Fruit picking is one of the most popular Gap Year and backpacking jobs in Australia. Picking and harvesting jobs can be found throughout the year due to different climates and the geography and size of the country.
Job:
Picking fruit or harvesting produce for farmers, working in packing sheds, pruning, driving tractors and operating harvest machinery.
Skills:
No skills are needed, but you will need to be physically fit and a hard worker. The more experienced you are, the quicker you will be able to pick and therefore earn more.
Pros:
Pickers are in demand all year, although you may need to move between areas.
No prior experience is needed.
It’s often a good way to qualify for the three months of regional work to extend your work visa (do check qualifying factors).
It’s a good way to meet other travellers.
Often you get free accommodation or can camp on site.
You can be your own boss, as you can often determine where you work and for how long. You could work for a week, a month or longer.
Cons:
It’s very hard, physical work with long hours and early starts.
The pay often doesn’t reflect the hours put in. It can be the minimum wage or “piece rate” and depend on how much you pick daily, which is linked to your experience of picking a certain crop. For example, you may be quick at picking onions, but slow going up and down ladders to pick oranges.
When it rains, you can’t work.
Some jobs require you to bring your own tools.
You won’t be based near a town or city as farms are remote. So, if you are likely to miss cafes and bars, it might not be right for you.
Due to the massive size of Australia, there can be long travel distances between jobs.