There is a harvest somewhere in Australia all year. Summer (December to March) is the busiest time in the south for stone fruit, grapes, apples and berries. In winter (May to October) the work moves north to Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern WA for vegetables, citrus and mangoes.
Last checked: 25 October 2026
Harvest dates move with the weather every year, so use this as a guide and check with farms before you travel. Picking is often paid by piece rate (per bin or kilo), but you must earn at least the minimum casual hourly rate. See pay rates.
Queensland
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Bananas, sugar cane | Innisfail, Tully | All year (bananas), May to Dec (cane) |
| Mangoes, lychees, avocados | Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands | Nov to Feb |
| Tomatoes, capsicum, vegetables | Bowen, Ayr | Apr to Dec |
| Vegetables, sweet potato, macadamias | Bundaberg, Childers | Mar to Dec |
| Citrus | Gayndah, Mundubbera | Apr to Sep |
| Vegetables, onions | Lockyer Valley (Gatton) | Apr to Dec |
| Apples, stone fruit, strawberries, vegetables | Stanthorpe | Nov to Apr |
| Broccoli | Toowoomba region | May to Oct |
| Cotton | St George, Goondiwindi, Darling Downs | Mar to May |
| Ginger | Sunshine Coast hinterland | Feb to Apr, Jul to Sep |
New South Wales
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Cherries | Young, Orange | Nov to Dec |
| Stone fruit, prunes | Young, Tumut, Batlow | Dec to Mar |
| Grapes | Griffith, Leeton, Hunter Valley, Tumbarumba | Feb to Apr |
| Citrus | Griffith, Leeton (Riverina) | Sep to Apr |
| Apples, pears | Orange, Batlow | Feb to May |
| Blueberries | Coffs Harbour, Tumbarumba | Coffs: Jul to Dec. Tumbarumba: Dec to Apr |
| Asparagus | Cowra, Gundagai | Sep to Dec |
| Cotton | Narrabri, Moree | Mar to Jun |
Victoria
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Pears, peaches, apples | Shepparton, Ardmona, Tatura, Cobram, Kyabram | Jan to Apr |
| Tomatoes | Shepparton, Echuca, Rochester | Jan to Apr |
| Grapes | Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill (Sunraysia) | Feb to Apr |
| Grapes, apples | Ovens, King and Kiewa valleys | Feb to Apr |
| Cherries, berries | Yarra Valley (Wandin, Silvan) | Nov to Feb |
| Citrus, almonds | Mildura, Robinvale | Feb to Sep |
Tasmania
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Cherries, berries | Huon Valley, Derwent Valley, Channel | Dec to Feb |
| Apples | Huon Valley, Tamar Valley | Mar to May |
| Grapes | Tamar Valley, Coal River | Mar to May |
| Hops | Derwent Valley, Scottsdale | Mar to Apr |
| Vegetables | Devonport and the north west | Nov to May |
South Australia
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Riverland, Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare | Feb to Apr |
| Stone fruit, apricots | Riverland | Nov to Feb |
| Citrus | Riverland | Jun to Oct |
| Pruning | Riverland, Barossa | Jun to Sep |
| Apples, pears, cherries | Adelaide Hills | Dec to Apr |
Western Australia
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Margaret River, Swan Valley, Mount Barker | Feb to Apr |
| Apples, pears | Manjimup, Pemberton, Donnybrook | Feb to May |
| Bananas, vegetables, melons | Carnarvon | May to Nov |
| Melons, mangoes, vegetables | Kununurra | May to Oct (mangoes Sep to Dec) |
| Rock lobster, fishing | Geraldton, Dongara, Kalbarri, Broome | Varies by season |
Northern Territory
| Crop | Where | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Mangoes | Katherine, Darwin rural area | Sep to Nov |
| Melons, vegetables | Katherine, Darwin | May to Oct |
| Bananas, Asian vegetables, nursery work | Darwin rural area | All year |
Need somewhere to stay?
Working hostels help guests find farm work and often run transport to the farms.
Frequently asked questions
When is fruit picking season in Australia?
All year. December to March is peak season in the south for cherries, stone fruit, grapes and apples. May to October is peak season in Queensland, the NT and northern WA for vegetables, citrus and melons.
How much do fruit pickers earn?
Casual horticulture workers must get at least the minimum casual rate, which is $32.18 an hour for Level 1 from 1 July 2026, even when paid by piece rate.
Where is the best place for fruit picking in winter?
Bowen, Ayr, Bundaberg, Gayndah and the Lockyer Valley in Queensland, plus Carnarvon and Kununurra in WA, and Katherine in the NT.
Official sources: Fair Work: horticulture pay and piece rates. Rules change, so always check the official source before you apply or sign anything.
