Looking for affordable travel destinations in Australia?

One of the best ways to find affordable places to visit when you're travelling on a budget is to seek out destinations beyond the well-worn path. 

Australia is home to so many hidden gems just waiting for you to discover.

We found six underrated Australian travel destinations that deliver postcard scenery, culture, and character.

With plenty of low-cost local experiences and budget friendly hotel accommodation, these are the Aussie destinations serving up affordable fun to satisfy your wanderflust.

Because planning a holiday shouldn't mean choosing between your dreams and your bank balance. 

Mackay sits quietly in Queensland's sugar country, serving up 31 beaches and virtually zero crowds. This is where proper Queenslanders holiday.

Cape Hillsborough National Park, just 20 minutes out, delivers sunrise kangaroo encounters on the beach, where roos hop down to feed on mangrove seed pods at dawn, completely unfazed by the handful of early risers with cameras.

A working sugar port with brilliant beaches, and decent pubs with food that doesn't require a second mortgage. Lighthouse at Mackay Marina offers hamburgers and harbour views, while the Artspace gallery proves creativity doesn't need a Melbourne postcode to thrive.

The Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens are 38 hectares of tropical beauty for free, and if you time it right, the nearby Pioneer Valley delivers swimming holes and rainforest walks.

Where to stay: ibis Mackay is super conveniently located right beside the airport, with double glazing and core filled block walls for genuinely quiet rooms. The hotel features comfy ibis Sweet Beds, complimentary parking, free WiFi, and a fully equipped gym.

Onsite TurBARlence Tavern opens for breakfast from 5am Monday to Friday and 6am weekends, with all-day dining from 10am to 9pm.

The outdoor beer garden is perfect for post-beach beers when you're covered in salt and sand from Cape Hillsborough. 

Located 3.5 hours from Sydney or Canberra, Orange delivers rolling vineyard views, exceptional cool-climate wines, and foodie credentials.

The town sits 860 metres above sea level, creating perfect conditions for pinot noir and chardonnay that regularly impress at wine shows. You can still taste at cellar doors without booking too far ahead, and the autumn colours here turn Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area into a photographer's fever dream of gold and crimson. 

Food-wise, Orange punches well above its weight. The local produce is exceptional – think heritage apples, grass-fed beef, and artisan cheeses that haven't been discovered by Melbourne's food media yet. You can eat brilliantly for under $30 a head at places where the chef actually lives in town.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Orange sits just 5 minutes from the CBD with 50 guest rooms including spacious family rooms. The onsite Barrel Restaurant is open for dinner, with continental breakfast available weekdays between 6:30am and 9:00am. Free self-parking and a bar and lounge complete the package - exactly what you need after a day sampling pinot noir and exploring Mount Canobolas.

Newcastle is what Sydney used to be in the ’90s—laid-back, slightly scruffy, and still affordable enough that artists and students haven’t been priced out. The city hugs its working port like an old friend, with container ships gliding past joggers, dogs, and couples with prams like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Nobbys Beach offers a reliable swell, the sand is clean, and the vibe is friendly. Just up the coast, Newcastle Ocean Baths deliver that classic Australian swimming experience: saltwater pools carved into the headland, with art deco pavilions and briny air. 

In the heart of town, King Street is in the middle of a quiet revival. Once lined with empty shopfronts and takeaway joints, it’s now home to indie bookshops, record stores, and bars with personality. 

Where to stay: ibis Newcastle sits right in the thick of things on Hunter Street, positioning you perfectly for Newcastle's revitalised city centre. You're within easy walking distance of the harbour foreshore, the beach, and Hunter Street's collection of decent pubs and restaurants that locals frequent. The hotel restaurant serves breakfast that fuels you for a day exploring Newcastle's beaches or checking out the local music venues.

Broken Hill is the rough-edged mining town that's accidentally become one of Australia's most significant art destinations.

The town's isolated location has attracted artists for decades, creating a creative community that exists because it wants to, not because it's chasing grants or gallery representation.

The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery houses works by Pro Hart and other Brushmen of the Bush, while studios scattered throughout town offer direct access to working artists without the precious gallery markup.

The annual Perfect Light Film Festival showcases stories from Australia and local pubs double as venues. You'll might find yourself discussing cinema with fourth-generation miners and internationally exhibited artists in the same conversation.

The town's mining heritage creates a backdrop that's both harsh and beautiful. The Living Desert sculptures on the outskirts offer sunset views across endless plains, while the underground mines tour provides perspective on the industry that built this place.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Broken Hill is your stop for comfortable budget friendly accommodation, featuring the local favourite S-Que restaurant and a swimming pool. Located in the heart of Broken Hill, it's within steps of the Broken Hill Visitor Information Center and GeoCentre.

Gosford offers genuine natural beauty, waterside relaxation, and cultural experiences without battling massive crowds.

Positioned on the shores of Brisbane Water, Gosford sits at the heart of the Central Coast like a well-kept secret that's hiding in plain sight. The waterways here aren't just pretty to look at - they're beautifully swimmable.

The region's scenic bushland skirts the coastal town, and the Australian Reptile Park sits just outside town, delivering genuine wildlife encounters that put those sanitised zoo experiences to shame.

Meanwhile, the Central Coast Regional Gallery houses a surprisingly impressive collection that would make many metropolitan institutions jealous. The local markets sell produce grown by the people behind the stalls, and Brisbane Water provides the perfect backdrop for kayaking, fishing, or simply sitting by the shore with a cold beer, watching the pelicans do their thing.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Gosford sits right in the town centre, this budget friendly hotel puts you within walking distance of the train station (crucial for those car-free escapes from Sydney), the waterfront, and the handful of decent pubs that keep Gosford's social scene ticking over. The hotel's restaurant serves breakfast that will get you all set for a day of exploring Brisbane Water or hitting the nearby bushwalking trails. 

Canberra has quietly built one of Australia's most exciting food cultures while everyone was looking elsewhere. The nation's capital benefits from proximity to exceptional regional produce that creates restaurants that focus on quality.

Canberra's markets are exceptional – the Old Bus Depot Markets show off regional producers without the boutique markup, while weekend farmers' markets offer direct access to growers from the surrounding countryside. You can eat brilliantly for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without breaking the bank.

The city's cultural institutions are world-class and mostly free. The National Gallery, Parliament House tours, and the Australian War Memorial offer experiences that would cost serious money elsewhere. 

Where to stay: ibis budget Canberra is a short drive from the centre of the city and popular attractions like the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and Canberra International Airport.

Each room features a flat screen TV, comfortable beds, and fast free WiFi throughout the building, plus a large on-site car park. Pet-friendly rooms are available, allowing your whole family to stay together.