Weekend Trip Budget Calculator
Plan Your $500 Weekend Trip
Calculate if $500 is enough for your Australian weekend getaway based on real travel costs.
Cost Breakdown
Can you really get away for two days and one night on just $500? It sounds too good to be true - until you see what’s actually possible. People assume weekend trips mean splurging on fancy hotels, Uber rides, and tourist traps. But with smart choices, $500 isn’t just enough - it’s more than enough for a real escape. The trick isn’t cutting corners. It’s knowing where to spend and where to save.
Where $500 Goes the Furthest
If you’re in Australia, your $500 stretch changes depending on where you go. A weekend in Brisbane or the Gold Coast? You can do it for under $400 if you skip the hotel. Stay in a hostel dorm for $40 a night. Grab breakfast at a local bakery - a $5 flat white and a $3 sausage roll. Take the train to Moreton Island for free. Rent a bike for $15 and ride around the sand dunes. Pack a lunch. Eat dinner at a food truck. That’s $120 for lodging, $50 for food, $20 for transport. You’ve got $310 left for a kayak rental, a sunset cruise, or just saving it for next time.
Head to the Blue Mountains? Same deal. A $60 campsite. Free hiking trails. A $10 bus ticket to Katoomba. A $12 sandwich from the local deli. You’re still under $200. The mountains don’t charge entry. The views don’t cost a cent.
Even in bigger cities like Sydney or Melbourne, $500 works if you avoid tourist traps. Skip the Opera House tour. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden instead. Use public transport. Stay in a guesthouse near a train line. Eat dumplings at a family-run place in Chinatown - $8 for a plate that fills you up. You don’t need to pay $150 for a hotel room with a view. Sometimes, the best view is from your window at 6 a.m. when the city is quiet.
What Costs More Than You Think
Here’s where people blow their budget before they even leave home: flights. If you’re thinking of hopping on a plane for a weekend trip, you’re already in trouble. A return flight from Brisbane to Cairns? $350 minimum. Add $70 for a basic hostel, $40 for food, and you’re at $460. No room for anything else. No museum entry. No coffee on the pier. No souvenirs. You’re broke before you even get there.
Same goes for renting a car. A $50-a-day rental sounds fine - until you add $70 in fuel, $30 in parking, and $25 in insurance. Suddenly, you’ve spent half your budget just getting around. Public transport, bikes, or walking? Those are free. Or close to it.
And don’t fall for the “must-see” attractions. Entry fees add up fast. A theme park? $120. A guided tour? $80. A whale-watching cruise? $150. You don’t need to pay for every experience. Often, the best moments happen when you’re not paying at all.
How to Stretch $500 - Step by Step
Here’s a real breakdown of a $500 weekend trip, based on what people actually spend:
- Accommodation - $60-$120: Hostel dorm, Airbnb room, or even a cabin at a state park. Skip the hotel.
- Transport - $50-$100: Train, bus, or carpool. Avoid taxis and ride-shares unless absolutely necessary.
- Food - $80-$120: Grocery store meals, local markets, food trucks. Cook if you can. Eat like a local.
- Activities - $50-$100: Free hikes, public beaches, museums with free entry days. Pay for one thing - not five.
- Buffer - $100+: For emergencies, snacks, or that one coffee you just can’t skip.
That’s $340-$440 total. You’ve got $60-$160 left over. That’s your freedom. That’s your choice.
Real Examples - What People Actually Did
Last month, a woman from Perth spent $487 on a weekend to Margaret River. She took the train ($75 return), stayed in a $50 cabin, bought bread, cheese, and fruit from the local market ($30), and hiked the Cape to Cape Track - free. She paid $40 to tour a winery, but only because she got a $20 discount with her student card. She drank tap water. She didn’t buy a single souvenir. She came back with photos, sunburn, and $13 left.
A couple in Adelaide saved $500 for a weekend to Kangaroo Island. They camped for $40. They bought $25 worth of sausages and bread from a roadside stall. They drove the island’s main loop - $15 in fuel. They didn’t pay for any tours. They watched kangaroos at dawn from their tent. They left with $300 in cash still in their wallet.
These aren’t extreme cases. They’re normal people who decided to stop overpaying.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Don’t book your trip three weeks in advance. Prices spike. Wait until Thursday night. You’ll find last-minute deals on hostels, buses, and even flights. A $120 hotel room becomes $70. A $90 train ticket drops to $55. Travel isn’t about planning perfectly - it’s about being flexible.
Don’t assume you need to see everything. One perfect sunset on a quiet beach beats five crowded attractions. One good meal with locals beats three tourist menus. Your weekend doesn’t need to be packed. It just needs to feel real.
And don’t use credit cards. If you’re on a $500 budget, pay in cash or use a debit card. It forces you to see what you’re spending. You’ll notice when you’re about to blow $30 on a fancy smoothie. You won’t notice it if you just tap and go.
Can You Do It? Yes - Here’s How
$500 isn’t a limit. It’s a mindset. It’s about choosing experiences over things. It’s about knowing that a sunrise over the ocean doesn’t come with a price tag. That a conversation with a stranger at a market can be more memorable than a guided tour. That the best memories aren’t bought - they’re made.
You don’t need a fancy itinerary. You don’t need to Instagram your trip. You just need to leave. Take the train. Sleep somewhere simple. Eat something cheap. Walk somewhere beautiful. And come back with your wallet still full - and your soul a little lighter.
Is $500 enough for a weekend trip in Australia?
Yes, $500 is more than enough for a weekend trip in Australia if you avoid flights, luxury hotels, and paid attractions. Staying in hostels, using public transport, cooking your own meals, and sticking to free outdoor activities like hiking and beaches can keep your total under $400. That leaves room for a few small treats - like a coffee, a local snack, or a sunset kayak rental.
What’s the cheapest way to travel for a weekend?
The cheapest way is to use trains or buses instead of flying. Stay in hostels, campsites, or Airbnb rooms instead of hotels. Eat at local markets, grocery stores, or food trucks. Choose free activities like walking trails, public beaches, and city parks. Avoid car rentals - they add hidden costs like fuel and parking. A weekend trip can cost as little as $200 if you’re smart.
Should I book my weekend trip in advance?
No, not always. Booking too early often means paying more. Wait until Thursday or Friday to book. That’s when last-minute deals pop up - hostels drop prices, buses have empty seats, and even flights get cheaper. Flexibility saves money. If you’re willing to go on short notice, you’ll find better deals than anyone who books three weeks ahead.
Can I do a $500 weekend trip without a car?
Absolutely. In fact, you’ll save money without one. Most weekend destinations in Australia - like the Gold Coast, Blue Mountains, or Margaret River - are well-connected by trains and buses. Many places are walkable or have bike rentals for under $20 a day. You’ll see more of the local vibe by hopping on public transport than you ever would from behind the wheel.
How do I avoid overspending on food?
Pack your own snacks and breakfast. Buy lunch from a local market or bakery - it’s cheaper and tastier than restaurants. Eat dinner at a food truck or a family-run eatery where locals go. Avoid tourist areas. Skip the $18 coffee and $15 sandwich. A $6 sandwich from a corner shop and a $3 apple will fill you up and leave you with cash for something more meaningful - like a sunset view or a local craft.
Next Steps - Start Planning Your Trip
Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t wait until you have more money. Start today. Pick a destination within a 3-hour train ride. Check out hostels on Booking.com or Airbnb. Look at public transport routes. Make a simple list: where you’ll sleep, how you’ll get there, what you’ll eat, and what you’ll do for free. Then go. The rest will follow.
There’s no magic number. $500, $300, $200 - it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you leave. And you come back changed.