What budget to travel Australia? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Australia?

It is true that Australia is far from being cheap. The vast majority of cultural sites and museums are not free. However, the vast majority of national parks are free.

Most outdoor activities are accessible both practically and economically. Although Australia remains a high-end destination with prices above the French average, it is possible as a tourist to enjoy a variety of activities for less. To explore the trails of the national parks, to walk along the coast or to appreciate the diversity of the landscapes, you will not need to spend much to enjoy a great breath of fresh air. Vanlife enthusiasts will be delighted: traveling at your own pace, you'll take time to enjoy the off-the-beaten-path areas, and all on your own!

As for the activities and sports proposed by the agencies and other certified guides, you should know that most of the activities cannot be improvised: Australia is obliged, the dangers come from the environment and sometimes impose themselves on you. And any tourist who has visited Australia will be able to confirm it: nature can be rebellious and hostile! The deeper you go into the heart of the continent, the more you will have to be alert... and therefore count on a guide to ensure you a maximum of safety. For reasons of access, equipment and safety, activities such as desert hiking, rafting, canyoning, rock climbing, sailing and diving are only accessible with a guide. Each tour agency offers its own advantages and exclusivities: family tours, intimate atmosphere, backpacker tours , bilingual guides, ethical, environmental... you will have to study your desires and your conditions, no doubt you will find your happiness.

Finally, for a surfing lesson, you can tame the Australian wave by launching yourself in the ocean. If you don't have a surfboard, you can easily rent one from the various surf schools and other rental stores that are always present on the seashore. For a lesson, you can opt for an individual or group lesson.

If you want to buy handicrafts, head to the handicraft markets in most towns and cities. You will be able to find locally made souvenirs: carved wooden objects, pottery or even jewelry. This way you will avoid manufactured products and you will favor short circuits, all to the benefit of the local economy. It is possible to bargain, depending on the seller you are dealing with. If you wish to purchase an Aboriginal artwork, check several elements before buying: the authentic and ethical provenance of the work, the date of creation of the work, the history of the work (its previous sellers or owners), its condition, its size, the status of the artist or the structure of the sale price (share of the artist, the art center and the seller). You can also find out more about the artist's status: his or her possible exhibitions in art collections, museums or official institutions, or his or her artistic prizes and awards (the annual National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award is the most prestigious prize.

Discos, nightclubs and dance bars, operas, theaters, cinemas, festivals, theaters... going out in Australia can quickly represent a certain budget! Most of the infrastructures are based on a "Europeanized" admission system: you have to pay for admission as soon as an artist, a performance or a show is on the program. Whether it's a concert hall or a nightclub, you'll have to reserve or buy your tickets online or on site. Don't forget to bring your passport, which is often required at the entrance!

What budget to eat Australia?

You can easily reduce your expenses in terms of restaurant budget, provided that you are not too strict about your diet: burgers, pizzas, hot dogs or the classic cheap steak/fries often rhyme with good calorie intake! You can usually find them in pubs with a friendly, even overexcited atmosphere. You can often get it for less than AU$15 and leave with a full stomach.

While fast food restaurants or most chain restaurants offer interesting and economical daily menus including appetizers, main course, dessert and drinks, most other restaurants offer dishes directly from the menu and the menus are more rare.

Backpackers and other road-trippers go to supermarkets (Woolworths, Coles, IGA...) to do their own shopping. You can then prepare your own meals if your accommodation has a kitchen or if you have a van.

In the city as well as in the country, all methods of payment are accepted. It may come as a surprise, but some of the more remote outback establishments offer credit card payment. As a precaution, make sure you have cash on hand. Finally, if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you should know that even if the practice is not very widespread in France, it is not at all frowned upon to ask for a doggy bag in Australia... on the contrary! It is a completely democratized practice. A way to save money for the next day's meal!

The price of drinks is significantly higher than what you can find in France and in Europe. For alcoholic beverages, take advantage of the happy hour , usually from 6pm, where you can buy two drinks for the price of one or benefit from a discount of up to 50% on a glass. In general, count between 8 and 10 AU$ for a schooner (425 ml beer). If there are several of you, ordering a jug (a 1,140 ml pitcher) will be more cost-effective.

What is the budget for accommodation Australia?

Wild camping in Australia is forbidden and if you camp in an illegal area, the fines can be quite high. Wikicamp is honestly the most indispensable application if you travel by van: this participative application will allow you to find free campsites sometimes located in beautiful places off the beaten track. In addition, there is a huge choice of hotels, motels or even weekly apartments everywhere.

