Embarking on a year-long adventure across Australia with your family in tow? Buckle up, because we’ve got some savvy saving strategies to ensure your journey is as economical as it is exhilarating. As fellow travelers who’ve navigated the highs and lows of long-term caravanning with a toddler, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide with our best money-saving tips to help you how to save money on a road trip.

Traveling long-term in a caravan around Australia is an incredible adventure, but it can become quite pricey. It’s essential to manage your expenses wisely to make your journey sustainable, enjoyable, and, most importantly, stress-free. Here are our practical and useful money-saving tips to help you enjoy more and worry less.

Budget

Always start by setting a budget and identifying your income streams. It is essential to know what you are working with. Depending on what phase you are at, you can either count your savings and upcoming paychecks and decide on the type of travel you can afford. Or vice versa, check the budget for the travel of your liking and then work your way towards it, meaning, saving and selling as much as needed to reach the desired amount. 

We did a combination of both: figured out our savings, budgeted the annual expenses and started selling stuff to save up the needed amount. It all depends on your personal circumstances and visa options. In our case, we are on a tourist visa, thus we are not allowed to work, and having the finances for the entire trip was one of the requirements for visa granting, so we had to have all the money before the trip. If you can have a regular income during your trip, that’s the best option. We’ve met many Aussies who work remotely, secure their income, or rent their home while on the road. Either way, having an approximate weekly or monthly budget for groceries, fuel, accommodation, and entertainment helps you stay on track and avoid overspending. For a real cost overview and our average monthly spent overview click here.

Pre-Trip Costs

Before you hit the road, there are expenses to consider while still at home. Use this time to order essentials from well-known sources to save as much as you can.

Flights

Book flights in advance using platforms like Skyscanner, Momondo, Kayak, Expedia, and Kiwi for the best deals.

Gear, Clothes, Toys, and Travel Essentials

Order online in advance from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and AliExpress. This not only saves money but ensures you have everything you need without last-minute stress.

After Landing (Preparation Phase) Costs

Once you land, you’ll have additional expenses for items you couldn’t bring on the plane, since they were too big or bulky, or you just could not fit them, like camping gear, booster chairs, travel cots, etc. To maximize savings, shop as follows:

Order Online

While still staying at an Airbnb, hotel, or a friend’s house, use that you have an address and order as much as you can online, this saves you not only money but a lot of energy and time as well.

General Goods

Shop at Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Smart Dollar, and the Reject Shop for affordable prices.

Groceries

Aldi, Woolworths, and Coles offer the best value for money and you will find them Australia-wide, plus they offer home brand basics for even better prices. 

Car and Caravan

Deciding whether to rent or purchase your vehicle and caravan depends on the length of your trip and budget. 

Rental

For trips shorter than three months, consider renting, so you don’t spend more time searching and buying/selling the vehicle than actually traveling. Research and book well in advance, especially during peak seasons. 

Popular rental brands: Apollo Camper, Britz/Mighty, Camplify, Jucy Rentals, Maui, Cruisin, Travellers Autobarn, Camperman, Hippie Camper, SpaceShip, Wicked Campers – there is an option for every budget and every type of travel from cars with rooftop tents, vans, to motorhomes and caravans of all sizes and classes. 

Purchase

For longer trips, purchasing might be more economical. Price ranges for new motorhomes, caravans, and vehicles vary widely. We opted for a used car and caravan, with prices ranging from $10K to $300K. Check out dedicated Facebook groups (according to your location), Marketplace, Gumtree, or local dealerships in cities like Perth’s Victoria Park.

On the Road Costs

Once you’re on the road, recurring expenses like fuel, groceries, accommodation, and entertainment are inevitable. Here are some tips to keep costs down:

Groceries

Join Reward Programs

Use cards like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards to get better deals.

Buy in Bulk

Check the price per unit and stock up on sale items.

Shop Smart

Visit stores just before closing for quick sales on meat, bakery items, fruits, and vegetables, and don’t forget to check the “best before” sale section too.

