9 picture-perfect places to go sunflower picking in Australia

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Let brilliant blooms light up your life with the country’s best seasonal sunflower-picking spots.

The most feel-good flower of them all, sunflowers burst with golden optimism. It’s why sunshine-flushed fields, awash with rows of the beloved yellow blooms, are the stuff of dreams, creating ethereal backdrops as you snap photos or snip a bunch to take home.

Most sunflower farms across the country open their gates for just a small period at a time, ensuring the seasonal destinations are well-trodden no matter where they’re located. Here, we collate the best sunflower-picking spots in Australia to help you catch them when you can.

1. Sunflowers on Kents, Qld

Sunflowers love the sun (crazy, right?) so it makes sense that Australia’s Sunshine State keeps them blossoming longer than other states can.

a sunflower farm in full bloom
Sunflowers on Kents flourish during summer. (Image: Bonnie Kittle)

At Sunflowers on Kents in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, pretty petals flourish during summer but also at other times throughout the year.

Located in the farming town of Kalbar, home to an annual Kalbar Sunflower Festival and several other sunflower-picking fields, this place features a coffee van that also serves snacks so it’s a fabulous morning out.

a bee pollinating a sunflower
Snap photos of these beloved yellow blooms. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Best time to visit: It’s open for various windows throughout the year, so check their Instagram for details.
Price: $15 per person, which includes five sunflowers to take home.
Address: 10 Kents Lagoon Road, Kalbar

2. Farm & Co, NSW

Committed to keeping their sunflowers thriving all year round, the team at Farm & Co rotate their crops so there’s always new growth gearing up to bloom. Located in Cudgen, within the Tweed Shire on NSW’s north coast (and very close to the NSW-Queensland border) this hot spot isn’t just a magnet for flower fans.

the sunflower field at Farm & Co, NSW
Sunflowers thrive all year round at Farm & Co. (Image: Sal Singh)

Its restaurant is one of the best farm-to-fork dining experiences in the region and the farm itself is also dotted with macadamia trees (you can crack their shells right on site) and farm animals, making it extremely family-friendly.

sunflowers at Farm & Co, NSW
Farm & Co is a magnet for sunflower fans. (Image: Sal Singh)

Best time to visit: All year round, however January to March brings the best conditions for growth.
Price: $7 per person, and it’s $4 per stem to take home.
Address: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

3. The Paddock, WA

The team at The Paddock  have created the ultimate Instagram moment, building a sunflower-emblazoned door into their flourishing sunflower farm.

a sunflower-emblazoned door at The Paddock, WA
Spot a sunflower-emblazoned door at The Paddock.

The south west WA hot spot near Busselton is only open for a flash in the heat of summer so plan ahead to catch the sunnies in all their towering glory. Cold drinks and snacks, including locally cooked pastries, are also on hand to help quench January’s heat.

touching a sunflower at The Paddock, WA
Catch the sunnies in all their towering glory.

Best time to visit: It’s open for a small window each January, so check the website for details.
Price: Choose from a $10, $20 or $30 donation per bucket of stems you snip.
Address: Boyanup Picton Road, Crooked Brook, two hours south of Perth

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4. Majura Valley Sunflower Maze, ACT

For about three weeks each year, the Majura Valley Sunflower Maze  opens its doors at the Majura Valley Free Range Eggs  farm in Canberra.

An incredible outdoor adventure for nature lovers, it’s wheelchair accessible however be warned that the track isn’t always even.

a woman strolling along the Majura Valley Sunflower Maze
Swoon over golden-topped blooms at the Majura Valley Sunflower Maze. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s also a produce store to help you stock up on fresh farm goodies, plus you can bring a picnic rug and supplies (for a fee) if you’re keen to stay a while.

the produce store at the Majura Valley Sunflower Maze
Find fresh farm goodies at the produce store onsite. (Image: Shots By Sal Photography)

Best time to visit: It’s open for a small window around March, so check the website for details.
Price: $10 per person, and it’s $3 per stem to take home, with no more than five stems per person.
Address: Majura House, 728 Majura Road, Majura

5. Warraba Sunflowers, Qld

A family-run hot spot in rural Toowoomba, Warraba Sunflowers is a sunflower-picking farm that lets visitors take home as many as they can carry.

a family enjoying sunflower-picking at Warraba Sunflowers, Qld
Pick Warraba Sunflowers during peak season. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

As a reward for all that hard work, you might even find woodfire pizza ovens roasting up an assortment of delectable varieties — the team have been known to bring in the snacks when peak sunflower season rolls around.

a woman picking sunflowers
Take home as many sunflowers as you can carry. (Image: Mish and Kirk)

Best time to visit: It’s open for various windows throughout the year, so check their Instagram or website for details.
Price: $10 per person, and you can pick as many sunflowers as you can carry.
Address: 439 McNallys Road, Cambooya

6. Pick Your Own Sunflowers, Vic

One of the few destinations in Victoria to let you get your sunflower on, Pick Your Own Sunflowers  is a farm that’s open once a year. But don’t go thinking the quality of its crop isn’t as mighty as those found further north.

