In July 2022, we took on our second Working Holiday Visa (WHV) job in Australia, this time in King Valley, VIC. The role was advertised on GumTree as a dairy farm job, suitable for a couple, accommodation included. After a quick phone call, we were told that the farm had recently changed management, and was a 250-cow unit in need of a lot of improvement. The accommodation was a new caravan, we would have free access to a work vehicle, and we could work as many hours as we wanted. This agreement suited us perfectly, so we flew into Melbourne and then took the train to Wangaratta, where the new boss picked up up and drove us to the farm.

We were instantly struck by the natural beauty of King Valley; the King River meanders through a sloping plain of fertile ground, bordered dramatically by untamed ridges and hilltops. The land is perfect for growing two of our favourite things- grass and grapes. The entire length of the valley is packed with alternating vineyards and dairy farms, and the area is home to plenty of landmarks, characterful towns and bustling pubs. Nicknamed “Prosecco Road”, King Valley is famed for it wine exports, and we spent much of our time sampling these goods.

The farm itself, as we had been warned, did need a lot of work and improvements. Initially, we did most of the milking together while the managers handled clearing up the yard and repairing fences and infrastructure. We also chipped in with the fencing and cleaning up where we could and we spent a good amount of time rounding up cows, looking after calves, driving in utes and 4x4s, and doing other odd jobs around the farm.

We both have plenty of experience working on dairy farms in the UK, so this type of work wasn’t new to us, but there are lots of dairy jobs available in Victoria for those who have no previous experience. When looking for farm jobs, always be honest about your skills and experience- most farms are very happy to teach people who are willing to work hard and have a go, but you don’t want to end up out of your depth in the Australian bush!

On the days where we worked a split shift, we had a few hours free between morning and evening milkings to explore the area. We loved driving up to the Alpine region (about 30 minutes from the farm) and seeing sights such as Powers Lookout, Paradise Falls, and Lake William Hovell. The roads in this area offer exceptional views over King Valley and the surrounding area, and it is easy to spot native Australian flora and fauna in the surrounding forests.

We had a full day off every week, and we mostly spent this time in the vineyards. Wine tasting usually costs $10 per person, but this fee is waived if you buy a bottle of wine after the tasting. King Valley is full of brilliant and independent vineyards, so we made it our mission to visit them all. Many of these vineyards also sell food, and some have holiday accommodation- we cannot recommend King Valley highly enough as a holiday destination and we will put out a more detailed blog post on this topic in the future!

After a month on the farm, the condition of the cows had continued to deteriorate, the improvements to the infrastructure had halted, and we ended up doing more than our fair share of the work while the managers where nowhere to be seen. During this time we saw some awful animal welfare issues, and it became increasingly clear that the managers were incompetent. On top of this, when we did see them, the managers were argumentative and sometimes borderline aggressive. Although we loved the King Valley, we couldn’t stand to work with abused animals and awful people, and so we left after only six weeks.

High Points:

1. Vineyards everywhere- this was the main selling point for us as we love wine! Every vineyard owner we met was friendly and welcoming, and more than happy to answer Daisie’s hundreds of questions.
2. Pay and benefits- we were payed $26 per hour and didn’t pay for accommodation or transport, so we were easily able to save money.
3. The scenery- this is one of the most beautiful places we have worked, and it was a privilege to be working outside surrounded by mountains and rivers.
4. Surrounding landmarks- everywhere we went in the area was truly stunning. The views and the roads are definitely worth seeing.
5. Surrounding towns- Moyhu, Whitfield, Cheshunt, Myrtleford, and Wangratta are all charming and unique towns with plenty to offer. The food and drink in this area is exceptional, and there is plenty of holiday accommodation available.

Low Points:

1. Animal welfare- being from the UK, we are used to following the strictest animal welfare laws in the world. It was therefore very hard to work in conditions in Australia which would have been totally illegal in the UK.
2. The bosses- the managers turned out to be very nasty and incompetent people, which made it impossible to continue working on the farm.
3. The accommodation- the caravan we lived in had no plumbing, so we were showering in dirty water from an old chemical container and using a portaloo. We were told this situation was temporary, but it became clear that there were no plans to change anything.
4. The weather- this is our own fault, but we started in July when the weather was cold and miserable, and the days were short.

To conclude, we highly suggest visiting King Valley- it was one of our favourite places in Australia. We would still recommend spending some of your Working Holiday Visa time on a dairy farm. Being outside in the sunshine with the animals can be very rewarding and the money is pretty good if you can get enough hours. However, if you’re only working for 90 days, we would suggest doing it in the spring or summer, and not in the winter. We would also recommend researching businesses before applying for jobs. Many farms have a website or Facebook page, or use proper agencies who could provide reviews or testimonials. Also make sure that the accommodation will suit you (don’t be afraid to ask for photos etc). We applied for this job from a vague advert on GumTree and have learnt our lesson- please don’t make the same mistake!