With the launch of GO Accommodation’s new website, users can easily search for, enquire about and book a huge range of holiday accommodation and exclusive hotel deals all year round. Whatever holiday you can imagine, GO Accommodation will have a beachside resort, spacious apartment or city hotel perfect for your holiday requirements.

At the gorgeous Gold Coast in the sunshine state of Queensland, you can delight in expanses of pristine beaches and watch surfers tame the waves or take the plunge yourself. And just a small drive to the Gold Coast hinterland, you’ll feel as though you’re far away from everything. With miles of surf beach, lush green rainforest, worldclass golfing greens and world-well-known theme parks, the Gold Coast truly offers something for everyone.

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The Towers Of Chevron Renaissance is GO Accommodation’s featured property of the year and offers the perfect base from which to explore all that Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast has to offer. From its central location in Surfers Paradise guests are within walking distance of many restaurants, cafés and attractions with many others accessible by private vehicle or tour.

If you’re still wanting a beach holiday but prefer something a small more relaxed, then the Sunshine Coast is for you. The Sunshine Coast offers kilometres of golden beaches as well as a gorgeous and diverse hinterland. Each town has its own unique personality and individual style with a range of accommodation options to match every mood, occasion or budget. Perhaps you want to stay in a cozy cottage or cabin with hinterland views or would delight in a romantic weekend in a luxurious beachfront resort or maybe you prefer a self contained apartment for a fun filled family holiday. Whatever your style, the Sunshine Coast will be sure to leave a lasting impression.

Would you prefer a holiday in the city? Sydney is set on a gorgeous harbour and is well-known for its iconic landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Bondi Beach. It also has a vibrant mix of cafés and restaurants and a carefree, outdoor lifestyle. The city’s underground railway makes it simple to get around, with shopping, restaurants, cafe’s, lots of attractions and sightseeing.

With professional Australian travel help and exclusive holiday deals from GO Accommodation, why would you GO anywhere else?

Visit www.goaccommodation.com.au to view more information about this gorgeous country and feel free to give GO Accommodation a call on 1300 665 277 (+61 7 5555 1838) to discuss your travel requirements.

Australian money

Money in Australia is called the Australian dollar. We have 0, , $ 20, $ 10 and $ 5 notes, and , ,.50 cent,.20 cent,.10 cent and 5 cent coins. Many shops will charge for items something like AU$ 10.99 for a product, just for marketing effect, but in the end you will pay AU$ 11.00. Capital cities expenses are usually more than country areas but sometimes it is the reverse. For example fuel can be more expensive in the country areas but not by too much. The list below is an estimate average of the prices charged in Australia, to be referred to as a guide only. It is all based on 33 years experience…

Accommodation

Budget tip: Use the Internet to get bargains and save loads of money. Some of my favourite sites are on the links page. If you’re travelling on a shoestring budget then I would suggest staying in hostels or caravan parks. They vary in price based on quality and location. A word of warning caravan parks especially along the coast are not what they used to be. These days they have nearly resort style facilities so they can be just as expensive as staying in a motel.

Getting around

By air: Australia has 4 main airlines to choose from: Qantas: Usually the most expensive VirginBlue: Basic service at cheaper rates JetStar: Similar to VirginBlue TigerAirways: No frills basic budget service. Some of these don’t glide to certain parts of the country so you need to do your homework.

Public transport

A fantastic way to save money on a tight budget. Queensland Rail or QR mainly covers south east Queensland (Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) now offers a goCard which is valid for train, bus and ferry services mainly in Brisbane. It is cheaper than paying by cash. I am a huge fan of getting the train around Brisbane. It is convenient, safe and cheap. You can also buy daily, weekly or monthly QR passes. The longer the pass the more money you save. QR also offers concessions for pensioners and students. City Rail (New South Wales): covers Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast and Newcastle): Has loads of different tickets to save you money.

