Bundaberg.. Fruitpicking....

When we arrived in this town, we didn’t expect it to be as built up as it was. Toni and I stopped off here originally to do some fruit picking as we had heard that even though it was hard work it was relatively easy money... We found a hostel opposite the coach station called Bundaberg Backpackers... After checking it out and chatting to a few people that were staying there, we decided to check in for a week which is the hostels minimum length of stay. We were told that we wouldn’t have to wait more then 3 days before being placed on a farm and receiving work, however before we received work we could choose to get up in the early hours and go on standby- which meant that if someone didn’t turn up for their job then it automatically be given to the person on standby. (Toni and i opted out of this option, as we love our sleep too much)...

As promised, 3 days in- we got our first job; Our first day on the job, involved waking up at a very dark and cold 4am followed by a bumpy 30minute 4x4 journey to the farm. We were out on a contract job, which meant we got paid per bucket filled. We were picking Zucchinis or Courgettes as us Europeans call them. We were told we would receive $2.50 for each bucket we filled, that about £1.50. The buckets were about 60cm in height and 30cm wide. Picking the Zucchinis involved bending down to ground level in order to cut the vegetable from the plant. After 4 hours of this repetitive, back breaking work I had filled 5 buckets.. Toni and I were hot, tired, sweating, and aching and we had only made $13.50 in 4 hours!!! That’s £7.50!!! To sum it up, unless you are very fast and enjoy back breaking work or are a robot... Then fruit picking by the bucket is MODERN DAY SLAVE LABOUR!!!!! So my advice to you is DO NOT DO IT!!!! As you can imagine, our first day of fruit picking was also our last... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

However, from hearing other travellers experiences, it sounds as though the jobs that pay by the hour are more worthwhile and rewarding... it is still hard, backbreaking work but at least you are getting paid more and earning a decent wage, between $17-$20 per hour... So if you have to do fruit picking to earn some money or gain your 2nd year visa then go with the per hour jobs NOT the per bucket jobs...Unless of course you want to be a slave and don’t mind back breaking work....

In all, our week in Bundaberg was not a complete waste, we not only got to experience the ‘joys’ of fruit picking, but we also got to catch up on our sleep and detox, neither of us touching a drop of alcohol in 7 days... and after drinking daily for nearly 6 months this detox was much needed... As you can imagine though, after a week of detoxing we was gagging for a glass of wine... Next stop Fraiser Island...