Suggestions for Last Minute Year End Trips without Breaking The Bank?

starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 12:23
Last edited 13/12/2024 - 15:37 by 1 other user

Hello all, this year we had a number of competing things (family coming over, work schedules not aligning, office shutdowns not announced adequately early) so never got a chance to book a vacation for the year end.

Now based on the below available options/constraints what are some things we can try to make some sort of use for our year end periods rather than laze about at home? Obviously the more frugal, the better.

  • We are in Melbourne (2 adults). Looking to travel any time between 20th Dec to 6th Jan
  • Ok to travel internationally, if prices are not crazy
  • Have a car, so can consider short trips (8-10 hours of driving)
  • Have 200k Velocity points and 20k Qantas, if that can be used for anything
  • Worst case, could spend up to $2k all up but looking for at least 4-5 days away for that money. Don't wanna spend that on just 2 nights in a hotel which some places are charging for this period.

Thanks!

Travel

Comments

  • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 12:33
    +1

    Just 2 adults?

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 13:00

      Yep

    • HeWhoKnows on 14/12/2024 - 08:57
      -3

      And what is "breaking the bank" ???

      Everyone has credit cards plus cash in bank (Hopefully)
      However points wont get you anywhere in "high season"

      Best advice is not to go "on holidays" between 25 December and 5 January (the later, the better)

      • 2025 on 14/12/2024 - 20:01

        Tbh I essentially downvote everything you say at this point, and occasionally come back to read it again hours later when I have time. Sometimes I’ve forgotten I’ve already downvoted it, and I get a little disappointed I can’t downvote it again.

  • bazingaa on 13/12/2024 - 12:38

    road trip to Sydney (via Princes way) or Adelaide

    • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 12:40
      +1

      I assume you mean Princes Highway

      Edit: nice ninja edit

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 13:03

      Under consideration, but hotels are coming up to 350 per night.

      Would somewhere regional (Vic or nsw be better/cheaper)?

    • Bruceflix on 13/12/2024 - 15:48
      +8

      The best thing about a short holiday in Adelaide is it will feel like a long holiday.

      • bazingaa on 13/12/2024 - 17:19

        lol why is that ? we can go to the Kangaroo island as well

        • Bruceflix on 13/12/2024 - 19:12
          +4

          Ahh, yes, Kangaroo Island. That's how we in Adelaide turn a regular weekend into a long weekend.

    • BigBirdy on 14/12/2024 - 12:51

      Sydney or Adelaide .. nightmare or boredom. On a positive note, both cities should be ‘relatively’ cheap.

  • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 13:03
    +1

    Ballarat area is pretty nice to visit, plenty of airbnb options to stay and little places you can drive to around the area.

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 13:04
      +1

      Already done it, not too long ago. But great idea and thanks for the suggestion.

      • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 13:16
        +2

        Try Bendigo. You can easily spend 2 days exploring Bendigo, another day doing surrounding regional towns and wineries eg. Heathcote, then day trip to Echuca to go on a paddle steamer etc.

        • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 13:37

          interesting, thanks! will look more into this.

    • Cluster on 13/12/2024 - 16:58
      +1

      Drive a bit further along and visit the Giant Koala. A breath taking masterpiece.

  • neil on 13/12/2024 - 13:27
    +2

    200k Velocity points

    https://seats.aero/velocity?originRegion=Oceania&destination…

    Could get 2 one way business class tickets to LA or San Fran. Can see Dec 20ish dates.

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 13:39

      thanks! will look more into this. US is probably out of the question but searching using this site has some potential.

  • neil on 13/12/2024 - 13:58
    +5

    Cactus Country.

    Australia’s largest cactus garden at Cactus Country. Located in Strathmerton, Victoria, Cactus Country is a little piece of Mexico on the Murray.

    It's on my to visit list.

    • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 14:07
      +2

      I've been there. It's pretty good. Literally nothing else at Strathmerton but not too far from Cobram which is a nice town.

  • Gdsamp on 13/12/2024 - 14:19

    Cairns

    • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 14:35
      +2

      Nothing like experiencing a week of 99% humidity to relax after a busy year working 😉

      • Sensiekatie on 14/12/2024 - 16:21

        As well as cyclone season and predictions are.for a wet summer with possibility of not necessarily more events but more intense events.

  • Cluster on 13/12/2024 - 14:31

    I've recently been told to take extended Christmas holidays and would love to travel internationally, but every airfare is double to triple the usual price until the end of January. No surprise what happens at the end of January.

    I'm pretty much going to have to spend the holidays at home around the house as I just can't justify spending $3k on an airfare that usually costs just over $1k.

    • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 14:45
      +3

      A staycation and day trips can be just as enjoyable. At least you get to sleep in your own bed every night.

      • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 20:20
        +1

        Some staycation trips from Melbourne

        • Yarra Valley (Wineries, The Chocolaterie, Yarra Valley Dairy, Cold stream Brewery)

        • The dandenongs (Olinda / Sassafras are cool but hard to find parking sometimes, checkout National Rhodesian Garden up there it's free entry with donation box)

        • St Kilda Beach and then walk through the shopping strip there and up the hill to the Botanical Gardens it's a pretty good area to wander.

        • Mordialloc Beach

        • Take the fairy from Queenscliff to Sorrento or go the other way. Sorrento is super expensive but has that upmarket vibe to it, good to get an overpriced coffee/sushi/ice cream and do some people watching and just checkout the views.

