How do you budget for a longer road trip around Australia?
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 29, 2026 at 11:44
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Hi everyone,
I'm interested in learning how people plan and manage their budgets for longer road trips around Australia.
Fuel, caravan parks, groceries, vehicle maintenance and unexpected repairs can all add up, especially when travelling for several weeks or months. It seems that having a realistic budget before leaving can make a big difference, but actual costs can vary considerably depending on the route, vehicle and style of travel.
For those who have done extended road trips, how do you usually plan your budget?
Do you set a daily spending limit, keep a separate amount for emergencies or simply track expenses as you go? I'd also be interested to hear which costs tend to be higher than expected and what you would do differently on your next trip.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences. I'm keen to learn from people who have spent time travelling around Australia.
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Oct 29, 2026 at 12:30
Thursday, Oct 29, 2026 at 12:30
We don't have a budget. We do have a "nest egg" and sometimes that nest egg grows and sometimes that nest egg shrinks. We don't get uptight when it shrinks as that is part of the swings and roundabouts of life.
What we do have is a consistent "lifestyle" and we know what that costs over the longer term. Whether we are travelling, or not, does not fundamentally change our "lifestyle".
Eating out costs lots, accommodation costs lots, some tourist activities (especially those involving aero planes) cost lots, so these things are all generally (but not always) carefully considered in advance.
To balance these costs, travelling slower saves money,
free camping (99% of the time) saves money, treating your vehicle
well saves money, volunteering saves money.
We keep an accurate account of all money spent, EVERYTHING, in categories. We do this whether we are travelling or at home and you get a feel for what things cost extra and what things cost less while travelling.
We have travelled in Oz for up to 8 months per year and in Europe for 6 months per year and volunteered for 2 years overseas and a couple of months at a time in Oz.
We are pensioners and have not had a "proper" job for over 20 years.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
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