Most people booking a Contiki Australia tour look at the headline price and assume that’s the full story. $3,500 AUD. $4,200 AUD. Maybe $6,000 AUD for the longer East Coast packages. At first glance, that feels like a fortune — or like you’re done budgeting.
Here’s the truth: the price tag is just the start. Travelling Australia isn’t cheap. Between optional activities, food, nightlife, and little hidden extras, the gap between what you think you’ll spend and what you actually spend can be thousands of dollars.
That’s why it pays to plan properly. If you go in blind, you risk bleeding money in bars, skipping the highlights because you didn’t budget, or maxing out your credit card halfway up the coast. Get it right, and you’ll come home with the experiences you wanted, not financial regret.
Here’s the full breakdown of how to budget for Contiki in Australia, and how to avoid blowing your trip before it’s even halfway done.
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The Headline Price
Most Contiki Australia packages fall between $3,500 AUD and $6,000 AUD depending on length and inclusions. That price covers:
- Transport (coaches, some flights, and ferries)
- Accommodation (hostels, hotels, or camping depending on route)
- A chunk of meals (but not all)
- Core activities (surf lesson in Byron, Fraser Island tour, Whitsundays sailing, Great Barrier Reef snorkel, Uluru sunrise if Outback included)
That’s your baseline. But here’s what people often forget: Contiki includes the bones of the trip. The flesh, the food, nightlife, extras, and upgrades — is where your budget really stretches.
Food and Drink: The Silent Budget Killer
Meals are partially included, but not all. Expect to cover at least $40–$70 AUD per day for food and drinks. Multiply that by a three-week East Coast trip, and you’re looking at $1,000–$1,500 AUD on top of your package.
- Breakfasts: Sometimes included, often not. Add $10–$20 AUD per day if you eat out.
- Lunches: Usually not included. Beachside burgers, poke bowls, or even cheap fish and chips will run $15–$25 AUD.
- Dinners: Many included, but not all. Eating out averages $25–$40 AUD per meal.
- Nightlife: This is where budgets explode. $10 AUD beers, $18 cocktails. A “big night” in Cairns or Airlie easily costs $100 AUD+.
Plan: $1,000–$1,500 AUD minimum for food and drink, more if you’re a party-heavy traveller.
Optional Activities: Where Your Budget Blows Wide Open
Contiki bundles in the highlights. But the optional extras are what make many trips unforgettable — and expensive.
- Skydiving (Byron, Airlie, or Cairns): $350–$500 AUD
- Scuba diving upgrades on the Reef: $100–$150 AUD per dive
- Liveaboard dive trips: $500–$1,200 AUD
- Whitewater rafting (Cairns): $150–$200 AUD
- Hot air ballooning (Cairns or Outback): $250–$350 AUD
- Scenic flights over Whitsundays or Uluru: $300–$500 AUD
Not everyone does all of these. But even a moderate mix adds $500–$1,000 AUD. Big spenders can add $2,000+ AUD just in optionals.
Transport Before and After
The package gets you around once you’re on the tour. But don’t forget:
- Flights into Australia: $1,200–$2,000 AUD depending on season.
- Domestic flights (if needed): Sometimes Contiki includes them, sometimes not (e.g., between Alice Springs and Sydney). $200–$400 AUD.
- Transfers: Airport shuttles, taxis, Ubers — budget $100–$200 AUD total.
Gear and Clothing
Sounds minor, but if you’re not prepared, you’ll pay.
- Warm layers for the Outback: $100 AUD+ if you land in winter without them.
- Stinger suits in Cairns: Often included, but not always.
- Snorkel gear upgrades: $50–$100 AUD if you want your own.
- Footwear for hikes: $150 AUD+ if you realise your sneakers won’t cut it.
Better to budget now than blow cash fixing it on the road.
The Social Budget
One thing travellers forget: Contiki is social by design. That means more group dinners, more bar nights, more spontaneous extras.
- Byron bar crawls.
- Cairns nightclub entries.
- Extra dinners out as a group.
Even if you’re not a big drinker, the social side costs money. Budget $400–$800 AUD just for “group vibe extras.”
The DIY Comparison Trap
Plenty of travellers think, “Why pay Contiki prices when I can just get a Greyhound pass?”
Here’s the reality:
- Greyhound pass: $700–$1,000 AUD
- Hostels: $30–$50 AUD per night → $900–$1,500 AUD for a month
- Activities (Fraser, Whitsundays, Reef): $1,000–$1,500 AUD combined
- Food and drink: $1,000–$1,500 AUD
- Optionals: Same as Contiki → $500–$1,500 AUD
DIY total: $4,000–$6,000 AUD — almost identical to Contiki once you factor in highlights and logistics. The difference? DIY comes with stress and FOMO. Contiki gives you certainty.
Seasonality and Budget
Your costs change depending on when you travel.
- Summer (Dec–Feb): Highest food/accommodation costs, peak nightlife. Budget blows fastest here.
- Autumn (Mar–May): Cheaper, better balance.
- Winter (Jun–Aug): Great for Outback, moderate prices on the coast.
- Spring (Sep–Nov): Rising costs toward November.
If your budget is tight, avoid December and January — the crowds and price spikes will eat you alive.
Smart Budgeting Tips for Contiki Australia
- Plan your optionals in advance. Don’t try to do everything. Pick your must-dos (e.g., skydive or liveaboard, not both).
- Front-load your budget. Pre-pay or set aside cash for optionals so you’re not stressed later.
- Balance nights out. You don’t need to spend $100 AUD in every bar. Alternate big nights with chill ones.
- Food hacks: Buy snacks and cheap breakfasts. Save money for dinners and nights out.
- Talk to a travel agent (Boost Travel). We’ll tell you the real costs and help you lock in discounts on optionals.
What It Really Costs: A Full Picture
3-week East Coast Contiki
- Package: $4,500 AUD
- Food/drink: $1,200 AUD
- Optionals: $1,000 AUD
- Social extras: $500 AUD
- Flights: $1,500 AUD
Total: $8,500 AUD (give or take).
That’s the reality. Contiki isn’t cheap. But done properly, it’s worth every cent.
Why Budgeting Makes or Breaks Your Trip
Plenty of travellers underestimate Australia. They blow half their cash on Byron bars, then have to skip the Whitsundays sail or Reef dive. Or they spend so much on optionals they come home stressed about credit card debt.
The truth? Money shapes memories. Not because you need to spend more, but because you need to spend right.
Contiki gives you the backbone of the trip. Budgeting properly gives you the freedom to enjoy it without stress.
One Trip, One Budget
You’ll only do your first Australia Contiki once. If you under-budget, you’ll carry the regret forever. If you over-plan, you’ll come home knowing you squeezed every drop out of it.
Don’t let money be the reason you ruin your trip of a lifetime. Talk to Boost Travel today, and we’ll help you build a Contiki budget that matches your dream — without the nasty surprises.
Claim your free Dream Trip Blueprint session now.