I used CityRail all the time when I was living in Sydney. Sometimes the trains run late but for the most part it is a excellent safe service. For families consider the Funday Sunday pass where currently (2009) you will pay just .50 per person you just need a minimum of one adult and one child. City Rail also offers other discounted tickets Cityhopper (for Syndey only), day tripper and the Sydneypass (Sydney only for 3, 5 or 7 days for travel within a 8 day period) which gets you unlimited train, bus and ferry around Sydney. Concessions are available for students and pensioners.

Getting to or from the international airports

Avoid taxis. These will cost you a small fortune mainly because of traffic congestion. The price of a ticket from the Domestic Airport to the City is .60 and from the International Airport to the City is .20. And sometimes the cabbies get lost.

SUPER BUDGET HINT:

Instead consider airport shuttle services. Do a Google search for Airport transfers in the city you are landing in. For example ‘Airport transfers Sydney airport’. Sydney New South Wales: Usually price range for shuttle services will be return to major CBD locations but may be cheaper if you book online. Brisbane Queensland: Airport transfers by Rail. These are privately owned companies that don’t usually offer concessions. They are an brilliant way to save money though. Brisbane Airtrain: This is a rail service that will get you from Brisbane International or Domestic terminals to Brisbane CBD, Brisbane suburban areas or Gold Coast. The price shouldn’t be more than one way to most destinations. Check out the Airtrain interactive map on their website to give you an thought Airport Link Sydney: Similar to Brisbane. As of 2009 a one way ticket to the CBD from the Domestic or International airport terminals will be a small under . Check out the FAQ section on their webpage for details.

Hiring a car

East Coast Australia has all the major hire companies Hertz, Budget, Avis and independents which may be better for budget travelling. There are all types of cars and vans to choose from, the larger the car the more you will pay. They’re a few websites out there that allow you to compare hire car prices. Use them, they will save you lots of money! If you will be here for a bit longer then consider hiring a van. There are lots of options for you. In Queensland a well loved choice is Wicked. In NSW they have depots in Sydney and Byron bay. In Queensland their depots are in Brisbane, Hervey Bay and Cairns.

Grocery Shopping

Australian grocery shopping is dominated by 2 huge ‘players’ in the market namely Woolworths and Coles. If you spend over a certain amount your sales docket will get you cheaper fuel (see below) You will find Woolworths and Coles in most larger towns and they are of course in every capital city. They now use ‘price per weight’ tickets so you can compare and save whilst browsing the shelves. Australia also has Aldi stores in most regional towns and all capital cities down the Australian East Coast. These are my favourite for budget shopping especially if you are travelling and you only need basic items along the way.

SUPER BUDGET TIP:

Cheaper items are usually below eye level. That’s right the more expensive items will be on the middle shelves so look down and grab a bargain. Australia’s generic brands such as Home Brand, Black and Gold and Woolworths and Coles own varieties are just as excellent in value as the larger name brands. Aldi are cheaper than Woolworths and Coles and the quality is just as excellent. You will though have to take your own bags to pack your items or buy bags at Aldi. There are other supermarkets in Australia such as Foodowrks and IGA and they are fantastic if you just need a few items in your travels.

Fuel (Gas)

We call a gas station a service station. Australia has all the major fuel companies available (BP, Caltex, Ampol, Shell etc). Some offer 4c off your fuel if you present a supermarket docket. Caltex accepts Woolworths dockets and Shell accepts Coles dockets. I highly recommend using these especially if you are doing most of your traveling by car. Fuel prices go up and down through the week. Anecdotal research indicates the cheapest day to buy fuel is now either on a Tuesday or Wednesday. To save on fuel drive smoothly, limit using the air conditioner and don’t speed, this chews the fuel (and it is perilous too!) A special word on Service station stops: All service stations want you to buy something else while you’re in the store such as drinks, chocolates, lollies, CDs etc. Avoid the temptation, as you will be paying extremely high prices for doing so. Instead plot your trip by buying drinks and food at a supermarket for your travels. Some service stations even offer 4c off your fuel if you buy worth of food. This means you are worse off then if you didn’t buy the food or drinks. Don’t be fooled!

