4 Aussie Road Trips To Take On A Budget

Our Sunburnt Country is a vast and diverse one, with a unique range of landscapes and environments to explore. From the lush rainforests of the tropical north to the rugged, windswept coastlines of the south, there are so many amazing road trips to take—the hardest part is choosing where to go first! If you’re on a budget, it’s important to plan wisely so as not to break the bank. Here’s a few top picks for the wallet wise…

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Iconic, essential, affordable. Not only is the Great Ocean Road one of the most beautiful and travelled paths in the country, it can also be one of the most cost effective. The winding coastal road is best known as the home of the breathtaking Twelve Apostles, a series of towering limestone stacks precariously jutting out of the wild Southern Ocean. These star attractions make the route a popular one for backpackers, so there’s a range of budget accommodations to be found along the way.

Brisbane To Darwin Via The Kakadu

Outback Queensland and the Northern Territory are both renowned as being rich in reasonably priced tourist trails. Caravan and holidays parks can cost as little as $15 for a powered site for the night, plus there’s a barrage of free natural attractions and iconic outback must-sees along this particular route too.

Roma’s Big Rig Night Show, The Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, and Mt Isa’s Hard Times Mine Tour are all worth the small outlay, while the $16 Daly Waters Pub powered caravan site hits the spot twice for outback charm and savings. Then, it’s onto the glorious (and free) Nitmilk National Park, Katherine Gorge, and Hot Springs. Keep your peepers peeled for crocs before you dive in!

Ferguson Valley, Western Australia

The less showy sibling of famed Margaret River stands tall in her own right with an impressive 20 or so wineries, a couple of breweries, and a slew of attractions at the right price. You can’t visit Ferguson Valley without stopping by cute and quirky Gnomesville. What started as in the 90s as a single gnome in a tree has grown to encompass around 10,000 gnomes that have been marked and placed by visitors from all over the world.

The nature attractions in this region are not only impressive, but free as the air you breathe! Wellington National Park, Dam and Honeymoon Pool, Dardinup Heritage Park and Trail, Donybrook, the Eastern Foreshore Walk—you can walk, ride, picnic and play to your heart’s content.

Sydney To Brisbane Via The Pacific Coast

It’s one of the most accessible routes in the country, and as such one of the easiest road trips to manage on a budget. Stretching over 900kms along the glorious south-eastern coastal corridor of New South Wales, this journey really has it all—beautiful beaches, lush hinterland, wildlife, wineries and so much water! Plus, there are plenty of accommodations and eateries along the road to suit any and all price points.

And an extra tip for the budget conscious… a ticket in the current Mater Cars for Cancer lottery might just land you your very own 4WD, caravan and a pile of gold! Now that’s savvy! Come on… take a look!