        • Daylesford has a lot of good little antique stores, bakeries etc.

        • Go to Williamstown have a picnic in the garden, walk along the beach, buy some ice creams or milkshake/smoothie at the corner shop. Drive over to the Point Gellibrand Lookout. Go to the main strip of Williamstown there's a ton of restaurants to have lunch or dinner there and prices are mostly pretty reasonable. If early enough in the day you can walk out on the pier and look at the huge ship that's permanently docked there as a museum, if it's night just walk out the pier and enjoy the view of the lights.

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 14:52
      +1

      Exactly in the same boat! hence this post.

      We really need to strike and get Fairwork to stop this rort from all employers

      • Cluster on 13/12/2024 - 15:06

        Well, I wouldn't strike over taking holidays at a particular time of year (when everyone else is taking them too…). Having time off work is great regardless of what's done. It's just a pity I'm forced (literally) to take them when the employer wants, thus using the available time sub optimally.

        • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 15:09

          yea, that's exactly why we should strike. Its our annual leave, we should be free to use it the way we want. We get 20 days annual leave per year, but with a 3 week mandated shutdown, its 10 working days which need to be consumed from annual leave. So half of your leave, you have no control over.

          The fair thing would be if you're allowed to take half of it as annual and the other half should be company provided.

  • Dollar General on 13/12/2024 - 14:45
    -3

    Syria

  • pharkurnell on 13/12/2024 - 15:26
    -6

    Nothing like leaving it till last minute and peak season and having many requirements/must haves..

    • timthetoolman on 13/12/2024 - 18:10
      +1

      Many requirements such as..

      A 17 day travel period and a loose budget?

      • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 20:14

        And a place that has AC no camping, wow he's such royalty /s

        I'm interested too, sure it's peak season but there's still a lot of places that don't draw the crowds.

  • nekro on 13/12/2024 - 18:47
    +2

    Bright/porepunkah… lots of nice scenery around that area.. walks hikes.. brights a good place to launch from… whereever you go best get that accom sorted asap.

    • BigBirdy on 14/12/2024 - 12:56
      +1

      And Murtleford, Beechworth, Mt Beauty. Good option, and should be much cheaper than coastal.

  • Sweet3st on 13/12/2024 - 18:53
    +2

    I really enjoyed Mallacoota when I stayed there some years ago. The Karbeethong Lodge is lovely, with beautiful water views. It's also a shortish bus ride or drive to Eden in NSW. Stop over at Bairnsdale on the way, they have a great fresh produce supermarket and meals are DIY at the lodge other than breakfast. I traveled by train/bus.

  • sharkyoz on 13/12/2024 - 19:19
    +1

    could try a 2 week NSW Trainlink discovery ticket.
    It covers all NSW Rail regional travel, including Melb-Syd and back again at end of trip
    Travel to Sydney then book a regional line to go explore
    all fares are covered by the Discovery pass, just choose whether 1st class/economy and book the journeys you wish to go on

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 20:14

      That's a really interesting suggestion. Thank you.

      • OpayuOnam on 14/12/2024 - 12:57
        +1

        I used to frequent the Mel-Syd train with the pass,
        there are a few caveats:

        it's a long trip
        do it overnight, be prepared to have a rough sleep if you are not a easy sleeper.
        the first class is usually booked out 2-3 weeks in advance
        the rest of the carriages can be a bit chaotic
        bring food
        pre-book your trips so you have a guarantee return
        you can always cancel and book another

        you could cover many NSW and Canberra destinations
        it can be fun and cheap but lots of time will be spent in trains from world war 1/2 era, a bit bumpy and uncomfortable but cheap.

        • Sweet3st on 14/12/2024 - 15:17

          I'd break that trip with an overnight stay in Albury or Wagga Wagga. Definitely 1st class if you're doing a lot of travel. But yes you can go as far north as Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads, or as far west as Broken Hill (Orange and Milthorpe are nice).

          • sharkyoz on 15/12/2024 - 11:08

            @Sweet3st: Actually Discovery Pass can get you from Melb - Syd then Syd - Brisbane and back again.
            did it last Jan 2023

  • Sweet3st on 13/12/2024 - 19:34
    +1

    Problem is, most of Australia is pretty hot that time of year. I would be staying near water or travelling to Tassie.

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 20:13

      Yea don't mind the heat. We'll get accommodation with AC, shouldnt be a problem.

      Camping will be hard though

  • Postal Dude on 13/12/2024 - 19:53
    +4

    Bonnie Doon

    • starbearer on 13/12/2024 - 20:18
      +6

      How's the serenity

  • stonesour on 13/12/2024 - 21:36

    Bali? - went last year.

  • sprocketoctopus on 14/12/2024 - 12:29

    Bit left field - but…

    Try and get a cheap campervan rental/or tent up to you, and try Bellarine Peninsula.

    Lots to do, beaches are great..BUT it will be packed!

  • crozza on 14/12/2024 - 15:50

    dargo. several accomm options. not too far, you could do a country pub stay on way up or back. Heaps to see on the way, heaps to do when you get there.
    Further afield, have a look at Falls Creek.
    Others have suggested Bright area, would be good, maybe hot, maybe not.Falls creek will be cooler. You can do a circuit, in via Bright, out via Gippsland.

  • icejester on 16/12/2024 - 22:38

    Rarotonga and Aitutaki
    google search images =)
    Cheaper than a holiday in Aus

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