When is the best time to go to Australia for a working holiday?
Short answer
On KAYAK's fare data, November is the cheapest month to fly to Australia from Europe, the UK and Asia, and February from the US; July and the Christmas period are among the most expensive. November also lines up with the start of summer fruit picking. Arriving around April–May lines up with Queensland's winter harvest and the northern dry season, when tourism and hospitality work peaks.
Timing your arrival well saves money twice: on the flight, and on the weeks you’d otherwise spend waiting for work. Here’s how flights, harvests and the work seasons line up.
When flights are cheapest
KAYAK publishes average return fares to Australia by month, based on the past 12 months of prices. As of October 2026:
| Flying from | Cheapest month | Most expensive months |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | November (about $1,066) | July, January |
| United Kingdom | November (about $1,068) | July, October |
| Asia | November (about $586) | January, July |
| United States | February (about US$1,190) | December, October |
Prices are KAYAK’s averages in its own currency for each site (AUD for Europe, UK and Asia). The pattern is clear even if your exact fare differs: November is a good month to arrive from most places, and July and the Christmas period cost the most. Compare your own dates before booking.
When the work is
Harvest
- Winter (June – October): Queensland strawberries and vegetables (Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Bowen), and citrus in the south (Riverland, Sunraysia, Riverina).
- Summer (November – March): cherries, mangoes, stone fruit and table grapes.
- Late summer to autumn (January – May): apples and pears.
- All year: bananas around Tully and Innisfail.
The full month-by-month table is in the harvest calendar.
Tourism and hospitality in the north
The north has two seasons. The dry season, about May to October, is peak tourist season in the Northern Territory and the north, when hotels, bars, tours and restaurants hire the most. The wet season, about November to April, is hot and humid, with storms and cyclones, and some remote tourism slows down.
Tourism and hospitality only count for your days in Northern Australia and the remote areas, so the dry season is the time to do them. See does hospitality count?.
A trap: ski season
Ski resorts hire a lot from June to September, but hospitality at Thredbo, Perisher, Falls Creek and Mount Buller doesn’t count towards your days, because those postcodes aren’t on the tourism and hospitality lists. Plenty of people do a ski season anyway. Just don’t count on it for your second visa.
Three good plans
| Arrive | Why | First work |
|---|---|---|
| November | Often the cheapest month to fly, and the start of summer fruit | Cherries, mangoes, then grapes and apples through to May |
| April – May | Before the northern dry season and the Queensland winter harvest | Hospitality up north (May – October), or strawberries, vegetables and citrus |
| February – March | Cheapest from the US, and before the autumn rush | Apples, pears and grapes, then move north for the winter season |
Give yourself time
88 days of specified work takes about 13 weeks at a full 38-hour week. Casual hours, rain days and gaps between crops often stretch it to four or five months. If you want a third year, you’ll need 179 days on your second visa. Start early, and use the calculator to see your finish date as you go.
Fares and seasons are general patterns, not promises. Always compare your own dates and check with employers before you book.
Questions people also ask
What is the cheapest month to fly to Australia?
On KAYAK's averages over the past year: November from Europe, the UK and Asia, and February from the US. July, and December–January, are among the most expensive. Compare prices for your own route and dates.
When is the busiest time for jobs in Northern Australia?
The dry season, roughly May to October, is peak tourist season in the Northern Territory and the north, so that's when hotels, bars, tours and restaurants hire the most.
Does working a ski season count for my 88 days?
Hospitality at the ski resorts doesn't count: Thredbo, Perisher, Falls Creek and Mount Buller aren't on the tourism and hospitality lists. Other listed work there, such as construction, can count.
How long should I allow for my 88 days?
At a full 38-hour week, about 13 weeks. Casual hours, rain days and gaps between jobs often stretch it to four or five months, so start early in your visa.
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Aussie Days is independent and not affiliated with the Australian Government. Always check the official Home Affairs pages before you rely on anything here.
Keep reading
When is harvest season in Australia? A month-by-month calendar
When fruit is picked in Australia, month by month: strawberries, cherries, mangoes, grapes, apples, citrus and bananas, with the regions and towns for each.
Types of workHow do you find 88 days work?
Where to find 88 days jobs in Australia, how to check a job counts before you start, and how to avoid scams and underpayment. Farms, mining, hospitality.
Types of workDoes hospitality count for the 88 days?
Hospitality and tourism work count for your 88 days only in Northern Australia and remote areas, from 22 June 2021. Which jobs and places count, with examples.