Regional work Oz

Its a bit late as the good paying job, in fruit picking would be taken up by people who arrive now or in a few weeks time.
Fruit trees are now having fruits growing, and the early ripening varieties will be ready to be picked in a few weeks time.
Riverina of NSW/Vic would be good to give a try, or Riverland SA.
There are of course other jobs apart from fruit picking, in regional areas, but these do need you to obtain an RSA for bar work, or have skills in office or other jobs to start and do the work worth from the start.
Fruit picking is hard, but it can pay well.
www.fruitpickingjobs.com.au would be something to look up.
There is also the Aust Govt one, fruit picking National Harvest Guide under www.jobsearch.gov.au, for this one you don't have to be on Centrelink assistance.
Adelaide might be a of a boring city, but its very close to the Adelaide Hills where there are many orchards located. Also cheaper city to live in.
Edit: ah, you want public transport, that might be a downer, as in a lot of places, it relies on you having to be on a site on time before sunup, most places don't provide accommodation, and public transport can start either later in the morning, or only drop you off far from the location of the job, the same town but far from the job site.
Don't put hostels out of the equation, as they can save you money staying there, and they have the advantage of job boards, and also where you can slot in with other people who have access to a car but need other pickers.
Houseshare once you are settled down, could be good, but while fruit picking, might just rely on hostels.
April or May, maybe look into other jobs apart from fruit picking.

Bundaberg will be very hot and humid until May, while the suggestion above is probably a good one - the Riverina of NSW + Victoria, and leading to the Riverland of South Australia. These places can also be fiercely hot in Feb-March, but it is a drier inland heat. A lot of citrus, but other crops too.

While I don't actually know when and where the best jobs are per region per month, I would probably wait until about May and investigate it then ... and by then you will have picked up a lot of local savvy and knowledge. So spend Feb-April on the coast (Sydney or the Gold Coast are good).

If you do a search for possby the user "habby" you will find all the official links you need for the Harvest Trail.

Would you guys suggest i head to Adeleide then work my way to Riverlands ? I'm just worried about transport at the moment I know you can't rely on other people that's why I'm basing my search on somewhere more central but obviously it's not always as simple as that. Aus is just so big and I'm basically scratching at the moment trying to decide where to go, I have some flexibility with when I go so that isn't an issue I could postpone it by a month if needed.

I intend on buying a car once I figure out how it's done as it seems very complicated. My initial plan is to just chill for a week or 2 and sort things out like a bank account ECT. I am a qualified painter and decorator of 10 years so I guess I can search in that category of work. I have a 417 visa so hospitality is out of the question.

I'm just really desperate to get the 88 days out of the way so I can enjoy it out there.

Appreciate all your replys

Whyhave you ruled out hospitality on a 417 visa? No reason why you can't do that. Just the same as a painter and decorator.
The 88 days includes other job besides farm work. Its based on regions rather than type of work. I know people who have done pub work in rural areas to get their second visa.

My bad, I was under the impression hospitality only covered a 462 visa and didn't award days towards the the visa extension, although I wouldn't rule it out I'm more of a manual worker who just gets my head down and get on with things.

Check out what postcodes are covered for 2 nd WHV.

Check out what postcodes are covered for 2 nd WHV.

I'm aware of most areas are covered just wondered if anyone had some tips for me or someone to point me in the right direction. Would anyone be able to tell me if starting off in Adelaide would be a good start? I'm gonna try and buy a car then hopefully head to Mildura looking for farm work. If anyone thinks this is good idea I'd like to hear your opinion. Thanks

Adelaide would be a good place to start, as you can make good money, Adelaide Hills has many orchards with apples, pears, cherries, starwberries, no toll roads, and its about half an hour up the freeway, and then turn off to where ever you have to go, or go up Montacute Road, Athelstone way, up into and the Riverland which is about 2 and a bit hours out.
I would not solely rely on public transport for fruit picking work in the Adelaide Hills, ideally get a car ASAP.
But its for you to decide if you can come earlier, as the earlier you do any work in defined regional areas, the earlier you can apply for your 2nd year.
If you have to come a bit later, the opportunities of fruit picking would be gone, and you have to wait to about end of Nov/early Dec 18 or Jan 19 to do your 88 days.
Ideally, if I were you, I would try to get to Australia as early as possible, if you want fruit picking.
Of course, if you have bar skills already, ie, able to mix drinks without asking or checking, or have F & B service skills, then just get an RSA cert and you are then able to do any F & B work anywhere, if you by then do buy a car.
Backpackers hostels in Adelaide are mainly in the CBD or Glenelg, AirBnB is an option too which could be anywhere.