59 travel hacks to save money in Australia’s capital cities

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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We tramped our capital city streets in search of seriously cheap entertainment.

While we didn’t sleep under railway bridges or jeopardise any moral codes, we found sightseeing on the cheap is not only viable but also strangely satisfying.

 

The results are in. Here’s proof that some of the best sights and things to do in Australia’s capital cities are free – or if not free, at least within the budget of travellers once attracted to four cents a litre off petrol, frequent flyer points and no-deposit mortgages.

 

Many of these places to see and things to do are my own preferences, and as such they’re only representative. Testing and approval of kids’ things has been completed by my fun-loving nine-year-old daughter, and with one or two exceptions further details can be found via a quick Google. Happy budget trails!

Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne’s bustling CBD from above.
  • The City Circle tram is free, encircles the CBD and main city sights.
  • Scienceworks is free for kids, $15 adults; special exhibitions cost extra. Location in Spotswood is difficult on public transport. Focus is on kids here.
  • The Melbourne Museum has improved. Go if it’s raining or 40ºC, or both. Kids free, $15 adults.
  • Melbourne city tourist shuttle, free bus tour of major city sights like Victoria Market, museum, Botanical Gardens, Shine of Remembrance. Every 30min, 90min round-trip.
  • For under $7 day ticket, less at weekends, ride Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses. Go to famed St Kilda Beach, walk the pier, swim in the bay.
  • Take your bike, or hire one, and take the bike path along the Yarra River, or the track from St Kilda along the foreshore.
  • The historic Victoria Market brings the taste of cosmopolitan Melbourne to all who visit. Free, unless tempted…

Adelaide

Adelaide Fringe things to do events festival venues Rundle Street
Rundle Street and its surrounding laneways take on the atmosphere of a street party (photo: Imogen Eveson).
  • Travel free on the City Loop Bus. Two routes around Adelaide’s CBD, for shopping and sightseeing. Stop at the excellent museum or art gallery on a hot or rainy day. Adelaide markets have cheap food.
  • Popeye Motor Launches is a 40min cruise along the River Torrens. $10 adults, $5 children.
  • Free bikes to ride around Adelaide from the Bicycle SA office, or the Rundle Street Market on Sundays, and see all the sights from the saddle.
  • Stroll the Botanic Gardens’ impressive collections of palms, endangered cycads and culinary herbs on display. Free, and free guided walks are available too.
  • Take the Tram to Glenelg a 20min ride from the city to beachside suburb Glenelg. $4.20 adults, or $8 for a day-trip.
  • Taste Haigh’s Chocolates – a free 20min tour and tasting of SA’s iconic choccies shop. Mon-Sat, 5min from the city.
  • Watch an Indigenous performance at Tandanya – the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute . Free entry to the gallery, dance performance $5.
  • Tour Adelaide Oval’s cricket ground, Sir Donald Bradman Collection. Tours Mon-Fri (non-match days), tickets $10.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Canberra

  • Into politics or not, Old Parliament House is a great experience just for the Australian history enacted here. $2 adults, $1 kids.
  • The current Parliament House on the hill has free entry, but we’re all paying for it.
  • Questacon is not free and not cheap, but your kids will love this fantastic scienceworks experience. $49 family ticket. Most expensive item on this whole list.
  • The Australian War Memorial is free.
  • BYO bike for a ride (or a long walk) around Lake Burley Griffin.
  • National Gallery and National Museum have free general entry.
  • CSIRO Discovery Centre gives kids some educational hands-on science information. $6 adult, $3 kids.

Sydney

View of Sydney Harbour from the summit of the bridge
  • A firm favourite is the Old Sydney Observatory , between The Rocks and Darling Harbour. Free entry to museum. Tours $7 adult, family $20.
  • The Powerhouse Museum adjacent to Darling Harbour, hours of exploring for the family. $10 adult, $25 family.
  • At Darling Harbour there’s cheap eats, buskers, boats and a few dollars for the ferry under the Harbour Bridge to Circular Quay.
  • Sydney Ferries travel to all parts of the Harbour. Be sure to include the Manly Ferry and Jet Foil.
  • The iconic Opera House is open for tours $74 for a family, but it’s free to admire from the outside.
  • See historic houses (Historic Houses Trust) in Sydney – Vaucluse House for a picnic and harbour views. Most entry or tours cost $8 adult. Government House visit is free.
  • Instead of an expensive bridge climb, walking across Sydney Harbour Bridge is free.
  • Instead of a spa package, take a dip at the iconic Icebergs Ocean pool. Salt water is Mother Nature’s penicillin, isn’t it? They also have a sauna which can be used at your leisure. $8 for adults. $5.50 for kids
  • Harbour waterfront camping on Cockatoo Island. $45 byo tent, or $75 for tent package, plus ferry from Circular Quay.