Phone calls

Cell phones are called ‘mobile’ phones in Australia. AVOID USING YOUR MOBILE (CELL) PHONE. INTERNATIONAL ROAMING RATES WILL STING YOU.Of course mobile phones are useful for emergency situations. Cheapest option when on a budget to save money when travelling is using international telephone cards. With one AUD 10 card, you can talk to the USA for longer than 2 hours. Keep in mind that making a lot of shorter calls will costs you more than a 1 longer call. For instance 6 calls of 10 minutes will cost you more than 1 call of an hour. There are lots of telephone cards available. Including: Ozcall, Daybreak and Gotalk. There are also lots of online sites to compare prices; just do a Google search such as ‘International telephone cards Australia.’ You can buy the cards from Newsagents or online and for a range of prices. To make it simple though buy them in even amounts of AUD 10, AUD 20 or AUD50 and use them from your home phone and also public phones.

Food and drink.

Eating out and drinking lots of alcohol can be very expensive. Depending on the bar or restaurant beer can cost from AUD 2.50 up to AUD 7.00.

SUPER BUDGET HINT:

Size of glass will determine the price. The Beer names given to different beer glass sizes varies from city to city in Australia and generally from state to state. For example asking for a Schooner in most Victorian or Western Australian Pubs will earn you a confused or annoyed look, as the don’t serve that size. Ordering a ‘Beer’ in Victoria will get you a 285ml (10 oz) ‘Pot’ but if you said the same thing in a Queensland Pub you might find yourself with a smaller 200ml (7 oz) glass. In other words a Pot (in Qld) is the same thing as a Middie (in NSW) and usually is a comfortable size to delight in a beer. A schooner is larger and a pint is larger again. A jug of beer is (literally a jug of beer) is 1140ml or 40oz is the largest of all. Careful though, you’re not meant to drink straight from the jug, pour it into a pot (middie) and delight in! Ordering spirit drinks (rum, bourbon, vodka etc) at a bar will normally cost you from about AUD 7.

SUPER BUDGET TIP:

One way to save is buying alcohol at a bottle shop. There are huge ‘superstores’ such as LiquorChoice and Dan Murphys in all capital and some regional cities. A six pack of local beer (xxxx, Tooheys, Cascade etc) will be anywhere from to over . A carton of beer consists of 24 cans or stubbies (small bottles). Local beer will set you back anywhere between AUD 35 to AUD 65.

Wine

Australia boasts some of the finest wines in the world and I highly recommend you try some while you’re here. The prices range but you can usually get a ‘excellent drop’ for about AUD 15.

SUPER BUDGET TIP:

Look for the ‘clean skins’, which are bottles with no brand. Some have marks some don’t but they are often in the bargain bin but can be tasty surprises. A ‘clean skin’ will cost you about AUD 7.

Eating out

Australia has all the main food chains McDonalds, KFC, Hungry Jacks Wine Australia boasts some of the finest wines in the world and I highly recommend you try some while you’re here. The prices range but you can usually get a ‘excellent drop’ for about AUD 15. I especially like the light variety of Moscato. It won’t give you a hangover and it won’t dent the budget. Subway and numerous pizza franchises: If you want to stay healthy on a budget Subway is a excellent option. They offer special prices for certain subs on each day of the week. Some pizza outlets such as Dominoes offer discounts on a Tuesday.

SUPER BUDGET TIP:

For budget travellers (backpackers and families) the best option is to: Buy food at the supermarket such as cheese, ham, and chicken and make sandwiches to pack for traveling. Also consider buying ‘popper’ packs, which are small square packs of juices that usually come in packs of 6. Australians like their pub meals and I highly recommend them. They can be costly though, expect to pay from AUD 15 upwards.Smokers Better stop smoking, as a packet will cost you about AUD 15 for a packet of 20 cigarettes. Some states in Australia also have strict laws about where smoking is allowed. Queensland probably has the toughest laws of all with smoking banned in indoor and outdoor public places. Also Queensland has just brought in a new law banning people smoking in cars if children under 16 are in the car too. Fine is 0 on the spot!

