<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-how-rideshare-fares-may-increase-driver-wear-cost-of-petrol-explained/827f5cf7-6f6c-43eb-9672-e79a77459ec7" rel="" target="_blank" title="The prohibitive price of fuel"><span>The prohibitive price of fuel</span></a><span> is forcing Australian caravan owners to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/easter-long-weekend-travel-petrol-prices-predictions-and-forecast-us-israel-iran-war/f4c182cc-869d-4e25-b7de-c1bce789b20c" rel="" target="_blank" title="delay their plans"><span>delay their plans</span></a><span> or face paying up to $100 more for every tank of petrol.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Everyday motorists are feeling the pinch at the bowser, but travellers driving long distances around the country are </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-richard-marles-doesnt-rule-out-fuel-rationing/c9de0481-bc04-47d2-a272-7606548029ef" rel="" target="_blank" title="paying even more to fill up."><span>paying even more to fill up.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Full-time travellers Kirsty and James are about to make the 37-hour, 3750-kilometre drive from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/darwin" rel="" target="_blank" title="Darwin"><span>Darwin</span></a><span> towing their new van.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-how-rideshare-fares-may-increase-driver-wear-cost-of-petrol-explained/827f5cf7-6f6c-43eb-9672-e79a77459ec7" rel="" target="_blank" title="Rideshare fares increase as drivers grapple with soaring fuel prices"><strong><span>Rideshare fares increase as drivers grapple with soaring fuel prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-18-donald-trump-ramps-up-criticism-of-uk-pm-keir-starmer-top-counterterrorism-official-joe-kent-resigns/3dad59e0-f145-4995-96c3-74a6114a9e55" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump lashes out at Australia, allies over lack of help</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple's long trip will far more costly than their original estimation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A tank of 98 octane fuel around the country is now over $100 more than it was before </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="" title="the conflict in the Middle East began."><span>the conflict in the Middle East began.</span></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-how-fuel-costs-are-impacting-caravan-drivers/bb380c05-4c26-4895-bae2-4da8a6869682" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a long range tank, 164 litres, so before the prices went up it was around $300 give or take," Kirsty told Nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This was based on the average we were getting of around $1.89/l, but now using the Petrol Spy app 98 is $2.53 in Sunbury, so approximately $412 to fill up, which we anticipate will be even more once we are more remote."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-regional-australia-farmer-urges-victorians-to-stop-driving-to-work/f247462b-544b-431b-96cc-4e2076173ef1" rel="" target="_blank" title="Regional petrol stations are drying up"><span>Regional petrol stations are drying up</span></a><span> as panic-buying in metro areas restricts the flow of liquid fuel to rural areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Higher prices at regional bowsers along the way could drive up Kirsty's already-stretched fuel budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kirsty said their car's mileage is around 500 kilometres per tank.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The added weight and strain on the engine while towing a caravan can impact fuel efficiency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple will need to fill up close to eight times before reaching their destination, adding more than $800 to the price of their journey.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's provided it is pretty decent driving conditions and fuel prices don't change too drastically between now and the next two weeks when we are planning to leave," Kirsty added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it's not an option to wait until prices start to dip.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kirsty and James need to start work in Darwin to earn some money after over 12 months on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We really need to hit the road as we have work lined up in Darwin," she added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kyle-sandilands-jackie-o-kiis-fm-radio-show-contract-terminated-by-arn/11c5a875-b61b-4577-9d7d-3550169c564e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Kyle Sandilands reveals contract terminated by ARN</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The outlook is also "pretty grim" for other travellers too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anyone hoping to stay put to preserve fuel may find it tough as peak Easter season approaches, Kirsty warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of caravan parks are booked out or those that are available almost double in price," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fellow travellers Brad and Karen regularly fill up their Ford Everest, which tows their caravan, for their adventures around the country too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple recently spent $70 to make the 180-kilometre trip from Albury in Victoria to Gundagai in NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fuel prices are killing caravan travel," the couple said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-choose-9news-as-your-preferred-source-in-google/7e8c11bd-1b8b-4e7f-8fff-154231ab5d16" target="_blank"><strong><span>How to Choose 9News as your preferred source in Google's Top Stories</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another caravan owner Noel said he was "mothballing" his vehicle because of soaring prices.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As a result of the extreme cost of fuel we have mothballed our caravan for an indefinite period, no holidays or weekend trips anymore," Noel said in post on Facebook.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Average prices for petrol have ballooned from around $1.80 a litre before the war in Iran and the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-strait-of-hormuz-explained-oil-gas-prices/f8e7c1ed-f6d9-4fe5-8277-6a11c09d8de6" rel="" target="_blank" title="blockade of the Strait of Hormuz"><span>blockade of the Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span> to around $2.20 now.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The price of diesel has jumped even higher, currently sitting at around $2.45.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" target="" title="Australia's"><span>Australia's</span></a><span> consumer watchdog insists it will keep a close eye on fuel companies in the coming weeks to guard against price gouging at the petrol pump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by 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