What a Family Road Trip Around Regional Victoria Actually Costs (and How to Budget for It)

Victoria is the smallest state on the Australian mainland, so many families tend to underestimate the logistics of planning a road trip in this region. 

But don’t be fooled: come unprepared, and you could find yourself struggling to keep yourself and your family in high spirits as you navigate this compact state.

Truth be told, planning a family road trip around regional Victoria is not inherently a complex puzzle. It’s more than possible to enjoy seeing the various sights and dramatic environmental changes all within a few hours' drive from one another.

That said, if you’re keen to make the most of your upcoming regional Victoria family road trip, then having adequate funds is a necessity to ensure that everything falls into place. 

So how do you go about doing this? If you’re asking that very question, you’re in the right place. This article will cover everything you need to know to make your Victoria road trip one for the books.

Let’s jump straight into it!

How Much Does a Family Road Trip in Victoria Actually Cost?

To properly estimate the cost of a Victoria family road trip, it’s crucial to break down this matter structurally by categorising the different cost buckets you’ll inevitably have to deal with before and during the trip.

There are some matters that will drastically affect the final road trip cost. This includes the number of people you’re travelling with, the type of activities you plan to partake in, the accommodation you choose, and the length of stay in each area.

Beyond that, there are also other matters to take into account. Assuming you’re going on a week-long road trip for a family of four in the ideal holiday window, this is how much you’re expected to spend for the entire trip:

• Fuel: Budget around A$200–A$400 for petrol. Less if you’re driving an EV, and more if you’re driving long stretches of distance in a heavy, gas-powered vehicle.
• Accommodation: Roughly about A$150–A$350 per night. Could be less if you’re driving an RV and just renting out a camping spot for the night.
• Food: A family of four could spend around A$100–A$200 per day. But this could be divided if some members skip breakfast or choose to buy affordable supermarket foods instead.
• Activities: If you’re planning to visit paid attractions, you’ll need to budget for that accordingly. This could range from anywhere between $0 and A$200 per day, depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing.

In total, you could be spending anywhere from $500 AUD upwards for your upcoming family road trip, but usually a lot more. This also doesn't include other miscellaneous purchases that you may need to bring along the trip, like medicine or entertainment. 

It’s not unusual for a seven-day Victoria family road trip to cost anywhere between $1000 and $2000 AUD, for instance.

If you find yourself struggling to gather enough funds for the trip without it negatively impacting your lifestyle, you can get a loan and evaluate your eligibility for it before the trip. Check different banks’ current personal loan interest rates and see what best suits your needs.

How to Budget for a Family Road Trip in Victoria

So now that you’re aware of the various cost buckets you’ll need to account for, the next problem to solve is how to bring your finances to the level that’s sufficient for your road trip.

Here are four ways you can learn how to budget for a Victoria family road trip:

1. Plan Your Itinerary Beforehand

While you can technically get away with going on a spontaneous road trip as a single person or with your friends, it’s best to have a detailed itinerary when embarking on a family road trip. 

The reason is simple: travelling with children can be a handful. From ensuring that they remain healthy and satisfied throughout the trip to ensuring that you have everything you need during the trip, there’s a lot at stake when doing this entire journey.

To keep unexpected detours to a minimum, it’s vital to plan your itinerary with specific pit stops and destinations beforehand. This allows you to estimate driving times and fuel expenses, which can make the trip feel like something under your control. Plus, you can also plan your accommodation and activities more smoothly.

When everyone has a clear idea of what to expect and what places to visit each day, there’ll also be a smaller chance of petty arguments breaking out due to unmet expectations. This can make the trip feel smoother and more peaceful for everyone involved.

1. Set a Daily Spending Limit

Everyone may face the temptation to spend their cash on souvenirs and the like while going on a road trip out of town. Each family member must try as hard as possible to stick to their daily allowable limit, which should be a figure that’s already pre-established at the start of the trip.

For instance, you may let your kids spend up to $30 AUD on their own personal wants per day throughout the trip let them spend that cash however they wish. You should also have your own fund allocation for cost categories like fuel, food, and activities.

By keeping an eye on the daily spending limit, you’ll be able to more easily track your family budget and take the right steps to ensure that you’re not overreaching things.

1. Make Bookings in Advance

Once you already have a budget and itinerary set, arrange your bookings for your trip as soon as you can. Not only will this guarantee you access during the date and time of your visit, but it also allows you to lock in your reservation at a lower price than usual.

This applies to pretty much most scenarios where you can reserve in advance, from rental cars to accommodation and attractions. Having these things pre-booked virtually eliminates the last-minute scare of potentially not having them available to you when you do physically stop by the area.

Plus, you also save more by making bookings in advance. You’ll also have a good idea of your spending right then and there, which can make it easier for you to plan out your road trip budget.

1. Keep an Emergency Fund

Lastly, you should also be aware that things can go wrong during the trip, even if you’ve planned everything to a T. 

Your car may suddenly experience mechanical failure, your family may need medication all of a sudden, or some road could be closed, shifting your schedule around quite drastically.

In any case, it’s important to have some spare money tucked away for events like this. The goal of this emergency fund is not to use it up—it should only be taken out in case you really need it, and there’s no other choice. 

The amount you’ll put here is ultimately up to you, but generally, having $100 AUD per person is a good standard. You should also get adequate insurance to ensure that any health or vehicular incident will be properly covered during the trip.