Your Guide To Finding The Best Fruit Picking Jobs In Tasmania
Looking for the best fruit picking jobs in Tasmania, so that you can make a little extra money on your trip there?
Fruit picking can be a great way to fund your travels, as you explore Australia.
It is especially easy to do so in Tasmania due to the abundance of fruit orchards and farms.
This article will provide answers to many of the questions that you may have about fruit picking jobs in Tasmania.
Summary of how to find the best fruit picking jobs in Tasmania
- Harvest Trail Website
- Backpacker Job Board
- Gumtree
- Facebook Groups
- Contact Employers Directly
- Ask At Hostels
- Other Online Job Search Platforms
DISCLOSURE
Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.
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How To Find The Best Fruit Picking Jobs In Tasmania?
I am sure that this is the number 1 question in our minds when we think about fruit picking in Tasmania.
How can we find the best fruit picking jobs?
1. Harvest Trail Website
This website is managed by the Australian government and is a great comprehensive resource for anyone looking for fruit picking jobs in Australia.
Tip: Narrow your search by looking for TAS in the Location filter.
You can also contact the Harvest Trail Information Services by phone at 1800 062 332 if you prefer to speak directly to someone who can help you with finding a job as well as how to register for jobs.
2. Backpacker Job Board
Backpacker Job Board is an online job search platform specifically related to jobs for backpackers such as fruit picking, farm work, and other jobs.
It is also a great place if you are looking for jobs for your second-year visa.
3. Gumtree
Gumtree is an online classified advertisement site and you can often find job postings for fruit picking jobs here.
Job postings for fruit picking jobs are usually posted as the harvest season approaches.
4. Facebook Groups
Social media is another popular platform to find job vacancies. A lot of employers post on these pages and it can be easy to find updated and current job postings as they are updated often.
Other members of the Facebook groups and communities can also be very helpful in answering questions that you may have.
Here are some Facebook groups to get you started:
5. Contact Employers Directly
You can try showing up at a farm or orchard and asking if there are any jobs available there. This can be the quickest way to get a job during the harvest season.
Some employers may not advertise and may just rely on word of mouth to find workers.
6. Ask At Hostels
Backpacker hostels often have job boards where employers post available jobs. This is a great way to find available fruit picking jobs in Tasmania.
These are some backpacker hostels in Tasmania:
7. Other Online Job Search Platforms
You can also check out other job search websites like SEEK, Indeed, and Jora.
Always narrow the search by location (Tasmania/TAS) and type of job (fruit picking) to find the most suitable fruit picking jobs in Tasmania.
Tip: Be careful of scams where employers ask you to send them a deposit. Stay far away from job listings like these.
What Are Fruit Picking Jobs In Tasmania?
You may be asking yourself, “Will farmers in Tasmania really pay me money just to pick fruits?”
The answer to this question is a resounding YES!
Fruit picking is a common seasonal work in Tasmania and is often one of the top choices for people who are in Tasmania on a Working Holiday visa.
Farmers who grow fruits usually need more workers during the harvest season and they can suffer great losses if they are not able to find enough people to pick the fruits in time.
Due to the high demand for fruit pickers during the harvest season, there are usually a lot of fruit picking jobs available for those who are interested and are willing to do the work.
If you already have experience with fruit picking, it will be easier for you to find a job.
But even if you don’t have any experience, most employers will provide on-the-job training so that you can learn the right way to pick the fruits as well as how to stay safe on the job.
Apart from fruit picking jobs, there may be other jobs available on the farms and orchards such as packing, pruning, thinning, weeding, and planting.
Why Should You Look For Fruit Picking Jobs In Tasmania?
There are so many places that people may be able to find fruit picking jobs, so you may be wondering why you should look for them in Tasmania specifically.
If the only thing that comes to mind when you hear Tasmania is the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character from Looney Tunes, you are not alone.
1. Tasmania’s Location
One of the cool things about Tasmania is that it is an island state that is located in the southeast of Australia.
It is about 240 km to the south of the Australian mainland and the nearest state to it is Victoria.
2. Why Is Tasmania So Popular For Fruit Picking Jobs?
Tasmania is a great place to get a fruit picking job because a large variety of fruits are grown there such as apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, peaches, and many more.
This means that you have more options about the type of fruits that you can pick and possibly be able to work for more months due to the different harvest times for each type of fruit.
3. What Else Can I Do In Tasmania?
When you are not busy making money from picking fruits, you can also check out the many attractions that are in Tasmania.
Check out the list of attractions at the end of the article.
