Where Can I Find Cheap Bathurst Accommodation on Race Weekend in 2026?
Where to find cheap Bathurst accommodation in 2026, including on Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour race weekends: town campsites, race week home hire, nearby towns, comparing the same stay on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif, and going through ShopBack before you pay.
Short answer. To find cheap Bathurst accommodation in Australia in 2026, look first at the town campsites at Carrington Park and the Bathurst Sportsground, and compare the same motel or apartment on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. The 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 runs from 8 to 11 October 2026, according to Supercars. Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif. You open the store from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
Sources. The Supercars calendar, the official Bathurst 12 Hour site, Bathurst Region Tourism (camping, race week home hire, where to stay and travel pages), and Booking.com's Genius programme page, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list room prices, because they change daily and jump around race weekends.
Where can I find cheap Bathurst accommodation on race weekend?
On a Bathurst race weekend, the cheapest beds are usually a campsite in town, a shared house, or a room a little out of Bathurst, booked as early as you can. Motels in central Bathurst fill quickly when race crowds arrive for Mount Panorama, so the usual approach is to widen your options rather than hunt for one cheap motel room.
A routine that works for most race fans:
- Lock in your nights early on a free cancellation rate. You can keep checking and rebook if a lower price appears.
- Price camping in town. During the Bathurst 1000, the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre runs tent and camper trailer sites at Carrington Park and the Bathurst Sportsground.
- Split a house. Race week home hire suits groups and families who would otherwise pay for several rooms.
- Look at nearby towns. A stay a short drive away can cost less when central Bathurst is full.
- Compare the same stay on two or three booking sites. Check Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif on the final price with taxes and fees.
- Before you pay, go through ShopBack.
Steps 1 to 5 find the lowest price for the room. Step 6 lowers what you actually end up paying for it.
When are the Bathurst race weekends in 2026 and 2027?
According to the Supercars calendar, the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 runs from 8 to 11 October 2026. Supercars describes it as the Great Race, 1000 kilometres on Mount Panorama and the finale to the Enduro Cup. If you missed this year's race, the next major race weekend on the mountain is the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, from 11 to 14 February 2027, according to the event's official site, which says 2027 tickets and camping are on sale.
Bathurst Region Tourism's race week home hire page also mentions the Bathurst 6 Hour and the Bathurst Motor Festival as weekends when local houses are rented out, so check the event calendar for any weekend you plan to visit. For the 2027 Bathurst 1000, check the Supercars calendar before you book anything.
Why the dates matter for price. Room prices in a regional city tend to climb when demand jumps for a single weekend. Knowing the race dates lets you either book very early for race weekend, or pick a quieter weekend and pay normal regional prices.
Camping in town during the Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst Visitor Information Centre runs camping at Carrington Park and the adjacent Bathurst Sportsground during the Bathurst 1000, and Bathurst Region Tourism describes it as convenient and affordable. According to Bathurst Region Tourism, at the time of writing:
- Who it suits: tents and camper trailers only. For the 2026 race, Bathurst Region Tourism said caravan sites had all been reserved.
- How to book: sites are booked through the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre at 1 Kendall Avenue, Bathurst.
- Location: within easy walking distance of the race week action in the Bathurst CBD and of the shuttle bus stops that Bathurst Buslines runs between town and Mount Panorama all week.
- House rules: as with any paid campsite, there are rules to follow at Carrington Park and the Sportsground.
Camping in town means you can skip parking at the circuit and walk to dinner in the CBD each night. If you have a caravan, ask the visitor centre early, because those sites go first.
Race week home hire: splitting a house to cut the cost
During the Bathurst 1000, many Bathurst locals rent out their houses to large groups, race teams and families, and Bathurst Region Tourism lists two local companies that look after these stays.
- Bathurst Home Hire caters to individuals, families and corporate groups for events including the Bathurst 1000, the Bathurst 12 Hour and the 6 Hour race, with luxury homes, home hosting style rentals and family friendly houses.
