Coffs Harbour Farm Work Guide: Blueberry Picking, Seasons & How to Get Started

Coffs Harbour is Australia’s blueberry capital. If you want berry work, this is the place to come.

It sits on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, about 540km north of Sydney and 440km south of Brisbane. The hills around town and the smaller towns of Woolgoolga and Corindi are packed with blueberry, raspberry and blackberry farms. Blueberries are the big one, but the berry seasons overlap, so there’s farm work here for most of the year.

This guide covers what’s picking when, the best time to arrive, where to stay, and how to steer clear of the dodgy operators the berry industry is known for.

What farm work is available in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a berry region first. Blueberries carry the area, and other berries plus some veg fill in around them.

The takeaway: blueberries run July to March, and raspberries and blackberries cover February to July. The two overlap, so there’s berry work nearly all year. The peak earning window is mid-December to mid-January, when blueberry volume is highest.

For the full national picture, see our Fruit Picking Seasons Australia guide, or check what’s picking right now.

When to arrive

Arrive in July or early August.

That’s when blueberry farms start gearing up and putting the word out for pickers, usually around mid to late August. Turn up before that and you can line up work and a bed before the crowds arrive. The hostels fill fast once the season starts.

If your goal is to earn well, be settled in by December. The mid-summer peak runs from mid-December to mid-January, when there’s the most fruit and the most demand for hands. On piece rate, that’s when fast pickers make their best money.

If you want to bank your visa days, the berry seasons give you a long runway. Blueberries through summer, raspberries and blackberries through autumn and winter, all of it counts. More on that below.

Where the work is, crop by crop

Blueberries are the backbone. The farms around Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga and Corindi run big blueberry operations, and they need a lot of pickers from July through to March. Some pay hourly, some pay piece rate per kilogram. Piece rate rewards speed, so your pay depends on how fast you pick. This is the work to chase here. It’s where most of the listings sit, and where most travellers do their 88 days.

Raspberries and blackberries run February to July. They cover the gap after the blueberry season winds down, so if you arrive in autumn there’s still berry work going. Some of these jobs come with accommodation and transport included.

Cucumbers and vegetables are grown around the region too, with picking and packing work in the warmer months. It’s a useful backup if the berries are quiet.

Browse live roles on the New South Wales farm work page, the blueberry picking page and the banana picking page.

Where to stay

You’ve got three main options in and around Coffs Harbour.

Working hostels. These connect you with berry farms and usually run transport to and from the work. Coffs Harbour YHA works with local farmers through the blueberry season, and the Hoey Moey takes backpackers year-round for berry work. They’re a good way to land a job fast and meet people in the same boat. Expect to pay around $150 to $220 a week. The catch: a hostel bed does not guarantee a good job, so ask exactly what they place people into before you hand over money.

Woolgoolga. This town just north of Coffs sits in the middle of the berry farms. Woopi Backpackers offers discounted weekly rates for working holiday makers and points guests toward local farms, though it’s not a full working hostel.

Caravan parks and share houses. Cheaper if you’ve got your own transport and can find your own work. Good once you’ve got a job locked in.

Is Coffs Harbour farm work 88-days eligible?

Yes. Coffs Harbour is in an eligible postcode for the Working Holiday visa.

That means picking, packing and pruning on a farm here counts toward the 88 days of specified work you need for a second-year visa. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, veg, all of it counts, as long as it’s on an eligible farm and you keep your payslips.

If you’re working toward your extension, read our 88 days farm work guide first. It explains what counts, what doesn’t, and how to keep your paperwork straight so your days actually get approved.

A straight word on scams

The berry industry has form, and not the good kind. There have been real cases of underpayment and dodgy labour-hire operators taking advantage of backpackers in berry regions, Coffs included.

Protect yourself:

• Deal direct where you can. A job straight from a farmer or a named, reviewed employer beats an anonymous middleman.
• Never pay a fee for a job. Paying for accommodation is normal. Paying someone to “get” you a job is not.
• Get a payslip. You’re entitled to at least the legal minimum wage or a fair piece rate. No payslip is a red flag.
• Be wary of vague pay. “You’ll earn heaps” means nothing. Ask for the piece rate or hourly rate, in writing, before you start.

A good operator will be happy to answer all of this. A bad one will dodge it. That tells you what you need to know.

The bottom line

Coffs Harbour is the best place in Australia for berry work. Blueberries carry it from July to March, raspberries and blackberries cover autumn and winter, and there’s veg filling in around them. Arrive in July or August, sort a safe place to stay, aim to be settled for the December peak, and deal only with people who pay properly. Do that and you can put together a long, steady run here.

Ready to start? Browse live farm jobs in New South Wales or see what’s picking across Australia this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What farm work is available in Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour is Australia’s blueberry capital, so blueberry picking and packing is the main work. The blueberry season runs from about July to March. Raspberries and blackberries fill the gap from February to July, and there’s also cucumber and other vegetable work around. Between berries and veg, the region has farm work nearly all year.

When is blueberry season in Coffs Harbour?

Blueberry season in Coffs Harbour runs from about July to March. Farms start hiring in mid to late August, and the peak hits from mid-December to mid-January, when fruit volume is highest and the most pickers are needed. That peak is also the best time to earn on piece rate.

Is Coffs Harbour farm work eligible for the 88 days?

Yes. Coffs Harbour sits in an eligible postcode, so picking, packing and pruning on a farm here counts toward your 88 days of specified work for a second-year visa. Just keep your payslips.

When should I arrive in Coffs Harbour for farm work?

Arrive in July or early August, before the blueberry season ramps up and the hostels fill. That gives you time to line up work and a bed. If you want the best earning weeks, be settled in by December for the mid-summer peak.

Is there accommodation for farm workers in Coffs Harbour?

Yes. Working hostels like Coffs Harbour YHA and the Hoey Moey connect travellers with berry farms and transport. Woolgoolga nearby has backpacker accommodation too. There are also caravan parks and share houses. Expect around $150 to $220 a week. Check what the hostel guarantees before you pay.

How do I avoid farm work scams in Coffs Harbour?

The berry industry has had problems with underpayment, so deal directly with farmers or named, reviewed employers. Never pay a fee to get a job. Get a payslip, and be wary of vague pay promises. You should be paid at least the legal minimum wage or a fair piece rate.