With avocados predominantly grown along the east coast of Australia, it’s really easy to follow a trail of farms from Far North Queensland down into New South Wales, before skipping across the continent to South Australia and Western Australia.
However, depending on when you’re available to start your trail, you can jump in anywhere as, somewhere in Australia, this luscious fruit is being harvested as we speak!
February – June: Atherton, Far North Queensland
Just over an hour to the south west of Cairns is Atherton, in the scenic tablelands area of Far North Queensland, surrounded by ancient rainforests, volcanic lakes and waterfalls. It’s an unspoilt paradise of natural beauty. Avocados grow in abundance, with harvest occurring from late January for up four months, even longer for some varieties.
March – August: Childers & Bundaberg, Central Queensland
On the southern Great Barrier Reef of Queensland, you’ll find the Bundaberg region, a significant horticultural district also recognised for the production of its famous brown rum. And just 40 minutes down the road, Childers, an original service town for the surrounding sugar cane fields that has more recently given way to the production of avocados amongst other tropical fruits. Both areas offer an abundance of harvest work that kicks off around early March and can continue on to September.
June – October: Lismore, Northern NSW
Whilst avocado farms exist between central Queensland and Northern NSW, especially in the Tamborine region of southern Queensland, the next suggestion is to land yourself in the Lismore, Byron Bay and Ballina regions in Northern NSW. A mixture of hinterland and coastal bliss, popular with surfers and the Hemsworth family, it’s an idyllic location as you make your way south. If you keep going, you can visit the stunning little rural village of Comboyne on the mid-north coast, perfect for bushwalking and a number of stunning waterfalls.
August – January: Riverland, SA & Sunraysia, Vic/NSW
On your way west from the east coast, feel free to linger around the border towns of NSW, Victoria and South Australia – often referred to as the tristate region by Avocados Australia – as there are growing regions there with solid production levels between August and January.
July – March: Gingin & Manjimup, South East Western Australia
Then, get yourself to Perth and head north to Gingin, or south to the Manjimup and Pemberton areas, and you’ll find plenty of avocado farms who supply the local supermarkets and are the gateway to the export markets of Asia.
Gingin is one hour north of Perth and, nestled in the valleys, and is one of the oldest towns in WA with historical buildings and the tree-lined Gingin Brook. Three hours south of Perth you’ll come across Manjimup which lies amongst the giant Karri and Jarrah forests and has fast become a horticultural haven.
Australian avocado growers love workers with experience – and the diversity of work involved in picking, such as ground work getting fruits off low hanging branches, or being up ladders or on elevated platforms, ensure you’ll pick up a variety of skills to take from one farm to the next. Contact the Harvest Trail Information Service (HTIS) on 1800 062 332 to find out more as you make plans.