1300 436 332
Email Us
Find the nearest MADEC
Get Ready to Go Bananas on Australia's Ultimate Harvest Trail. It’s time to hit the road and follow the banana bunch from vibrant Cairns all the way to the wild west of Carnarvon.
Bananas are one of the few crops that need labour all year round so no matter where you go, there’s a good chance of finding work.
Contact the Harvest Trail Information Service (HTIS) on 1800 062 332 to find out more as you make plans.
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland is the heart of the banana industry.
One option is to begin your harvest journey from Cairns. Grab opportunities to work in the vast banana plantations surrounding this iconic tourism destination.
While there, don’t miss the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon.
80 kilometres south west of Cairns is Atherton, another area with plenty of banana plantations.
While in Cairns or the Atherton area, why not travel just 200 kilometres north to Lakeland and use it as a jumping off point to visit the wonders of Cape York Peninsula. Complete the Waterfall Circuit around Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls. The local coffee shops and cheese dairies are also worth a visit.
Just 90 kilometres south of Cairns you’ll find Innisfail and a further 50 kilometres, Tully. This area is another hub of banana production. While there explore the nearby Etty Bay, Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Cane Cutters Memorial. For those with a cultural interest, the Innisfail Temple is a must-visit. In Tully, visit the Golden Gumboot monument, white water raft on the Tully River, or hike Mount Tyson.
Beyond Far North Queensland there are small pockets of growing areas that offer a different experience with smaller, family-owned farms.
Bundaberg region, Queensland
Bundaberg is primarily known for its sugarcane production, and it is a significant horticultural hub for various fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, and macadamia nuts. There are a few smaller banana farms in the region.
Explore the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery and witness the majestic sea turtles at Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
Southern QLD/Northern NSW region
In the smaller production areas of south-east Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Hinterland offer unique banana farming experiences, with these farms mainly providing fruit for local markets.
Both regions provide a blend of work and leisure opportunities waiting to be explored.
As you move south, the Tweed Valley near Murwillumbah is a testament to the history and continuing legacy of banana farms. The region offers a slightly cooler climate for work.
Enjoy the Tweed Regional Gallery and nearby Mount Warning. The Springbrook National Park is also a short drive away.
Known for its Big Banana monument, Coffs Harbour also has opportunities for banana farm work.
Visit the Coffs Harbour Marina, Jetty Beach, and Dorrigo National Park.
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Expand your horizons by heading west. Carnarvon’s banana plantations, set against a backdrop of desert, provide a unique harvesting experience on smaller farms.
The Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum is a must-visit, as are the blowholes and the Gascoyne River.
Darwin, Northern Territory
There is one commercial producer left in Darwin. Darwin Fruit Farms is LaManna Premier Group’s northernmost banana farming operation, with 230 hectares of banana crops in Lambells Lagoon, just southeast of Darwin.
