Tasmania is affectionately known as the Apple Isle, due to the outstanding apple orchards found in abundance there.  The first apple tree was planted on Bruny Island in 1788 when William Bligh was anchored there.  Tasmania is also located in an area known as The Roaring Forties which refers to that part of the world roughly between forty and fifty degrees latitude. 
Blackmans Bay, Tasmania (Source: pixabay.com)

The Tasmania region is renowned for wild westerly winds.  However, if you had been here in the summer, you would have realised that Tasmania is the lucky island.  Generally, summers are warm with little rain.  The scenery is stunning, beaches that can match any in the country – without the crowds – rugged coastlines and the freshest air in the world – why wouldn’t you want to work on the harvest trail there? 

Did I mention that 40% of the island is a protected World Heritage wilderness?  Oh and let’s not forget that Tasmania is the least populated state in Australia with just over 500,000 residents – that’s less than the population of the Gold Coast!  Tasmania also has around 344 islands within the state and Hobart is the 2nd driest city in Australia.

Menzies Research Institue, Hobart – Tasmania (Source: pixabay.com)

Tasmania is the smallest state of Australia, around 250 kilometres from the mainland yet the capital Hobart is only a 1 hour flight from Melbourne.  If you don’t like flying, you could also travel to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania which leaves Melbourne daily and arrives in Devonport, which is located in the north of the state. If you do come by ferry, you can bring your car.

Tasmania is the breadbasket of Australia and there are many options all year round for Harvest Work from berries and cherries in the spring and summer through to grapes and potatoes in the autumn to winter months.   Tasmania is also well known for the flowers grown there.  If you are visiting, you don’t have to go too far to find the poppy fields.  This industry located in Tasmania is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the pharmaceutical industry.  If you prefer Lavender, you can’t miss a visit to Bridestowe Lavender Estate with over 260 acres of lavender, the world’s largest privately owned lavender farm – make sure you try their lavender ice-cream!  There is also the opportunity to visit Table Cape Tulip Farm which is set atop a 12 million year old volcano and features acres of patchwork fields that fly into a rage of colour each spring.  These are the largest tulip fields in the Southern Hemisphere that you can actually wander in.  Did you know that the Netherlands actually imports tulips from Tasmania?

Bridestowe Lavender Estate – Tasmania (Source: shutterstock.com)
Wombat (Source: pixabay.com)

Maybe you are more of a winter person and want to see snow? What about taking a walk around the beautiful lake at Cradle Mountain and see if you can spot a wombat.  Nature?  Take a drive through the Tarkine Rainforest – Australia’s own rainforest!

With so much to see and do you are going to need to stay here a while!  We have plenty of harvest opportunities for you to choose from.  The season is off to a flying start in spring with berries, cherries and stone fruit that need picking for the Christmas season.  This is probably the busiest part of the year.  After that you can move to the orchards and pick apples, hops and grapes.  By autumn we have potatoes that need graders, cauliflowers that need cutters, root vegetables, walnuts and let’s not forget those flowers that need picking for Mother’s Day!  It slows down a bit in winter but you can still find a few commodities that are year round like onions, carrots and other vegetables. 

If you are in the north of the state, why not pop into the Harvest Trail Services office which is located in Devonport right across the road from the main shopping centre – you can get straight off the ferry and head in and visit Louann and Michelle to see what harvest work is currently on offer. If you do come in to our office, staff can show you on our Tasmania map exactly where harvest work is available.  If you can’t get into the office, just call us and we can go through all current harvest vacancies, give you some tips on where to stay and the must see sites to visit while undertaking your harvest work. 

Louann Terry & Michelle Connolly

Louann is MADEC’s Administration Officer. She was born and bred in Tasmania and has worked in the harvest industry herself.  She can tell you exactly what to expect with each available role and is a wealth of information when it comes to all things Tasmania. 

Michelle is the Harvest Office Manager. She moved to Tasmania from the bustling Gold Coast in 2021 where she had spent over 14 years working in the Employment Services industry.  She has a good knowledge of recruitment and the ability to talk to people from all walks of life.  She spent time travelling in her younger days as a backpacker around Europe herself and loves talking to the Tasmanian newcomers about their journey and experiences.  She grew up in New Zealand and spent holidays visiting her grandparents on their farm and helping them with the harvesting of their stone fruit.

Louann and Michelle are always happy to meet people in the office or chat with them over the phone.  Michelle is always available to chat or visit with the growers at their farm about what workers they might need for their upcoming harvest season and this helps to give us a complete understanding of your needs so we can explain to harvest workers exactly what is done and how to get to your farm.

So if you are looking for harvest work or need harvest workers for your upcoming harvest season anywhere in Tasmania, contact Michelle or Louann.  We would love to have the opportunity to talk to you about how we can help you this harvest season.