Considered as one of the most captivating countries in the world, Australia is an amazing travel destination to include on your bucket list. You get to see some stunning beaches, experience its cultural richness, and be captivated by the exotic wildlife and exquisite natural wonders it holds. And you get to enjoy all that in the destination’s golden sunshine weather too!
However, experiencing all these remarkable things in Australia is not cheap. The country is an expensive destination to travel to. It’s obviously not the most budget-friendly place to explore if you’re a budget traveler. However, there are still small ways that you could save money while taking a trip to Australia, here are five of them.
Compare airfares
Regardless of your destination, it’s always a smart idea to compare airfares before you get excited about booking one. Thanks to the growing competition, most airfares these days greatly dropped, which you should definitely take advantage of. It also helps if you’ll book a ticket at a time when it’s cheap to travel to Australia. Take note that peak seasons in this country work in reverse to ones in the northern hemisphere. Airfares typically spike during the summer months of December and January.
Be smart with lodging
Sleeping cheap yet comfortable should also be a priority if you want to save money during your trip to Australia. In the country’s reasonably-priced hotels, you can expect a rate per night of around $120 to $250. Be wiser and call on several hotels you’re looking to stay at and check if they have available deals that you can avail of. For a much cheaper option, you can stay at hostels offering dorm beds for about $20 to $40 per night. There are also tons of Airbnb options in the country, but they are not typically cheap.
Get groceries and cook
Now, let’s move on to one of the (possible) biggest expenses for a trip to Australia. You’d want to save as much money as you can during the trip so it’s best to buy your groceries and cook your own food. Shop at the local farmer’s market for more affordable options, preferably during Sundays. You can choose from tons of fresh veggies and fruits, fermented foods, pastries, and bread.
Most markets and groceries here also sell a wealth of Asian foods and items, which you shouldn’t miss out on. Another suggestion to save money on food? Buy seasonings and sauces that you can use in a wide variety of meals. For example, you can buy a Filipino fish sauce that can work on numerous recipes. You can use it for grilled chicken thighs, meatloaf, or even burgers. Be resourceful with your food items and you can surely save a hundred more dollars.
Enjoy the free things
Once you’re in the country, you don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars to explore. In fact, there are tons of free things for you to enjoy. For one, you can get free entrance to the permanent collections of museums such as Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, and Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Looking to go camping too? There are free spots for campsites without facilities. If you’re looking to have a BBQ party, there are many parks around the country that offer free BBQ facilities. You can also take advantage of free walking tours in Melbourne and Sydney by taking free ferries and buses—just make sure to do your research to not miss out on these!
Travel independently
This suggestion is obviously not for everyone. But if you don’t mind traveling to Australia independently, you can surely save a few more bucks on the trip. Tours in this destination are usually expensive. If you’re lucky enough, you can find nature tours and outdoor activities with free or small admission fees. There are different activities such as snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef or the popular Sydney Bridge Climb that offers a reasonable price to joiners of day trips.
Another way to save more cash is to book a package of these activities and sightseeing trips. Most of these already come with transportation and accommodation, which is ideal if you’re traveling alone and don’t want the hassle of booking everything one by one.
Whether you’re looking to camp for days surrounded by wildlife, go diving at the Great Barrier Reef, or sunbathe in Australia’s stunning beaches, there’s no doubt your trip would be fantastic and memorable. Just don’t forget to follow our tips here so that you could save a few bucks for, who knows, your next trip.