Entertainment

Movies (Cinemas): Go on a Tuesday, tickets are cheaper. DVDs: Again, buy on a Tuesday. Many outlets offer reduced prices on this day for whatever reason. Free entertainment for kids: Kids like beaches and there are loads along Eastern Australia. Keep the kids entertained for free by stopping off at some. Kids also like parks, and parents like them because they are free. Why not stop off at our fantastic parks, which are often near beaches. The playground equipment is tested to the highest safety standards so you can rest assured the kids can play hard and then rest hard!

Summary

There are lots of ways of ways to save loads of money when travelling in Australia on a budget. My best advice is to plot ahead. That doesn’t mean a regimented itinerary but just some forethought such as picking up some groceries at the supermarket the morning you plot on setting off. My other super tip is to budget and add at least 20% on that. If there’s one thing I have learned in my travels is that despite all my excellent intentions and strategies I have always gone over budget. Hopefully though I have given you some tools and tips that will mean you keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket and leave the Australian East Coast with loads of pleased memories!

More Budget Travel Articles

The capitol of Tasmania is Australia’s second oldest city, Hobart. With the River Derwent running through it and Mount Wellington just behind, Hobart doesn’t lack charm and beauty. Numerous of the historic colonial houses and buildings in Hobart have been carried on, and are now used as restaurants, art studios, cafes and boutique hotels.

Some of the most pop attractions in Hobart include:

1. Bonorong Wildlife Center offers visitants the chance to interact with native animals, including koalas, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, emus and wombats. Open year round, except for national holidays. Tours run twice daily.
2. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are settled near the city center and are home to historic plant collections and a large number of substantial trees, some dating back to the nineteenth century. Open year round except for Christmas day and Excellent Friday. Admission is free!
3. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a fantastic place to catch out about Tasmania’s history, including its Aboriginal heritage. Also features traveling art exhibits. Open year round. Admission is fre
4. Salamanca Place is Hobart’s amusement hotspot, offering a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, galleries, pubs and nightlife. It’s home to the well-known Salamanca Market, which is open every Saturday.
5. Kayak tours are among the best, and perhaps most fascinating way to see Hobart. Dozens of tour companies offer these tours year round. Most are about 2 hours long.
6. Walking tours can be a fun way to see this scenic city. At that place are many different tour choices available, one to suit just about everyone, including historic tours, coastal walks, treasure hunts and ghost tours.

Mount Wellington abides right behind the city of Hobart. When it’s not covered in snow, there are a lot of walking trails to explore its heavily forested slopes. Near the top is an enclosed look out which provides spectacular views of the city below.

Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs are settled just about 80 miles south of Hobart. The richly decorated cave is one of the few caves in Australia formed by dolomite. It started forming over 40 million years ago. Admission to the Cave Tour also includes use of the thermal spring pools, changing rooms, hot showers and barbeques for the day. Open year round.

Port Arthur Historic Site is the best preserved convict settlement in Australia. Every feature of this historic site has a tale to tell. Besides the historic buildings, Port Arthur also features magnificent gardens, guided tours and a restaurant and café. It is open every day of the year, except Christmas.

The Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Claire National Park is one of the most well loved and gorgeous natural areas in Tasmania. The park contains a network of walking trails and paths, many of them leading to lookout points with breathtaking views below. There are many picnic areas complete with barbeques throughout the park.

Vineyards and Wineries. Tasmania has over 60 vineyards and wineries, spanning over seven wine regions, mainly on the east side of the state. The wines produced in Tasmania include Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling and Pinot Noir, just to name a few. Many of the wineries offer tours and free wine tastings.