Australia is sometimes not the cheapest place to travel to. For those that live in Australia, it can also be an expensive place to travel around, even for family holidays or weekend getaways. It is for this reason that many escape to places overseas such as Bali, as a holiday to Indonesia can be cheaper than a trip to the Gold Coast. It doesn’t have to be that way though, and there are still many cheap places to travel in Australia.
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Today, I’ve put together my list of the best cheap places to travel in Australia. I’ve made this list from my own personal experience, as well as a little bit of research to make sure I’m still barking up the right tree, if you know what I mean! Things change pretty rapidly in the tourism industry, and in this day and age they change pretty darn fast. For that reason I have tried my best to include “evergreen” budget destinations on this list. In other words, places that you can always find a good travel deal!
Another criteria I have used here is that most of these places are regularly featured on flight deals from Capital Cities. I’m talking “dirt cheap” deals if you catch them at the right times!
So, here is my quick list of cheap places to travel in Australia.
Table of Contents
- Hobart, Tasmania
- Cairns, Queensland
- Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
- Fraser Island, Queensland
- Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Launceston, Tasmania
- Newcastle, New South Wales
- Albany, Western Australia
- Summary
Hobart, Tasmania
The Capital City of Tasmania is one that has often been overlooked by travelers in Australia. Not so much in the modern day though, as people are searching more and more for cheap places to travel in Australia. Hobart has well and truly shot onto the local radar as not just a cheap place to travel, but also one of the cheapest places to live.
So why would you want to travel to Hobart? Well, let’s start with the beautiful natural scenery. The city sits on the banks of the Derwent River, and is surrounded by stunning hills and mountains. Add to that the rich cultural history, and historic buildings and landmarks such as Battery Point and the Salamanca Markets, and a trip to Hobart suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.
Hobart also has a thriving arts and culture scene, which comes as a surprise to many visitors. The city has many galleries and museums, festivals that run all year round, and a food and wine scene that make other Capital Cities jealous!
If you are looking for a great getaway to somewhere different within Australia, you couldn’t do much better than Hobart.
Cairns, Queensland
Many visitors to North Queensland somehow overlook Cairns, and I never really understood why. Instead, they head to Port Douglas, or to an island in the Whitsundays. Somehow, somewhere along the line Cairns seemed to become the poor cousin of the Queensland travel industry.
I’m here today to tell you that that’s a load of tripe, and Cairns is actually a stunning place to visit, and has made the perfect base for myself and my family on more than one occasion. Plus, it’s cheaper than other glitzier locations such as Port Douglas so – win win!
Traditionally, for people from North Queensland, Cairns has been their gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Nothing has changed here, and visitors can take a cruise out to see the best marine life in the world, 7 days a week. There is also Green Island only a short trip away that boasts some of the best snorkeling and diving around!
To the north lie beautiful Port Douglas, and the indomitable and ancient Daintree Rainforest. West of the CBD, towering over the city are the mountains and the visually stunning Atherton Tableland. A drive up to Kuranda , or better still a trip on the Kuranda Railway HAS to be on every Australian’s bucket list!
From the glimmering blue ocean and incredible reef, to deep impenetrable rainforests, Cairns really has it all, and deserves its place in this list of cheap places to travel in Australia.
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Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Coffs Harbour is often overlooked, or more probably doesn’t even touch the radar, of most travelers in Australia.
This unassuming city sits on the mid north coast of New South Wales, jammed up against beautiful beaches and blue waters by the mountains to its West. With only 80k residents, Coffs Harbour completely flies under the radar of nearly everyone, expect those that stumble across it as they make the drive from Sydney to Brisbane.
But Coffs Harbour is one of those sleepy towns that tourism ran away from. You see, back in the days before motorways and bypasses, the drive from Sydney to Brisbane took in excess of 12 to 14 hours. Coffs Harbour was the mid way point, and the motor inns on the edge of the CBD thrived. Now, that drive takes many hours less, and the crowds have petered away.
What remains is a real Hidden Gem of a city that is still as wonderful as it always was. Great surf, white sandy beaches, wildlife conservation areas and a sub tropical climate make Cairns an almost perfect getaway location. Throw in some of the best fishing on the East Coast, and a line up of great resorts just beyond the famous Big Banana, and I predict Coffs Harbour will once again become a must visit location again soon.
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Fraser Island, Queensland
Fraser island has always been a mecca for 4wd enthusiasts from Queensland and beyond. The world’s largest sand island has a drawcard that just can’t be denied when it comes to incredible beach driving, fishing and camping.
This incredible destination has also been slowly emerging as one of the best cheap places to travel in Australia for the average tourist as well. Largely, this has come about as its popularity has spread beyond the stunning beaches, and Fraser Island’s beautiful lakes, lush rainforests and unique eco system has taken the limelight.