Perth

Perth’s rooftop revolution has seen a litany of new bars open upstairs
  • Kings Park, the world’s largest inner city park, has views of the city and picnic spots. The Botanic Gardens have spring wildflowers, and Federation Walkway Swan River views. Free walking tours of the park.
  • Swim, snorkel, surf or relax on one of Perth’s 19 metropolitan beaches.
  • The Cultural Centre, home to Perth’s art gallery, museum, state library and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Free.
  • Mountain Bike the Munda Biddi Camping shelters provided free for those enthusiastic riders wanting a weekend escape.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Brisbane

View to Brisbane from Mt Coot-tha 2
The best view in Brisban? The outlook from Mt Coot-tha.
  • Queensland Museum and Art Gallery both have free entry.
  • Brisbane Powerhouse has free music and comedy every Sunday. Moonlight cinema here too.
  • Free films at Harry Kirby Park, Apsley, Sept-May.
  • Southbank precinct has BBQ areas, picnic spots, sandy beach, bike track, water playground for kids. Free.
  • Mt Coot-tha lookout and botanic gardens, on bus route 471, views of city and river.
  • Free downtown bus loops encircle the CBD.

Darwin

Focal point: Darwin’s waterfront.
  • Hire a bike and ride the Esplanade. Or hire a motor scooter, about $25 for two hours.
  • Free tours of Parliament House , Wed and Sat.
  • Follow history trails through Darwin, visit Lyons Cottage, free.
  • See WWII storage tunnels, images of war in the Top End, $5.
  • See a movie at the Deckchair Cinema , $12.
  • Fish feeding at high tide, the Esplanade, $6.
  • Self-guided tour of Fannie Bay Gaol, free.
  • Darwin’s City Shuttles cost $2 per ride.
  • Mindil Markets, Thurs and Sun evenings during dry season; food and craft.

Hobart

Tasmania hobart wharf history MACq01 tales rooms
Next time you’re in Hobart, we highly recommend grabbing some woolly socks, a Storyteller and a room at MACq01 for a yarn of historical worth (and mirth).
  • Salamanca Place market on Saturdays are free. Local produce just picked from Tassie’s green thumbs or greenies, crafts, busker-type entertainment – for kids too.
  • The Tassie Museum (free entry and tours), see the Tassie tiger, comprehensive Antarctic exhibit. Art Gallery for a rainy day, but the Maritime Museum is small and not free.
  • Mt Wellington overlooks Hobart and the Derwent River – a worthwhile view from the top. Free, but getting there isn’t.
  • Walk the hilly streets of Battery Point to Sandy Bay, colonial cottages and history. Free if self-guided. Tours $15.
  • The Hobart docks – commercial fishing boats and restored heritage vessels reflect perfectly in tranquil waters. Free.
  • Mure’s, dockside, has waterfront views and great seafood (cheaper fish ‘n’ chips downstairs).
  • Cascade Brewery tour costs $20 adult.
  • Heritage sailing ship, Lady Nelson, cruises the Derwent. From $15/adult, $5 kids.
  • Red double-decker bus, city tours from Brook Street pier. Costs about $14, all-day ticket.
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5 of the best day trips from Hobart

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
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    Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

    In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

    Where to stay

    Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

    For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

    For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

    A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart.
    Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

    1. Bruny Island

    Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

    Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

    Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

    Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island.
    Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

    2. Mount Wellington

    At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

    Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

    For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

    No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington
    Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

    2. Port Arthur

    Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

    The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

    Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

    The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area.
    Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

    3. Launceston

    You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

    Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

    Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

    4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

    Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

    Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart.
    Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

    Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

    Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

    Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart.
    Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

    Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .