaving, and more about settling in and making an afternoon of it. Given the PYO season is short and often limited to selected weekends, keep an eye on Jauma’s updates before heading out.

BishoP Orchards, Basket Range (cherries: Farm Gate Sales)

The Bishop family has been growing fruit at Basket Range since 1871, so they know a thing or two about cherries!

More than 20 varieties ripen progressively across December and into January, with fresh fruit sold directly from the Bishop Orchards shed. There’s no pick-your-own here, but that’s part of the charm. This is a genuine working orchard and farm-gate.

Alongside the cherries, keep an eye out for cherry jam, cherry nougat, chestnut vinegar and Marble Hill Wines.

If one day on the trail simply isn’t enough, stay right on the property at Waterfalls, a beautifully preserved stone cottage tucked among the orchards. It’s available year-round, but cherry harvest is an especially lively time to experience the farm and wake up surrounded by the landscape you’ve come to explore.

Springwood Farm, Summertown (Berries & Figs: Farm Gate Sales)

Some of the best Hills finds are the ones you hit the brakes and pull over for.

Springwood Farm’s self-serve roadside stall runs from October through to June, with raspberries starring early in the warmer months before blackberries, loganberries and other berries appear. Figs and passionfruit join the party later.

Beyond that, there's plenty of homemade goodies. Think: berry ice creams and sorbets, jams, lemon curd, syrups, vinegars, chutneys and sauces, all adding plenty of temptation to a quick roadside stop.

There’s no PYO here. Instead, it’s all about browsing the fridge and shelves, paying via the honesty system and enjoying the simplicity of buying straight from the farm. Grab an ice cream, find a seat and soak up the surrounding countryside before hitting the road again.

Torrens Valley Orchards, Gumeracha (cherries: farm Gate Sales)

This is cherry season without the bells and whistles, and that’s exactly the appeal.

From around mid-November to mid-January, Torrens Valley Orchards sells freshly harvested cherries straight from its family-run shed door. More than 20 varieties ripen throughout the season, so the flavours and fruit on offer can change from one visit to the next.

There’s no PYO experience. Instead, you’ll get the buzz of a genuine working orchard and packing shed during its busiest time of year, with fruit being sorted, graded and packed before heading out the door.

Local jams, biscuits and honey can also make their way into the shopping bag, and around Christmas there may be another seasonal reason to stop, with fresh-cut trees also sold on site.

Kenton Valley Cherries, kenton valley (Cherries: Farm Gate Sales / Eat & Drink)

Fresh cherries are only the beginning at this sixth-generation family orchard.

During the main summer season, generally from late November through January, Kenton Valley Cherries are harvested and sold direct from the farm. The orchard itself isn’t open for public picking, but the Cherry Shed Café gives you plenty of reasons to stick around.

Cherry pie? Absolutely. Cherry crumble? Yep. Cherry ice cream? Of course.

Just add Devonshire tea, jams, chutneys, sauces and other farm-made preserves, and you’ve got a cherry stop that'll easily become lunch.

Glen Ewin Estate, Houghton (Figs: Pick Your Own / Eat & Drink)

When cherry season begins winding down, the figs are just getting started.

From around mid-February into April, Glen Ewin Estate opens their Willabrand orchard for a unique pick-your-own figs experience. The horticultural story here stretches all the way back to George McEwin’s original plantings in 1843, while the modern 12,000-tree fig orchard was replanted and established in 1994 and now spans five varieties.

Wander the terraced orchard, forage for the perfect fruit and fill your basket before heading back for a refreshing tipple.

Depending on the day, that could mean local food and wine, fig ice cream or Glen Ewin’s signature Pot & Still fig gin. It’s a sublime way to stretch the summer harvest into early autumn, with the season continuing well beyond the hottest months.

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Hahndorf Flower Farm, Hahndorf (Flowers: Pick Your Own / Workshops / Tours)

Come for the flowers. Leave with your own bouquet.

Open seasonally from spring into early autumn, Hahndorf Flower Farm invites visitors to wander through their technicolour fields and gardens, handpicking seasonal blooms and learning all about what’s currently growing.

The standard experience allows plenty of time to slow down, choose your flowers and build a bunch that reflects exactly what’s blooming on any given day.

Summer brings 'Flower Hour', an early-morning experience designed around cooler temperatures, softer light and freshly opened flowers. There are also floral design workshops for those wanting to get more creative, while kids can join the Little Flower Hunt, choosing their own blooms and creating a special bunch to take home.

Bookings are essential, and it’s worth checking bloom updates before your visit.

Kidman Flower Co, Balhannah (Flowers: Farm Gate Sales / Workshops)

Spring is showtime at Kidman Flower Co.

This pesticide-free farm grows more than 60 Australian and South African native varieties, with late spring delivering an incredible mix of King Proteas, Waratahs, pincushions, Geraldton Wax, Banksias and other botanicals.

