Looking for a cheap day trip from Sydney that won’t eat into your weekend budget? It turns out you don’t have to travel far or spend a fortune for a change of scenery. New research has crunched the numbers on 73 Australian destinations, revealing 10 affordable escapes from Sydney—including one coastal favourite where a day out for two costs just $89.04.
The study, conducted by car insurance company ROLLiN’, factored in everything from petrol and tolls to food, attraction tickets and park entry to find out where Sydneysiders can get the most out of a day on the road. Here are the destinations worth adding to your weekend hit list.
The 10 cheapest day trips from Sydney
According to the research, these are the most affordable destinations for a day out, based on the estimated total cost for two adults.
- The Entrance: $89.04
- Kiama: $102.23
- Wollongong: $102.29
- Maitland: $108.77
- Huskisson: $120.38
- Katoomba: $123.33
- Berry: $130.23
- Ulladulla: $131.36
- Lithgow: $137.78
- Kangaroo Valley: $149.09
Taking the crown is The Entrance on the Central Coast, where a day out for two comes in at just $89.04. Free attractions including Memorial Park, the Heritage Walk and ocean baths help keep costs down, leaving petrol and food to make up most of the bill.
Kiama and Wollongong follow closely behind, costing $102.23 and $102.29 respectively. Both offer plenty of free ways to enjoy the coastline, from Kiama’s famous blowhole to Wollongong’s beaches and Botanic Garden.
Further down the list, Katoomba offers an affordable Blue Mountains escape for $123.33. Its iconic Three Sisters and Echo Point are free to visit, while Kangaroo Valley’s picturesque Hampden Bridge and surrounding river scenery provide another beautiful day out without an attraction entry fee.
The best-value day trips from Sydney
But where can you see and do the most without stretching your budget? When the research considered overall value, Wollongong came out on top among Sydney’s day-trip destinations, scoring 70.76 out of 100 on the Value Index and placing third nationally.
With 14 beaches, 12 lookouts and 18 walking trails, alongside the Wollongong Botanic Garden, the coastal city offers plenty to explore without paying for multiple attractions.
Katoomba followed with a score of 68.21, boasting the highest number of natural attractions among the destinations assessed, with 68. Kiama came next with 63.20, while Nelson Bay also stood out with 60 natural attractions.
However, Nelson Bay’s main attraction, Toboggan Hill Park, costs $90 for two, while the five-hour-plus round trip adds an estimated $61.58 in petrol. This brings the total day out to $224 in the study.
Whether you’re craving a coastal lunch, a mountain adventure or a leisurely country-town escape, these destinations prove you don’t need a huge holiday budget to get out of Sydney. The Entrance is the cheapest option, but Wollongong might just offer the best all-round day out.
