Australia's Best Weekends Away On A Budget

It’s the Holy Grail of Holidaying: finding time for a couple of quick but great nights away, with money left over for food and a few fun things to do.

Brisbane

To stay

A fully self-contained, chic, one-bedroom apartment at The Miro is an affordable $155 per night. Even more amazing, it’s in Fortitude Valley.

To eat

A cool, inexpensive breakfast at Buzz Bistro , a Parisian-style café right around the corner, is a great way to start the day.

A local secret, Oxford St Bulimba is a great place for lunch after wandering the boutiques. King Crab Co. is our pick for a trendy beer and all the seafood you can eat, without busting the wallet.

Bohemian West End is the next suburb. A cocktail at the quirky Lychee Lounge is a great pre-dinner experience. Finish the day off at Eagle Street Pier and the Helm Bar and Bistro . Big flavour, big value, big jugs of beer, big tables and big views – what better way could there be to end your day?

To do

The best thing to happen to Brisbane since Macarthur left town is the Gallery of Modern Art in Southbank. It’s an awesome experience.

For a bit of history (yes, Brisbane does have some), get to St John’s Cathedral on Ann Street . Amazingly, it’s under construction and will be the last Gothic cathedral to be completed in the world. Take a free guided tour at 10am or 2pm daily.

Glass house Mountains

The sound of serenity is all you’ll hear at Glass House Mountains Ecolodge. High above and far from the bustle of Brisbane, the mountain retreat is great for a bit of downtime.

To stay

Go bush without sacrificing flushing toilets, showers and heating – rooms at Maleny Orchard have queen beds, ensuites and balconies. Ninety minutes out of Brisbane, that’s still a bargain.

To do

The National Park is at your doorstep, so go bushwalking on the trails in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland or drive half-an-hour to Maleny and wander through the art galleries around town.

Finish off the day with a beer and schnitzel at King Ludwig’s Restaurant & Glasshouse Tavern . It’s hard to pass on the traditional Weisswurst sausage at this Bavarian beer hall, but the Ecolodge does have a guest kitchen in an old train dining car.

Save an entire day for Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo . You’ll need it to catch the croc shows and explore the 70-acre site.

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

Melbourne

To stay

In the same block as the pricey, hit-and-miss Royce Hotel, Albert Park Manor will keep you under budget and in style. Four-poster beds and wrought-iron furniture outfit standard doubles starting at $125.

To eat

All this sexy city has to offer is just a quick tram ride up St Kilda Rd, but get your day started with an espresso at Grossi Florentino . Mains here cost $50 a pop, but breakfast eggs in the Cellar Bar come in at under $15.

For dinner, set your eyes to Gazi, George Colombaris’ modern Greek restaurant sitting sleek and sexy in the CBD. The $17 souvlaki is cheaper than a lot of pub grub around town, and is served under one of the most architecturally fascinating roofs in the city.

Occupying the real estate that was once The Press Club, Gazi is unconventionally excellent

End the evening with a nightcap in a big comfy couch by the fireplace at LaLa Land.

To do

Head back towards the hotel for a wander through the Ian Potter Centre at Fed Square – a mostly free cultured couple of hours surrounded by great Aussie art.

While you’re there, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has $8 screenings of silver screen classics.

Daylesford

A land of plenty, the produce driven community of Daylesford has providores on almost every corner and is perfect for a hunt and forage kind of weekend.

To stay

Spend the day gathering ingredients for the perfect antipasti plate before retreating to Station House , a renovated gold rush manor with doubles from $140, open fires and claw-footed bathtubs.

To eat

Pick up prosciutto cured the Croatian way from Istra Smallgoods in Musk , (our No. 12 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experience) and cheese from local dairy farmers like Holy Goat (No. 5 Gourmet Experience) at Cliffy’s Emporium.

To do

For champagne treatment, take the Silver Streak , a vintage diesel train journey made the first Saturday of the month. For just $25, with champagne and canapés, sit back and enjoy the scenic Daylesford Spa Country Railway, slowly re-opening after 2009 fire damage.

