'Farm Work' or 'Fruit Picking' is one of the most common jobs available around Australia that is eligible as ‘Specified Work’ which is required to apply and obtain a Second or Third year Working Holiday Visa. Check out our Harvest Calendar by state below to get an idea of the Fruit Picking seasons and potential opportunities.
QUEENSLAND
There are thousands of picking and packing jobs available in Queensland and there is always something in season so the jobs are available all year round! Queensland has some awesome places to visit when you get some time off. do your farm work in Innisfail and you have the Atherton Tablelands right on your doorstep or find somewhere on the Sunshine Coast and you’re not far from Fraser Island!
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Dec-Jan | Bananas / Sugar | Innisfail / Tully |
| Feb - Mar | Pears / Apples | Stanthorpe |
| Feb - Apr | Rockmelon | St. George |
| Feb - Apr | Ginger | Sunshine Coast |
| Mar - Dec | Vegetables | Bundaberg |
| Apr - Jun | Citrus | Gayandah / Mundubbera |
| Apr - Oct | All sorts | Lockyer Valley |
| Apr - Nov | Beans | Mary Valley |
| Apr - Dec | Tomatoes / vegetables | Bowen / Ayr |
| May - Oct | Broccoli | Toowoomba |
| May - Dec | Sugar Cane | Ayr / Ingham / Innisfail |
| Jul - Sep | Ginger | Sunshine Coast |
| Jul - Dec | Onions | Lockyer Valley |
| Nov - Feb | Mangoes / Lychees / Advocados / Bananas | Mareeba |
| Nov - Jan | Plums | Stanthorpe |
| Nov - Jan | Cotton | Goodiwindi /St. George |
| Oct - Jan | Peaches | Stanthorpe |
| Nov - Mar | Cotton | Toowoomba / Millerran |
| Dec - Mar | All sorts | Stanthorpe |
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW is a great place to do your regional work if you’re looking around November to April, February is when it really gets busy! Hunter Valley is awesome - such a stunning area and close enough for a day trip to Sydney on your day off!
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Jan - Mar | Stone Fruit | Young |
| Feb - Mar | Grapes | Griffith / Leeton |
| Feb - Mar | Pears | Orange |
| Feb - Mar | Grapes | Hunter Valley |
| Feb - Mar | Prunes | Young |
| Feb - April | Apples | Orange |
| Mar - Apr | Grapes | Tumburumba |
| Mar - May | Apples | Batlow |
| Mar - Jun | Cotton Picking | Narrabri / Mooree |
| Sep - Oct | Asparagus | Gundagai |
| Sep - Dec | Asparagus | Cowra |
| Sep - Apr | Oranges | Griffith |
| Nov - Dec | Cherries | Young/Orange |
| Nov - Apr | Oranges | Lecton |
| Dec - Jan | Onions | Griffith |
| Dec - Mar | Stone Fruit | Tumut / Batlow |
| Dec - Apr | Blueberries | Tumbarumba |
VICTORIA
Like NSW, the peak season for Victoria is between November and April, with the busy season being in February. Head to Shepparton and not only will you not struggle to find work, you also won’t get the chance to be bored! Places like Silvan and the Murray River are always looking for seasonal workers too!
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Jan - Apr | Pears / Peaches / Apples | Ardmona / Shepparton / Tatura / Cobram / Invergordon / Kyabram |
| Jan - Apr | Tomatoes | Ardmona / Shepparton / Tatura / Kyabram / Echuca / Rochester / Elmore |
| Feb - Mar | Grapes | Lake Boga / Nyah West / Swan Hill / Robinvale Sunraysia Area |
| Feb - Apr | Grapes | Ovens / King & Kiewa Valleys |
| Mar - Apr | Apples | Buckland Valley / Stanley / Wandilong / Red Hill / Main Range |
| Sep - Nov | Asparagus | Dalmore |
| Oct - Dec | Strawberries | Silvan |
| Nov - Feb | Cherries/Berries | Wandin / Silvan |
| Nov - Feb | Cherries | Boweya / Glenrowan / Wagandary |
| Nov - Dec | Tomato Weeding | Echuca / Rochester |
TASMANIA
It’s not called the "Apple Isle" for no reason. 20% of the apple production in Australia comes from Tasmania... so if you head here for your regional work, it is more than likely that this is what you’ll be picking or packing. There’s also pears, grapes and berries, amongst other fruits. The season in Tasmania is quite short in comparison to other states and the best time to go is December
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Mar - May | Apples | Hunter Valley / Tasman Peninsula / West Tamar |
| Dec - Jan | Soft Fruit | Channel District / Huon / Kingborough / Derwent Valley |
| Feb - Apr | Grapes | Huon / Tamar Valley |
| Mar - Apr | Hops | Scottsdale / New Norfolk / Devenport |
| Jan - Feb | Scallop Splitting | Bicheno |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
If you love your nature and wildlife, SA is the place for you! Head to the Barossa Valley from February to April and you will find work on many a vineyard, what makes this area so famous! This is the main source of work but there are also opportunities pick/pack citrus and soft fruits all year round in other areas (try the Riverland area).
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Jan - Mar | Dried Fruits | Riverland |
| Feb - Apr | Apples & Pears | Adelaide Hills |
| Feb - Apr | Grapes and Peaches | Riverland |
| Feb - Apr | Grapes | Barossa Valley |
| Feb - Apr | Grapes | Southern Vales |
| Feb - Aug | Brussels Sprouts | Adelaide Hills |
| Jun - Aug | Oranges | Riverland |
| Jun - Sep | Prunning | Riverland |
| Sep - Jan | Apricots | Riverland |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The West Coast is amazing! Head over to WA, finish your regional work and spend the money that you’ve earned on the farm on your WA adventure! sounds like a plan to us! Head to the Southwest of the state from October to June. If you travel a bit further up towards Freemantle and Carnarvon, you’ll find fishing and processing work for crayfish, prawns and scallops from March to November but if fish aren’t your thing, the Northeast is great from May to October for fruit and vegetables!
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Jan - Mar | Grapes | Margaret River / Mt Barker / Swan Valley |
| Mar - May | Apples & Pears | Manjimup / Pemberton / Donnybrook |
| Mar - Oct | Prawning & Scalloping | Carnarvon |
| May - Sep | Zucchini & Rockmelons | Kununurra |
| Apr - Nov | Melons | Coorow |
| Jun - Dec | Melons & Tomatoes | Carnarvon |
| Jul - Aug | Bananas | Kununurra |
| Jul - Dec | Wildflowers | Coorow / Muchea |
| Oct - Jan | Mangoes | Kununurra |
| All Year | Fishing | Broome |
| Nov - Jun | Rock Lobster | Freemantle / Kalbarri / Dongara Geraldton / Broome |
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory has everything, some amazing national parks, awesome wildlife and the breathtaking Uluru - considered the heart of Australia! Doing your regional work in NT means you get to experience a part of Australia that not a lot of backpackers pay attention to! Head to Katherine and Darwin for the melon season from May to October. October and November is mango season in the same areas and Darwin has opportunities all year round for bananas, citrus fruits and a range of vegetables. With Kakadu National Park right in your back yard, it’s only a matter of time before Darwin becomes a favorite amongst travelers!
| Harvest | Crop | Location |
| Mar - Oct | Melons | Katherine / Darwin |
| Oct - Nov | Mangos (picking & packing) | Katherine / Darwin |
| All year | Citrus | Katherine / Darwin |
| All year | Bananas | Katherine / Darwin |
| All year | Asian vegetables | Darwin |
| All year | Cutting wildflowers | Darwin |