Those seeking a budget travel destination have also discovered what the 4wd enthusiasts always knew as well – that camping is dirt cheap on the island. Taking away the accommodation costs drastically reduces the bottom line on any trip, so it’s no wonder that Fraser Island is beginning to see the popularity it has always deserved.
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Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Whenever there are flight specials in Australia these days, it seems that Alice Springs is ALWAYS on sale. So why wouldn’t you go there? And we all know the main attraction about a trip to the Red Center right?
Ayers Rock, or Uluru as is its traditional name, is an attraction for all travelers, international and domestic, and holds a special place in the hearts of all Australians. For this reason, nearly everyone in the country has it high on their bucket list of things to see and do at least once in their lives.
Alice Springs is the gateway to getting to Uluru, and itself is a thriving town that sits in the shadow of the great rock. And Uluru is not the only thing to see and do if you come to Alice Springs. There are other natural attractions as well, such as the stunning King’s Canyon and Kata Tjuta, which are major, incredible destinations in their own right.
In Alice Springs you can ride in a hot air balloon, swim in natural fresh water swimming pools, or take your time hiking through gorgeously stunning landscapes. It is as unique as it is amazing. So why not take advantage of those cheap flights, and check it out on your next long weekend?
Launceston, Tasmania
For a state as small as Tasmania, having two places on this list of cheap places to travel in Australia might seem strange. The truth is, Tasmania simply offers amazing value for money!
Launceston is only 200km away from Hobart, meaning that if you have more than a weekend available to you, then you can easily explore them both on the one trip. If you happen to be a foodie though, you may want to schedule more than a day or two in Launceston. With its laid back and casual atmosphere, the city is the perfect place to test out the culinary delights on offer. For wine lovers that goes double, as the Tamar Valley Wine Trail lies temptingly close by.
For nature lovers, the gorgeous Cataract Gorge is only a few minutes from the city center, or less than a half hour walk. Check out the stunning scenery via the chairlift, or hike, swim and explore to your heart’s content. This amazing gorge has to be the closest you will get a major city to a location such as this.
Launceston is almost the perfect place for a weekend getaway, with the entire place able to be explored in a short time, and that time will pack in a lot!
Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle sits only a couple hours north of Sydney, and has therefore always suffered in the shadow of the NSW Capital. Known for so many years as simply an industrial town, nothing could be further from the truth these days.
I lived in Newcastle for many years, and I must say it was nice to live in such a gem of a location, and never have to worry about tourist crowds. We had it lucky, but in recent times that luck is starting to catch up to Newcastle. Travelers and local tourists are catching onto the facts that Newcastle has the most beautiful beaches in NSW, with some of the most consistent surf, and people are taking notice.
The stunning coastline isn’t all that Newcastle has going for it though. Foodies love the city as well, with two distinct areas within the Central area boasting wonderful restaurants, pubs, cafes and nightlife. Delicious food and a bustling atmosphere is just the start of it, and on busy weekends you may even struggle to find a free table!
Newcastle is also the official gateway to the famous Hunter Valley, home to some of the best wines in Australia. To the north you will find Port Stephens, an incredible aquatic playground and itself a true hidden gem location.
If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of big cities like Sydney, then consider checking out Newcastle instead. Flights are cheap, and its only a short drive away up the freeway if you have a car. You might be very surprised!
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is an amazing, if not small and unassuming town located on the very South Western tip of Australia. It is an anomaly in Western Australia, a state dominated by desert landscapes and soaring temperatures. In contrast, Albany only sees Summer temperatures peaking in the low 20’s, and the rest of the year bring chilly and often wet conditions. Don’t let this put you off though, because it’s not exactly the weather that is the major drawcard here.
Albany is a small town, with a main street that runs directly down to the deep blue harbour. The coast in each direction is resplendent with start white sand beaches that are simply gorgeous, and a rugged coastline that has to be seen to be believed. Indeed, it is the natural formations of rocky outcrops and eroded cliffs that attract most tourists to the area.
The most famous of these are the Natural Bridge, an immense rocky “bridge” that sees the ocean crashing through the arch below, and “The Gap”, a spectacular channel carved into the 40m high cliffs by the surging Southern Ocean.
Albany is a place that you may only visit once in your lifetime, even if you are an Australian. Just make sure that you at LEAST visit it once in your lifetime.
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Summary
Even though travel in Australia has become expensive in recent years, you can still find places to fit your budget. With airfare deals coming out every day, you can always find somewhere that will neatly fit the bill. I’m certain that you will find something in this list of cheap places to travel in Australia that you can plan to check out on your next holiday.
FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION check out this article from the King of Budget travel, Nomadic Matt about how much to budget if you are traveling Australia.
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