Travel is often seen as an expensive luxury. But there are ways to experience that luxury on a budget both in Australia and internationally — without the need for a holiday loan. To help you decide on the best holiday spot and make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, we’ve made a list of all of the cheap places to travel both nationally and internationally. Read on for the perfect holiday spots within your budget.
Overview:
- Australia’s best destinations on a budget
- Cheap places to travel overseas from Australia
- How to have the cheapest holiday
Australia’s best destinations on a budget
When you’re looking for a cheap place to travel to, save your wallet by going domestic! You can travel without a passport and get to know the place you call home a little better. Here are our favourite cheap destinations in each state and territory.
1. Great Keppel Island, Queensland — cheap and fun place to travel
Queensland has a lot of cheap places to travel to, but if we had to pick one, our favourite would be Great Keppel Island. It boasts 17 beaches, gorgeous snorkelling spots, quiet coves and more!
There are some awesome accommodation packages at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway, starting at just $570 for a two nights’ stay with return ferry fares and meal package included. You can go even cheaper and bring an esky of groceries and glamp in the Great Keppel Holiday Village starting at $140 a night.
The ferry is just a 30 minute ride from Rosslyn Bay, a few minutes from the central Queensland town of Yeppoon. So why not extend your holiday and explore the beaches, infinity pool, caves, and national parks there?
2. Orange, New South Wales
New South Wales is a state full of diverse natural beauty, but one of the best places to go without having to compromise on scenery or experiences is Orange.
Filled with vineyards, Orange is perfect for foodies and wine lovers. You can find deals for wine tours and wine tastings on platforms like RedBalloon or in accommodation packages. Break up those more expensive activities with nature walks and picnics.
If you love Orange, there are so many other great wine regions in Australia to put on your bucket list.
3. Avalon, Victoria — beautiful place to travel for cheap
Even though Avalon is only a 50 minute drive from Melbourne, it has its own airport, making it a lot cheaper to travel to than Melbourne. As one of Australia’s most popular cities, there are so many cheap things to do in Melbourne if you want to add it to the itinerary.
Avalon is the perfect jumping off point for a road trip on the Great Ocean Road, which is famous for the natural wonders of the 12 Apostles, Bells Beach, Apollo Bay and so much more.
4. Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Known for being Australia’s driest state, South Australia still has a coastline as beautiful as the rest of the country. If you’re looking for an adventure, check out the gorgeous Kangaroo Island. The ferry to the island is more on the expensive side, but its activities are what makes it a cheap place to travel to. Check out:
- Remarkable Rocks
- Raptor Domain
- Seal Bay
- Admirals Arch
- Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park
You can find travel deals on Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance and South Australia Holiday Deals.
5. Kununurra, Western Australia – cheap and amazing place to travel
Western Australia is best known as the dusty wonderland of Australia.. There are plenty of deals to be found for the Golden State, especially for Kununurra. The beauty of Kununurra is that it’s in the heart of untouched wilderness, serving as a base for surrounding locations like Lake Argyle, Mitchell Falls, and El Questro.
Other activities and attractions in Kununurra that won’t break the bank include Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Molly Springs, and Mirima National Park.
6. Great Eastern Drive Road Trip, Tasmania
Tasmania is a stunning place to travel with a young family. It’s the most affordable state in Australia for cost of living, making it one of the best cheap places to travel to, especially if you’re coming from Sydney or Melbourne. With its lush landscapes, national parks, and fluffy cows, taking a road trip means you can see so much of Tasmania for less. Starting in Hobart, consider taking either the Great Eastern Drive or Western Wilds road trip, adding in any other dream locations.
7. Darwin, Northern Territory
Home to iconic natural treasures and breathtaking varied landscapes, the Northern Territory is the perfect place to get a little lost in.
Darwin’s close proximity to a range of national parks makes it the perfect base for day trips. Immerse yourself in the ancient landscapes of Kakadu National Park or catch a glimpse of the infamous Australian crocodile. We also highly recommend you check out Litchfield National Park, Leanyer Recreation Park and the Mindil Beach Sunset Market.
8. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Even though Canberra is the capital of Australia, it’s definitely an underrated and cheap place to travel to. There’s a wide range of arts, culture and history exhibits to explore.
It’s perfect for those shorter holidays where you still want to get out and experience something new. There’s a variety of national museums and art galleries as well as food and flower festivals to keep you entertained.
If you and your partner would love to explore more underrated inland destinations in Australia, there are some great cheap holiday spots for couples.
Cheap places to travel overseas from Australia
Let’s be honest, with Australia’s size and cost of living, it can be quite expensive to travel. If you can score some cheap flights and accommodation to countries with cheaper expenses, you might even spend less for a longer overseas holiday than a weekend in Australia.
Just a tip from us, before booking anything, check Smarttraveller for any restrictions in the country you want to visit.
1. Vietnam — cheap place in Asia to travel to
Vietnam has been rising on the scene of cheap southeast Asian countries to visit, recently reaching the top 10 travel destinations for Australians. You can buy meals and alcoholic drinks for just a few Australian dollars per meal and accommodation doesn’t cost much more!
For the best sightseeing experience, visit the northern areas of Vietnam for historical sites and natural wonders. Our recommended destinations are:
- Ha Long Bay
- Lan Ha Bay
- Ninh Binh
- Sapa
- Hanoi
2. Samoa
If you want something different to southeast Asian countries but still enjoy a shorter flight, Samoa is such a cool place to travel for cheap. Samoa is a fairly untouched natural playground with an intimate and community-focussed culture. You can experience their beautiful lifestyle (and keep on budget) by staying in a traditional Samoan house called a fale.
Check out:
- Papase’ea natural rock slides
- Saleaula Lava Fields
- Samoa Cultural Village
- To-Sua Ocean Trench
3. Bali – best place to travel to for cheap
Volcanoes, waterfalls, thumping nightlife, ancient temples, and luxury lifestyles–Bali has it all! Known for their kind and welcoming nature, the Balinese will pull out all the stops to make your experience unforgettable so you’ll never want to leave.
The home of relaxation, you can spend all day lounging by the pool or on the beach, sipping away at as many cocktails as you can drink. And if you need a break from lounging bliss, you can also try activities like snorkelling, temple tours, and monkey feeding.
4. Thailand
Thailand is always high on the list for cheap places to travel to from Australia. It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular budget destination with its exotic wildlife, delicious food, beautiful beaches, friendly people, and famous Thai-massage. If you want to be extra budget friendly, go to the Chang Mai region in the north for the best prices.
5. The Philippines
If island hopping sounds right up your alley, the Philippines is calling your name. Arguably the best beaches in southeast Asia, you can spend your days in the sun in this tropical paradise. It’s summer all year round, but just be prepared during typhoon season!
If you’ve already been to Bali and need another cheap but fun place to travel with buzzing nightlife and good food, areas like Palawan are perfect for you.
How to have the cheapest holiday
Here are our favourite ways to keep your these cheap places to travel to even cheaper:.
- Jetstar Friday Fare Frenzy: flight deals on select Fridays from 12-8pm.
- Virgin Happy Hour Thursdays: flight deals most Thursdays from 4-11pm
- Flight Centre Deals: travel package deals all year round
- Redballoon: vouchers for all kinds of experiences in Australia
- Skyscanner and Expedia: deals on flights, hotels, car hire and travel packages
Go on your dream holiday today with Swoosh
Ready to go on a holiday but don’t have quite enough money saved up? Swoosh has you covered! You can apply for a holiday loan and have the funds in your bank account in no time. Apply now!
