Our 4-year old at Pretty Beach on the East Coast of Australia

How Much Does it Cost to Travel Australia With Kids?

This is a summary of costs for 34 days traveling the east coast of Australia by car with our family of 4 including all airfare, car rental, transportation, accommodations, excursions, food, groceries and everything down to a stick of gum.

Want to know how much you should pay for a car rental in Australia, a YHA in Melbourne or a couple days on the Sydney Hop on Hop off bus? Then take a look at our chart below – be forewarned, things are not always grammatically correct, but I am sure you will be able to figure it out.

Quick Summary

  • Total cost for 34 days: $8,296,90 USD
  • Daily average: $244.03
  • Accommodation: $3,034.68
  • Transport (including 24 day rental car and hopper flight to Queensland): $1,991.15
  • Excursions: $1,119.28
  • Restaurant: $357.81
  • Groceries: $927.26

What would this trip cost today?

We drove Australia’s east coast in November and December 2014. US prices have risen about 43% since then, so inflation alone would turn our $8,297 into roughly $11,800. In Australia, places to stay rose much faster than that, while the Aussie dollar has fallen to about 70 US cents, which helps American families. Here’s what the same things cost in 2026 for a family of four with kids aged 7 and 10.

What We paid (2014) Same thing in 2026
ETA visas x4 $70 AUD 80 (~$56)
YHA Sydney, 4 nights $465 AUD 1,284–1,687 (~$890–1,170)
Holiday park cabin, per night AUD 108–127 about AUD 300–350 on a November weekend
Burleigh Heads apartment, per night about AUD 169 from about AUD 338 (~$235)
Port Douglas apartment, 7 nights AUD 1,022 from AUD 1,380 (~$959)
Rental car, per day about $46 about AUD 59 (~$41) on average; more in December
Unleaded petrol, per liter about AUD 1.50 about AUD 2.42 in Sydney (~$1.68)
Taronga Zoo, family AUD 142 from AUD 144 online, AUD 162 at the gate
Great Barrier Reef day trip + intro dive (Reef Magic) AUD 622 about AUD 948 (~$659)
Sydney CBD parking, per day AUD 25 about AUD 81 casual rate; pre-book an early-bird deal

The bottom line: Australia was our priciest country in 2014, and it still is. Holiday parks and beach apartments have roughly doubled in Aussie dollars, while big attractions like Taronga Zoo held steady. Car hire is no more expensive for dollar earners. A family traveling like we did should budget roughly $300–380 a day in 2026. Booking holiday parks direct, on weeknights, or taking a powered campsite can bring that down a lot.

2026 prices checked in October 2026 from Taronga Zoo, Reef Magic via the Cairns Visitor Centre, live Booking.com quotes for November 2026 stays, Kayak car-hire averages, NRMA fuel data and Ray White parking research. Dollar figures use about 0.70 US dollars per Aussie dollar. Some figures are estimates; always confirm before you book.

