Tasmania on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
It is possible, but Tasmania is not cheap, mainly because you need a car. A realistic minimum is about A$155 a day per person sharing a room and a car — around A$50 for a bed, A$50 for food, A$20 for sights and A$35 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | A$50 | A$140 | A$350 |
| Food & drink | A$50 | A$90 | A$170 |
| Sights & tickets | A$20 | A$45 | A$100 |
| Local transport | A$35 | A$60 | A$90 |
| Per person, per day | A$155 | A$335 | A$710 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Tasmania day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Salamanca Place and, on Saturdays, the Salamanca Market
- Battery Point and Kelly's Steps
- The drive up kunanyi/Mount Wellington for the view over Hobart
- Cataract Gorge in Launceston and the Alexandra Suspension Bridge
- The beaches and lichen-covered rocks of the Bay of Fires
- The Tessellated Pavement and Tasman Arch on the Tasman Peninsula
Cheap eats
- Curried scallop pie from a bakery — roughly A$9–14
- Fish and chips at Constitution Dock — roughly A$18–30
- Oysters at a farm gate — roughly A$20–40 a dozen
- Apples and berries from roadside stalls in season — roughly A$5–12
- Market food at the Salamanca Market on Saturdays
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers use hostels and motels in Hobart and Launceston, and cabins or powered sites at campgrounds near the parks, at about A$40–150 a night. Book well ahead for Coles Bay and Cradle Mountain in summer.
Getting around cheaply
Share a rental car (roughly A$70–130 a day) and fuel; one-way hires between Hobart and Launceston are common. Buses link the main towns but not the parks. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong to Devonport lets you bring your own car.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Salamanca Place and Battery Point on foot (free)
- Lunch: a scallop pie from a bakery (about A$12)
- Afternoon: drive up kunanyi/Mount Wellington (free; fuel extra)
- Evening: fish and chips at Constitution Dock (about A$25)
- Total: about A$155 including a shared room (about A$50) and a share of car and fuel
More ways to save
- Cook some meals; many hostels, cabins and campgrounds have kitchens.
- Travel with others to split car hire, fuel and the Parks Pass.
- Visit in May or September for lower prices and quieter parks.
- Pick one paid highlight, such as Port Arthur or MONA, and fill the rest with free walks.
- Fill up with fuel and food in larger towns before heading to the parks.
- Book the Spirit of Tasmania early if you are bringing a car; fares rise as sailings fill.
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Common questions
Can you visit Tasmania on a budget?
Yes, with planning: share a car, use hostels and campground cabins, and eat bakery and market food. About A$155 a day is realistic.
Can I see Tasmania without a car?
Only partly. Buses link the main towns but not the parks; the alternative is a guided multi-day tour.
What is free to do in Tasmania?
Salamanca Place, Battery Point, kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Cataract Gorge, the Bay of Fires and the Tasman Peninsula's coastal formations.