They replace the migration of grey nomads, who travel north to escape the bitter cold, but can't take the heat that arrives in September and really hits in October.

There are whispers that even more young travellers are hitting the Northern Territory as some work in Queensland has dried up with the drought.

Brandon Wilson and his partner, joined the convoy passing through Katherine just in time to secure a job at a mango farm, which is expected to start tomorrow.

Unsure if he'll be sweltering in a packing room, or under the beating sun picking mangoes from the trees, he says regardless, he's ready.

He is on his way to Western Australia, and with Katherine an unavoidable stop on the way, decided to take advantage of the ample jobs going.

Just 88 days of work here will also secure him another year on his 417 working holiday visa.

"Farms attract backpackers," the 22-year-old said.

"We were heading this way. We take it week by week in the van, so when we heard there was work going it was an obvious choice to stop."

From the UK, he has made his way to Australia country by country, picking up the odd job on his way to fund his travels.

He can lay claim to working in about 30 different jobs in just the past few years, and has mastered the skills needed to adapt to most environments.

"I've done everything from working in the most beautiful places in the world to picking up trash in New Zealand.

"I have heard some things about [mango picking] though, that it is hard work in the sun, lots of long, good hours, and a short and sweet season.

"I am going in with an open mind, I am already getting used to the heat."

The manager of Katherine's Visitor Information Centre Annika Berendes said there has been a surprising shift in Katherine's tourism, with a rapid spike in backpacker numbers at the beginning of the school holidays, and a drop in grey nomads.

"Lunch time is our busiest time, and our tables are filled with backpackers working out where they are going to stay or what they are going to do," she said.

"A few weeks ago there were about 70 jobs going for mango picking, but no one knows when packing will start exactly - it has been pushed back a bit."

While the arrival might appear as welcome news for backpacker hostels, the majority have travelled up in vans and are choosing to park at designated road-side stops or campgrounds.

The manager of Palm Court Backpackers said it had been a slow start to the season with an abundance of free rooms.

"We have a few people who are long term residents and a few that are working on mango farms, but I think the rest are camping."

For Brandon and his partner, who are hopefully starting work tomorrow, it is looking to be a hot first day.

The temperature is tipped to reach a scorching 40 degrees, with zero chance of a cool change.

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