Queensland Petrol Prices Stay Steady as Brisbane Suburbs Offer Christmas Relief
Right, so while half the country's been copping it with fuel price surges this week, I reckon Queensland is doing the right thing by motorists heading into Christmas.
Here's the thing. While Melbourne and Sydney drivers have been watching prices bounce around like a pinball, Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs have stayed pretty steady. That's good news if you're hitting the road for the holidays or just doing the last minute Christmas shopping run.
Brisbane Suburbs Worth Checking Out
If you're out Brisbane way, there are a few spots where you can fill up without feeling like you've been taken for a ride.
Ipswich has been sitting pretty competitive lately, and it's worth a look if you're heading west anyway. Same goes for Logan down south, where the competition between servos keeps everyone honest.
For the northside crew, Caboolture and Morayfield have been doing alright by locals. Not the cheapest in the state, but fair dinkum reasonable for what you're getting.
What's Happening With Regional Queensland
Now, regional Queensland is a different story, and I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The further you get from Brisbane, the more you're going to pay. That's just how it is with transport costs and all that.
Toowoomba on the Darling Downs is generally a bit dearer than the coast, and if you're heading up to Cairns or Townsville, you'd want to fill up before you hit the highway proper.
For the Gold Coast crew, Southport and Nerang have been pretty reasonable. Competition is solid down that way, so the big chains can't take the mick too much.
Diesel Users Getting Some Relief
Here's something worth noting for you tradies and those driving SUVs. Diesel in Queensland is sitting around 186.9 cents average, which is actually better than what South Australia is copping at over 200 cents.
That's a solid difference of about 14 cents per litre. For anyone towing the caravan up the coast for Christmas, that adds up to real money in your pocket.
The Christmas Travel Factor
Look, with everyone and their dog hitting the road between now and New Year's, here's my advice:
Fill up before you leave if you can. The servos on the major highways know they've got you, and prices along the Bruce Highway heading north can be a bit ordinary once you get past Gympie.
If you're coming from down south, maybe Sydney or Melbourne, try to top up before you cross the border. Tweed Heads on the Queensland side usually has decent competition, but don't leave it to chance.
What To Expect This Week
The good news is Queensland usually avoids the worst of the price cycle madness that hits Sydney and Melbourne. It's more of a gradual thing up here, so you shouldn't wake up to a 30 cent surge overnight like the Perth mob copped last fortnight.
That said, Christmas and Boxing Day can get a bit wild at the servos. Everyone's filling up at the same time, and some stations use that as an excuse to bump prices up a few cents. Can't really blame them for trying, but you don't have to cop it either.
Quick Tips For The Holiday Fill
If you're planning your Christmas road trip through Queensland, here's what I'd do:
- Check the Brisbane suburb prices before you head out. Even a 10 minute detour can save you a decent amount on a full tank.
- The outer suburbs like Ipswich, Logan, and Caboolture are usually cheaper than the inner city servos.
- Fill up the day before if you can. Christmas Eve arvo is chaos at every servo in the state.
- For those heading to the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore and Caloundra have decent competition.
End of the day, Queensland is in a pretty good spot for fuel prices this Christmas compared to other states. Take advantage of it, plan your fill ups smart, and you'll have more cash left over for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
