Australia is a dream destination for many travellers, offering stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and unique wildlife. However, it can also be an expensive place to visit. With a bit of planning and some smart choices, you can make your trip more affordable. Here are 20 tips to save money while traveling in Australia.
What a day actually costs
Before the tips, a baseline. What you spend depends almost entirely on how you sleep and how you move:
- Ultra-budget — own vehicle, free camping, cooking everything: AUD 40–60 a day
- Backpacker standard — hostel dorms or a campervan, mostly self-catering, occasional paid site: AUD 90–140 a day
- Comfortable — hire car, private rooms, eating out regularly, paid activities: AUD 180–250 a day
Full breakdown by category: cost of travel in Australia.
Flights & Planning Hacks
Booking your plane ticket is an important – and expensive – step when preparing for your trip to Australia. Luckily, there are a few tricks that can save you money on your journey.
- Book international flights 6–12 months ahead, with Sunday flights often cheapest. Avoid school holiday periods.
- Be flexible: Ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week you travel. Tickets are usually cheaper during the week compared to weekends, and early morning or late evening/night-time flights are cheaper than late morning, afternoon and early evening flights. Avoid school holidays, Bank Holidays etc if you want to save money.
- Travel during the Off-Season: Traveling during the off-peak season (May to August) can save you money on flights, accommodations, and activities, as prices are generally lower.
- Use fare alerts on Skyscanner, Google Flights or Going (ex‑Scott’s Cheap Flights) to track deals.
Save on Money transfers
To transfer money to Australian dollars without paying huge bank fees, you can use companies that specialise in international money transfer, like Wise or CurrencyFair.
The saving is bigger than most people assume, because banks make their margin on the exchange rate rather than the visible fee. On a transfer of AUD 3,000, the gap between a bank rate and a specialist rate typically runs to AUD 60–120 — money that simply disappears without ever appearing as a charge. Over a year, with several transfers, it adds up to a week’s budget.
💸 Transfer Money to Australia
Save money when transferring money to or from Australia.
Take out Travel Insurance
Having comprehensive travel insurance for your trip to Australia is essential. You never know when you could get sick or have an accident, and if that happens, you could be hit with a huge medical bill. The pandemic was proof that you should always expect the unexpected!
It’s sometimes cheaper to sign up for a full year’s coverage rather than going month by month.
💸 10% discount on your insurance policy
Find here all the information you need and get your 10% Go walkabout promo code for any policy.
Get the Best Deal on a Car
If you’re buying a car in Australia, make your purchase during the low season (March–August). During this time, there aren’t as many backpackers arriving and looking for a vehicle, so prices are lower. During the high season, lots of backpackers will be looking to buy cars, vans and 4WDs, so if you sell your vehicle during this time you might even make a profit. Also think about where you are going to fly into – some cities will have better deals than others!
🚗 A vehicle ready the day you land
If you’d rather skip the search, Backpacker Cars sell cars, vans and 4WDs already fitted out for the road — mechanically checked, paperwork sorted, available in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. You collect it on arrival instead of spending your first fortnight on Gumtree.
🚨 Our readers get one year of free roadside assistance with the code BACKPACKERS
Read more: Choosing and buying a vehicle
Save on Fuel
The price of petrol in Australia varies significantly. In some remote parts of Australia, you’ll find petrol for $2.50 a litre! In contrast, you’ll find petrol for around $1.80/L in some regions and cities. So make sure you fill up your vehicle wherever you can get the cheapest price – even if that means filling a jerry can and bringing it with you!
Also, keep your receipts when shopping at Coles or Woolworths! Participating stations will allow you to earn between 4 and 8c per litre of fuel.
Another option is to use the App 7Eleven where you can lock the price of petrol for 24hours.
Travel without a car
Travelling around Australia without owning a car is definitely doable, and several alternative modes of transport are available to you. Save money by using public transportation such as buses, trains, and trams. Many cities offer affordable travel passes for tourists.
For longer distances, Carpooling is a good option. Many travellers offer lifts to others to reduce fuel costs. You can find people to carpool with in Facebook groups and on dedicated carpooling websites. Normally you will be expected to contribute to the cost of fuel for the trip.
Transport: Choose Wisely
- In Queensland, subsidies bring public transport rides to as low as AUD 0.50/trip.
- In major cities: train fares run AUD 2.70–9.20/trip (Opal, Myki, Go Card).
- Bus or tram passes, bike rentals, or walking are cheaper than rideshare.
- Bus travel over flights/carn in regional areas or van rental can be cost-effective.
🚐 5% Discount with Travellers Autobarn
Travellers Autobarn is offering a 5% discount to Australia Backpackers Guide readers with promo code GUIDEEN
Food & Drink: Eat Smart
Self-cooking is your biggest saver. Supermarket meals cost AUD 60–80/week.
Casual meals like cafes or food courts: AUD 12–25 per meal; pub meals AUD 20–35.
Tap water is free; carry a refill bottle.
Shop seasonal produce, use loyalty apps (like Flybuys, Woolworths Rewards), and buy house brands to stretch your budget.
Also, don’t forget small local producers who sell their produce on the roadside, who operate based on trust. They display their prices, you take what you need and leave money in a box provided for this purpose.
