Tasmania Diesel Jumps 16 Cents Overnight but Some Country Servos Are Still Under $1.90

Tasmania Diesel Jumps 16 Cents Overnight but Some Country Servos Are Still Under $1.90

Right, so if you reckon diesel prices only go crazy on the mainland, I've got news for you. Tasmania just copped a 16 cent jump overnight, taking the state average from 221.9 to 237.8 cents a litre. That's the second biggest diesel move in the country behind NSW, which went up 19 cents.

But here's the thing, right. While the average has gone through the roof, there are servos in regional Tassie towns where you can still fill up for under $1.90 a litre. Fair dinkum.

The Big Picture Across Australia

Let me break down what's happened to diesel across the country this week. Every single state has gone up, and the numbers are not pretty.

NSW leads the charge with a 19.1 cent increase to 242.6 cents average. Tasmania is right behind at 15.9 cents up. Western Australia copped 10.9 cents, Victoria jumped 9.1 cents, and even Queensland and South Australia ticked up a couple of cents each.

The Northern Territory is still the wild west of diesel pricing, with an average of 258.7 cents but a spread from 147.3 right up to 399 cents. That's over $2.50 difference between the cheapest and dearest servo in the same state.

Where the Bargains Are in Tassie

Now, you'd be mad not to shop around if you're driving through Tasmania right now, because the price differences are unreal.

Triabunna on the east coast has one of the wildest spreads I've seen. The cheapest servo there is doing diesel at 189.9 cents while another one down the road wants 262.9. That's a 73 cent gap in the same town. If you're filling a 60 litre tank, that's nearly $44 difference just by picking the right bowser.

Smithton up in the northwest corner is similar. Six servos in town, with the cheapest at 189.9 and the dearest at 249.9. That's a 60 cent spread. Worth doing a quick check before you pull in.

Ulverstone is a bit tighter with prices between 221.9 and 239.9 cents across four stations. And Invermay near Launceston is sitting at 224.9 to 249.9 cents.

Why Tassie Prices Swing So Hard

Here's what most people don't realise about Tasmania. Being an island means fuel has to come across Bass Strait, and that adds cost. But the real issue is competition. In a small town with two or three servos, there's less pressure to match the bloke down the road. Compare that to Melbourne or Sydney where you've got dozens of stations within a few kilometres and they're all watching each other's boards.

That's why you get towns like Triabunna with a 73 cent spread. One operator decides to hold the line while another pushes the price up, and there's nobody else to keep them honest.

What About the Mainland

For those of you on the mainland, the diesel story isn't much better. NSW has a massive 157 cent spread from 182.9 to 339.9 cents. Regional towns like Griffith are doing alright at 199.9 cents at the cheapest servo, and Albury has options from 209.5 cents.

Over in Victoria, the spread is even bigger at 230 cents, from 169.9 to 399.9. Places like Cohuna in the north are managing 203.9 at the best servo, and Hoppers Crossing out west of Melbourne has diesel from 221.9.

If you're in WA, Pinjarra south of Perth is worth a look at 212.9 cents, and Naval Base has options from 219.5.

The Bottom Line

Look, diesel has gone up everywhere and there's no way around that. But the difference between filling up at the right servo versus just pulling into the first one you see can save you $30 to $40 a tank in some of these regional areas.

If you're heading through Tassie, do yourself a favour and check prices before you stop. The gap between 189.9 and 262.9 in Triabunna is the kind of thing that should make every truckie and SUV driver pay attention.

End of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.