Lychee in season in Australia
Lychee is in season in Australia from November to February, and at its peak from December to January. Grown in Queensland and northern New South Wales. This is the cooler south; the tropical north has its own calendar.
At its best
Summer, with the main run from December to February, and the season is short. In early January Brisbane Markets was already warning that lychees from the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland would be gone within a few weeks. Sydney Markets lists them for December, January and February. Because the season is so brief, lychees are more of an occasion than a staple.
At the shop
Pick ripe fruit with a red-pinkish skin.
Keeping it
Refrigerate them for about five to seven days. Peel just before eating.
Three dinners
- Lychee, prawn and cucumber salad With mint and lime.
- Lychee and coconut sorbet Blend with ice and coconut milk.
- Lychees with ginger syrup Chilled.
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.