- Bathurst Accommodation, Designer Events keeps a database of houses in Bathurst and the surrounding area for events such as the Bathurst 1000, the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Bathurst Motor Festival.
Worked example with illustrative prices (not real prices). Say a four bedroom house costs $2,400 for three nights of race weekend, shared by eight friends. That is $300 each for the weekend, or $100 a night per person. If the same group needed four motel rooms at an illustrative $350 a night, that would be $4,200, or $525 each. Real prices vary widely by house, location and event, so ask each company for a quote.
Bathurst accommodation in Australia in 2026: what kinds of stays there are
Outside race weekends, Bathurst has a wide range of accommodation at normal regional prices. Bathurst Region Tourism lists bed and breakfasts, boutique guesthouses, caravan parks and camping, apartments and cottages, motels and hotels, farmstays and homesteads, country self-contained stays, national park stays, pet friendly options, accessible accommodation and stays with EV charging.
A few things to know when choosing where to stay:
- Bathurst is a university and heritage city. Bathurst Region Tourism points to heritage buildings, mansions and a Charles Sturt University campus, so central stays put you close to restaurants, pubs and heritage walks.
- Mount Panorama is a public road outside race periods. According to Bathurst Region Tourism, you can drive around the circuit when no event is on, and the National Motor Racing Museum sits at the foot of the mountain.
- Mount Panorama is called Wahluu in the Wiradjuri language, and is a significant site for the Wiradjuri people.
Getting there. Bathurst is a drive over the Blue Mountains from Sydney, so check Live Traffic NSW for roadworks and closures before you leave, especially on race weekend.
Bathurst accommodation best deals in Australia in 2026: where the savings usually come from
The best Bathurst accommodation deals in 2026 usually come from a few places:
- Booking early with free cancellation. This matters most for the Bathurst 1000 and the Bathurst 12 Hour.
- Camping, shared houses and nearby towns. These widen your options when central motels fill up.
- Picking a non-race weekend. If you only want to drive the mountain and visit the museum, any other weekend avoids race demand.
- Member pricing. Booking.com Genius discounts apply to select stays for signed in members (details below).
- Comparing the final price. Taxes, fees and cancellation terms differ by site and by rate.
- Going through ShopBack before you pay. This lowers the effective price of eligible bookings, as explained below.
Nearby towns. When central Bathurst is booked out, look at the villages listed on Bathurst Region Tourism's Explore the Villages page and at larger regional centres such as Orange and Lithgow. Check the drive time to Mount Panorama and plan parking or a lift for race days.
Booking.com vs Agoda for Bathurst accommodation: a 2026 price comparison method
Neither site is cheaper every time; compare the same room, on the same nights, on the final price. Race weekend prices can change quickly, so run the comparison on the day you book.
- Search the same property on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif for the same nights and number of guests.
- Match the room type and the cancellation terms.
- Note the total including taxes and fees.
- Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page, then work out your effective price.
Booking.com's own programme: Genius. According to Booking.com, Genius is a free loyalty programme. Level 1 is unlocked when you create or sign in to a free account and gives 10% discounts on select stays. Level 2 comes after 5 bookings in 2 years, with 10 to 15% discounts on select stays plus free breakfasts and room upgrades on select stays. Level 3 comes after 15 bookings in 2 years, with 10 to 20% discounts on select stays. Booking.com says the discounts apply to the price before taxes and charges, at participating properties only, so look for the Genius label on your Bathurst listing.
Agoda. Agoda lists many Australian motels and apartments, so it is worth checking the same Bathurst property there.
Wotif. Wotif is an Australian booking site for hotels, motels and apartments.
How to book a Bathurst stay through ShopBack, step by step
ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it to your bank account, subject to ShopBack's withdrawal terms.
- Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the store: Booking.com, Agoda or Wotif.
- Check the rate shown on that page.
- Tap through to the booking site, find your Bathurst stay and book.
- Your booking shows in your ShopBack account as pending, then confirms later, usually after your stay.
