Young NSW Cherry Picking Guide: Jobs, Season & How to Get Started

Young is the cherry capital of Australia. If you want to pick cherries, this is the place.

It sits in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, about a two and a half hour drive north of Canberra. The town runs on cherries. The harvest is short, intense, and it can pay well if you’re fast. Most of the work lands in a tight window from late October to the end of December.

This guide covers when the season runs, how much you can really earn, when to book a bed, and how to steer clear of the dodgy operators.

What farm work is available in Young

Young is a one-crop town, mostly. Cherries are the headline, and that’s where almost all the work is. Stone fruit and some packing work fill in around the edges.

The takeaway: the work is short and seasonal. The big rush is November and December, right up to Christmas. This isn’t a year-round town like some farm regions. You come for the cherry harvest, you work hard, and you move on.

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

When to arrive

This is the part that matters most in Young. Get it wrong and you miss the season.

Apply for jobs from July to September. That’s months before picking starts. The best orchards fill their spots early, and some take applications three to four months ahead. One large grower in Young gets thousands of applications for around 150 picking jobs. So the good farms are competitive, and the early birds get the work.

Book your accommodation at the same time. Beds in Young sell out for cherry season. The whole town fills up. If you wait until October to sort a bed, you may find nothing left.

Arrive in mid to late October. That gives you time to settle in and be ready when picking starts. Turn up too late and the season’s already going without you.

Cherry season is also weather-dependent. A hot spell or a hailstorm can change the start date or shorten the picking. Don’t bank everything on exact dates. Build in some wiggle room.

Cherry picking, the honest version

Cherry picking can pay well. It can also be hard, short work. Here’s the straight story.

It’s almost always piece rate. That means you get paid for what you pick, not the hours you sit there. Good, fast pickers can earn around $100 to $180 a day. Slower pickers earn less. Your first few days are usually your slowest while you learn the rhythm.

Under the Horticulture Award you’re guaranteed a minimum wage even on piece rate. So a bad picking day shouldn’t leave you with nothing. But the big money goes to fast hands picking a heavy crop.

The season is short. You might get four to eight weeks of solid work, then it’s done. That’s the trade-off. Quick cash in a tight window, not a long steady run. So plan your next move before the cherries finish.

Browse live roles on the New South Wales farm work page and the cherry picking page.

Where to stay

Book early. We can’t say it enough. Here are your main options.

On-farm camping. Many Young orchards offer camping on site, often with showers, a kitchen and laundry. Some have powered sites for caravans, campervans and tents. It’s cheap, sometimes around $50 a week, and you’re right where the work is. This is the easiest option if you’ve got your own van or tent.

Caravan parks. Young has caravan parks with powered sites and cabins. Good if you want a bit more comfort and your own transport.

Hotels, pubs and share houses. There’s hotel and pub accommodation in town, plus share houses during the season. These fill up fastest and cost the most, so lock one in early if that’s your plan.

Whatever you pick, sort it before you arrive. A bed in Young during cherry season is gold.

Is Young NSW farm work 88-days eligible?

Yes. Young sits in an eligible postcode for the Working Holiday visa.

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

One thing to watch: the season is short. Four to eight weeks of cherry work won’t get you the full 88 days on its own. Most people combine Young with other regions across the year. If you’re chasing your extension, read our 88 days farm work guide first. It explains what counts, what doesn’t, and how to keep your paperwork straight.

A straight word on scams

Most Young orchards are family-run and do the right thing. But seasonal rushes always attract a few bad operators, so protect yourself.

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

Young is the place for cherries, and not much else. The season is short, sharp and weather-dependent, but it can pay well if you’re quick. The key is timing. Apply from July to September, book a bed early before the town fills up, and arrive by mid to late October ready to work. Do that, deal with people who pay properly, and you can bank some quick cash before Christmas.

Ready to start? Browse live farm jobs in New South Wales or read our Coffs Harbour farm work guide for another NSW option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What farm work is available in Young NSW?

Young is the cherry capital of Australia, so cherry picking is the main work, running from late October to the end of December. There is also stone fruit like plums and prunes, plus some packing shed work. The cherry harvest is short and intense, so most of the jobs land in a tight window before Christmas.

When is cherry season in Young NSW?

Cherry season in Young runs from late October to the end of December, peaking in November and December. It is a short, weather-dependent harvest, so the dates shift year to year. Stone fruit work can follow into the new year.

How much do cherry pickers earn in Young?

Cherry picking is usually piece rate, so you get paid for what you pick. Good, fast pickers can earn around $100 to $180 a day, but slower pickers earn less. Under the Horticulture Award you are guaranteed a minimum wage even on piece rate.

Is Young NSW farm work eligible for the 88 days?

Yes. Young sits in an eligible postcode, so cherry picking, stone fruit picking and packing on a farm here counts toward your 88 days of specified work for a second-year visa. Keep your payslips so your days get approved.

When should I arrive in Young and book accommodation?

Apply for jobs from July to September, well before the season. The best farms fill up fast. Book accommodation at the same time, because beds in Young sell out for cherry season. Arrive mid to late October so you are ready when picking starts.

How do I avoid farm work scams in Young?

Deal directly with named, reviewed orchards. Never pay a fee to get a job. Get a payslip every time, and be wary of vague pay promises. You should be paid a fair piece rate with a minimum wage guarantee. Ask for the rate in writing.