88 days in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands
Queensland · bananas, avocados, mangoes
Updated 1 November 2026 · Home Affairs, National Harvest Guide, Fair Work Ombudsman
Eligible
for the 88 days of your 2nd and 3rd visa · postcode 4880
32.18 $
minimum per hour (casual), even when paid per bin
≈ 15,400 $
gross for 88 days full time · ≈ 13,100 $ after tax
12/12
months with farm work, steady demand
≈ 65 km
from Cairns
3
main crops · bananas, avocados, mangoes
About an hour from Cairns: handy to mix farm work with weekends on the coast.
If your employer wasn't registered, they withheld 30% instead of 15%. Work out your refund →
Month by month
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas | ||||||||||||
| Avocados | ||||||||||||
| Mangoes |
Nearby harvest towns
Nothing in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands? These towns are close, as the crow flies.
Dimbulah
≈ 37 km
active Apr–Oct
Cairns
≈ 39 km
active Jan–Dec
Gordonvale / Cairns South
≈ 40 km
peak Jul–Oct · active Jun–Nov
Mossman
≈ 60 km
peak Jul–Oct · active Jun–Nov
Babinda
≈ 65 km
peak Jul–Oct · active Jun–Nov
3 traps to avoid
Contractors who underpay
The most common complaint in farming regions. Get a written contract with the company's name and ABN.
Deductions you didn't agree to
Accommodation, transport, gear: only with your written consent.
Working hostels
You pay rent while you wait for a job. Ask how long the wait is before you pay.
Find farms in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands
The 88mates app maps the area and tracks your 88 days. With Premium:
- The zone's employers with their contact details
- An alert when farms start hiring
- A follow-up of the farms you've contacted
Frequently asked questions
Does farm work in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands count for the 2nd year visa?
Yes. Postcode 4880 is in regional Australia as defined by Home Affairs for specified work, so planting, picking and packing fruit and vegetables there counts for your 88 days. You must be paid (unpaid days don't count since December 2015) and keep your payslips. Through a labour hire company, what counts is the postcode of the farm itself, not the agency's.
How much do you earn on a farm in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands?
At least 32.18 $ an hour for a level 1 casual since 1 July 2026 (Horticulture Award). When you're paid per bucket or bin, that hourly minimum is still guaranteed for every hour worked, and beginners get the same piece rate as everyone else. 88 days full time at the minimum come to about 15,400 $ before tax, 13,100 $ after the 15% Working Holiday tax.
When is the best time to find farm work in Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands?
Farms need workers from outside the region all year (bananas, avocados, and mangoes), with a steady, medium demand rather than a big peak. Call farms or local labour hire companies before you travel. Dates move by a few weeks with the weather.
How do you get there?
About 65 km from Cairns by road.
Do I need a car?
It helps a lot. Farms are often 20 to 40 km out of town and some only hire workers who can get there on their own. Without a car, a working hostel with transport or carpooling with other backpackers are the usual options.