Budget New Year Destinations
While New Year’s Eve is a chance to party all night, watch the fireworks and make the most of the last day of the year, it can also be a great time for a getaway. But if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to save more and spend less, spending money on a holiday can seem like a bad idea. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful destinations in Australia that won’t cost the earth to visit. We’ve put together a list of 10 cheap New Year destinations that will satisfy your travel bug without the need for a quick cash loan!
Overview:
- Tasmania’s Taste of Summer, TAS
- Darwin Waterfront, NT
- Lord Howe Island, NSW
- Mitchell Falls, WA
- Tweed Heads, NSW and Coolangatta, QLD
- Mt Lofty (Adelaide Hills), SA
- Albany, WA
- Agnes Waters, QLD
- Coffs Harbour, NSW
- Cairns, QLD
10 Cheap New Year Destinations
Tasmania’s Taste of Summer, TAS
A great way to start the new year is checking out Tasmania’s Taste of Summer Festival, stretching over 8 days of food, drink, dancing, and culture. The festival starts on the 28th of December and goes until the 4th of January. The festival starts at 12pm and finishes at 4pm each day.
All the tickets are affordable and New Year’s Eve is free. Once you’re in the door you can spend as much or as little money as you desire. This is a great festival to learn more about Tasmania, have fun with family and friends and cheers to the new year in style.
Darwin Waterfront, NT
If you are looking for a cheap place to go for New Year’s but don’t mind crowds, head to Darwin Waterfront. Entries open by 3pm with entertainment starting at 5pm, there are no tickets and no bookings required for a night of fun, festive lights, and celebrations. Food trucks will be there and picnics are also welcome for those who want to save money on food. Darwin is a great place to visit and there are many affordable places to stay.
Lord Howe Island, NSW
Want to celebrate New Year’s in a fun, unique way but hate all the crowds trying to watch the fireworks when the clock strikes midnight? Instead of celebrating New Year’s late at night, why not wake up early to the first sunrise of 2025. Lord Howe Island is a great budget friendly option to visit for the New Year celebrations and is one of the first places in Australia where the sun will rise.It’s the perfect opportunity to lie on the beach and soak up the New Year in peace and quiet. With multiple accommodation choices to choose from, Lord Howe Island is an excellent choice to have a budget friendly New Year’s holiday.
Mitchell Falls, WA
Camping is a great budget friendly holiday option and perfect for a New Year’s holiday! There is a large camping ground at the base of the Mitchell Falls in Western Australia that’s surrounded by the beauty of the Australian bush. If you’re in the mood to get back to nature for New Year’s, just grab your camping gear and head down to Mitchell Falls.
Spending the start of the new year in nature is perfect for those who want to do New Year’s on a budget. The falls are a great place to explore, hike and swim, and celebrate the New Year with a few loved ones.
Tweed Heads, NSW and Coolangatta, QLD
For something budget friendly and exciting, why not celebrate the New Year not twice! Just behind the Gold Coast Airport are two beach fronts that are a must on New Years. Because NSW and QLD are in two different time zones, midnight in NSW will only be 11pm in QLD. This means you can celebrate New Year’s in Tweed Heads (NSW), then jump in the car and drive 4 minutes over the Queensland border to celebrate the New Year again in Coolangatta (QLD). Double the New Year’s equals double the fun!
There are plenty of affordable accommodation options in the area and gorgeous beaches in both states. Enjoy your New Year’s holiday and toast to a happy new year twice.
Mt Lofty (Adelaide Hills), SA
A hidden gem just 15km up from Adelaide City centre, Mt Lofty is the perfect place to celebrate the New Year with a gorgeous 360 view of the city. Take up a small esky with some snacks and non alcoholic drinks and toast to the New Year at the top. With the view you’ll also be able to spot the fireworks going off around Adelaide.
If you get into booking accommodation now, there are plenty of great deals and affordable places to stay in the city. You’ll no doubt spend less money in the long term than you would if you were to celebrate the New Year right in the middle of Adelaide. This is why Mt Lofty has made it into the top 10 cheap New Year destinations this year.
Albany, WA
Want to start the new year with gorgeous coastal views, fresh sea air, and spectacular fireworks? Then Albany is the place for you! There’ll be free entertainment and a firework show in the ANZAC Peace Park Albany on the 31st of December for a perfect New Year’s holiday.With a variety of food vans or the choice to bring a picnic you can enjoy the fireworks out on the water without needing a large budget.
There is plenty of cheap accommodation around Albany and there are a few campsites around too. Just book in early so none of the best prices disappear.
Agnes Waters, QLD
Looking to spend a quiet New Years with the family without spending big? Agnes Waters is the perfect place to spend a few days without the hustle and bustle of New Year’s crowds. While Agnes Waters is known for its salt water air and big beach fronts, there are also a few events happening around the town. You’ll have plenty to do without attending a ticketed New Year’s Eve event.
Coffs Harbour, NSW
To get away from the crowds but still enjoying the New Year’s fireworks, take the family down to Coffs Harbour. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place to watch the fireworks and have a breath of fresh air all in one spot–without hurting your wallet! Additionally, if you don’t want to stay out and wait until 12pm for the fireworks, there is a fireworks display at 9pm for the kids. The fireworks are just as spectacular on the Harbour as they are anywhere else.
Cairns, QLD
Want a place to go for a New Year’s holiday? Change it up a bit and head up to Cairns to spend New Years next to the great barrier reef. There are tons of fantastic beaches, activities and events around Cairns, and plenty of boat trips to explore the reef closer.
Cairns is a great coastal town with plenty to see or a place to relax into the new year. You can save further by camping at one of the campsites.
After looking through our top 10 cheap New Year destinations, hopefully it gives you a better idea of where to spend your New Year’s Eve and still stick to a budget. The other option is to spend New Years at home, just having a few family and friends over to celebrate the New Year, and save some money. If staying at home sounds like the way to for your New Years, , check out more budget ideas for New Years Eve here.
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Looking forward to celebrating New Year’s big this year? Out of all the cheap New Year destinations, is there any you want to explore with a bigger budget? Apply for a quick cash loan with Swoosh today! With our straightforward, easy application process you’ll be able to start the New Year off with a bang.
