Craigieburn Unleaded Jumps 25 Cents While Broadmeadows [E10](/fuel/e10) Drops Over 43
Right, so if you're anywhere in Melbourne's northern suburbs this arvo, you'll wanna pay close attention to which servo you pull into. The petrol price cycle has hit the north hard, and the difference between getting it right and getting it wrong is genuinely the cost of a couple of slabs.
Here's the thing, right. Craigieburn unleaded has jumped about 25 cents to average around 202 cents a litre. That's over two bucks a litre for regular petrol, which still stings no matter how many times it happens. And they're not the only ones copping it. Over in Tarneit, unleaded has jumped nearly 44 cents to just under 194 cents a litre. Reservoir has gone up over 22 cents to around 185.5 cents.
Now, you'd be mad not to check what's happening just down the road before you fill up. Because while some suburbs are on the way up, others are on the way down, and the savings are massive.
Broadmeadows E10 Is the Pick of the Bunch
Fair dinkum, the difference between Broadmeadows and Craigieburn right now is something else. Broadmeadows E10 has dropped over 43 cents to average around 169.4 cents a litre. That's a full 33 cents cheaper than Craigieburn unleaded.
On a 50 litre fill, that's more than $16 back in your pocket. Sixteen bucks! That's a solid lunch or a round at the pub, just for driving a few minutes in the other direction.
Broadmeadows diesel has also come down over 22 cents to about 178.7 cents, so if you're running a ute or an SUV, it's worth the detour too.
The Melbourne Cycle in Full Swing
If you've been watching Victoria's fuel prices for a while, you know this pattern. Some suburbs shoot up while neighbouring ones drop, and then the whole thing reverses a few days later. It's the classic Melbourne price cycle, and right now we're seeing a textbook example across the northern corridor.
The suburbs that are still sitting pretty include Deer Park where diesel is averaging around 168 cents with the cheapest at 162.5 cents. Doveton in the south east is also competitive at about 170.4 cents for diesel. And if you're out near Thomastown, you'll find eight servos averaging about 172.6 cents for diesel with the cheapest at 164.9 cents.
Worth keeping an eye on Kingsbury too, where diesel starts at 163.9 cents if you shop around.
Regional Victoria Is Doing Alright
It's not just metro Melbourne with decent prices. Regional towns across Victoria are holding steady, and some are genuinely competitive.
Wonthaggi down in Gippsland has diesel from 165.5 cents across four servos. The Wendouree end of Ballarat has seven servos with diesel starting at 159.3 cents, which is about as good as it gets right now. Even Bright up in the alpine region is sitting at about 167.9 cents for the cheapest diesel, which is pretty reasonable for a tourist town.
Over in Moe, diesel has dropped substantially to average around 172.9 cents, with the cheapest at 167.5 cents across six servos.
What to Do This Week
Here's my advice if you're in Melbourne's north. Don't fill up at the first servo you see, because right now there could be a 30 plus cent gap between the bloke charging top dollar in Craigieburn and the servo doing the right thing in Broadmeadows.
Check the interactive fuel map before you head out. If your car takes E10 (and most newer cars do), Broadmeadows is the place to be. If you're after diesel, Deer Park and the Wendouree area near Ballarat are your best bets.
And for what it's worth, Victoria overall is averaging 181.1 cents for diesel, which puts it just behind Western Australia at 180.9 cents as the cheapest state for diesel in the country right now. Queensland is still sitting at 211.5 cents, so Victorians shouldn't be complaining too loudly.
Look, end of the day, the cycle will keep doing its thing. But a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