Australia Family Travel Expense Worksheet

Date What we bought Category Local price US$
Nov 25 YHA x3 nights Melbourne Accommodation AUD 383 $327.66
Nov 25 Bus to hostel Transport AUD 41 $35.08
Nov 25 Dinner Melbourne Restaurant AUD 32.5 $27.80
Nov 25 Groceries Groceries AUD 100.68 $86.13
Nov 25 Bus Melbourne Transport AUD 10 $8.56
Nov 25 Ice cream Restaurant AUD 4 $3.42
Nov 25 Dinner Victoria market Restaurant AUD 37 $31.65
Nov 26 Sky bus to airport Transport AUD 18 $15.40
Nov 26 Grapes Groceries AUD 5 $4.28
Nov 26 Strawberries Groceries AUD 2 $1.71
Nov 26 Peaches Groceries AUD 3 $2.57
Nov 26 T shirts Clothes AUD 18 $15.40
Nov 26 Almonds Groceries AUD 6 $5.13
Nov 26 Cherries Groceries AUD 6 $5.13
Nov 26 Honey Groceries AUD 6 $5.13
Nov 26 Layla clothes Clothes AUD 33 $28.23
Nov 26 Book School supplies AUD 5 $4.28
Nov 27 Phones Phone AUD 64 $54.75
Nov 27 Apollo big 5×1 night Accommodation AUD 108 $92.39
Nov 27 Groceries Groceries AUD 65.46 $56.00
Nov 27 Wine Groceries AUD 23 $19.68
Nov 28 Gas Transport AUD 36.7 $31.40
Nov 28 McDonald’s Restaurant AUD 19.95 $17.07
Nov 28 Lakes entrance big4 Restaurant AUD 112.5 $96.24
Nov 29 Bedding Gear AUD 33 $28.23
Nov 29 Gas Transport AUD 40.25 $34.43
Nov 29 Maroumna big 4 Accommodation AUD 127 $108.65
Nov 29 Ice cream Restaurant AUD 6 $5.13
Nov 29 Groceries Groceries AUD 154.92 $132.53
Nov 29 School supplies School supplies AUD 10 $8.56
Nov 30 Gas Transport AUD 20.17 $17.26
Nov 30 Pretty beach Accommodation AUD 230 $196.77
Nov 30 Parking in park Transport AUD 14 $11.98
Dec 2 Gas Transport AUD 37.57 $32.14
Dec 2 Peaches Groceries AUD 3.5 $2.99
Dec 2 Hungry jacks Restaurant AUD 19.5 $16.68
Dec 2 Parking Sydney x3 Transport AUD 75 $64.16
Dec 3 Zoo syney Excursions AUD 142 $121.48
Dec 3 Food Street food AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 4 Hop on bus Sydney Excursions AUD 95 $81.27
Dec 4 Snacks Street food AUD 6.5 $5.56
Dec 4 McD ice cream Restaurant AUD 2 $1.71
Dec 4 Sunblock Gear AUD 29 $24.81
Dec 5 Groceries 7-11 Groceries AUD 6.15 $5.26
Dec 5 Parking hostel Sydney Transport AUD 25 $21.39
Dec 5 Donuts Street food AUD 4.6 $3.94
Dec 5 Books School supplies AUD 5 $4.28
Dec 5 Chinese katoomba Restaurant AUD 25.6 $21.90
Dec 5 Three sisters parking Transport AUD 4.04 $3.46
Dec 5 Gas Transport AUD 38.5 $32.94
Dec 5 Groceries Groceries AUD 136.85 $117.08
Dec 6 Internet Sydney Internet AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 6 Sydney yha x4 nights Accommodation $465.00
Dec 6 Car rental x21 days Transport $974.00
Dec 6 Groceries Groceries AUD 47.93 $41.00
Dec 6 Beer Groceries AUD 6.9 $5.90
Dec 7 Surf board Excursions AUD 160 $136.88
Dec 7 Laundry Laundry AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 8 Wine/beer Groceries AUD 20.99 $17.96
Dec 8 Movie Entertainment AUD 15.5 $13.26
Dec 8 Surf board straps Gear AUD 30 $25.67
Dec 8 Movie theater Entertainment AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 9 Bay’s holiday park port Stephens Accommodation AUD 121.5 $103.94