Home Brands

Opt for supermarket brands and what’s on sale. (they are usually placed on the lowest shelf)

Plan Ahead

Make a weekly menu and shopping list to avoid impulse buys. Cook your meals, freeze them, and avoid fast food, delivery, or dining out.

Public BBQs

Use free gas BBQs in parks and rest areas to save on gas and cooking without the mess at home.

Cost-Conscious Ready-to-Eat Meals

If you must, opt for ready-to-eat meals like roasted chicken, frozen pizza, or family packs of lasagne that you can divide and freeze separately for multiple occasions.

Fresh Produce

Buy homegrown fruit and vegetables directly from the farmers. Along the way, you will find countless opportunities to purchase all these goodies for bargain prices. They are usually signposted a few hundred meters ahead so look out for little stands on the side of the road and you can buy spray-free avocadoes, bananas, limes, mandarins, passion fruits and so much more.

Bonus Tip

Do not go shopping hungry! 😊

Fuel

Cheap Petrol Finding Apps

Find the cheapest fuel nearby with apps like Petrol Spy, where you can search specific locations, see the list of cheapest petrol, set up your preferences for fuel or diesel, etc.

Reward Programs

Join reward programs for better deals at petrol stations.

Efficiency

Pump up your tires according to the requirements per weight; you’d be surprised how much it can save you. Also, reduce speed for better consumption, especially while hitched, lastly, unhitch your caravan when exploring locally, but only in safe places, and make sure you have a hitch lock.

Accommodation

Apps

Use WikiCamp, Campermate, or HipCamp to find free or cheap accommodation. The most popular is WikiCamp, where you can filter just for water or dump points or free accommodation only.

Driveway Share

Look for options in Facebook groups. There are several dedicated groups; make sure you send a request in advance, as some of them take a few days to accept your request. The biggest is Driveway Share Australia – No Sheriffs, and Driveway Sharing Travelers Australia.

Free Camping Groups

There is a tremendous amount of FB groups advising free camp spots with photos, like Free Camping Australia, Australia FREE and PAID Camping Areas, FREE and Cheap Caravan and Camping Australia, etc.

Rest Areas

Utilize rest areas that allow overnight stays. They usually have BBQ places, picnic tables, and toilets. The only downside is that they are usually located next to the highway, so they fill up quickly and can be a bit noisy.

Membership Programs

Consider joining a membership program if you intend to frequent caravan parks like Big4, NRMA, G’day, and Discovery for discounted prices.

National Parks

These are usually cheaper and sometimes donation-based. There might be a ranger patrolling during the night/early in the morning.

Self-Sufficiency

Invest in a generator, solar panels, and a washing machine (or purchase a caravan that comes with it) to reduce reliance on paid facilities. The initial costs are a bit higher but well worth it.

Other Tips

Gas

Buy your LPG replacement bottles for the best price, about $30-$35 per 8.5 kg bottle, at Bunnings, which you can find all across Australia.

Water

Refill your water tanks whenever you have the opportunity to do so at free spots, often found at dump points or rest areas, or at refill stations where you pay about 1-5 AUD per 100 liters. Use WikiCamp for search.

Toilet

Dump waste at designated areas at free public dump points. You can ask in the Visitor Information Centers (VIC) or get a map of them in the region. They are also listed on WikiCamp.

Washing Machine

Owning one can save you significant money in the long run. Just consider that 1 cycle of washing costs about 4-5 AUD, and the same goes for the dryer. So depending on the size of your travel crew, you can save about 500-1000 AUD per year just on laundry! 

Insurance or Membership Discounts

When purchasing a car or health insurance or joining a membership program, always check for complimentary discounts. For instance, RAC insurance offers a good variety of discounts. 

Buy Nothing FB Groups

Almost in every town or city, there is an FB group dedicated to free local giveaways. Search for groups called “Buy Nothing (and the name of the town)”, Free Stuff, or Free Items and the location. The same goes for baby and toddler-related items, cars, camping gear, etc.

Marketplace and Gumtree

There are many items on FB Marketplace and Gumtree for free or near-free. Just set your location and give it a go (you can find camping gear, baby-related items, car equipment, anything you need for your travel).

