HARVEST THE YARRA VALLEY
A patchwork of historic vineyards, rich farmland, rolling hills and picture-postcard hay stacks are the Yarra Valley backdrop for your working holiday. Unsurprisingly, many travellers flock here for holidays, wine tastings, weekend escapes, grape picking or farm labouring.
You will need your passport with a valid working holiday visa, bank account and tax file number to join in the harvest.
Crops
A large number of cool climate crops are grown in the Yarra Valley, including apples, pears, cherries, and berry fruits. There are grapes, for the wine production which the area is famous for, vegetable crops and flower picking.
Major harvest times
Cherries and berries – November to January
Grapes – February to April
Apples – Late February to May
Strawberries – October to May
Vineyards
Earning between $AUD16 and $AUD18 per hour in a vineyard involves plenty of hard work.
You can apply for work directly through the vineyard or contact the Harvest Office in Lilydale. If you enjoy variety, the office often has a range of casual and seasonal roles, from working at a flower farm to packing fruit. Many vineyards advertise in backpacker magazines. A stroll through Healesville or Yarra Glen can be worthwhile, to look at "Help wanted" notices in shop windows.
Working in a vineyard is often meditative and social. In a typical mid to large-size vineyard, you'll work alongside lots of interesting people – first-time travellers, old hands, students, outdoorsy types – and experience the genuine face of Australia.