The Hepburn Springs-Daylesford area is littered with natural mineral springs; wander through open fields and forests and fill up your drink bottle at an old-fashioned hand pump.

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Sydney

To stay

Yes, it’s Australia’s most expensive city. But it is possible to spend two nights at a sought-after Sydney address for under $500. A room at The Russell in the shadows of The Bridge with Opera House glimpses is just $125 a double. Shared bathroom, but small sacrifice for having everything on your doorstop for a weekend limited only by your imagination, not your budget.

To eat

Start with cheap and cheerful breakfast at La Renaissance , meander to the affordable Rocks markets and pop into the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) for a bit of free culture.

For dinner, visit one of Sydney’s best restaurants.

To do

A real hidden gem and great value is the Opera House tour , just $29 for online bookings. A great way to see out the sunlight and a Sydney weekend institution is a drink at the Opera Bar soaking up one of the greatest views in the world.

Kiama

Just 90 minutes drive southeast from Sydney, the relaxed seaside town of Kiama – famous for its blowhole – is an easy, stress-free weekend.

To stay

It’s also damn affordable at The Sebel Harbourside on Shoalhaven St − king bed, buffet breakfast, BBQ area and waterfront views from $120 a night. The heritage-listed property dates back to 1871, was once an Infants’ School Building, and is mercifully under ten stories high.

To eat

The most expensive thing you should buy in town is a waffle cone from The Ice Creamery .

Grab a scoop and wander up to the Blowhole. If the sea’s a little on the rough side, head further south, just around the bay to the Little Blowhole – which often spouts more impressive sprays anyway. We recommend brekkie at The Little Blowhole Café on the way.

To do

Just out of town and inland, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk is great for a birds’ eye view of the coast. It consists of 500m of walkways, suspended fully 25m up in the air, for a treetop trek at just $22 an adult.

Hard to reach and harder to forget, East Arnhem offers something rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down and experience Country on its own terms.

The sky feels bigger in East Arnhem . It stretches wide and uninterrupted above rouged earth, stringybark woodland and beaches so empty they seem to belong to another era. The coastline curves for kilometres without a footprint and the horizon runs on forever.

For comedian Lou Wall, the scale of the place was the first thing that hit them.

“The sheer openness,” they say. “The sky feels infinite and the land stretches out endlessly. It’s pretty breathtaking visually.”

But the physical landscape is only part of the story. The real reward isn’t only the scenery but the shift in perspective the journey brings. Visitors stop trying to tick off the destination and a real engagement takes over.

“It made me never want to travel again,” Wall jokes. “In that I never wanted to leave East Arnhem.”

Getting there

Aerial shot of East Arnhem’s coastline as cars trace the curve of the shore. — Sail along the remote coastline on an expedition cruise.

Reaching East Arnhem is part of the adventure. Travellers typically fly into Gove Airport near Nhulunbuy via Darwin or Cairns, or arrive by expedition cruise along the remote coastline. Others make the journey overland along rutted dirt roads that cut through East Arnhem’s small pockets of monsoon forest.

However you arrive, there’s a distinct feeling of crossing into somewhere different. Permits are required to visit the region, reflecting the fact that this is Yolŋu land where communities and traditional owners maintain deep cultural connections to Country.

The extra planning becomes part of the experience. By the time visitors arrive, they understand they’re entering a place not just of respect, but also patience and curiosity.

At one with nature

East Arnhem’s landscapes leave a strong imprint. For Wall, one place in particular still lingers in their memory: Ngalarrkpuy , also known as Lonely Beach, near Bawaka Homeland.

“I genuinely felt like I was living inside an Instagram filter,” they say. “One of the most stunning feats of nature I’ve ever seen. The water was so clear I swear I could see even the fish smiling.”

Across the region, natural experiences unfold at a slower pace. Fishing, beachcombing and island hopping reveal the rhythm of the coastline. The tides shape daily life and the vastness of the landscape makes even simple moments feel downright cinematic.