a woman holding a bunch of sunflowers at Pick Your Own Sunflowers, VIC
Get your sunflower on at Pick Your Own Sunflowers farm. (Image: Ballarat City Council)

Located in Dunnstown, just outside Ballarat, the farm is robust and grows ridiculously tall blooms, much to the delight of thick crowds who swarm when the timing’s right.

a close-up shot of a sunflower at Pick Your Own Sunflowers, VIC
Pick Your Own Sunflowers grow ridiculously tall blooms. (Image: Frank Carol)

Best time to visit: It’s open for a small window between February and March every year, so check the website for details.
Price: $10 per person, and it’s $4 per stem to take home.
Address: Corner Howards Road and Navigator Dunnstown Road, Dunnstown

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7. Atkins Farm, SA

Make your day out in the Adelaide Hills even more special during the summer months with a visit to Atkins Farm  in South Australia.

the sunflower field at Atkins Farm, SA
Atkins Farm is awash with rows of golden blooms.

The sunflower-picking farm is open for a couple of weeks at a time with the most vibrant blooms ripe for snipping during early mornings or late afternoons.

A ticket will give you 50 minutes to stickybeak the golden-topped stems with photography highly encouraged.

Woman at the Atkins Farm sunflower farm in Adelaide Hills
Pick Atkins Farm’s most vibrant blooms in early mornings or late afternoons. (Image: @our_wandering_life)

Best time to visit: It’s open for a small window each January, so check the website for details.
Price: From $32 per person, which includes a bunch of stems to take home.
Address: Near Meadows, Adelaide Hills

8. PetTeet Park, WA

Their sunnies only bloom once a year but PetTeet Park in Western Australia’s Gilgering on the Great Southern Highway is a great day out for plenty of reasons. Home to bright yellow canola fields, the farm is also known for its fresh produce store and kid-friendly farm animal encounters.

a vast sunflower farm
The sunflowers at PetTeet Park are picture-perfect. (Image: Josh Geelen)

To get amongst the very rare experience of sunflower picking on this side of the country though, you’ll need to wait until Easter.

a close-up shot of a sunflower
Sunnies only bloom once a year at PetTeet Park but they’re worth the wait. (Image: Aaron Burden)

Best time to visit: It’s open for a small window around April, so check the website for details.
Price: $20 per person, and sunflower picking is only allowed at the end of the seasonal window.
Address: 1625 Qualen West Road, Gilgering

9. Glenbernie Family Farms, NSW

A totally slick spot for sunflower picking in NSW, Glenbernie Family Farms is a one-hour drive from Sydney and worth every inch of effort. They tend to open for a few weeks in the cooler months and when they do, expect all the bells and whistles to help celebrate their field of dreams. A jumping castle, farm animal encounters, firepit sessions, great coffee and hot food are typically onsite.

a woman exploring Glenbernie Family Farms, NSW
Make your sunflower fantasy come to life at Glenbernie Family Farms.

Best time to visit: During winter and spring, but check the website for specific details.
Price: $10 per person, and it’s $5 per stem to take home.
Address: 610 Bells Line of Road, Kurmond

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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8 towns in Victoria’s Heartland that will delight your tastebuds

(Image: Visit Victoria)

    Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
    Get out of the city and close to nature in Victoria’s Heartland, one of Australia’s finest food-producing regions. 

    This fertile area is abundant in natural beauty, rich volcanic soils, mineral-rich waters, artisan producers and farm fresh produce. In towns spanning the Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and surrounds, just a short drive or easy train ride from Melbourne , you can taste a plethora of incredible food and world-class wine in these best of Victoria’s Heartland food regions. 

    1. Daylesford

    Lake House Restaurant, Daylesford
    Dine on the multi-course fare served at the elegant and light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    Warm and inviting, fans of Japanese cuisine should make a beeline for Kadota . Settle in for Japanese flavours, in cocktail glasses and on the plate, that have been carefully produced using seasonal local ingredients.

    For those who love a farm-to-table moment, Sault is the place to be. Fresh ingredients – directly from the restaurant’s kitchen gardens, or from regional organic farms and producers – are crafted into a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Hat-awarded Head Chef Jack Powlay.

    Boasting gorgeous water views from its location on the banks of Lake Daylesford, Boathouse Restaurant is perfect for an elevated dining experience.

    For a special treat, a visit to the two-chef-hatted restaurant  at the Lake House is a must. Savour beautiful views and a seasonal menu championing small-scale local suppliers and their own farm just 10 minutes away. 

    2. Hepburn Springs

    If you're exploring Victoria food regions to visit, Surly Goat is one restaurant you won’t want to miss.
    Tuck into hearty, farm-fresh flavours. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Taking cues from its Swiss-Italian roots and the area’s produce, the picturesque Lavandula Farm  houses a seasonal trattoria, rustic wine bar, and a new deli and larder inside the original Shepherd’s Flat Post Office. 

    For another dining destination immersed in the area’s history, visit The Hepburn Pavilion  café at Hepburn Bathhouse. Brunch, lunch, scones and house-made cakes are served under the vaulted ceiling of this Edwardian heritage-listed building. 