OP Shops

These “opportunity shops” or thrift shops sell second-hand and used goods. They are often run by non-profits or charities, for example, The Salvation Army (Salvos), Australian Red Cross, Good Sammy, Op Shop, and Vinnies. You can find a bit of everything there: clothes, shoes, toys, kitchenware, electronics, books, etc.

 Garage Sales

Keep an eye out for garage sale signs (usually happening on the weekend) —you never know what treasures you’ll find! From camping gear to toddler toys, there’s always something worth snagging.

Front Yard “Shopping”

In Australia, you’ll often see random items like furniture, toys, clothes, and camping gear placed in front yards (outside the fence, of course) with a FREE sign. These are goodies the owners no longer need and are happy for you to take off their hands.

Attractions and Sightseeing

Walk

Explore on foot whenever possible. 

Free Tours

Take advantage of free guided tours in cities, botanical gardens, and historical sites. You can ask in Visitor Centers; almost every city and town has free guided tours, which are the best way to learn something new.

Public Transport

Use free CBD buses and trams in big cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, or opt for public transport over driving and paying for parking.

Coupons and Vouchers

Look for discounts on tourist guides and brochures that you can pick up at the airport or in Visitor Information Centers.

Family Passes

Buy multi-passes or family passes for attractions. In big cities, there are multi-attraction passes for great prices. If you intend to stay in one area for a longer period, annual passes are an even better deal, especially for theme parks on the Gold Coast. 

Free Attractions

Enjoy parks, beaches, day-use areas, picnic spots, lookouts, playgrounds, and other free sights. There is something to see and do for free in every town. Botanic gardens are usually one of them and well worth visiting.

Concessions

When purchasing tickets, check for concessions and other discounts (family, group, senior, student). 

Rent a Bike or Scooter

It is often the best way to explore bigger places for a reasonable price with all the flexibility, and nowadays with the advantage of e-bikes and e-scooters. 

P+R

To save on the crazy major city parking rates, you can use the Park and Ride program where possible.

Where to Shop

Being new to Australia, it is good to know where to go for everyday basics and not spend a fortune. Here are our favorites:

Groceries

Aldi, Woolworths, Coles.

Clothes and Shoes

Kmart, BigW, Target, Spendless Shoes.

Other Essentials

Smart Dollar, The Reject Shop.

Car Supplies, Auto Parts, and Accessories

Supercheap Auto, Repco.

DIY, Hardware, Outdoors, Fishing, and Camping Gear

Bunnings, Anaconda, Adventure Kings, 4WD Supacentre: Camping Store, BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing).

Drinks

BWS, Dan Murphy’s, 1st Choice Liquor.

Souvenirs

Paddy’s Market in Sydney, Smart Dollar.

Babies/Kids

Kmart, Best&Less, Baby Land, Target.

General Goods

Kmart, BigW, Target, Bunnings.

Pharmacy and Drugstore

Chemist Warehouse, Priceline Pharmacy.

Bonus Tips

Online Shopping

Use Facebook Marketplace, dedicated car or caravan groups, Buy Nothing or Free Item groups, Gumtree, and online platforms like Amazon, AliExpress, Etsy, and eBay to get the best deals.

Deliveries

If you’re living on the road without an address, arrange to have your online orders sent to caravan parks, with their prior permission, of course.

Click and Collect

Many big chains offer the click-and-collect option for your convenience, including Kmart, Woolworths, Coles, Target, Bunnings, BigW, Best&Less, Chemist Warehouse, Dan Murphy’s, eBay, IKEA, Liquorland, Supercheap Auto, and others.

Traveling Australia in a caravan with a toddler is an adventure filled with amazing experiences and beautiful memories. With these money-saving tips, you can make the most of your journey without breaking the bank. With careful planning and resourcefulness, every dollar saved can contribute to a more enjoyable and sustainable travel experience. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and let the adventures begin! Safe travels and happy exploring!

Take a look at our Australia Travel Guide page for all the inspiration and information you need to kickstart your travels and hit the road more frequently!