Most affordable road trips Australia: budget adventures

Plan a holiday that won't break the bank with our list of the 6 most affordable road trips in Australia!

We all know how much it can cost to travel Australia. So our team has compiled a range of affordable road trips that include everything from epic outback escapes to coastal cruises and country outings. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like the estimated cost, driving distances, the best season to travel, route maps and much more.

In calculating the estimated cost of each road trip for two people , we’ve included camper hire, campsite fees, entry fees to attractions, food and petrol. We’ve tried to keep things affordable by mentioning as many free attractions as possible so that you can get the most bang for your buck!

The 6 most affordable road trips in Australia

1. Brisbane to Darwin via the Kakadu

Estimated cost: $950 - $2,500 | Total distance: 3,800 km | Recommended days: 8 to 12 days | Best time to do the route: Between May and September | Route Map

Low tourist prices in Outback Queensland and NT mean you can go further for less. Most caravan and holiday parks on this route cost between $15 - $40 per night for a powered campsite. Whilst some attractions such as museums have an average entry fee of about $30, many natural attractions like national parks and hot springs have free entry.

Pick up your motorhome rental in Brisbane and head to Roma, where you can tour the largest cattle-yard in the Southern Hemisphere or enjoy an evening at the Big Rig Night Show. Carry on to Longreach and check out some of the most highly-rated attractions in the Australian Outback, including the Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockman's Hall of Fame.

In Mt Isa, descend deep into the earth on the Hard Times Mine Tour or catch Australia’s most famous rodeo - the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo (every August). Drop by Tennant Creek and learn about the local Warumungu people before visiting the sacred Kunjarra (The Pebbles). And stay a night at the legendary Daly Waters Pub, where you can enjoy a crocodile burger and grab a campsite with a swimming pool for only $10 per night.

Hire a canoe or take a cruise whilst exploring the waterfalls and Aboriginal rock art around Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge (free entry). Then take a soak in the Katherine Hot Springs before jumping aboard the famous Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise the next day. End your road trip with great value Asian cuisine and cold beer on Darwin’s waterfront.

Make life easy for yourself and find all the details in our Brisbane to Darwin road trip guide.

2. Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula

Estimated cost: $500 - $1,500 | Total distance: 1,150 km | Recommended days: 4 to 6 days | Best time to do the route: Between September and February | Route Map

Indulge in some of Australia’s best seafood and aquatic attractions with an affordable road trip along the coastline of the Eyre Peninsula. Powered campsites along this route tend to cost between $25 - $40 per night. Most of the major attractions are nature-based and only cost between $10 - $15 to enter, meaning you can save more for scrumptious seafood dinners.

Grab your motorhome rental in Adelaide and head for Whyalla, home to the only circular jetty in the southern hemisphere and a winter breeding ground for thousands of Giant Cuttlefish. Continue to the cultural hub of Tumby Bay, where the famous painted silos form a 2,200 square foot mural.

Stay in Port Lincoln for a few days, where you can splash out on a great white cage diving experience. Alternatively, you can save your money and spend a day playing in the dunes or frolicking on the beaches of Lincoln National Park.

End your road trip in Streaky Bay or Ceduna, famous for producing some of the world's best seafood. We recommend trying the renowned Eyre Peninsula oysters at the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel, one of the best value eateries in the area.

For more affordable road trip ideas like this, check out our list of the best road trips from Adelaide.

3. Sydney to Central West NSW

Estimated cost: $600 - $2,500 | Total distance: 900 km | Recommended days: 5 to 10 days | Best time to do the route: Between March and August | Route Map

Taste test delicious wines and soak in some history along the way with another one of the most affordable road trips in Australia - an adventure around Central West NSW. Most powered campsites in this region cost about $15 - $35 per night and entrance to major attractions ranges from free to about $45 per adult.

Start by hiring a motorhome in Sydney before winding your way into the World Heritage Blue Mountains, where you can see famous sights like the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls and Leura Cascades for free. Grab a $25 ticket to ride the historic Zig Zag Railway or head straight to Mudgee and enjoy some of the best food and wine in the country.

Dubbo has a tonne of fun and affordable attractions for tourists, including the Western Plains Zoo, Old Dubbo Gaol and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience. The cheapest way to see all three is to buy a Dubbo Region Great Big Adventure Pass, which saves you about 20% on ticket prices.

Drop by the Parkes Observatory or simply wander the streets of beautiful historic country towns like Forbes and Cowra. Stroll through the 4.5-hectare Cook Park in the centre of Orange before taking your camper for a scenic lap around Mount Panorama Racing Circuit (free) in Bathurst.

Want to learn more about the affordable attractions and campsites in this beautiful region? Check out our guide to the best road trip around Central West NSW.

1. Canberra and the NSW Riverina

Estimated cost: $500 - $1,500 | Total distance: 1,000 km | Recommended days: 4 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: Between March and August | Route Map

Dine at some of Australia’s best Italian restaurants and learn about life on the land with an affordable road trip around NSW’s Riverina region. Most powered campsites in this region cost about $20 - $40 per night and entrance to attractions ranges from free to about $40 per adult.

