G'Day Backpacker Jobs — Backpacker & Casual Work Australia

Australian Harvest Calendar

Find out what’s being harvested, where to go and when seasonal farm work is most active across Australia.

Australia’s harvest seasons move around the country throughout the year. While mango picking may be starting in the Northern Territory, citrus farms can be busy in Queensland and New South Wales, vineyards may be hiring in South Australia and Victoria, and apple or berry farms may be active in Tasmania.

This guide helps you understand which crops are normally in season by month and state, the main growing regions to look at, and the type of seasonal work you may find.

Harvest dates are approximate. Weather, rainfall, temperature, crop maturity and individual farms can move a season forward or backward by several weeks.

Use this guide to decide where to investigate — always confirm work and accommodation before travelling.

Australian Harvest Calendar by Month

The table below gives a quick overview of some of the main harvest seasons across Australia. Colour shows how busy that crop usually is — not a guarantee that farms are hiring.

PeakActiveStartingEndingOff season
CropJFMAMJJASOND
Table grapesActivePeakPeakActiveEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingActive
Wine grapes / VintageStartingPeakPeakActiveEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff season
ApplesOff seasonStartingPeakPeakEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff season
PearsOff seasonStartingPeakPeakEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff season
CherriesPeakEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingActivePeak
CitrusActiveActiveStartingActiveActivePeakPeakPeakActiveEndingActiveActive
MangoesActiveActiveEndingEndingOff seasonOff seasonStartingActivePeakPeakPeakActive
StrawberriesActiveActiveActiveActiveEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingActiveActive
Blueberries / berriesPeakActiveActiveActiveEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingPeak
Stone fruitPeakEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingStartingActivePeak
VegetablesActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActiveActive
Vineyard pruningNot harvestingOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonOff seasonStartingActiveActiveEndingOff seasonOff seasonOff season

Vineyard pruning is seasonal agricultural work, not a harvest. Citrus timing also depends on variety (navels, Valencias, mandarins).

Where should I look for harvest work?

Choose a month and a state. The result is seasonal guidance — crops, regions and how strong that window usually is — not a list of vacancies.

September in Australia

Best seasonal opportunities

Crop / WorkMain regionsSeason statusTypical workGood time to look?
MangoesNorthern TerritoryDarwin, Katherine, MatarankaPeakPicking, packing, shed workExcellent
CitrusQueenslandGayndah, Mundubbera, Bundaberg, Central BurnettActivePicking, packing, orchard workGood
CitrusNew South WalesGriffith, Leeton, RiverinaActivePicking, packing, orchard workGood
CitrusVictoriaMildura, Sunraysia, Murray ValleyActivePicking, packingGood
CitrusSouth AustraliaRiverlandActivePicking, packing, orchard workGood
Tropical horticultureNorthern TerritoryDarwin, KatherineActivePicking, packing, farm hand workGood
VegetablesQueenslandBundaberg, Bowen, Atherton TablelandsActiveHarvesting, packing, farm hand workGood
VegetablesNew South WalesRiverina, Coffs HarbourActiveHarvesting, packing, farm hand workGood
VegetablesSouth AustraliaRiverland, Limestone CoastActiveHarvesting, packing, farm hand workGood
VegetablesWestern AustraliaCarnarvon, KununurraActiveHarvesting, packing, farm hand workGood
CitrusWestern AustraliaCarnarvonEndingPicking, packingPossible
MangoesWestern AustraliaKununurraStartingPicking, packingPossible

“Excellent” and “Good” describe a typical seasonal window — not guaranteed employment.

What this means

September is a useful month to investigate mangoes in Australia, with other crops in supporting roles.

The main seasonal activity to look at is mangoes, citrus and citrus.

Because climates differ so much between the tropics and the south, the same month can mean mangoes in the north and grapes or apples further south.

Main places to investigate

  • Darwin
  • Katherine
  • Mataranka
  • Gayndah
  • Mundubbera
  • Bundaberg
  • Central Burnett
  • Griffith
  • Leeton
  • Riverina

What jobs might you find?

Depending on the crop and farm:

  • Fruit picking
  • Vegetable harvesting
  • Packing shed work
  • Sorting and grading
  • Orchard work
  • Vineyard work
  • Pruning
  • Thinning
  • Farm hand roles
  • Forklift / machinery roles where qualified

Many entry-level picking and packing roles do not require previous agricultural experience, although some machinery roles require licences or experience.

Before travelling to the region

Check active vacancies

Harvest season does not automatically mean farms are currently hiring.

Check accommodation

Accommodation can become limited in major harvest towns during peak periods.

Check transport

Many farms are outside town centres and may require your own vehicle.

Confirm the start date

Weather and crop maturity can change harvesting dates at short notice.