For visitors with limited time, Wall says the Bawaka Homeland experience is unmissable.

“I just left and I’m already planning when I can get back there.”

The sense of remoteness is part of the appeal. In a country where many beaches are crowded and well-trodden, East Arnhem’s coastline still feels wonderfully wild.

Immersing in local culture

A visitor spends a meaningful moment alongside Yolŋu guides, gaining insight into their deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land. — Experience authentic moments with the locals.

Culture is woven through every experience in East Arnhem. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time on Country with Yolŋu guides and knowledge holders who share stories and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

For Wall, one of the most powerful moments came during a conversation with a Yolŋu elder.

“I got to meet a traditional elder, Mayalil, in Nhulunbuy,” they say. “Listening to her talk about her home made the land feel alive in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

The region is also home to internationally recognised Aboriginal art centres where artists shape works deeply connected to land and family knowledge.

Music carries the same cultural energy. East Arnhem has produced globally recognised artists such as King Stingray and Baker Boy, blending Yolŋu language, storytelling and contemporary sound.

Wall experienced this musical spirit first-hand.

“A jam session around the fire was it for me,” they say. “Letting the deep joy and history of their music wash over me… and meeting a few of the King Stingray musicians was unreal.”

These moments of human connection often become the most memorable part of a visit.

Spotting local wildlife

An aerial view of the beach shows tiny figures lined up across the white sand, moving as if in a rhythmic dance. — Step into a world where nature reigns.

The wildlife of East Arnhem adds another layer to the experience. The region is home to an extraordinary range of animals, from waterbirds and turtles to dugongs, dolphins and the formidable saltwater crocodile.

Wall admits they didn’t actually spot a croc during their visit.

“Devastatingly, I didn’t see one,” they laugh. “But with all the stories from the locals I definitely gained a healthy respect for caution.”

Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters can be surprisingly small., At Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island, Wall remembers walking along the beach one morning and watching it come alive.

“As you walk through the sand you see hundreds of crabs scurrying into their holes as you pass by,” they say. “Such a small thing, but it was completely magical.”

Moments like this reveal the quieter rhythms of East Arnhem, where even the smallest creatures seem to play a part in the landscape.

Visitors who make the journey soon learn the most important travel tip of all.

“Go in open-minded with a sense of curiosity,” Wall says. “Be prepared to ditch your plans. The land and the locals will guide you on an adventure no spreadsheets could ever compete with.”

And most importantly, they add, don’t rush.

“The land and people deserve your time and attention. You’ll be all the better for slowing down.”

For more information on visiting East Arnhem, head to eastarnhem.com.au .

Australia’s best weekends away on a budget

It’s the Holy Grail of Holidaying: finding time for a couple of quick but great nights away, with money left over for food and a few fun things to do.

Brisbane

To stay

To eat

To do

Glass house Mountains

To stay

To do

Melbourne

To stay

To eat

To do

Daylesford

To stay

To eat

To do

Sydney

To stay

To eat

To do

Kiama

To stay

To eat

To do

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Discovering East Arnhem: Australia’s most unique and rewarding corner

Getting there

At one with nature

Immersing in local culture

Spotting local wildlife

It’s the Holy Grail of Holidaying: finding time for a couple of quick but great nights away, with money left over for food and a few fun things to do.

Brisbane

To stay

To eat

To do

Glass house Mountains

To stay

To do

AI Prompt

Melbourne

To stay

To eat

To do

Daylesford

To stay

To eat

To do

Sydney

To stay

To eat

To do

Kiama

To stay

To eat

To do

Australian luxury lodge pioneer Baillie Lodges enters new global era as ‘Beckons’

The best last-minute Easter getaways you can still book

Australia’s newest hotels worth planning a trip for

7 luxe Aussie hotels made the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards for the first time

Getting there

At one with nature

Immersing in local culture

Spotting local wildlife