Australia is constantly ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Destinations in the World, and rightly so!

It’s big, it’s beautiful, and it has much to offer the intrepid traveller, which is perhaps why it attracts some 9 million visitors each year, but for us Europeans, it’s a long way to go for a two-week holiday, and if you want to spend more time sightseeing and less time travelling, you really need to save up your annual leave, fill up your savings account, and allow at least 4 – 6 weeks for a trip of a lifetime Down Under.

While it would be nice to say that Australia is a ‘cheap’ travel destination, sadly, it is not.  In major cities such as Perth, Sydney, Cairns, and Melbourne, you can expect to pay a whole lot more for accommodations and food than you would in central Europe, and with the average pint of domestic beer costing around $8 Australian Dollars (£4.50), it’s perhaps not the best destination for those looking to party…! But should you still visit? Most definitely!

It is possible to travel around Australia without spending a fortune, and if you plan your itinerary wisely, you can save a fortune on domestic airfares, but the first thing you need to decide is how you are going to travel. The two most popular options here are Self Driving Australia and staying in hotels/motels/guesthouses overnight or renting a Camper Van.

Touring Australia in a Camper Van

For many people, touring around Australia in a Camper Van with nothing more than your favourite travel buddy, a faded map, and your old kit bag is a dream come true… but it’s not for everyone.  Australia is one of the best places in the world for this type of holiday, and all the popular tourist destinations welcome Camper Vans with open arms, but it’s not quite as ‘carefree’ as one might imagine, and you cannot just drive to your heart’s content and park wherever you like.

Different states have different rules when it comes to Camper Van Parking, and while there are free camping areas available, they are few and far between, and of course, they do not provide access to things like running water and electricity. Staying in an official Camper Site or National Park will cost you anywhere between $30 and $80 Australian Dollars per night, and so you need to figure this into your costing when planning your trip. Along with fuel costs, parking fees, and road tolls.

Self-Drive Australia

When weighing up the costs of your trip to Australia, you may think that renting a Camper Van is the more economical option, but that isn’t necessarily so. Renting a car is much cheaper than renting a camper, and when you take campground fees into consideration, you could find that staying in local guesthouses and motels actually works out cheaper.

Its much easier to find parking for a regular car than a camper van, and of course, you’ll get to sleep in a freshly made bed every night and take a long hot shower before hitting the open road, but with this type of trip, you really need to book your accommodations in advance, particularly if you are travelling in high season, and so it might not afford the same amount of freedom and flexibility as a Camper Van adventure.

Whichever option you choose, your trip to Australia is sure to be one you’ll never forget, and with careful planning before you leave home, your travel budget will go a whole lot further!