Buy fresh produce and other essentials at local markets, which are often cheaper than supermarkets.
Get a cheaper Phone Plan
Time for you to choose a new operator. Way cheaper than its rivals, Aldi Mobile is the Australian low cost company. You will have the opportunity to choose between different offers like “Pay as you go” of some value packs going for $15 to $45.
Choose your mobile network and the plan that best suits you. Aldi Mobile and Amaysim are among the cheapest phone networks available. Aldi Mobile uses Telstra coverage, and you can choose between Pay as You Go or their “Value Pack”. Amaysim uses the Optus network, and its coverage isn’t as good in regional Australia as Telstra’s is.
Go camping
Being independent and having the right equipment will save you a lot of money during your road trip. Having a camper van equipped with a cooker and cooking utensils will save you eating out all the time. A solar shower can also be a good buy if you want to avoid paying for a campsite just to use the shower. Avoid campsites you have to pay for when you can – instead, look for “rest areas” that offer free parking. You can also use the free BBQs that are available in most towns in Australia, and when it’s hot, you can use the free showers that are often found beside beaches.
Australia has numerous national parks with affordable camping facilities. Camping is a great way to save money and immerse yourself in nature.
Shop second-hand
The second-hand market is huge in Australia. Second-hand shops like Vinnies, Salvation Army, Red Cross and Op shop, are everywhere and will often have everything you need for just a few dollars. Whether you’re looking for camping gear, clothes, or equipment, they are always worth a look. If you prefer to shop online, Gumtree is a good option, as is Facebook Marketplace.
Bargain stores like Target, K-Mart and Big W are also great for saving money. They have all the necessary equipment for travel and road tripping, from cameras to water cans.
Hardware stores can also be great places to find deals, especially when fitting out your vehicle. You can, for example, find scrap wood in stores like Bunnings or Mitre 10.
Save on Cigarettes / Alcohol
Australia has some of the highest cigarette prices in the world, a pack routinely costs more than a decent meal. Rolling your own and buying at supermarkets rather than newsagents helps, but there’s no way around the tax.
Rent a cheap campervan
There are a few things you should know if you want to save money on renting a campervan in Australia. First of all, avoid renting in small towns because the prices will be higher and you will have less choice. Also be aware that prices will increase depending on supply and demand, so you’re better off booking well in advance and travelling during the low season.
If you’re traveling with friends, consider renting together and sharing the cost. This can be cheaper than individual public transport tickets for longer trips.
🚐 Cheap Campervan Rental
All our tips & tricks for renting a cheap campervan in Australia! Practical hacks, online comparison sites, promo codes, and more.
Get tax back on purchases when leaving Australia
Need a new device, like a GoPro, computer or camera? Buy it in Australia at least 60 days before you leave the country and keep your receipts. You can then request a GST refund, which is equivalent to VAT (10%).
Read more: Get your GST back when leaving Australia
File your Tax return
When filling out your tax return, remember that work-related expenses (eg, work uniform, tools etc) can be deducted from your income, so you will pay less tax overall. Again, keep your receipts for these items!
Read more: Tax return in Australia
Try WWOOFing / HelpX / Couchsurfing
A good way to see more of Australia, meet locals and save some money is to try volunteering! Some websites like WWOF Australia and HelpX offer you the chance to work a few hours a day in exchange for accommodation and sometimes food or even a little cash. It’s a good way to travel without breaking the bank.
Couchsurfing allows you to stay with locals for free. It’s a great way to save on accommodation and experience Australian hospitality firsthand.
Read more: Volunteering in Australia: Wwoofing & HelpX
Pick up Some free food
In some big cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Hobart, you may occasionally find events organised by societies, where food is given away for free in bars or restaurants. These meals are usually vegetarian or vegan and are often cooked using unsold products from supermarkets. You are encouraged to make a donation so they can continue to offer this service to others.
On weekends, shops like Bunnings often have $3 sandwiches!
Download Money-saving Apps
Some food apps like the McDonald’s food app will allow you to save money – for example, $2 coffees, 20% off your next order, etc.
Take advantage of free Activities & Experiences
Australia has many free attractions, including beaches, national parks, museums, and galleries. Plan your itinerary around these cost-free activities.
Many cities offer free walking tours led by knowledgeable guides. These tours are a great way to learn about the city’s history and culture without spending a dime.
You can also join free community events, festivals, and activities. Check local listings and tourism websites for events happening during your visit.
Travel longer, not faster
The biggest savings aren’t tricks — they’re decisions about how you travel:
- Do one region properly instead of three badly. Constant internal flights and long drives are what wreck backpacker budgets. A month in Queensland costs a fraction of a month zigzagging the continent, and you’ll see more of it.
- Travel off-peak. May to August, and September to November, bring lower prices on flights, beds and tours — and fewer people everywhere.
- Work as you go. This is the real advantage of the Working Holiday visa: stopping for six weeks of paid work funds three months of travel. Most people who “travel Australia cheaply” are simply working part of the time.
- Use a card with no foreign transaction fees, and open an Australian bank account early. Paying 3% on every purchase for a year is an expensive habit.
- Get the free apps that actually work here: WikiCamps for free and cheap campsites, FuelMap or your state’s fuel app for petrol prices, Too Good To Go for discounted food, and Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for second-hand gear.