What Are The Requirements To Get A Fruit Picking Job In Tasmania?
Just like any other job, there are certain requirements that you will need to fulfill to get a fruit picking job in Tasmania.
Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions about the requirements for fruit picking jobs in Tasmania.
1. Do I Need A Visa?
If you are:
- an Australian citizen,
- Australian permanent resident, or
- New Zealand citizen with a Subclass 444 visa,
you already have permission to work in Australia and you do not need any other special visa to apply for a fruit picking job in Tasmania.
If you do not fit into any of those three categories, then you will need a visa to get Tasmania fruit picking jobs.
The Working Holiday (Subclass 417) visa is one of the most common visas that is used for getting a fruit picking job in Australia.
If you hold a passport from one of these countries and are between 18-30 years old (18-35 for Canadian, French, and Irish citizens) at the point of applying, you can apply for the Working Holiday visa:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong (including British National Overseas passport holders)
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Check out more of the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.
If you are not from this list of countries, you may be eligible for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa.
Both the Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas can be renewed twice if you meet the criteria. This means that you could spend up to 3 years in Australia.
2. Is There An Age Limit For Fruit Pickers?
While there is no age limit for fruit pickers, you might find it hard to get a visa to be able to get fruit picking jobs since the Working Holiday visa is generally for those aged 18-31.
3. Do I Need To Be Strong?
While there are no fixed requirements for your physical strength or health condition, you do need to be strong and fit enough to perform the required tasks for an extended period.
Apart from physical strength, mental resilience is also important because fruit picking can sometimes be tedious and tiring.
Final Note On Requirements
These requirements are the same for fruit picking jobs in other Australian states.
If you can fulfill the requirements to get a fruit picking job in Tasmania, you will generally also be able to get a fruit picking job elsewhere in Australia.
How Much Do Fruit Pickers Get Paid In Australia And Tasmania?
There are two ways that you could get paid for fruit picking in Australia:
- hourly rate or
- piece rate
Regardless of which way you are paid, you will not be paid if you are not able to work.
So if you’re stuck inside on a rainy day, you will not get paid for that day.
Hourly Rate
Fruit picking jobs in Australia (and Tasmania) generally have the same minimum wage of AU$15-24 (US$11-18) per hour. The exact figure depends on the type of job (full/part-time or casual) as well as your age.
Most fruit pickers prefer to be paid an hourly rate as it provides them a consistent flow of income and is not tied to their efficiency or productivity.
Piecework Rate
Piece rate jobs pay you based on the amount of fruit that you pick which is usually measured in kilograms or the number of bins/buckets/lugs that you fill.
The piecework rate will differ based on the type of fruit that you are picking. For example, you could earn AU$30 (US$22) per bin for apples and AU$7-10 (US$5-7) per lug for picking cherries.
If you are an experienced fruit picker and can fill up the bins and lugs fast, you could earn much more than the hourly rate.
However, for those who are new to fruit picking, you may not be able to pick enough each day and could be earning below minimum wage.
There are guidelines for how piecework rates should be used so that fruit pickers are treated fairly.
Other Important Information About Wages
.
1. Taxes For Working Holiday Visas
All workers who work in Australia will have taxes withheld from their salaries.
This will be done automatically by your employer at a rate of 15% for the first AU$45,000 (US$33,460) that you earn. Any additional income is taxed at regular rates.
You should apply for a tax file number (TFN) before you start working in Australia and provide a TFN declaration to your employer.
You do not need to lodge a tax return if your annual income was less than AU$45,000 (US$33,460).
You will need to lodge a tax return if you earned more than that or if you wish to claim for any deductions.
2. Superannuation
Also referred to as “super”, superannuation is a retirement fund that your employer contributes towards if you earn more than AU$450 (US$335) a month.
Since you are probably not planning to retire in Australia, you can claim your super when you leave. It is taxed at a pretty high rate of 65% but I’m sure you can find a use for the money.
What Types Of Fruits Can You Pick In Tasmania?
1. Apples
Tasmania is also known as the Apple Isle as it was one of the largest producers of apples in the past. Apples are still one of the main fruits that you can pick in Tasmania.
Apple picking jobs in Tasmania are usually plentiful during the harvest period. You can often find fruit picking jobs in Huon Valley as there are a lot of apple orchards here.
Apple picking in Tasmania is not very hard to do but it can be very tiring as it often involves long hours of work under the hot sun.
Since some apples grow on tall trees, you may also need to use ladders to reach the fruit.
Bruising is a big concern for apples as this can make the fruits unsuitable to be sold and can cause a loss to the farmer.
