Northern Territory Fuel Prices Go All Over the Shop with 189 Cent Spread
Right, so I've been having a squiz at the fuel prices around the country this morning, and fair dinkum, the Northern Territory has me scratching my head. We're talking a price spread of nearly 190 cents per litre on diesel alone. That's not a typo, mates. Some poor bloke could be paying almost two bucks more than the driver at the servo down the road.
Now, I know most of you are thinking "Davo, I don't drive a diesel." And you'd be right, most Aussies are running unleaded. But here's the thing: when diesel goes this mental, it usually means unleaded isn't far behind. Plus, if you're thinking about a Top End road trip or you know someone up that way, this is worth knowing about.
What's Actually Happening Up North
Let's break it down. The NT is currently sitting at an average diesel price of around 239.6 cents per litre. That's jumped nearly 25 cents in just a day, which is about 11.5 percent. For context, that's like your morning coffee suddenly costing you an extra buck fifty.
But here's where it gets interesting. While some servos are taking the mick with prices up around 364 cents (yeah, you read that right), there are still some spots doing the right thing by locals.
Where to Find the Good Ones
Katherine is coming through as one of the better spots if you're in that part of the world. We're seeing diesel as low as 174.5 cents per litre there, with an average around 180 cents. That's a solid 60 cents cheaper than the territory average. If you're heading down the Stuart Highway, it's worth topping up there rather than gambling on what you'll find further along.
Katherine South is similar, with prices starting from around 174.5 cents as well. The locals there know which servos to hit.
Closer to Darwin, the industrial area of Winnellie is showing some of the better prices in the metro area. We're seeing diesel from around 178.5 cents, averaging about 183 cents. Not bad when you consider some Darwin servos are asking 50 plus cents more.
Why the Territory is Different
Look, the Territory has always been a bit of a wildcard when it comes to fuel prices. You've got the tyranny of distance, fewer servos competing against each other, and supply chains that'd make a logistics manager cry. When fuel has to travel that far by road train, someone's gotta pay for it.
But a 189 cent spread between cheapest and most expensive? That's pushing it, even for the Territory. Some of those remote servos are the only option for hundreds of kays, and they know it.
What About the Rest of the Country
Just to give you the full picture, here's how the states are stacking up on diesel this morning:
Western Australia is actually going the other way, with prices dropping about a cent on average. WA is sitting around 190.5 cents average, with Byford showing some of the cheapest at 171 cents.
Victoria has crept up about 3 cents to around 192 cents average. Doveton in Melbourne's outer south east is one of the better spots at around 180 cents.
NSW has jumped about 6 cents to 193 cents average. Fairfield in Sydney's west is still competitive at around 175 cents.
Tasmania is sitting steady at about 193 cents average.
The Bottom Line
If you're in the Territory or planning a trip up that way, do yourself a favour and check prices before you fill. The difference between picking the right servo and the wrong one could genuinely save you 50 bucks or more on a full tank.
For the rest of us down south, keep an eye on those WA suburbs like Byford and Bassendean if you're out Perth way. Melbourne drivers, Doveton and Cranbourne West are worth a look. And Sydney locals, the western suburbs around Fairfield and Granville are still doing the right thing.
End of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
