Queensland Servos Offering Best Diesel Deals in the Country While NSW Motorists Pay Through the Nose

Queensland Servos Offering Best Diesel Deals in the Country While NSW Motorists Pay Through the Nose

Right, so I hope everyone had a good Christmas, but now we're back to reality and checking the bowser prices. And here's the thing, right: if you're planning a road trip up north, you might want to fill up once you cross the border into Queensland because they're absolutely smashing it on diesel prices right now.

Look, I'm not usually one to talk up the maroons, but fair dinkum, QLD is sitting at an average of 188.5 cents a litre for diesel today. Compare that to what we're copping down here in NSW and you'd be mad not to top up if you're heading that way.

Brisbane Eastern Suburbs Doing the Right Thing

Now, you'd be crazy not to check out Tingalpa if you're anywhere near Brisbane. They've got three servos there averaging just 177.6 cents for diesel, with the cheapest coming in at 174.9 cents. That's proper competitive, that is.

The spread in Tingalpa is only 5 cents between the cheapest and dearest, which means the servos are actually competing for your business instead of just matching each other at the high end. You love to see it.

For context, the Queensland average is 188.5 cents, so Tingalpa is running about 10 cents under that. If you're filling a 70 litre tank on the ute, that's seven bucks back in your pocket. Not life changing, but it's a couple of coffees or a slab of cheap beer on the way home.

The State by State Breakdown

Here's where it gets interesting for those of you planning the post-Christmas road trip:

Queensland is leading the pack with an average of 188.5 cents for diesel. The range runs from 171.9 cents at the cheapest right up to 233.9 cents at some of the regional spots. That's a 62 cent spread, so shopping around definitely pays off.

South Australia is sitting at 202.2 cents on average. Regional towns like Port Augusta are doing alright at around 190 cents, and Murray Bridge is sitting at about 196 cents average. Not as cheap as QLD, but not taking the mick either.

Now, the Northern Territory is a different story altogether. The average is 237.8 cents, which sounds painful, but here's the thing: Darwin suburbs like Winnellie are actually reasonable at around 183 cents, and Katherine is even better at 178 cents average.

The issue is once you get into the remote areas. We're talking 399 cents at some outback servos. That's nearly four bucks a litre. But look, if you're driving through Ti Tree or Elliott, you don't really have a choice, do you?

What This Means for Your Summer Road Trip

If you're heading north from Sydney or anywhere in NSW, here's my advice:

Fill up before you hit the road, obviously. But once you're into Queensland, keep an eye out for the better deals in the Brisbane suburbs like Tingalpa. Don't just pull into the first servo you see on the highway.

For those heading west towards Adelaide, the South Australian regional towns are doing okay. Port Augusta has a tight spread of just 1 cent between servos, so you're not going to get ripped off no matter which one you choose.

And if you're brave enough to tackle the Northern Territory, fill up in Katherine or Katherine South where prices are sitting around 173 to 178 cents. That's seriously competitive and will save you copping the 250 plus prices further out.

The Bottom Line

Look, end of the day, diesel prices are what they are, and you can't really avoid filling up if you need to get somewhere. But a bit of planning goes a long way.

Queensland is currently your best bet for cheap diesel on the east coast. If you're road tripping, time your fill ups for the Brisbane suburbs and you'll save yourself a few quid.

The servos in Tingalpa are doing the right thing by keeping prices competitive, and I reckon more stations should follow their lead. Competition is good for everyone, except maybe the servo owners' profit margins.

Worth keeping an eye on the Petrolmate map if you're heading anywhere over the next couple of weeks. Prices can change quick, and nobody wants to be the mug who pays 20 cents more because they couldn't be bothered checking.

Stay safe on the roads, and if you're out that way anyway, top up in QLD. Can't argue with that.