88 days in Shepparton
Victoria · apples & pears, stone fruit
Updated 1 November 2026 · Home Affairs, National Harvest Guide, Fair Work Ombudsman
Eligible
for the 88 days of your 2nd and 3rd visa · postcode 3630
32.18 $
minimum per hour (casual), even when paid per bin
≈ 15,400 $
gross for 88 days full time · ≈ 13,100 $ after tax
11/12
months with farm work · peak Jan–Apr
≈ 190 km
from Melbourne
2
main crops · apples & pears, stone fruit
Pears, apples and stone fruit from January to April: the busiest season in Victoria.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apples & pears | ||||||||||||
| Stone fruit |
Nearby harvest towns
Nothing in Shepparton? These towns are close, as the crow flies.
Tatura
≈ 17 km
peak Mar–Sep · active Jan–Dec
Nagambie / Goulburn Valley
≈ 49 km
active Jan–Dec
Cobram
≈ 56 km
peak Jan–Mar · active Oct–Mar
Echuca
≈ 64 km
active Jan–Dec
Seymour
≈ 76 km
active Jan–Dec
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 Shepparton
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 Shepparton count for the 2nd year visa?
Yes. Postcode 3630 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 Shepparton?
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 Shepparton?
Farms need workers from outside the region in September–July, with a peak in January–April (apples & pears and stone fruit). Arrive one or two weeks before the peak, when beds and jobs aren't taken yet. Dates move by a few weeks with the weather.
How do you get there?
About 190 km from Melbourne by road. About 2 h 30 from Melbourne by V/Line train.
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.