Budgeting for a Lap Around Australia

It can feel overwhelming when you start thinking about how much it will cost to do a lap of Australia. It really depends on how long you’re travelling and the way you like to travel. After living on the road for three years, I’ve broken down all the major ongoing costs you’ll need to consider so you can work out a budget that suits you.

Weekly Costs

Fuel – This will be your biggest expense and one you have the least control over. Costs vary depending on how far you’re driving and where you are. Fuel in some remote outback towns can be almost double the price in the cities. If you travel at a slower pace, you might only need to fill up once a week, but on long driving days in the outback, expect to fill up 3–5 times. On average, we would fill up once a week, which cost us around $150.

Groceries – Another large expense, but one you can control more depending on what you cook. Your weekly grocery budget will be roughly what you spend at home if you make the same meals. On the road, we budgeted pretty hard and often cooked simple but filling dishes like fried rice or pesto pasta. Always stock up in towns with a Coles or Woolworths if you can, as remote areas are very expensive. Our weekly shop was also around $150.

Accommodation – This is where you’ll be able to save a lot of money depending on your setup and where you stay.

• Free campsites and roadside rest stops aren’t always the prettiest or most comfortable, but they save a lot of money.

• National park and council campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $30 per night and are also a great option.

• Caravan parks are more comfortable but are getting increasingly expensive, averaging $40 to $70 per night.

We would aim to stay at free campsites or rest stops most nights and plan our days accordingly, weaving in a caravan park once or twice a week for a bit of comfort. Make sure to have the WikiCamps app to filter for free and low-cost campsites.

Eating Out – Eating out adds up quickly. We kept this to a minimum and set ourselves a weekly budget for cafés, bars, or restaurants. For us, this was $50 per week, but it will depend on what you value most.

Alcohol – This is also where we saved a lot of money. A lot of travellers like to end the day watching the sunset with a beer or two. If you like to enjoy a drink, you can budget around $50 a week for alcohol. We are not big drinkers so we were able to budget $0 for this.

Monthly Bills – Remember to factor in phone and internet, car insurance, registration, and any streaming services you pay for monthly.

Tours and Experiences – At the end of the day, a lap around Australia is a once in a lifetime experience, so some activities are worth splurging on. Think swimming with whale sharks in Exmouth or scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef. These big tours can cost $200–$600 per person but can easily be balanced out with free activities like hikes, waterfalls, and beaches. Some states are more expensive for tours. For us, Queensland was the most expensive due to Great Barrier Reef tours and island visits, while South Australia was cheaper because most attractions were free.

Car Maintenance and Repairs – With all the driving you’ll do, plan a service around every 10,000 kilometres. Costs vary depending on your vehicle. For our Toyota HiAce van, a service costs $300–$500, and for our 4WD Troop Carrier, $600–$800. Unexpected repairs can happen, so it’s best to have money set aside. Roadside assistance is also essential, and for about $300 a year, you’re covered for towing which will save you thousands in remote areas.

Average Monthly Spending

To give you an idea, our average monthly spending was around $2,500 for the two of us. This excludes unexpected car costs and big-ticket items like tours, but it covers fuel, groceries, accommodation, and daily expenses.