Cherry in season in Australia
Cherry is in season in Australia from November to February, and at its peak from December to January. This is the cooler south; the tropical north has its own calendar.
At its best
Late spring and summer. Cherry Growers Australia puts the national season at late October to February. Brisbane Markets saw the first Victorian and New South Wales boxes in early November, while Tasmanian cherries reach shops in early December, with January its biggest month and picking continuing through most of February.
At the shop
Cherries do not ripen after they are picked, so the quality you buy is the quality you get. Buy them fresh and look closely before you do.
Keeping it
Cherry Growers Australia says fresh is best, so eat them soon after buying rather than stocking up.
Three dinners
- Duck breast with cherry sauce Simmer pitted cherries with red wine.
- Cherry and rocket salad with burrata A cool Christmas-week dinner.
- Cherry clafoutis Bake pitted cherries in a custardy batter.
How we decide. Each item carries a score from 0 to 20 for every month of the year. We call 16 or more “at its peak” and 8 to 15 “around”. The scores were checked against Australian growers’ bodies, state government pages and the Sydney and Melbourne markets, and last reviewed on 9 October 2026. Seasons shift a few weeks with the weather and the state, so treat the edges as guides. Spotted something wrong? Tell us at [email protected].
General information only. These guides are not advice about how you should prepare, store or eat any food. Please follow the packaging and the official food-safety guidance from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and your state or territory food authority.