Dec 9 Skype Phone $5.00
Dec 9 Bay’s holiday Accommodation AUD 121 $103.52
Dec 9 Clothes Layla swim suits Clothes AUD 18 $15.40
Dec 9 Boogie boards Entertainment AUD 18 $15.40
Dec 9 Pizza Restaurant AUD 9.9 $8.47
Dec 10 Gas Transport AUD 55.27 $47.28
Dec 10 Port mcquire x2 Accommodation AUD 164 $140.30
Dec 10 Groceries Groceries AUD 77.78 $66.54
Dec 10 Sheets Accommodation AUD 16 $13.69
Dec 11 Gas Transport AUD 52.89 $45.25
Dec 11 Hungry jacks Restaurant AUD 19.5 $16.68
Dec 12 Coolangata x 2 Accommodation AUD 205.2 $175.55
Dec 13 Coolangata beach parking Transport AUD 12 $10.27
Dec 13 Gas Transport AUD 32.27 $27.61
Dec 13 Mc d ice cream Restaurant AUD 1.5 $1.28
Dec 13 Pizza dominoes Restaurant AUD 14.85 $12.70
Dec 14 McDonald’s Restaurant AUD 9.45 $8.08
Dec 14 Swells burleigh heights x3 Accommodation AUD 506 $432.89
Dec 16 Md visit lucca AUD 75 $64.16
Dec 16 Antibiotics AUD 12.5 $10.69
Dec 16 Ice cream Restaurant AUD 2 $1.71
Dec 16 Mouse and I pad cover Gear AUD 105 $89.83
Dec 16 Duct tape Gear AUD 6.7 $5.73
Dec 16 Rash card Gear AUD 16 $13.69
Dec 17 Gas Transport AUD 23.18 $19.83
Dec 17 Baggage to cairns AUD 75 $64.16
Dec 17 Airport lunch Restaurant AUD 24 $20.53
Dec 17 Car x 10 days Transport $446.60
Dec 18 Groceries Groceries AUD 115 $98.38
Dec 18 Ferry Daintree forest Transport AUD 24 $20.53
Dec 18 Beer Groceries AUD 15 $12.83
Dec 18 Discovery center Cape trip Excursions $67.27
Dec 18 Splash math School supplies $5.00
Dec 19 Post card Souvenir AUD 6.5 $5.56
Dec 19 Tea for Denise Souvenir AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 19 Ice cream at Daintree Restaurant AUD 9 $7.70
Dec 21 Groceries Groceries AUD 80.07 $68.50
Dec 21 Nimrod x7 nights Accommodation AUD 1,022 $874.33
Dec 21 Groceries Groceries AUD 161 $137.74
Dec 21 Stamps Miscellaneous AUD 19.25 $16.47
Dec 22 Crocodile Excursions AUD 87.5 $74.86
Dec 22 Soda Restaurant AUD 4 $3.42
Dec 22 Books at crocodile Souvenir AUD 18.85 $16.13
Dec 22 Gas Transport AUD 46.1 $39.44
Dec 23 Christmas Miscellaneous AUD 40 $34.22
Dec 23 Christmas Miscellaneous AUD 150 $128.33
Dec 23 Lycra suits Excursions AUD 18 $15.40
Dec 23 Great Barrier Reef MAGIC +dive Excursions AUD 622.2 $532.30
Dec 23 Pictures of snorkel trip Souvenir AUD 30 $25.67
Dec 24 Dinner Restaurant AUD 6.5 $5.56
Dec 24 Church Miscellaneous AUD 10 $8.56
Dec 25 Meds and pharmacy Miscellaneous AUD 51 $43.63
Dec 25 Groceries Groceries AUD 31.65 $27.08
Dec 26 Ice cream Restaurant AUD 2.5 $2.14
Dec 26 Tjango Excursions AUD 105 $89.83
Dec 26 Internet x 3 days Internet AUD 24 $20.53
Dec 26 Tshirts sunglasses Clothes AUD 22 $18.82
Dec 26 Gas Transport AUD 50.48 $43.19
Dec 26 Beer Groceries AUD 9 $7.70
Dec 27 Dinner airport Restaurant AUD 8 $6.84
Dec 27 Hungry jacks airport Restaurant AUD 20.5 $17.54
Dec 27 Lunch caines Restaurant AUD 27.5 $23.53
Dec 27 Gas Transport AUD 10.5 $8.98
Total $8,296.90

126 line items, straight from our travel spreadsheet. Scroll inside the table to see them all.

Keep planning your family trip