Australia is a bit on the expensive side when it comes to touring, even for locals. But if you plan on road tripping across the continent, don’t let your low budget keep you at home. Here are several tips that will keep costs down when you are travelling in Australia on a budget:
Drive in a Campervan
There are so many benefits to travelling Australia in a campervan. First, it’s a new experience that’s quite different from driving around in a car. More importantly, you can avoid expensive hotel costs when you have a campervan to sleep in. You don’t have to buy a campervan either. Service providers like Hit the Road offer excellent rates for campervan rentals that budget users can benefit from.
Save up on Fuel Costs with Coupons
One great way to reduce the fuel costs of road tripping across Australia is the discount coupon. If you shop at supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles, you can get coupons for fuel discounts for spending a certain amount. Save your receipts to get those discounts. You can save up to 10 cents per litre with these discounts. It may not be much at a first glance, but the savings will accumulate when you are driving hundreds of kilometres.
Avoid Popular Caravan Parks During the Peak Tourist Season
The prices of major caravan parks, like those offered by Top Parks, rapidly increase during the holiday season. So if you want to save money, avoid these parks when everyone else wants to go there. Instead, choose a free campsite or a known budget park. On the other hand, you can get great rates for major caravan parks off season.
Find Free Camping
Free camping in Australia is limited, but not nonexistent. You can check out sites like Wiki Camps and Explore Australia to search free camping sites. You can park and camp for free, but don’t expect amenities like you find in paid camping sites. Therefore, if you are an amateur camper or have kids, you might be better off at a paid site.
Pack Your Own Meals
Eating out at restaurants can easily become very expensive. Therefore, the best way to save money on food is to pack your own meals. Buy supplies at a local supermarket, which will always be cheaper, and make meals. Buy tinned food and preserved items to store without refrigeration. This way is always cheaper than eating out.
Eat at Clubs or Shopping Malls
In case you do need to eat out at some point, you can find cheaper meals at places designated as clubs. For example, local surf clubs or bowling clubs occasionally host lunches and dinners. The prices are typically cheaper than what you find at restaurants. Shopping mall food court meals are also much cheaper compared to restaurants.
Avoid Alcohol
If you want a glass of wine with a meal or want to go out for drinking at pubs, then expect your budget to drain like a leaky bucket. Alcohol is expensive in Australia and can easily take out a chunk of your budget. You can get cheap drinks during happy hours at pubs, but these are very rare because of local legislation. Therefore, avoid buying alcohol during your road trip. Just in case you need some pick-me-up during the trip, pack cans of beer or cheap wine you can get at a supermarket near your home. Otherwise, avoid drinking for cost reasons.
If you follow the above tips, you will be able to significantly reduce many costs associated with road trips.
