Australia's harvest trail runs somewhere in the country every month of the year. Use the interactive tool below to find what's in season near you, or scan the full season-by-season table — and see how it fits into your 88-day second-year visa plans.
Try it: what's picking, when and where
Pick a month to see every region in season, or pick a state to see its year at a glance.
Full season-by-season table
Every region and crop in this calendar, at a glance — the same data powering the tool above.
| State | Crop | In season | Towns / region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory (NT) | Mangoes | Oct–Jan | Darwin, Katherine |
| Northern Territory (NT) | Melons | Jun–Sep | Katherine, Mataranka |
| Queensland (QLD) | Bananas (tropical, effectively year-round) | Year-round | Tully, Innisfail |
| Queensland (QLD) | Strawberries | May–Oct | Caboolture, Wamuran, Bundaberg |
| Queensland (QLD) | Stone fruit & apples | Dec–Mar | Stanthorpe, Granite Belt |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Cherries | Nov–Jan | Young, Orange |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Stone fruit | Dec–Mar | Griffith, Leeton, Young |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Citrus | May–Sep | Riverina, Sunraysia border (Wentworth/Buronga) |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Grapes (wine) | Feb–Apr | Riverina, Hunter Valley |
| Victoria (VIC) | Cherries | Nov–Jan | Yarra Valley, High Country (Ovens Valley), Grampians |
| Victoria (VIC) | Stone fruit, pears & apples | Dec–May | Shepparton, Goulburn Valley |
| Victoria (VIC) | Grapes & citrus | Jan–Apr | Mildura, Sunraysia, Rutherglen |
| South Australia (SA) | Cherries | Nov–Jan | Adelaide Hills, Lenswood |
| South Australia (SA) | Grapes (wine) | Feb–Apr | Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra |
| South Australia (SA) | Almonds (mostly machine-harvested; some labouring roles) | Feb–Mar | Riverland |
| Western Australia (WA) | Mangoes, lychees, loquats, avocados | Oct–Dec | Perth surrounds, Carnarvon (earlier further north) |
| Western Australia (WA) | Apples & pears | Mar–May | Manjimup, Donnybrook |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Cherries | Nov–Jan | Huon Valley, Coal River Valley |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Berries | Dec–Mar | Huon Valley, Devonport |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Apples & pears (Tasmania grows ~1/5 of Australia's apples) | Mar–May | Huon Valley |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Grapes & hops | Feb–Apr | Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley |
Every window here is a guide, not a guarantee — some regions are dated less precisely than others in the source material, and picking dates move with the weather. Treat each one as a starting point and confirm locally before you travel.
How this fits your 88 days (and who's exempt)
Fruit picking is the classic route to a second-year working holiday visa — but not everyone needs to do it.
If you complete 88 days of eligible specified work in a regional area during your first Working Holiday visa, you can apply for a second-year visa — and around six months (roughly 179 days) of it can unlock a third year too. This applies to both subclass 417 (Working Holiday) and 462 (Work and Holiday) visa holders. Fruit picking on this calendar is one of the classic ways to bank those days, but the work has to be genuine, paid, and in an eligible industry and postcode — see our full farm work & 88 days guide for eligibility, proof and scam warnings.
Leaving Australia for good once your harvest season is over? Don't forget to check our super & tax back guide for reclaiming what you've paid in.
FAQs
Quick answers to the questions we get asked most about Australia's harvest seasons.
What months is fruit picking available in Australia?
Somewhere in Australia, fruit picking is available every month of the year. Queensland's tropical banana harvest runs effectively year-round, while other crops cycle through the seasons state by state. Use the tool above or the full table to see what's in season this month, or pick a state to see its whole year at a glance.
Do I need 88 days of farm work for a second-year working holiday visa?
Generally yes, if you're not exempt — 88 days of eligible specified regional work unlocks a second-year 417/462 visa, and around six months (179 days) can unlock a third year. See our farm work & 88 days guide for the full rules.
Are UK passport holders exempt from the 88-day rule?
Yes. Under the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement, British citizens don't need to complete 88 days of specified regional work to qualify for a second or third Working Holiday visa. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality before relying on this.
Which Australian state has fruit picking work all year round?
Queensland comes closest — the tropical banana harvest around Tully and Innisfail runs in every month of the year. Most other crops and states are seasonal, which is exactly why this calendar exists.
Looking for the jobs themselves, not just the season? See our Australia jobs guide for pay, sectors and how to find work fast.