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Does my town count for the 88 days?

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Short answer

Almost every harvest town backpackers use counts. For the 88 days, all of Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory are regional, and in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia it depends on the postcode. The work also has to be eligible and paid at award rates. Always check the exact postcode first.

The rule in one paragraph

For the second and third Working Holiday visa, specified work must be done in regional Australia, defined by postcode. For plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining and construction, every postcode in Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory counts. In Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia only listed postcodes count, which excludes Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and some of their surrounds. The check is the postcode of the worksite, not your hostel.

Got a specific postcode? Use the free checker on the 88-day tracker page. Want to know what counts as work? Read the 88 days, properly explained.

Harvest towns checked

Town-centre postcode against the Home Affairs regional list for plant and animal cultivation. Outlying farms can have a different postcode, so check the farm itself.

Queensland

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Bundaberg4670Yes, regionalyear-round, peak May to November
Childers4660Yes, regionalmost of the year, peak winter
Bowen4805Yes, regionalApril to December, peak May to November
Ayr4807Yes, regionalApril to November
Tully4854Yes, regionalyear-round
Innisfail4860Yes, regionalyear-round
Mareeba4880Yes, regionalpeak October to February for mangoes
Gatton4343Yes, regionalyear-round, peak winter
Stanthorpe4380Yes, regionalNovember to April

New South Wales

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Griffith2680Yes, regionalyear-round, citrus peak May to October
Young2594Yes, regionalNovember to January
Orange2800Yes, regionalFebruary to May for apples
Coffs Harbour2450Yes, regionalblueberries June to February

Victoria

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Mildura3500Yes, regionalyear-round, grape peak January to April
Shepparton3630Yes, regionalJanuary to April
Swan Hill3585Yes, regionalNovember to April

Western Australia

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Carnarvon6701Yes, regionalApril to November
Kununurra6743Yes, regionalApril to September, arrive March
Manjimup6258Yes, regionalFebruary to June
Margaret River6285Yes, regionalvintage February to April, pruning June to August

South Australia

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Renmark5341Yes, regionalyear-round, citrus peak winter
McLaren Vale5171Yes, regionalvintage mid-January to April, pruning winter
Barossa Valley5352Yes, regionalvintage February to April

Tasmania

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Huonville7109Yes, regionalDecember to May
Devonport7310Yes, regionalNovember to May
Scottsdale7260Yes, regionalDecember to April

Northern Territory

TownPostcodeCounts?Season
Darwin & Rural Area0836Yes, regionaldry season May to November, mango madness October
Katherine0850Yes, regionalMay to November, mango peak September to November

Common follow-up questions

Is all of Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory regional for the 88 days?

Yes. For plant and animal cultivation on the 417 and 462 visas, every postcode in Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory is regional. In Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia only listed postcodes count, and the big city areas are excluded.

Does the town or the farm postcode matter?

The postcode where you actually do the work matters, not where you sleep or where the employer's office is. Some farms sit just outside an eligible area, so check the farm's own postcode on the Home Affairs list before your first shift.

Does hospitality work in a harvest town count?

Usually not. Tourism and hospitality only counts for 462 holders in northern or remote and very remote Australia. For 417 holders, pub or cafe work in a harvest town does not count toward the 88 days.

Do UK citizens need to do 88 days?

No. Since 1 July 2024, UK passport holders on the 417 visa do not need any specified work for a second or third year.

Sources

General information, not migration or legal advice. Rules and pay rates change, so confirm anything your visa depends on with the official source.

More quick answers

How do I get my second-year Working Holiday visa? (88 days checklist)Is this farm job legit? Farm work scams and red flags in AustraliaHow much do farm jobs pay in Australia?What are the best working hostels for the 88 days?The 88 days, properly explained

Count your days as you go

Matey's free 88-day tracker logs each day with the farm and postcode, and keeps your payslips in one place for the visa application.

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Does my town count for the 88 days? Harvest towns checked | Matey