How much does a family trip to Australia cost?
The total cost of your trip to Australia will depend on a number of factors, including when you travel, how long you stay, the type of accommodation you choose, and the number and type of tours and experiences you book. Here are some guidelines on how much to budget and some money-saving tips.
How much should I budget for accommodation?
Creating a budget for accommodation can be a little overwhelming, but use these basic guidelines to help you understand how much you might need to set aside for accommodation.
Affordable option: Caravan parks are more popular in remote areas and are an affordable option for families. In addition to powered caravan parks and camping options, many also offer cabins (one and two bedrooms) with kitchens, so you can cook your own meals. Prices start from around AUD$100 per night at BIG4 and Discovery Parks , which have campsites in various locations around the country. Many caravan parks also have kids clubs, playgrounds and even water parks on site.
Mid-range accommodation: Rydges , Mantra and Oaks Hotels offer quality accommodation at affordable prices and have franchises in most cities across Australia. If you are travelling with a large family, serviced apartment brands such as Quest or Adina may be your first choice. Prices are generally between AUD 200 and AUD 400 per night, depending on location and room type. There are also thousands of holiday homes and apartments to choose from in Australia, many of which can be booked through reputable third-party providers such as Airbnb or Stayz.
Luxury accommodation: If your family likes to travel in style, Australia has some of the best hotels in the world, in great locations and at a variety of price points. Resorts on the Great Barrier Reef, such as Intercontinental Hayman Island, can be found for around AUD 500 per night for an island stay with direct beach access, or all-inclusive accommodation at the One&Only Wolgan Valley resort in the reserve, which can cost upwards of AUD 3,000 per night. Not all luxury lodges in Australia will accommodate children, and some have age restrictions, so be sure to check ahead of time.
How much should I budget for catering?
One way to stretch your food budget significantly further is to cook your own meals. Across Australia you’ll find well-stocked supermarkets, stocking everything from locally grown fruit and vegetables to ready-made meals for on-the-go or picnics. If you plan to eat out most of the time, Australian pubs are a good option (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). They often have a dedicated children’s menu, with meals costing around $10, and some have play and entertainment areas for children.
Australia has an amazing dining scene, and there are some quirky food experiences that kids shouldn’t miss. Best of all, they’re affordable. Enjoy a classic Aussie fish and chips for the whole family on the beach for around $15 (with a free view), or grab a takeaway meat pie from a local cafe or bakery for around $6. Australians love brunch, so there are cafes everywhere serving creative dishes and kid-friendly Aussie brekkie staples. Treat the kids to a baby chino (steamed milk sprinkled with cocoa powder) while you enjoy your morning coffee. Kids will also love the layered Freakshake (9 AUD) at Patissez Cafe in Canberra.
No trip to Australia would be complete without a special Aussie pastime – an outdoor communal barbecue. You’ll find communal barbecues at many beaches and parks across Australia, and any family can use them, including yours! Public barbecues are free to use and usually have free seating, shade and other facilities nearby, such as public bathrooms. Just bring some sausages or burgers and grill them up while the kids play.
How much do tours and experiences cost?
Similar to meals and accommodation, tours and experiences come at a variety of price points. For example, many museums offer free general admission, but children can get discounted prices for special exhibitions or events. A city walking tour for children can cost as little as $15 and as much as $50, depending on the experience. Some walking tours are even “free” so you can pay as much as you want. Most experiences offer family packages, which can save you even more money if you have more than one child.
When considering where to splurge, you can set aside some of your budget for some of the experiences you’ve always dreamed of. If you’re visiting the Whitsundays or Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region , a full-day reef snorkeling trip will typically cost around $150 per child, or $600 to $800 for a family of four. In Sydney, the Harbour Bridge Climb (for children aged 8+) is another experience worth checking out, with prices ranging from $130 to $190 for children and $200 to $400 for adults.
