Affordable Australia: a month-by-month guide

With holiday prices varying so much from season to season, bargains can be hard to pin down – particularly in Australia, where the cost of living is notoriously high. But according to global traveller data, it’s possible to book an affordable holiday based on the month you visit, with significant savings of up to 59%.

Here’s a month-by-month guide to the best travel accommodation prices in Australia.*

January in Adelaide, South Australia

Let’s face it, pretty much anywhere in Australia peaks in price in January, along with the summer weather. But last year, January in Adelaide was 13% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year; thanks to the Adelaide Fringe (the world’s second-largest annual arts festival), which takes place in February and March, the cost of accommodation in the months leading up to it is relatively low. And yet the days are super hot and sunny, and the cultural calendar still packed; there are markets, concerts, exhibitions, openings, outdoor cinemas and festivals such as So Frenchy, So Chic – a garden party celebration of modern French culture featuring Champagne, crêpes, pétanque and headlining music acts. Check into The Franklin Boutique Hotel in Adelaide’s CBD.

February in Torquay, Victoria

February in Torquay sees consistently good weather. And last year, it was 34% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. This small beach town is the surfing capital of Australia, being the birthplace of Rip Curl and Quiksilver, and home to Bells Beach, where the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition is held. Torquay is tiny but its population swells in the summer, mainly with a mass of Melburnians escaping the heat of the city. Wander along the Esplanade popping into ice-cream and froyo parlours, surf shops, bars and fish and chip joints, before sunbathing on the caramel-coloured sand of the gently-curving Front Beach. The Great Ocean Road also officially starts in Torquay, so it’s an opportunity to embark on one of the country’s most magnificent road trips. Stay at the highly rated Bush to Beach Studio 1.

March in Lorne, Victoria

Skip the peak summer crowds by visiting Lorne in March – as the weather transitions into autumn but remains balmy and bright – and you’ll still find plenty to see and do. Book tickets for By The Meadow festival (held annually at the end of March or beginning of April), A BYOB boutique music festival where you can dance under the gum trees on the rolling hills of the Otway Hinterlands. You should also visit Qdos Art Gallery, before setting off on a bushwalk in the direction of the beach and the pier, ending up at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club for a beer or two. Last year, March was 45% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year in Lorne. Stay in a Federation-style bungalow at Lemonade Creek Cottages, waking up to the sound of kookaburras singing in the surrounding bush.

April in Sydney, New South Wales

April in Sydney may be the end of summer, but it’s still warm enough to only need a light jacket at night, while enjoying sunny beach time during the day. It’s a great time of year to head outside of the city to visit the Blue Mountains National Park. Or to attend any of the seasonal arts and culture festivals, night markets and Easter events. The 25th April is Anzac Day – a day of commemoration for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who have fought and died for their country – meaning there’ll be parades and events worth watching in the city. Last year, April was 21% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Check into the Wake Up! Sydney Central, just opposite Central Station, from where you can catch a train to the Blue Mountains.

May in Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Given the intense heat in Australia’s Red Centre, visiting Alice Springs in midsummer would be a bold move; far better to visit in May, when temperatures float around 25-30 degrees during the daytime and the nights are mild. Most visitors to Alice Springs are here to see Uluru, and reasonable temperatures make an expedition to this sacred Aboriginal monolith much more agreeable. Other activities include hiking, watching glorious sunsets, swimming in waterholes and phenomenal Outback stargazing. Last year, May was 9% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Relax after a trip into the Outback by the outdoor pool at Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn.

June in Gold Coast, Queensland

Although June is the first month of winter here, the weather is still great – think cloud-free days of up to 20 degrees and seas that are still warm from summer. June is also a month that’s packed with events, from the pyrotechnics spectacular that is SeaFire, to various DJ residencies and the Gold Coast Food & Wine Festival, featuring decadent tasting menus, street food and picnic gatherings. Last year, June was 59% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year. Stay right on the beach at Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise.

