Fruit Picking and Harvest Guide

'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