You should learn the right apple picking technique to ensure that you are not bruising the apples that you pick.
Some apple picking jobs in Tasmania may also allow you to eat apples as you are picking them so if you love eating apples, this may be the right fruit picking job for you.
Apart from apple picking jobs during the harvest season, you might also be able to get other jobs on apple orchards if you want to stick around longer.
2. Cherries
Cherry picking in Tasmania is becoming a popular job due to the increase in cherries that are being grown here.
Cherries need to be picked when they are ripe because they don’t ripen after they are picked as some other fruits do.
If you don’t have prior experience picking cherries, you will be trained on the right way to pick cherries to avoid damaging future crops.
Always remember to leave the bud intact as next year’s fruit will grow from it.
Apart from cherry picking jobs in Tasmania, you may also be able to find cherry packing jobs if you prefer packing cherries to picking them.
3. Grapes
Tasmania is home to quite a large number of vineyards that grow not just wine grapes but also table grapes.
Grape picking in Tasmania is a great way to gain experience in case you would like to pick grapes in other places around the world like New Zealand or France.
Some of the fruit picking jobs in Launceston are on vineyards and you can pick grapes for a few months during the harvest season.
Outside of the harvesting season, there may also be other jobs on vineyards such as pruning, managing the vines, and fertilizing.
4. Berries
Berries may not be the first fruits that come to mind when you think about fruit picking but there are quite a lot of jobs for berry picking in Tasmania.
Different types of berries are grown in Tasmania such as strawberries, strawberries, and blueberries.
Apart from using the right technique to pick berries, it is also important to ensure that the berries are picked at the right stage of ripeness.
Blueberry picking in Tasmania will be different compared to strawberry picking as berries like blueberries continue to ripen after they are picked while strawberries will not.
If you pick the fruit at the wrong time, it will not be tasty or profitable for selling.
Since berries grow in bushes, it’s important to be careful not to damage the plants with your feet or knees when you are picking the berries.
5. Other Stone Fruits
Apart from cherries, other stone fruits like apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums, are also grown in Tasmania.
While these fruits are grown on a much smaller scale than some of the other fruits, there is still an opportunity to find fruit picking jobs for these fruits.
These fruits need to be handled very carefully because they have thinner skins and could bruise more easily which would result in the fruit getting damaged.
When Is The Fruit Picking Season In Tasmania?
The fruit picking season in Tasmania will depend on the type of fruit that is being picked.
The peak Tasmania fruit picking season is generally from December to May and this is when you will find a lot of fruit picking jobs.
Here are the harvest seasons for each type of fruit:
- Apples: February to May
- Cherries: December to February
- Grapes: March to May
- Berries: December to May
- Other Stone Fruits: December to April
The exact harvest season may vary slightly depending on the weather and location but these time frames can be helpful for your planning.
Best Attractions In Tasmania
Tasmania or Tassie as it is sometimes called by the locals has many different attractions for you to explore. Whether you love nature or history or shopping or arts, there is something for everyone.
1. Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
If you find some fruit picking jobs in Hobart, you are in the perfect spot to explore this beautiful spot.
Hike to Cradle Summit and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lakes.
Or follow the Enchanted Walk for a short trip into magical woods with a creek and a chance to see wombats and pademelons.
2. Port Arthur Historic Site
If you enjoy learning about history, you need to make a stop at the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Learn all about the history of Tasmania and even join a ghost tour.
Tickets are AU$40 (US$30) and you can use your ticket to visit for two consecutive days.
3. Bruny Island
Bruny Island is great for a day trip when you have a day off from berry picking in Hobart.
You can take one of the many walking trails around the island, enjoy the great food, or head to The Neck/Truganini Lookout for stunning 360-degree views.
Take a 20-minute ferry ride from Kettering and spend your day exploring this wonderful island. If you are riding the ferry without a vehicle, it will be free for you!
4. Tamar Island Wetlands
If you love bird watching, you need to take a trip to Tamar Island Wetlands when you take some time off from fruit picking in Launceston.
With free admissions, you can spend time learning about the wetlands at the interpretation center before exploring the park and enjoying the views of the river and the many birds and other animals that live there.
Don’t forget to bring your binoculars to get a closer view of the birds.
Find out more about these and other attractions so that you can make the best of your time in Tasmania.
Conclusion
I hope that you now have all the information about fruit picking in Tasmania and are ready to earn some extra money during your next visit to Tasmania.
Good luck with finding the best fruit picking jobs in Tasmania!