    And while The Surly Goat  may have a farm-like ring to it, it’s in fact a homely restaurant that takes seasonality seriously. Chef David Willcocks heads up an ever-changing set menu celebrating local and small-scale regenerative producers. 

    3. Trentham

    Add Sisko Chocolate to your list of Victoria food regions to visit for a sweet stop along the way.
    Satisfy your sweet cravings with handcrafted treats. (Image: Sisko Chocolate)

    No trip to an Aussie regional town is complete without a stop at the pub. Pig & Whistle Hotel sits surrounded by farmland. Soak it in from the locally beloved beer garden. Here, pub classics include a parmigiana with an Irish twist.  

    For a more refined experienced, dine at du Fermier , where chef and owner Annie Smithers crafts a weekly menu of French farmhouse-style dishes, often sourcing ingredients from her nearby farm in Lyonville. 

    And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave town without a cheeky stop at Sisko Chocolate Studio , where owner Christina Tantsis has built a chocolate-lovers wonderland inside a stunning architectural space. Her handcrafted creations use couverture from Valrhona, a certified B Corporation, and the hot chocolates are positively sinful. 

    4. Woodend

    Kuzu Izakaya in woodend, daylesford
    Taste incredible Japanese cuisine at Kuzu Izakaya.

    Taste local drops in town at the family-owned Woodend Cellar and Bar  – complemented by tapas and artisan platters featuring sourdough from the local bakery – or at 600 Above , a wine bar with a sunny courtyard and cosy fireplace serving small and large plates.  

    Nearby, Kuzu Izakaya  is the go-to place for Japanese dining. Chef Eriko Pannam has crafted a moreish menu of creative and traditional dishes; think miso cream scallops and everyone’s favourite, Japanese fried chicken. 

    Mount Macedon Winery  is another must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a glass and wood-fired pizza on the deck, or opt for fine dining at their Cellar Door Restaurant.

    5. Kyneton

    Piper Street in Kyneton is overflowing with top-notch eateries. Take Prato , specialising in traditional Greek dishes and pinsa (a lighter, crispier version of traditional pizza); or the upscale Midnight Starling , where chef Steve Rogers serves French classics inside a historic building with bluestone cellar. 

    A little further down, The Piper Street Wine Company is a European restaurant and wine bar inside a gorgeous heritage building. Their evolving menu highlights one European country or region at a time, so there’s always something new to discover. Further along, Fook Shing  delivers a flavour-packed Southeast Asian menu using local and regional Victorian produce.

    6. Castlemaine

    Blue cheese from Long Paddock Cheese.
    Discover rich, creamy cheeses crafted by a certified cow’s milk artisan cheesemaker. (Image: Long Paddock Cheese)

    Cafes, bars and restaurants have taken up residence inside this former Gold Rush town’s historic buildings. At The Mill Castlemaine – an 1870s woollen mill turned creative hub – you’ll find Long Paddock Cheese , a small-scale artisan cheesemaker that uses certified-organic cow’s milk from a nearby family-owned farm; and Das Kaffeehaus , a Viennese cafe serving traditional Austrian food with coffee from their small batch roastery. 

    Meanwhile, inside the Midland Hotel you’ll find the chef-hatted Bar Midland , founded by locals Loudon Cooper and Alexander Marano. Their monthly set menu celebrates Victorian producers who focus on sustainable land management, and often utilises indigenous food, introduced wild animals and weeds.

    7. Lancefield & Romsey

    A flatlay of food from Lost Watering Hole.
    Savour beautifully plated dishes in a relaxed setting. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Art meets food and wine at Mount Monument , located just outside of Romsey. The beautiful vineyard is home to a sculpture park, cellar door and restaurant with a menu shaped by the Macedon Ranges’ rich seasonal produce.  

    In town, The 1860 Romsey  has reimagined a 160-year-old hotel. Here, country pub charm meets modern bistro, with a menu that supports local at every opportunity (their Central Victorian Oakdale Black Angus steak is a winner).  

    A few minutes’ drive north, the Lost Watering Hole  in Lancefield is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant crafting 100% naturally brewed beers. Their unusual names – No Dodo, Flightless, Big Roo – make sense once you learn Lancefield is the location of one of the richest deposits of megafauna fossils in Australia.

    8. Harcourt

    Lovely pastries from Hartcourt Produce & General Store.
    Treat yourself to buttery, house-made Danish pastries. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Harcourt is famous for its apple orchards and cider production, and there’s no better place to visit than The Little Red Apple . At this roadside store, you can stock up on fresh crisp apples, ciders, vinegars, juices, and other gourmet products. 

    To taste more local delights, pop into the Harcourt Produce & General Store , renowned for their house-made danishes, or stop at Sutton Grange Winery  where winemaker Chris Smales crafts wines using their organically grown estate fruit. Open on Sundays, it’s an idyllic spot to slow down over wine, pizzas and share plates. 

    Start planning your next outdoor adventure at victoriasheartland.com.au.