Queensland tropical fruit: a season-by-season guide

Guide · 2026-10-16 · 6 min read · by the Blueberry Bear Team

Queensland grows most of Australia's tropical fruit. From the first lychees of spring to the last custard apples of winter, there's something in season almost all year. Buying fruit at its peak usually means better value and less fruit travelling long distances in cold storage. This guide shows when the main tropical fruits are in season, how to choose and ripen them, and what to check if you're buying organic.

Seasons vary with the weather and with where the fruit is grown. Harvests usually start in the far north and move south, so a fruit can be in season in Cairns weeks before it reaches the Sunshine Coast. Treat the months below as a guide.

The big summer fruits

Mangoes

Queensland's mango season runs from about September to March, peaking over summer. The main varieties and their peak periods, as published by Mangoes Australia, are:

Choosing and ripening: don't judge by colour. A ripe mango gives slightly when gently squeezed and may smell fruity at the stem end. Ripen firm mangoes at room temperature, then refrigerate once ripe.

Lychees

The Australian lychee season starts in mid-October in Far North Queensland and finishes in late March in northern New South Wales, according to the Australian Lychee Growers Association. In between, harvests move south through the Atherton Tablelands, Mareeba, the coast down to Rockhampton and Bundaberg, and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Peak supply is usually around December and January.

Choosing and storing: look for firm fruit with bright skin. Lychees don't ripen after picking, so buy them ready to eat. Store them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge, and eat within a few days.

Longans and rambutans

These two lychee relatives are mostly grown in north Queensland. Rambutans usually appear from around December into autumn, and longans from about January to March or April. Look for them at markets in Cairns and at specialty grocers further south.

Autumn and winter fruits

Custard apples

Custard apples are a Queensland speciality. The Sunshine Coast is the largest growing area, and the Yeppoon area in central Queensland produces the first fruit of the season. According to Custard Apples Australia, the two main varieties, Pink Mammoth and African Pride, are in season from early February to September. Newer varieties such as PinksBlush fruit from September to December.

Choosing and ripening: buy firm fruit and ripen it at room temperature until it gives slightly, like a ripe avocado. Then refrigerate and eat within a day or two. Don't refrigerate unripe custard apples, as cold can stop them ripening properly.

Fruit you'll find most of the year

• Bananas are grown mainly in north Queensland, especially around Tully and Innisfail, and are available all year. Prices can rise after cyclones damage crops.
• Papaya and pawpaw are available year-round from north Queensland.
• Pineapples are grown in Queensland from the north down to the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay. They're available most of the year, with the biggest supply in summer.
• Passionfruit has its main seasons in summer and autumn, with smaller crops at other times.
• Avocados come from different regions through the year, including the Atherton Tablelands, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast and the Tamborine and Scenic Rim areas. Shepard avocados, with their green skin, are an autumn Queensland favourite; Hass are available most of the year.
• Dragon fruit is mostly a summer and autumn crop.

A quick calendar

Bananas and papaya are available all year. For vegetables and other fruit, see our Queensland seasonal produce guide.

Buying organic tropical fruit

Certified organic tropical fruit is grown in Queensland, but in smaller quantities than conventional fruit, so it can sell out quickly in peak season. Some tips:

1. Check for a certifier on the box, sticker or sign: ACO, OFC, SXC or Demeter. Loose fruit at markets should be backed by a certificate on display. Our guide How to check an organic certificate explains.
2. Read the sticker. Our produce stickers and PLU codes guide explains what the numbers on fruit stickers mean.
3. Ask about "spray-free". Many small tropical fruit growers say their fruit is unsprayed. That may be true, but it isn't the same as certified organic.
4. Buy by the tray in season. Mango and custard apple trays are often much cheaper per piece than buying single fruit, and you can share with friends or freeze the extra.
5. Look for seconds. Marked or odd-shaped fruit is perfectly good for smoothies, jams and baking, and often much cheaper.

Storing and using a glut

• Freeze mango cheeks on a tray, then bag them.
• Freeze peeled lychees for summer desserts.
• Turn ripe bananas into banana bread, or freeze them peeled for smoothies.
• Scoop and freeze custard apple flesh with a squeeze of lemon juice.
• Make jam or chutney from overripe mangoes and pineapples.

Our guide on storing organic produce and reducing waste has more ideas.

Travelling with fruit

Queensland has biosecurity rules to stop pests such as fruit fly and plant diseases spreading. Moving fruit into some areas, such as the Torres Strait and some interstate destinations, is restricted. If you're taking fruit across the border or to the islands, check the rules first on the Queensland Government and interstate quarantine websites.

What we'll stock

Our Fruit & Veg category will feature certified organic tropical fruit from Queensland growers in season, each listing its certifier and certificate number. Until real sellers join, the products on our site are clearly marked SAMPLE.

Information checked 16 October 2026 against Mangoes Australia, the Australian Lychee Growers Association and Custard Apples Australia. Seasons vary by year and region. General information only.

— the Blueberry Bear Team