Share in New South Wales

Photographer: Andre Martin, Stylist: Vicki Liley Batlow Caramel Apples with Cinnamon Yoghurt

Picnics are a form of self-expression giving you the freedom to become a master chef with a smorgasbord of picnic delights. It’s about enjoying, relaxing, expressing your culture and sharing the experience with friends and family.

Spring is a great time to celebrate the warmer months ahead and the gorgeous, fresh produce that Sydneysiders get to enjoy.

Ask your greengrocer, supermarket or visit a Farmers' Market for ideas on how to experience the best regional NSW produce.

Seasonal picnics

The best picnics are those with simple, fresh, quality, seasonal ingredients. Look for local NSW regional producers and create a NSW picnic. We have exceptional food regions like Orange, Hawkesbury, Hunter, Riverina and Mudgee just to name a few.

Some of this produce is available at local markets or if you're visiting these areas stock up on jams and other treats for your picnic.

Seasonal buying guide for October in NSW:

Fruit

• Apples: Fujis and Sundowners from Batlow and Orange still available
• Avocadoes: NSW avocadoes still available - mostly Hass
• Bananas: from northern NSW
• Blueberries: Coffs Harbour fruit available
• Grapefruit: Ruby grapefruit are particularly delicious at the moment
• Lemons
• Mandarins
• Mulberries
• Oranges: Navel
• Strawberries: While the NSW strawberry season is just starting most of the cheap punnets in the shops are from QLD and WA. Local strawberries should be available from your local Farmers' Market.

Vegetables

• Artichokes: Globe
• Asian greens
• Beetroot
• Broad beans
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Herbs
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Potatoes: Chat
• Rhubarb
• Silverbeet
• Snowpeas
• Spinach
• Wild rocket

Photographer: Andre Martin, Stylist: Vicki Liley Honey & Fig Damper with Cheese Selection

Sydney chefs on picnics

Sydney has some of the world's favourite chefs and noted restaurants.

Getting a chef out of the hot kitchen and into the fresh air is easy in Sydney! Read what our favourite chefs like to pack in their picnic baskets.

“The best picnics contain a cake or slice baked the night before, some beautiful local, seasonal fruit, a bit of cold meat and cheese and crusty just baked bread.” JARED INGERSOL

"One of my favourite breakfasts is a home grown tomato, sliced onto hot crunchy bread and seasoned with salt and pepper." STEPHANIE ALEXANDER

"Having a picnic is a favourite past time of mine because it is fun and I enjoy simple, casual food with a nice glass of champagne" LUKE MANGAN

"I fondly remember family picnics with cold chicken pieces and salad with loads of mayo in the New Zealand countryside when I was a kid. Living in Byron Bay means that we've got plenty of amazing beaches and parks with spectacular ocean views so I like to theme picnic with seafood to suit." DAVID FERGUSON

"For me, a picnic is the perfect combination of food, friends, laughter and sunshine. I can never resist beautiful orange-yolked biodynamic eggs, perhaps made into an omelette, along with some juicy ripe tomatoes and some oven-fresh sourdough bread. Of course, there would also be plenty of Fair Trade coffee and tea – and to finish, it’s hard to go past a basket of gorgeous organically grown fresh fruit." KYLIE KWONG

"Mmm, freshly baked apple, date and bran muffins. Cinnamon and honey baked ricotta with seasonal fruit compote." BELINDA FRANKS