If you have a valid Working Holiday or Student Work Visa, Tax File Number and at least three weeks availability. (Workstay recommends at least
three weeks or ideally more) Are you reasonably fit (bending, climbing ladders, long hours standing, all-weather) then you will probably consider
doing some horticulture work during your Australian travels? Average agriculture working week would consist of between 40 to 48 hours (Remember:
Horticulture work can be subject to change without notice). The average hourly rate of pay for Horticulture work is currently between $15 and
$20 per hour. Many fruit picking jobs are paid at piece rates - also called "contract" - which allows you to make better than the average hourly
rate once you've got your speed up.
Seasonal horticulture work attracts a Tax rate of 13% if you tick the Resident box on your Tax File Number Declaration Form. If you complete
three months horticulture work in a regional area i.e. outside a capital city, you will be eligible to apply for a 12-month extension to your working holiday visa.
Please Note: Due to high demand of inquiries from backpackers and working holiday visa holders, we have decided to put together a list of
fruit growers around each state where you can contact them directly so you can find your own work in the fruit picking industry. Please check
the seasons below also for the best places to start looking for jobs in these sectors.
Albany
|
Seasons | High season
|
LOCATION | Job Options
|
Aquaculture
Grain handling Grape Picking Grape Pruning Meat Processing Olive Picking Olive Pruning Salmon fishing Strawberry |
Medium requirement for labour All Year
Medium requirement for labour All Year March-April June-September Medium requirement for labour All Year May-June July-August February October-May |
No High season
No High season March-April July-August No High Season No High Season No High season No High Season Nov-Feb |
South West of WA
Email - Workstay |
|
Broome | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Melon | October-November | Greater West of WA
Email - Workstay |
||
Carnarvon | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Banana
Capsicum Cucumber Eggplant Grape - Picking Grape - Pruning Line Fishing Mango Net Fishing Rockmelon Tomato Watermelon Zucchini |
High requirement for labour All Year
May-December May-November May-November August-December May-July Medium requirement for labour All Year January-March April-September November-April May-December November-April May-October |
All Year
May-Dec June-Nov June-Sept Aug-Sept June-July May-July Jan-Feburary April-August Nov-March May-December Nov-March Jun-Sept |
Greater West of WA
Email - Workstay |
|
Denmark | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Blue Berries
Grape - Picking Grape - Pruning |
December-March
February-March June-Sept |
No High Season
No High Season July-August |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Donnybrook | Seasons
|
High season
|
Job Options
|
|
Apple - Picking
Apple - Pruning Apple - Thinning Grape - Picking Grape - Pruning Pear - Picking Stone Fruit - Picking Stone Fruit - Thinning Tomato - Picking |
February-June
June-september November-December January-April June-September February-April December-March November-December Feburary-April |
No High Season
No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season Dec-March No High Season No High Season |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Frankland | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Grape - Picking
Grape - Pruning Olive - Picking Olive - Pruning |
February-April
June-September May-June July-August |
No High Season
July-August No High Season No High Season |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
GinGin | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Citrus - Pack/Picking
Citrus - Pruning Grape - Picking Grape - Pruning Olive - Pruning Stone Fruit - Pack/Picking Tree Planting Vegetable - Picking |
Medium requirement for labour All Year
June-July January-February June-August July-September November-January December-January Medium requirement for labour All Year |
No High Season
No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season |
North of Perth
Email- Workstay |
|
Kununurra | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Citrus
Corn Mango Melon Pumpkin Tree Planting |
January-March
June-September October-December May-November May-November March -September |
Feburary-March
June-July Oct-Nov May-Sept May-Sept March-July |
Far North of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Manjimup | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Apple
Pear |
February-May
February-May |
March-April
March-April |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Margaret River | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Grape - Picking
Grape - Pruning |
January-March
June-August |
Jan-March
No High Season |
South of Perth
Email- Workstay |
|
Mount Barker | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Cherry
Grape - Picking Grape - Pruning Strawberry Tree Harvesting Nurseries |
November-January
March-April June-August October-May Medium requirement for labour All Year Medium requirement for labour All Year |
No High Season
No High Season July-August Nov-Feb No High Season No High Season |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Narrogin | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Broad Acre Cropping
Hay Mowing/Bailing Meat Processing Tree Harvesting Nurseries Wheat Handling Grain Harvest |
April-June
October-January Medium requirement for labour All Year Medium requirement for labour All Year Medium requirement for labour All Year October-January October-January |
No High Season
No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season No High Season |
South West of WA
Email- Workstay |
|
Swan Valley | Seasons
|
High season
|
LOCATION
|
Job Options
|
Grape - Picking
Grape - Pruning |
January-April
June-September |
Jan-Feb
July-August |
Perth Region
Email- Workstay |
Donnybrook is a 2-hour drive south of Perth and 30K's inland from Bunbury.
There is a TransWA train/bus service to Donnybrook via Bunbury every day from Perth.
Home of the Granny Smith, Pink Lady Apples. Also has stone fruit, vineyards, tree planting. Seasonal work available from October to May
Very nice, picturesque area. Town has 2 pubs, 7-day supermarket chemist, bakery etc ... and a working Hostel in town.
Is one hour south of Donnybrook and is the gateway to the Karri Forrest. Manjimup has a large variety of fruit & vegetable crops as well as some vineyards. Some seasonal work available all year. Peak season from October through June has a Pub, 7-day supermarket and a working Hostel in Town.
Workstay is about "real" working holiday experiences and for the right people
working on a wheat & sheep farm or cattle station is not only a unique Workstay but also a unique Working Holiday Experience.
Broome has a very high turnover of travellers looking for work between April and October. Employers are really only interested in those looking
to work for a minimum of 3 months (though the type of work available will in most cases not qualify for a Visa extension). Accommodation can
be a big problem as it is in short supply and expensive. Hospitality and tourism is the biggest employer followed by ad hoc labouring type
work. The horticulture industry (fruit-picking) is almost non-existent. The pearling industry does have some work available from April/May
through to Sept/October. To find work in and around the Broome region is very much a case of knock knock knocking on doors and being in the
right place at the right time. Check with Workstay
More about Jobs in Broome
Kununurra is a big horticulture area and ideal for travellers looking for a visa extension after 3 month's harvest work.
More about: Jobs in Kununurra
Need a visa for Australia
WHV's can ONLY be applied for; before arriving in Australia. Working Holiday Visa's* can only be granted before you arrive in Australia. For
details about applying visit Australia's official website here (www.immi.gov.au) or visit a Travel Agent or an Australian Embassy or Consulate
in the country you are in.
If your monthly wage is more than $A450, your employer must contribute an additional sum equal to 9.5% of your wage into a superannuation (pension) account for you. If you entered Australia on an eligible temporary resident visa you can, in most cases, access your contributions when you leave Australia, although the contributions will be taxed.
Latest news on jobs and travel around Australia
If you have any news regarding backpacker jobs around Australia please drop us a line and we will share it with fellow travellers. Happy travelling!!!!