Farm work in New South Wales

🔄 Updated October 2026 · eligibility checked against Home Affairs

From cherries in Young to blueberries in Coffs Harbour and citrus in the Riverina, New South Wales has farm work all year. Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast don’t count, but almost everywhere else does.

Eligible areaRegional NSWnot Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast
Peak seasonNov – Maycherries, stone fruit, apples, grapes
Winter workCitrus, pruningRiverina, orchards
📍 What counts in New South Wales

Plant and animal cultivation and construction count in regional NSW for both the 417 and the 462. Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast are not regional, and neither is the Lower Hunter wine area (Pokolbin, Cessnock). The north coast (Coffs Harbour, Byron, Tweed) and the whole inland are eligible. Far western NSW around Bourke also counts as remote for hospitality.

Where to find farm work in New South Wales

Picking / harvestPruning / vineyard workTypical months: weather can shift them by a few weeks.

🍒 Young and Orange

About 4 hours west of Sydney · e.g. Young 2594, Orange 2800

Young is the cherry capital of Australia, with a short and busy season around Christmas. Orange adds apples, stone fruit and pruning in winter.

JFMAMJJASOND🍒 Cherries🍎 Apples🍑 Stone fruit✂️ Pruning

📍 Check postcode 2800

🍎 Batlow and Tumut

Snowy Valleys · e.g. Batlow 2730, Tumut 2720

Apple and cherry country in the hills, with pruning in winter.

JFMAMJJASOND🍎 Apples🍒 Cherries✂️ Pruning

📍 Check postcode 2730

🍊 Griffith and Leeton (Riverina)

About 6.5 hours south-west of Sydney · e.g. Griffith 2680, Leeton 2705

Citrus from autumn to spring, wine grapes at the end of summer and vegetables in summer. One of the best options for winter work in NSW.

JFMAMJJASOND🍊 Citrus🍇 Grapes🥬 Vegetables

📍 Check postcode 2680

🫐 Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga

Mid North Coast · e.g. Coffs Harbour 2450, Woolgoolga 2456

Huge blueberry farms from winter to early summer, and bananas all year. Beach life between shifts.

JFMAMJJASOND🫐 Blueberries🍌 Bananas

📍 Check postcode 2450

🍇 Mudgee and Upper Hunter

About 3.5 hours north-west of Sydney · e.g. Mudgee 2850, Muswellbrook 2333

Vineyards with vintage in summer and pruning in winter. Careful: the Lower Hunter (Pokolbin, Cessnock) does not count.

JFMAMJJASOND🍇 Grapes✂️ Pruning

📍 Check postcode 2850

☁️ Moree and Narrabri

North-west NSW · e.g. Moree 2400, Narrabri 2390

Cotton and grain country: big machinery, long days. Truck and machinery experience helps a lot.

JFMAMJJASOND☁️ Cotton🌾 Grain harvest

📍 Check postcode 2400

🗺️ See all regions on the harvest map📍 Check a postcode

Tips for New South Wales

  • Cherry season is short: Young and Orange recruit in October and November for a few intense weeks around Christmas.
  • Check the postcode: NSW has the most “almost regional” places (Central Coast, Lower Hunter, outer Sydney). Always check before you start.
  • Winter: head to the Riverina for citrus or to Coffs Harbour for blueberries.
  • Meet other backpackers: Sydney / Young / Orange Farm Work · Sydney Backpackers

Find farms in New South Wales

Most farms never advertise. The WikiFarms Australia app shows around 4,000 farms, working hostels and agencies across Australia on a map, with their contacts.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
🌏 Other states

See farm work in every state →

Sources: Home Affairs, Specified subclass 417 and 462 work (Regional Australia and Northern Australia postcode lists), checked October 2026. Season months are typical and change with the weather: always call farms before you travel.