Tips for Budget Camper Travel in Australia
The land of OZ, the great down under, Australia; travelling to the continent and country can be the thrill and dream of a lifetime – the beaches, the cities, the national parks, the scenery – it is just amazing. With some planning you can enjoy an awesome experience in your campervan on a budget.
Forget the luxury BMW hire car, 5-star Hotels and opt for a camper van adventure!
Protect your Money & save on Transaction Fees
The best way to save money is to not lose yours. Use reputable banks during bank outs, never give out your password! Furthermore don’t let your card get eaten at an ATM machine. Use these machines during business hours at bank locations so if your card does get gobbled up, you can go in, talk to a real person and have it taken care of immediately.
Check which arrangements your local bank has with Australian banks – you be surprise how quickly transaction fees can sum up. Lot of local banks have partnerships with Australian banks – meaning NO TRANSACTION FES!
Free Water
Bring your own water bottle instead of buying a new bottle each time you are thirsty. Take your reusable bottle over to the public bubbler (water fountain) and fill it with cool clean crisp refreshing free Aussie water. This will save you the approximate $2.50 charge per bottle of water. BE CAREFUL to only use public water fountain that are marked as drink water – if not sure just check with a local – in general Australia tab water is clean & safe to drink.
Free Parking
It seems one common equalizer where ever you go, there are limited parking choices. In Australia you need to be careful where you stop and park in the cities and byways. You are allowed to park in clearways between the allocated times. Always pay attention to posted signs to avoid tickets, fees, and being towed. Also the local malls allow free parking during specific times so if you need a place to stop and rest in the motorbus you might consider these locations as well. Word of advise – illegal parking costs a lot, I mean a lot, and the fines will be sent back to your home country…
Cheap Tuesdays (The Movies)
One way to save money on entertainment options is to take advantage of Cheap Tuesdays at the movies in Australia. What better to do on an overcast day or when the temperatures are sweltering and you need a cool place to escape to? This is a great way to spend the day and many big cinema chains offer deep discounts to movie tickets on Tuesdays.
Save money on Petrol (Gasoline)
With the prices of petrol on the rise one of the best ways to save money on your travel budget is to reduce your fuel cost for your campervan. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to fill up your vehicle in Australia. It is estimated that buying petrol on these days will saves between 5 and 10 cents per liter of fuel. Do your best to avoid refueling on Friday and Saturday as prices can rise as much as $0.25. Furthermore, keep your receipts from Coles, Safeway, Woolworths, Big W and other stores for fuel coupons. When you fill up, present your docket (receipt) and you can save as much as $0.08 per liter.
Camp Booklets
There are plenty of camp booklets around that will advise you of free & legal parking – meaning big savings from potential camp site costs which can cost between $15 – $35/night. Should you rent with Travellers Autobarn you will be receiving automatically such a booklet!
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