Some of the big cattle stations, the big Australian farms, rent out guest rooms for an immersive and authentic vacation in the heart of the Outback. This type of tourism allows you to meet real Aussies in a rural setting and share their daily activities. To easily find where to go, you can approach specialized organizations such as the WWOOF association (https://wwoof.com.au/). The agriculture practiced by its members is exclusively organic.

For those on a budget, you can go to youth hostels, hostels and campgrounds. Countless youth hostels (or YHAs) are spread throughout Australia. More and more of these hostels offer rooms for couples and families at AU$ 100 to AU$ 120 per night. Dormitory beds (often 4 or 8 beds) cost, on average, between AU$27 and AU$32. The advantage of youth hostels is that they allow everyone, regardless of age, to travel, meet people and practice sports activities at a lower cost. There is always a collective kitchen, sometimes a cafeteria and a swimming pool. Generally speaking, YHAs are more expensive, from 2 to 5 AU$, in cities such as Sydney or Melbourne but, for the same service, they are very clean.

If you book your accommodation online, you can get up to 40% off. On the other hand, the risk of a "bad" surprise on arrival is much greater than by going through an agency or a tourist office.

Travel budget Australia and cost of living

The cost of living in Australia is slightly higher than in France, and this is particularly noticeable when traveling: on average, you'll need to budget at least €100/day per person. Although Australia is reputed to be an expensive country, its purchasing power is far greater than that of France. As a local, expatriate or temporary resident (and income earner), Australia is far from overpriced. The most expensive products remain packs of cigarettes (at almost €20 compared with around €10 in France) and alcohol.

Some prices in 2024:

A domestic flight Sydney-Melbourne: from AU$ 50 on special offer.

Greyhound's Whimit Pass: unlimited bus travel for 7 days or more from AU$ 289 with Greyhound.

A ferry trip in Sydney : about AU$ 8 with the Opal card to Manly.

Cab from Sydney airport to the city center: AU$ 45-55.

Car rental in Sydney : from AU$ 100-150 per day + insurance.

1 liter of gasoline: AU$ 1.80 to AU$ 2.15. Diesel is generally more expensive than other fuels.

Camping: AU$30 to AU$40, AU$50 and more for the most luxurious or in the big cities.

Youthhostels and backpackers : on average, AU$25 to AU$35 for dormitories and AU$80 to AU$150 for double rooms with or without private bathroom. Higher rates in major cities.

Mid-range hotel: AU$120 to AU$170 for a double room. Higher rates in larger cities.

Restaurant meals : à la carte, between AU$25 and AU$45, not excessive.

Beer in a pub : AU$ 7 to AU$ 12

Stadium tickets : AU$30 to AU$70.

Museum: from free and on donation to AU$ 10/30.

A day trip to the Great Barrier Reef or the Whitsundays: from AU$ 110 to much more.

Pre-departure advice. Remember to tell your bank advisor about your trip. He or she can check with you whether your payment and withdrawal limits have been set. If necessary, ask for an exceptional authorization to raise your limit. Your bank advisor may also be able to suggest that you take out an international offer to limit charges for banking transactions abroad. All payment methods are accepted in the main cities. However, you'll need to bring some cash if you're going to be in the Australian bush . For cash withdrawals, look out for ATMs in major cities. Generally speaking, they operate in the same way as in France. If the French language is not available, select English. "Retrait" is then " withdrawal ". If you are asked to choose between withdrawing from a " checking account ", a " credit account " or a " saving account ", select " checking account ". Select "debit" for debit and "credit" for credit. Enter the desired amount and confirm (" enter "). To the question " Would you like a receipt ?", answer " Yes " and keep your receipt in a safe place. As the euro is not the local currency, a commission is deducted from each withdrawal. Withdrawal fees vary from bank to bank, and generally comprise a fixed fee averaging 3 euros and a commission of between 2% and 3% of the amount withdrawn. Some banks have partnerships with foreign banks or allow you to benefit from their network, offering you advantageous fees or even free withdrawals (this is particularly the case for online banks). Ask your bank advisor for details. Note also that some ATMs may charge a commission, in which case this will be mentioned at the time of withdrawal. Generally speaking, you should pay with your bank card whenever possible. Charges are lower than for ATM withdrawals, and the spending limit is often higher. Note that when paying by credit card, you may not need to enter your pin code: contactless payment is now widely available throughout the country.