Pick up your hire a motorhome in Canberra and take off to Wagga Wagga, where you can ride the miniature railway around the Botanic Gardens ($4 per person). Then pop along to nearby Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins, where you can walk amongst the historic remains or take a dip in the swimming hole (free entry).

Drop into the Tumut River Brewing Co. and sink one of their craft beers whilst sharing a gourmet pizza for lunch. Stop in at Tumbarumba and try to catch the Boggy Creek Show, a horseback spectacular about Australia’s rugged stockmen. And why not take a horse-drawn cart tour around Altina Wildlife Park, where you’ll spot rhinos, lions, hyenas and tonnes more!

A trip to Griffith isn’t complete without visiting the Pioneer Park Museum, where you can learn about the city’s Italian heritage before heading back to town and enjoying a hot bowl of pasta. End your road trip on a sweet note and treat yourself with some snacks at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory.

Looking for more affordable road trips like this during the cold winter months? Check out our guide to the best NSW winter road trips.

5. The Best of Regional Victoria

Estimated cost: $850 - $2,500 | Total distance: 900 km | Recommended days: 6 to 9 days | Best time to do the route: Between March and August | Route Map

Discover ancient art and modern history on an affordable road trip around regional Victoria. The cost of a powered campsite on this road trip is about $35 - $45 per night and entrance to most attractions ranges from free to about $40 per adult.

Grab your motorhome rental in Melbourne and make your way to the historic gold mining town of Ballarat. Experience what it was like to live in the 1850’s goldfields at Sovereign Hill, where you can pan for real gold in the creek, journey underground on a gold mine tour and loads more. Or relax at Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, which features a six-kilometre walking and cycling track with nice picnic areas.

Devote a day to visiting the heritage-listed Grampians National Park, home to the largest collection of ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings and shelters in southern Australia. Ride the old tramways around Bendigo and jump off at the famous Bendigo Art Gallery, the largest regional gallery in Australia.

Camp on the water's edge in Echuca, where you can ride the historic paddle steamers down the mighty Murray River or take a tour of the Great Aussie Beer Shed. For an artistic experience of a different kind, stop by Shepparton and keep an eye out for the 90 life-sized 3D cows that have been placed around town for the permanent Shepparton Moooving Art exhibition. Each has a style of its own, from Spidercow to Nemocow to Shrekcow!

Want some more affordable road trip ideas from Melbourne? Check out our list of the best road trips in Victoria.

6. Perth to South WA

Estimated cost: $1,500 - $3,500 | Total distance: 1,100 km | Recommended days: 9 to 12 days | Best time to do the route: Between November and April | Route Map

Escape the hustle and bustle of Perth as you explore the coastline of south WA, a land trapped in time. The cost of a powered campsite on this road trip is about $30 - $55 per night and entrance to most attractions ranges from free to about $40 per adult.

Pick up your motorhome rental in Perth and cruise down to Cottesloe Beach or ferry over to Rottnest Island. Less than an hour away you’ll find Fremantle, where you can deep dive into convict history at the UNESCO heritage-listed Fremantle Prison or WA’s oldest building, The Roundhouse.

Bum around in Bunbury for a day, where you can see dolphins swimming just off the beach at Koombana Bay before admiring the 5.5m tall Wardandi Boodja seaside sculpture. If you’re looking for a lazy way to spend your day, why not check out the world-class wineries or white-sand beaches around Margaret River.

Just outside of Walpole, you’ll find the Valley of the Giants, where you can walk amongst red tingle trees whilst floating 40 metres above the forest floor. After that adventure, you’ll want to spend the next few days relaxing on the golden beaches around Denmark before scratching up on your Australian history at the National Anzac Centre in Albany.

Keep an eye out for whales when you visit Bremer Canyon, just outside of sleepy Bremer Bay. And don’t miss Fitzgerald River National Park near Hopetoun, before wrapping things up and heading back to Perth or cutting east across the Nullarbor Plain.

It’s easy to plan this affordable adventure using our guide to the best road trip around South WA.

Hire an affordable van rental for your road trip

Now that you’ve got a few awesome ideas for affordable road trips in Australia, it’s time to arrange your wheels (and accommodation)!

Sort out budget campervan hire with Camplify. Here, holidaymakers can quickly search through privately-owned rentals and find the ideal van for their adventure. Simply enter your pickup location, adjust the pricing filters (plus heaps of other optional filters) and within seconds, you will find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan to keep your road trip affordable!

Plus, before you set off, we recommend that you check out these budgeting tips for travelling with kids!

Want some more road trip inspiration? Check our road trip ideas for couples, as well as these family road trip ideasand guys road trip ideas!

And for more information on hitting the road in your rental vehicle, check out our guide to campervan driving licence requirements.

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