How Much Does it Cost to Travel Through Western Australia?

Exploring the beautiful state of Western Australia requires some financial planning and budgeting. Many factors contribute to the overall cost of your trip and, in this guide, we’ll look at all the expenses you most likely find during a journey through Western Australia.

Accommodation

Finding the right place to stay in WA largely depends on your budget and needs. You’ll find options for every budget, from camping to luxury hotels. Hostels in cities like Perth and Brisbane cost anywhere from 10 to 40 AUD per night, depending on the season, location, and quality. Camping is, of course, the most cost-efficient option and can be done anywhere. If camping isn’t your thing, then there are plenty of holiday parks where you can find accommodation from 20 to 60 AUD per night. If you’re looking for a more luxurious or unique experience, price tags for accommodation can easily reach triple digits. For example, you can book a tree house in Nannup for 100 AUD per night or stay at the 5-star resort Cable Beach in Broome for more than 400 AUD.

Transportation

The amount you spend on transportation during your trip will depend on how far you’re planning to travel around WA. Cars are a popular mode of transportation and the cheapest way to travel Australia. You can either rent a car during your stay or – if you don’t mind driving around someone else’s car – go for one of the many “one-time-only’ car sharing deals, some of which even offer free mileage. Another common method for getting around is taking the bus. Greyhound Australia and Firefly Express offer regular services from Perth to destinations all around WA and beyond. Prices start from 30 AUD for a one-way journey and often include discounts and special offers. Of course, there are also trains cruising on a network of tracks from Perth to major destinations like Broome and Kalgoorlie – and let’s not forget about planes! Depending on which airlines you’re flying with or when you book, prices for domestic flights range from 50 to 300+ AUD per leg.

Activities & Sightseeing

Unlike many other destinations around Australia, WA offers plenty of outdoor activities without costing you an arm and a leg. Enjoying outdoors with friends or family doesn’t have to be expensive, as many locations like Joffre Gorge, Wave Rock and The Pinnacles are free of charge – apart from petrol costs to get there in the first place, that is. If you want to visit well-known attractions such as THE Perth Zoo or the Fremantle Markets, entrance tickets tend to range from 5 to 40 AUD. If a guided tour is more your style, WA also caters to that need: guided tours cost anywhere from 40 to 120 AUD depending on the tour and duration. Diving school lessons can get quite expensive with prices starting at around 100 AUD for beginners and roping 200 AUD for certified open water divers.

Food

Food is one of the biggest expenses for anyone taking a trip – but this doesn’t have to be the case in WA. You can find plenty of great restaurants with cheap options. There are also markets where you can buy fresh produce to make yourself some delicious meals without spending too much money. In Perth prices range from 3 AUD (sandwich) to 15 AUD (burger), while in Busselton it might be as low as 3-5 AUD (sushi). For those of you who don’t have time nor experience in cooking meals, there are plenty of take-aways that serve food for very decent prices. Fish and chips for 3AUD in Bunbury, seafood fry-up for 5AUD in Albany or vegetarian snacks for 2AUD in Fremantle – whatever you’re up for.

Summary

The cost of travelling through Western Australia depends heavily on what modes of transportation you choose, what type of accommodation you book and whether or not you like cooking your own meals. Accommodation can range from 10 AUD (hostel) to 400 AUD per night (hotel/resort) while transportation costs anything between 30 (bus) and 300 + AUD (plane tickets). Prices for activities such as guided tours and diving school lessons can reach up to 120 AUD while food can be as low as 3AUD (takeaway) or 15AUD (restaurant). Therefore, a rough estimate of travelling through WA would be anywhere between 100 – 500 AUD per day including accommodation and activities – everything depending on your chosen levels of comfort, length of stay and range of activities. For more information about budget traveling through Western Australia make sure to check out Weekend Notes’ Western Australia Travel Guide, an extensive resource guide with countless tips on how to travel comfortably and affordably throughout Western Australia.