8 cheap Aussie holiday destinations that actually don't suck

Kangaroo Island might surprise you as a cheap holiday destination due to how genuinely bloody gorgeous it is – but the stats don't lie. The cheapest (and easiest) way to get there from Adelaide is to drive and then hop on the car ferry, which will set you back around $60 to $75 per vehicle and takes around three hours all up. Once you're there, accommodation is actually really affordable, sitting between $100-150 a night for decent lodgings with sea views. This oasis of native wildlife, great food, pristine beaches and gorgeous day walks mean that you can spend all your time outside and spend very little, but will definitely leave feeling a lot richer.

Katherine is one of those places that you didn't know you were missing until you've been. Located a three-hour drive from Darwin – or a simple $35 bus, Katherine is a dreamy haven studded with tropical hot springs. The visuals in Katherine are so ridiculous that it's truly a wonder that the prices aren't astronomical, but thankfully – they ain't. Affordable accommodation sits between $16 (caravan park) and $150 (wilderness retreat), with plenty of options around and in between. While you're there, you can bathe in turquoise hot springs, hike Katherine Gorge and sink a cold one in an outback pub – none of which are going to burn a hole in your pocket.

This seaside escape just south of Lake Illawarra is a natural wonderland of volcanic rocks, gushing blowholes and ancient rainforests. Best of all, it’s just 90-minutes drive from Central Sydney – or two hours by affordable train. You can stay in a genuinely great motel with a pool for around $70, and be able to find a decent room for under $100 in a prime location. Plus, cheap and free activities abound. Whether it's eating epic fish and chips, walking the coast or gazing at the famed blowholes, this classic seaside locale is all about the cheap and cheerful. 

The perfect weekender from Hobart, Bruny Island is one (no hyperbole) of the most special places we've ever been. Located just a 35-minute drive from Hobart's south, you'll hop on a cheap car ferry and arrive with hours to spare. Camping at some sites are totally free, or you can book a stay in a self-contained cabin, B'n'B or renovated church for between $150 and $180. While you're there, marvel at vivid sunsets, frolic on isolated beaches, do staggeringly beautiful day walks, and spot dolphins, whales, wallabies and sea eagles diving in the wild. Make sure you use the coin you've saved on everything else to have a cheese feast at Bruny Island Cheese Co. It's worth it. 

Although you need a car to access this incredible Western Australian gem, it's one of the few places that are in reasonable-enough distance from Perth (4.5 hours – in WA speak, that's practically 20 minutes) to justify as an epic holiday destination. Places to rest your head are aplenty, and they're cheap. From a caravan park for $18 to a hotel room for around $90, you're on track for a good deal. Once you're there, the budget-friendly fun is off the charts. From exploring the most beautiful beaches you've seen in your life to discovering wild history, traversing ancient rock formations and whale watching, the free wonders of Albany go on and on and on. 

The Grampians region is perhaps best known as one of Victoria's best nature escapes, particularly for its collection of grand mountains and high sandstone peaks that seemingly split the horizon in two. The dazzling national park also houses one of the biggest collections of Indigenous rock art sites in southeastern Australia, is home to the epic Pinnacle walk, and becomes specked by gorgeous wildflowers during springtime. It's also home to some of Victoria's best wineries and eateries, making it a triple threat. Only a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne – or an easy train, accommodation ranges from free camping to around $80 for your very own tiny house. 

If you've dreamt of exploring the rainbow wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef all your life, we'd like to propose Mission Beach as the base from which you do it. Far cheaper than its popular older siblings, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach, Mission is actually in a way better location to access the reef directly – and far less crowded. Only a two-hour drive from Cairns, Mission is peppered with affordable accommodation options. You can book a hostel for around $80, and can find a deluxe resort, hotel or motel room for between $90 and $180 a night. Far more relaxed than Port Douglas, you're in for long, languorous days on a beach full of swaying palm trees.

Pro tip: Drive from Cairns on your own and explore the incredible array of waterholes, beaches and ancient rainforests that live along the way.

Although these guys are technically in NSW, they're only 2.5 hours away from Canberra, making them an excellent choice for all ACT budget seekers. A quintessential Aussie beach holiday experience, the neighbouring towns of Pambula and Merimbula are affordable, low-key and close to a lot of really incredible stuff. You can snag a stay somewhere really beautiful with a pool for around $100 a night (give or take), and the activities are all very budget-friendly. Whether it's exploring the pristine beauty of the Sapphire Coast, dipping into a crystal clear ocean, or eating your way through some of the best (and cheapest) fresh oysters in the world, this really is the definition of Champagne on a beer budget. Just, with oysters.