Pick up freshly made bouquets or individual bunches at the farm gate, or dive deeper with a three-hour farm experience featuring a guided plantation walk, a behind-the-scenes look at flower production, afternoon tea and a native flower-arranging masterclass.

It’s a great stop for anyone who likes seeing the working side of a flower farm as much as the finished bunches. Some species may still be available over summer, but things generally taper off as the team turns its attention to property maintenance and the next growing cycle.

Jurlique Farm, Biggs Flat (Flowers: Tours / Retail Shop / Workshops)

Not every harvest ends up on the table or in a vase.

At Jurlique Farm, botanicals grown in the Adelaide Hills become ingredients in the world-famous Jurlique skincare brand that's used and celebrated by millions globally. Guided farm tours take visitors behind the scenes to explore propagation, biodynamic farming, soil health, composting and harvesting, all while unpacking Jurlique’s seed-to-skin story.

For something even more hands-on, the Handpicked Masterclass lets visitors harvest fresh botanicals from the fields, learn how they are dried and prepared, then create their own personalised oil blend.

There’s also the more intimate Private Immersion experience if you're keen to dig a little deeper into the brand and its farming philosophy. Finish with a browse through the Farm Store for Jurlique products and farm-exclusive finds.

Hillview Flowers, Mylor (Flowers: Farm Gate Sales)

Sometimes all you need is a roadside stall bursting with blooms, right?

Hillview Flowers grows a wide mix of field-grown annuals and perennials, with its stall open throughout spring, summer and autumn before closing for winter.

Spring usually brings ranunculus, Sweet William, poppies and delphiniums, while summer is dominated by the farm’s impressive collection of dahlias, one of the largest ranges grown in South Australia.

Fresh bunches, flower seedlings and bespoke arrangements make this an easy stop to squeeze into a drive through Mylor. Keen gardeners should also keep an eye out for the seasonal dahlia tuber sale, which generally runs from late October into early December.

Blumenfeld Flowers, Lenswood (Flowers: Pick Your Own / Workshops / Farm Gate Sales)

If proteas are your thing, spring at Blumenfeld Flowers is pretty hard to beat.

The family-run property comes alive with dramatic King Proteas, pincushions, banksias and Waratahs, creating a seriously photogenic mix of colour, form and texture.

The signature bouquet workshops turn a farm visit into something much more hands-on, combining a guided walk through the property, pruning tips, flower picking and the chance to build your own arrangement from freshly harvested stems.

Spring is very much the star here. Over summer, the public workshops and PYO sessions pause, but seasonal flowers can still appear at the self-serve roadside stall.

And if you really don’t want to leave, the on-site Blumenfeld Tiny Home sleeps two and operates year-round, making it a super convenient base for a spring weekend among the flowers.

Atkins Farm, Meadows (Flowers: Pick Your Own)

For a few glorious weeks every summer, Atkins Farm turns golden.

The historic family property opens its sunflower fields during January, with visitors booking 50-minute sessions to wander between towering blooms, cut their own stems and enjoy a genuine country-farm experience.

The sunflower season is intentionally short, which only adds to the appeal. Bring your secateurs, wear sensible shoes and check the farm’s opening dates before setting out.

It’s simple, photogenic and wonderfully seasonal. Wander the rows, choose your favourites and prepare to leave with a bucket full of sunshine.

Gooseberry Hill Farm, Meadows (Flowers & Figs: Retail Stall / Pick Your Own / Eat & Drink)

Gooseberry Hill Farm isn’t about perfectly straight rows and manicured displays.

The 100-acre spray-free property is more like one enormous, rambling country garden, filled with whatever flowers happen to thrive in the higher-altitude Adelaide Hills climate. Its organically grown blooms change constantly through the season, making every bouquet a snapshot of what’s flowering at that moment.

The farm itself is usually closed to casual visitors, but occasional PYO days and special late-summer experiences can feature flowers, figs and cider.

For a reliable flower fix, find Gooseberry Hill at local farmers markets, including the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market at Mount Barker, where freshly cut bouquets, seedlings and other seasonal offerings regularly appear.

too much for one day? exactly.

That’s really the point.

The Adelaide Hills Harvest & Bloom Trail isn’t designed to be raced. One day might take you from strawberries in Hahndorf to flowers in Mylor. Another could be all about cherries through Lenswood and Basket Range. Stay another night, and suddenly there’s time for figs in Houghton, sunflowers in Meadows, a farm workshop, a long lunch, or that quirky roadside stall you spotted on the way through.

So set your out-of-office, stay a night or two locally, and leave some room in the itinerary for whatever looks good along the way. Spring and summer can move quickly up here, and what’s ripe, blooming or filling the farm gate can change from one week to the next.

All the more reason to stay for a couple of days and enjoy the Adelaide Hills while the picking is prime, and the sun's shining!