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Everything you need to know — from visa requirements and pay rates to finding legitimate farms. No fluff, just the facts.
If you are on a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462), completing 88 days of specified work in regional Australia lets you apply for a 2nd or 3rd year visa. Farm work is the most common way to do it — and if you pick the right farm, it can be a genuinely rewarding experience.
Apply for a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462) before arriving. You must be 18-30 (or 35 for some countries).
Get your TFN (Tax File Number), open a bank account, and buy a local SIM card. You need all three before starting work.
Use 88Finder to search verified, ABN-checked farms by region. Apply directly — no agents, no middlemen.
Complete 88 days of specified work in a regional area. Keep every payslip — you will need them for your visa application.
Apply for your 2nd (or 3rd) year visa through ImmiAccount. Processing takes 1-3 months.
| Work Type | Pay Range |
|---|---|
| Fruit Picking | $25-32/hr or piece rate |
| Vegetable Harvesting | $25-35/hr |
| Dairy Farming | $25-33/hr |
| Packing Shed | $25-30/hr |
| Grape Picking / Pruning | $25-32/hr |
| General Farm Hand | $25-35/hr |
All rates based on the Horticulture Award 2020 and Fair Work minimum wage 2026. Actual pay varies by farm and performance.
Pay depends on the job type, your speed, and the farm. Here is what most backpackers actually take home.
$25 - $38 /hr
Hourly rate (casual)
$200 - $400 /day
Piece rate (fast pickers)
$900 - $1,500 /week
Typical weekly take-home
Bananas, mangoes, avocados
Peak: Year-round
Strawberries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes
Peak: Aug — Nov
Grapes, citrus, stone fruit
Peak: Jan — Apr
Stone fruit, apples, pears
Peak: Dec — Mar
Citrus, grapes, rice
Peak: Feb — Oct
Vineyards, avocados
Peak: Feb — Apr
Legitimate farms never charge you a fee to start work. If they ask for money upfront, walk away.
Every real farm has an ABN. Verify it on the Australian Business Register before accepting work.
You need payslips to prove your 88 days. No payslips = no visa extension. Store copies digitally.
Most "farm job" posts on Facebook are middlemen or scams. Use verified platforms like 88Finder instead.
Read more in our farm work scams guide.
ABN-checked farms only. No scams, no middlemen.
Regional work opportunities and visa requirements.
ABN-checked employers with reliability scores.
When to start and seasonal harvest calendars.
Popular QLD region for tomato and mango picking.
Year-round dairy farming opportunities.
Seasonal cherry harvest in VIC, TAS, and SA.