Finley Diesel Drops Below Two Dollars While NSW and Tasmania Averages Keep Climbing

A servo in regional New South Wales is selling diesel for 199.9 cents per litre this morning, making it one of the cheapest fills in the country. That figure jumped out at me because the statewide average has done the exact opposite, climbing 6.5 cents overnight to 318.4 cents across 1,052 stations. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive diesel in NSW now sits at a substantial 187.7 cents per litre.

That outlier is in Finley, a small Riverina town on the Newell Highway between Melbourne and the NSW border. Across six stations there, the average is 298.1 cents, but one operator has cut to 199.9 while another is charging 342.9. That 143 cent spread within a single town tells you everything about how fragmented regional fuel markets have become.

NSW Pushes Higher Again

The 6.5 cent increase brings NSW diesel to an average of 318.4 cents, up 2.08 percent from yesterday's 311.9. This is the second notable climb in just over a week, and the state now sits at the most expensive diesel average in the country alongside Tasmania.

What is worth noting is the range. NSW stations are reporting diesel anywhere from 199.9 cents to 387.6 cents. That 187.7 cent spread is the widest of any state, significantly more than Victoria at 60 cents or the ACT at just 7 cents. For motorists in western Sydney and across regional NSW, the difference between a quick stop at the nearest servo and five minutes of research could genuinely be a dollar a litre.

In Griffith, another Riverina town, premium diesel has jumped 12.6 cents to an average of 318.5 cents across six stations. Regional operators appear to be adjusting wholesale cost increases at different speeds, and the result is substantial variation town by town.

Tasmania Continues Its Quiet Climb

Tasmania recorded a 5 cent increase overnight, pushing the state average to 317.2 cents across 240 stations. The island state has been trending upward steadily, and with a price spread of 108 cents between the cheapest (244 cents) and most expensive (352 cents), there is meaningful room for motorists to shop around.

Interestingly, Hobart drivers who compare prices before filling up can potentially save more than a dollar per litre compared to the most expensive stations in regional areas. The data indicates Tasmania's supply chain constraints continue to create pricing inconsistencies that mainland states with more competition simply do not see at the same scale.

The National Picture

Looking at the data from across the country this morning, the state by state divergence is striking. The Northern Territory recorded the biggest overnight move, with diesel dropping 31.3 cents to an average of 307.7, though remote communities there are still paying close to $4. Meanwhile NSW climbed 6.5 cents, Tasmania added 5 cents, and Western Australia nudged up 3.5 cents to 313.9.

Victoria sits at 312.9 cents (up 2.8 cents) with a relatively tight 60 cent spread, while the ACT is the most uniform market in the country at 315 cents average with just 7 cents separating its cheapest and most expensive stations across 20 sites.

For context, diesel accounts for roughly 15 percent of the consumer fuel market, but it carries outsized importance for transport costs and the price of goods on supermarket shelves. When diesel averages push above 310 cents nationally, as they have this week in every state except the NT, the flow on effects touch everyone.

Where the Savings Are

The analysis reveals that motorists willing to drive slightly further can find notable savings. Beyond Finley at 199.9 cents, several outer suburban areas across the country are posting diesel below 300 cents:

These are 15 to 20 cents below their respective state averages, and for a 60 litre tank that translates to $9 to $12 in savings per fill.

What to Watch

The numbers are clear: motorists who check prices before filling up, particularly in NSW and Tasmania where the spreads are widest, stand to save substantially this week. The national diesel average is trending upward in most states, and the divergence between cheapest and most expensive stations within each state suggests wholesale cost increases are flowing through unevenly. If you are in regional NSW or anywhere in Tasmania, comparing even three or four nearby servos before you fill could save you more than you would expect.

Use our interactive fuel map to find the cheapest prices near you right now.