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The couple’s extensive journey is turning out to be significantly more expensive than they had initially planned.
“We have a long-range tank that holds 164 liters, so before the price hikes, it cost about $300, give or take,” Kirsty shared with Nine.com.au.
“This was calculated based on the average price we were paying, around $1.89 per liter. However, now using the Petrol Spy app, the cost for 98 octane fuel is $2.53 in Sunbury, which means it will cost approximately $412 to fill up. We expect this to increase further as we travel to more remote areas.”
Regional fuel stations along their route may push Kirsty’s already tight fuel budget even higher.
Kirsty mentioned that their vehicle can travel approximately 500 kilometers on a full tank.
The added weight and strain on the engine while towing a caravan can impact fuel efficiency.
The couple will need to fill up close to eight times before reaching their destination, adding more than $800 to the price of their journey.
“That’s provided it is pretty decent driving conditions and fuel prices don’t change too drastically between now and the next two weeks when we are planning to leave,” Kirsty added.
But it’s not an option to wait until prices start to dip.
Kirsty and James need to start work in Darwin to earn some money after over 12 months on the road.
“We really need to hit the road as we have work lined up in Darwin,” she added.
The outlook is also “pretty grim” for other travellers too.
Anyone hoping to stay put to preserve fuel may find it tough as peak Easter season approaches, Kirsty warned.
“A lot of caravan parks are booked out or those that are available almost double in price,” she said.
Fellow travellers Brad and Karen regularly fill up their Ford Everest, which tows their caravan, for their adventures around the country too.
The couple recently spent $70 to make the 180-kilometre trip from Albury in Victoria to Gundagai in NSW.
“Fuel prices are killing caravan travel,” the couple said.
Another caravan owner Noel said he was “mothballing” his vehicle because of soaring prices.
“As a result of the extreme cost of fuel we have mothballed our caravan for an indefinite period, no holidays or weekend trips anymore,” Noel said in post on Facebook.
The price of diesel has jumped even higher, currently sitting at around $2.45.
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