Farmstay Australia

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Australia is a proud farming nation and an ideal place to learn about farming life while enjoying the great outdoors. Internex has ties to more than 250 horse, livestock, and mixed farms in every state in Australia, so you can trust us to find the perfect placement for you.

Helping on a farm in Australia provides an opportunity for you to live and work on with a Aussie farming family, develop new skills, improve your English and learn about the Australian farming Culture.

Your primary role on the farm will either be helping with horses, with cows (milking, calving), looking after children and most typically, a combination of roles that best suit you and the family. There are also options on agricultural, sheep, beef, pig and mixed use farms on request if you have experience in these areas.

You will live with your host family and receive meals and accommodation. Generally your room will be in the main home, however it is also common for the family to have a sleep out/rumpus room. You will help on average for 5-6 hours per day and will also be expected to help out with all domestic chores related to cooking and cleaning and grocery shopping etc.

If you have previous experience with horses, or have worked on a farm (minimum 2 years full time experience or equivalent) you can chose to stay up to 24 weeks. If you do not have the required experience the maximum amount of time you can stay is 12 weeks. Some families agree to an extension once you have arrived and have proven your ability.

If you are keen to travel to Australia and experience living and helping with an Aussie farming family, start your application today and we’ll look forward to finding you a once in a lifetime farm experience. Below are more details about our 3 main areas we place, including horse farms, cow farms and mixed/general farms.

Key Details

  • Ages 18- 35

  • 4 – 12 weeks for those without previous experience

  • 4 – 24 weeks for those with experience

  • Live and work on a horse, cattle, dairy, family farm (other farms may be available on request)

  • Must hold a valid Australian Working Holiday Visa, Visitor Visa, or equivalent Australian work visa

  • Love to have fun, be happy and enjoy meeting new people

Horse Farms

Farm helper feeding a cow in a farm field

Livestock & Dairy Farms

General/Mixed Farms

We make farm placements all over Australia, with the majority of placements made in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia.

Placements generally last between 4 and 24 weeks (depending on your previous experience). If you’d like to do a shorter or longer stint, please enquire directly with us as we may be able to arrange this.

You’ll fly into Sydney, arriving on a Sunday. (You’ll be advised to book your own flights once you’ve received formal confirmation of your placement, and will need to book your flight to arrive on a Sunday.)

We will organise your airport transfer and arrange your first three nights’ accommodation in a downtown Sydney hostel. Breakfast will be included. You will receive information about your airport transfer and initial accommodation in your ‘arrival package’, which we’ll send you before you depart your home country, as soon as you’ve sent us your flight details.

Your welcome orientation will be held on Monday morning (the day after you arrive), or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. During your orientation, you’ll receive information about phone cards, travel options, and general tips about life in Australia. If you have a working holiday visa and plan to work after your farm placement, we can advise you on tax numbers, bank accounts, and where to look for employment opportunities.

Tuesday is a free day to explore Sydney. On Wednesday, you’ll travel to your farmstay. You may need to travel by plane, bus, or train to reach your farmstay, but we’ll provide you with more information about how to book this travel once your farmstay is confirmed (it should cost between AU$50 and AU$350). The farmstay family will collect you from the nearest airport or bus/train station when you arrive.

To reiterate, you should only book your flights once you’ve received a formal offer from your farmstay family. Once you’ve booked your flights, please let us know so we can send you your arrival package and advise you on domestic travel to your farmstay from Sydney.

You’ll likely be pretty busy during your placement, helping out for around 5-7 hours per day on the farm, and for 2-3 hours in the house. Depending on your placement, you may also have specific duties on weekends or in the evening. Every farm is different, so you should speak to your host family about what a typical day or week will look like during your stay.

This means you may not have much built-in opportunity to travel during your placement itself. However, rest assured you won’t be bored! Your host family will include you in their own social activities such as visiting family and friends, and going to shows or community events. Additionally, if you wish to go away for a few days or weeks during your placement, you can discuss this with your host family. They are usually very accommodating – however, please note you won’t be refunded for weekly costs (e.g. meals, accommodation) for the time you’re away from the farm. Remember that Australia is a huge country, and getting away from the farm may be difficult.

If possible, however, we also recommend you allow some time before or after your placement to see the country. We work with several backpacker travel companies who can show you the best of Australia as well as New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Fiji. If you’re interested in a spot of extra travel around your placement, let us know and we’ll advise you about travel options before you book your flights.

  • Aged 18-45 (depending on visa type)
  • A love of animals
  • Generally fit and healthy
  • Ability to effectively communicate in English
  • 4 – 12 weeks for those without the required experience / 4- 24+ weeks for those with previous experience (horse riding or farm work experience)
  • Able to obtain Working Holiday Visa / Work Visa / Visitor Visa or work rights in Australia
  • Criminal background check
  • Health check
  • If vegetarian, be willing to help more in the kitchen with food preparation and cooking, and purchase your own food should you need additional meat free products
  • Completed online application and provide documents (motivation letter, experience levels etc)

Meet some of our hosts and participants

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Horse Farm Participant

New Zealand

Horse Farm Host

New Zealand

Horse Farm Host

New Zealand

“I feel very good! I’m enjoying my time here in Australia.I arrived very safely in Sydney and the transfer to the hostel also went smoothly. In Sydney, I visited a lot of sights and got a nice impression of this wonderful city. In the hostel, I met a lot of new people. I am still in contact with some of them. I was welcomed to the farm with open arms. I enjoy it a lot because I do different tasks every day. At the weekend I was taken to a polo cross carnival in Roma to see typical cultural country life in Australia. I had a great time!”

Alisha, German – Farmstay Australia 2023

More testimonies here