How to Find Farm Work in Australia for Your 88 Days
Updated: Sep 30
Updated 30 September 2026
The fastest way to find farm work in Australia is to go where the harvest is, ask other backpackers, and check official job boards.
Many workers find a job within 24 to 48 hours of arriving in a harvest town.
The hard part is not finding work. It is finding work that is legal, pays properly, and counts toward your next visa. This guide covers exactly that.
Key takeaways
88 days of farm work in Australia (3 months of specified work) is what you need for a 2nd working holiday visa. A 3rd visa needs 6 months.
The work must be in an eligible industry, in an eligible postcode, and paid.
Farm workers in Australia have a legal minimum rate, even on piece rates.
All working time is paid: including training, meetings and any activity your employer requires.
Never pay anyone to get you a farm job.
Keep every payslip. You need them as evidence.
Update: 2026 Working Holiday Visa Changes
Two changes in 2026 affect farm workers. First, in August 2026, Australia paused new first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) applications for more than 20 countries.
What this means for you:
Already in Australia on a 462 or 417 visa? You can keep doing your specified work. The pause does not cancel your current visa.
Working Holiday (subclass 417)? The 417 program is not part of this pause.
New caps for 2nd and 3rd visas. On 17 September 2026, the government announced a ballot for 2nd and 3rd visas: 45,000 places a year for a 2nd visa and 5,000 for a 3rd.
You still need your 88 days. Specified work is still required to enter the ballot. The start date for the ballot has not been confirmed yet.
In short: keep doing your specified work and keep every payslip. You need them either way.
For the full picture, read our Working Holiday Visa Australia guide.
Rules can change quickly. Check the Department of Home Affairs before you apply, or ask a registered migration agent.
Sources: The Daily Aus, ABC News, Australian Migration Lawyers.
5 Ways to Find Legit Farm Work
1. Start with your network
The best job board is often other backpackers. Many farm jobs are filled by word of mouth before they are ever advertised.
Ask around at:
Backpacker hostels
Facebook groups (search "Working Holiday Australia", "Work in Bundaberg", "Work in Mildura", "Fruit Picking Jobs Australia")
WhatsApp communities
You get real-time updates on who is hiring, what they pay, and what the accommodation is like.
2. Use official government job boards
Don't rely only on Facebook. Government sites list farm and harvest jobs for free.
Workforce Australia: regional, seasonal and harvest jobs across Australia
Fair Work Harvest Trail: your rights and what to expect on the harvest trail
3. Go where the harvest is
Farms hire fast in peak season. Being in town, ready to start tomorrow, beats sending applications from a city.
Popular harvest towns include:
Bundaberg (QLD)
Bowen (QLD)
Stanthorpe (QLD)
Mildura (VIC)
Check what is in season before you travel. Harvests move around the country through the year.
4. Use labour hire agencies and regional hostels
Many farms hire through labour hire companies. A legitimate agency will:
Give you an employment contract
Give you payslips
Never charge you a placement fee
Regional working hostels are another good option. Many work directly with nearby farms and can place you quickly.
5. Watch out for scams
Farm work scams still happen. Walk away if someone:
Asks you to pay to get a job
Offers wages that sound too good to be true
Won't give you a business name or ABN
Asks you to work an unpaid trial shift
Before you share your passport or bank details, check the business on ABN Lookup.
How Much Should Farm Work Pay?
Farm workers in Australia are covered by the Horticulture Award. That means a legal minimum, whatever your visa or nationality.
Casual hourly rate: at least $32.18 an hour (Level 1, from 1 July 2026, including casual loading). Source: Fair Work
Piece rates: allowed, but you must still earn at least the minimum hourly rate for every hour you work.
Piece rate agreement: the rate must be agreed in writing before you start.
Payslips: you should get one for every pay period.
Are unpaid trial shifts legal?
Mostly no. A short, unpaid trial is only allowed to show a skill needed for the job, under direct supervision, and only for as long as that takes. A full day of picking is not a trial. It is work, and it must be paid. Source: Fair Work
What about accommodation and transport costs?
Some farms deduct rent or transport from your pay. Ask for these costs in writing before you accept the job, and check they are reasonable.
Does Your Farm Work in Australia Count Toward Your 88 Days?
A farm job only counts if it passes three checks:
Eligible industry. Plant and animal cultivation (picking, packing, pruning, farm hands) is the most common. Some other industries also count.
Eligible postcode. The farm must be in a regional postcode that is approved for that industry.
Paid work. Volunteer or unpaid work does not count.
How much you need:
Visa you want | Specified work needed |
2nd working holiday visa | 3 months (88 calendar days) |
3rd working holiday visa | 6 months, done while on your 2nd visa |
A few details that trip people up:
The 88 days are calendar days. A full-time week usually counts as 7 days, including weekends.
Part-time or irregular work takes longer to add up.
Industries and postcodes are different for subclass 417 and subclass 462. Check the list for your visa before you start.
UK passport holders on a 417 visa do not need specified work for a 2nd or 3rd visa if they apply on or after 1 July 2024.
Official lists: Specified work for subclass 417 and all specified work conditions.
Not sure a job counts? Read our guide to jobs that qualify for WHV regional work.
Checklist Before You Say Yes to a Farm Job
Ask these before you travel or sign anything:
What is the business name and ABN?
Where exactly is the farm? Is the postcode eligible for my visa?
Is the pay hourly or piece rate? Can I see it in writing?
Will I get payslips?
How much is accommodation and transport, and is it taken from my pay?
How many hours or days a week will I work?
Is there any fee to start? (If yes, walk away.)
Save screenshots of every message and offer, and keep your own timesheet of the days and hours you work. They help if anything goes wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to do 88 days of farm work?
At least 88 calendar days, which is about 3 months. If you work full-time, each week usually counts as 7 days. Part-time work, bad weather or gaps between jobs can make it take longer.
Can I do my 88 days at more than one farm?
Yes. You can combine days from different employers, as long as each job is eligible work in an eligible postcode. Keep payslips from every employer.
Does volunteer farm work count?
No. Unpaid or volunteer work does not count toward your 2nd or 3rd working holiday visa.
Can I be paid only by piece rate?
Yes, but you must still earn at least the minimum hourly rate for every hour you work. The piece rate must be agreed in writing before you start.
What evidence do I need for my 2nd visa?
Payslips are the main evidence. Keep your employment contract, bank statements showing your pay, and your employer's ABN as well.
Does the 2026 visa pause affect my 88 days?
If you are already in Australia and doing specified work, the pause does not stop your work. Reports say it applies to new first-time subclass 462 applications, not second or third visas.
Planning Your Next Visa?
Farm work is often the first step toward a longer stay in Australia. RACC's registered migration agents can check whether your work counts and help you plan your 2nd or 3rd visa, or a longer-term pathway.
This guide is general information, not migration advice. Visa rules change, so check your own situation with a registered migration agent.
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