Main harvest regions in Australia

Use this as a shortlist of places to research — not a ranking of job counts.

StateMain harvest regionsCommon cropsStrong periods
QueenslandBundaberg, Stanthorpe, Gayndah, Mundubbera, Bowen, Mareeba, Atherton TablelandsCitrus, Mangoes, Strawberries, Vegetables, Apples, Grapes, AvocadosVaries heavily — tropical north and temperate Granite Belt run on different calendars.
New South WalesGriffith, Leeton, Riverina, Orange, Young, Batlow, Coffs HarbourCitrus, Grapes, Apples, Cherries, Blueberries, VegetablesSummer stone fruit and cherries; autumn apples; winter citrus in the Riverina.
VictoriaMildura, Sunraysia, Shepparton, Goulburn Valley, Swan Hill, Yarra Valley, King ValleyTable grapes, Wine grapes, Apples, Pears, Stone fruit, BerriesFebruary–April is especially busy for grapes, apples and pears.
TasmaniaHuon Valley, Tamar Valley, North Tasmania, North-West Tasmania, Southern TasmaniaApples, Cherries, Berries, Wine grapes, VegetablesCherries Dec–Feb; berries Dec–May; apples Feb–May; strawberries Oct–May; wine grapes Feb–May.
South AustraliaRiverland, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Limestone CoastWine grapes, Citrus, Cherries, Apples, VegetablesVintage late summer–autumn; citrus through winter in the Riverland.
Western AustraliaKununurra, Carnarvon, Swan Valley, Margaret River, Donnybrook, ManjimupMangoes, Grapes, Apples, Vegetables, Citrus, Stone fruitNorthern mangoes from spring; south-west apples and vintage in autumn.
Northern TerritoryDarwin, Katherine, MatarankaMangoes, Melons, Tropical horticultureMango season can begin earlier than production further south (often from July/August).

Follow the harvest around Australia

Because Australia has very different climates, seasonal agricultural work exists somewhere in the country during most of the year. One way backpackers use that is to move with the seasons:

  1. 1

    July–September

    Northern Territory mangoes. Queensland and southern citrus. Vineyard pruning.

  2. 2

    October–December

    Mangoes move into Queensland. Cherries begin. Stone fruit begins. Berries increase.

  3. 3

    January–March

    Table grapes. Vintage / wine grapes. Stone fruit. Berries. Apple harvest begins.

  4. 4

    March–May

    Apples. Pears. Wine grapes. Berries. Citrus begins increasing.

  5. 5

    June–August

    Citrus. Winter vegetables. Pruning and vineyard work.

Harvest jobs currently listed on G’day

Supplementary only — the calendar above is still useful if nothing is listed here.

Can this work count toward your 88 days?

Some harvesting, picking, packing and other plant cultivation work can count as specified work for eligible Working Holiday visa holders.

However, a seasonal job appearing in this calendar does not automatically mean it qualifies for your 88 days.

Eligibility depends on:

  • visa subclass
  • type of work
  • location
  • current Home Affairs rules

Harvest work pay in Australia

Harvest workers may be paid hourly or under an approved piece-rate arrangement depending on the role and applicable award.

For workers covered by the Horticulture Award, minimum pay rules still apply to piecework.

Check current farm work pay rates →

Frequently asked questions

Is there fruit picking work all year in Australia?
Yes. Australia’s different climate zones mean that harvesting and other seasonal horticulture work happens somewhere in the country during most of the year.
What is the best month for fruit picking in Australia?
There is no single best month nationally. February to April has strong overlap between grapes, apples, pears and berries in southern Australia, while winter can be strong for citrus and late winter/spring marks the start of northern mango seasons.
When is grape picking season?
Australian table grapes are generally harvested from November to May, with the strongest national production around February and March. Wine grape vintage varies by region but is generally concentrated in late summer and autumn.
When is apple picking season?
Apple harvesting is especially common from February to May across Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and Western Australia.
When is cherry picking season?
Australia’s cherry season generally runs from late October to February, with December and January particularly important.
When is mango picking season?
The mango harvest moves across northern Australia. It can begin in the Northern Territory around July/August, move through Western Australia around September/October and Queensland from around October/November.
Are harvest dates guaranteed?
No. Harvest dates change depending on weather, rainfall, temperature, crop maturity, variety and individual farm conditions.

Sources and seasonal data

Seasons are indicative and may change each year. Industry and government sources used to estimate typical windows:

Also useful for your 88 days

88 Days Postcode Checker

Check if an Australian postcode qualifies for specified work.

What are 88 Days

How specified work works for a second or third Working Holiday visa.

Where for 88 Days

Live demand map — see which states and regions are hiring now.

88-Day Calculator

Track your specified work days toward a second year visa.

Pay Checker

Check your rate against the award minimum before you accept a job.