July in Perth, Western Australia

July may be winter in Perth but that still means pleasant weather, with temperatures of around 18 degrees during the day and usually plenty of sunshine. Last year, July was 7% cheaper than the most expensive week of the year. For its size, Perth is the most remote city in the world, which may account for its country town feel – although an increasingly youthful population is bringing on-trend eateries and events to the fore. Head to the Cottesloe or Fremantle neighbourhoods to tap into the best of July’s cultural calendar; the latter is home to Little Creatures Brewery (set within a huge, converted boat shed on the water) where you’ll find great beer, fantastic chilli mussels and music on the weekend. Fremantle’s Best Wishes Coffee also ran a five course brunch called Winter Table in 2018, which hopefully will take place in 2019, too. Visit markets, boutiques and artisanal food spots, and be sure to catch a sunset on Cottesloe Beach. Treat yourself to a minimalist, cream- and taupe-tinted suite in a historic Perth building at COMO The Treasury.

August in Mount Buller, Victoria

Although August was only 6% cheaper than July last year, it’s still the best time to visit Mount Buller to revel in Australia’s short-lived ski season. Late July is when snowfall peaks and temperatures are coldest, meaning August stands a good chance at offering great snow conditions. And it’s the closest ski resort to Melbourne, being only three hours’ drive from the city, so you can easily fit it into a weekend trip. Prepare packed lunches for the slopes in the communal kitchen at TERAMA Ski Lodge.

September in Port Douglas, Queensland

Last year, September was 12% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year in Port Douglas, even though the weather is about as good as it gets; expect average temperatures of 28 degrees and very little rainfall. It’s a great time to see the town’s main attraction – the nearby Great Barrier Reef – since rainy season hasn’t yet started, so the waters tend to be clear for snorkelling. There’s also the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world, where you can spot crocodiles, tree snakes, tropical birds and marsupials in the wild. And it’s still safe to swim on Port Douglas’ spectacular Four Mile Beach, before stinger season arrives. Stay in a colourful mansion in the centre of Port Douglas at Le Cher Du Monde.

October in Broome, Western Australia

Last year, October was 35% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year in Broome, despite it being a dreamy time to visit. On the cusp of wet season, it’s the last month of warm days, balmy nights and blue skies before the torrential downpours kick in. Broome’s 22km-long Cable Beach is the highlight of this historic pearling town, where the sunsets are truly sublime. Hire a 4WD, drive it down to the beach with a Western Australia brew and hunker down to see the blazing red sun slowly sink into the Indian Ocean. Stay in a pistachio-painted, foliage-clad wooden house at the highly rated BroomeTown B&B.

November in Byron Bay, New South Wales

November is one of the best times of the year to visit Byron. And yet last year, it was 33% cheaper than the most expensive month. The humidity of high season is still to arrive, the beach is relatively empty without the Christmas or January summer holiday crowds, the sun is shining and people are starting to get into the festive spirit. This dreamy beach town is famously relaxed and known for its welcoming hippie warmth but it’s also celebrated for surfing, so it’d be worth getting active at one of the surf school’s here. But even if all you want is to swim and sunbathe on silky white sand, there are numerous beaches to choose from in addition to Main Beach; try the rainforest-fringed, curved cove of Wategos Beach, or the underrated surf of Broken Head Beach, backed by a rainforest reserve with walking tracks weaving through it. Stay at Aabi’s at Byron, located in a quiet street just a short walk from the town centre.

December in Melbourne, Victoria

December is a great time to visit Melbourne, avoiding the visitors that arrive for the Australian Open (January) and the Melbourne Cup (November), but with plenty of pre-Christmas goings-on to keep you entertained. The weather can be changeable in Victoria’s capital city but if it’s rainy one day, chances are the sun will be out and baking sunshine will return the next. Wander around the boutiques and vintage shops of Fitzroy and check out the Night Market at Queen Victoria Market on the other side of the CBD. Attend an outdoor rooftop film screening at Lido on the Roof in Hawthorn and wander around the cafés of Carlton, enjoying some of the fine coffee that Melbourne is famous for. Last year, December was 18% cheaper than the most expensive month in Melbourne. Book yourself a modern, minimalist apartment with great city views at The Eminence Carlton.

**The data analysts at Booking.com looked at internal pricing data across 2018 for the most-booked destinations in Australia by Booking.com customers. They then established the average price of accommodations per month (taking into account only completed stays), and compared these to find the most affordable month to visit.