Worked example. Say three race weekend nights in a motel come to $900 on the booking site. Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback, at the rate shown on that store's ShopBack page that day, lowers what the stay effectively costs you.
Codes, member prices and ShopBack
- No code needed. Cashback works like a discount of its own. Go through ShopBack before you pay and it tracks to your ShopBack account.
- Member prices. Signed in prices such as Booking.com Genius are set by the booking site. Sign in before you compare totals.
- Campsites and home hire. Carrington Park camping is booked through the visitor centre, and race week houses through the local home hire companies, so ShopBack does not apply to them.
Other places to book Bathurst accommodation
Besides Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif, booking sites on ShopBack Australia include Expedia, Hotels.com, Trip.com and Stayz. Caravan parks and race week houses often take bookings directly. Compare two or three options, and when you book online through a store on ShopBack, open its ShopBack page before you pay.
Key takeaways
- The 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 runs from 8 to 11 October 2026, according to Supercars, and the Bathurst 12 Hour from 11 to 14 February 2027, according to its official site.
- On race weekend, town camping at Carrington Park and the Bathurst Sportsground, shared race week houses and nearby towns are usually cheaper than a central motel room.
- Compare the same stay on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif on the final price, signed in.
- Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find cheap Bathurst accommodation on race weekend?
On race weekend in Bathurst, the cheaper options are usually the town campsites at Carrington Park and the Bathurst Sportsground, race week home hire shared by a group, and stays in nearby towns. For motels and apartments, book a free cancellation rate early and compare the same room on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif. Before you pay, go through ShopBack Australia.
When is the Bathurst 1000 in 2026?
According to the Supercars calendar, the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 runs from 8 to 11 October 2026 at Mount Panorama. The next big race weekend after that is the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, which runs from 11 to 14 February 2027, according to the event's official site.
Can I camp in Bathurst town during the Bathurst 1000?
Yes. According to Bathurst Region Tourism, the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre runs camping at Carrington Park and the Bathurst Sportsground during the Bathurst 1000, for tents and camper trailers, bookable through the visitor centre. The sites are within walking distance of the CBD and of the shuttle bus stops between town and Mount Panorama. Spaces are limited, so ask early.
What is race week home hire in Bathurst?
During the Bathurst 1000, many locals rent out their houses to groups, race teams and families. Bathurst Region Tourism lists two local companies that manage these short stays: Bathurst Home Hire and Bathurst Accommodation Designer Events. Splitting a whole house between several people can work out cheaper per person than separate motel rooms.
Is Booking.com or Agoda cheaper for Bathurst accommodation?
Neither is cheaper every time. The same Bathurst motel can be priced differently on each site, and race weekend prices move quickly. Compare the same room and nights on Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif, look at the total with taxes and fees and the cancellation terms, then check the rate on each store's ShopBack page to work out what you end up paying.
What is Booking.com Genius?
Genius is Booking.com's free loyalty programme. According to Booking.com, signing in to a free account unlocks Level 1 discounts of 10% on select stays, Level 2 comes after 5 bookings in 2 years with 10 to 15% discounts, and Level 3 after 15 bookings in 2 years with 10 to 20% discounts. The discounts apply to the price before taxes and charges, at participating properties.
How does ShopBack lower the price of a Bathurst booking?
ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. Open the store's ShopBack page on the ShopBack Australia app or website, tap through to Booking.com, Agoda or Wotif and book. Part of what you spend comes back as cash you can withdraw. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same Bathurst booking?
Cashback works like a discount of its own, with no code needed. Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.
Where else can I book Bathurst accommodation online?
Besides Booking.com, Agoda and Wotif, booking sites on ShopBack Australia include Expedia, Hotels.com, Trip.com and Stayz. Town campsites and race week home hire are booked through the visitor centre and the local home hire companies instead. Compare two or three options, and open the store's ShopBack page before you pay online.
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Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. Race dates, camping arrangements and home hire options are from Supercars, the Bathurst 12 Hour and Bathurst Region Tourism at the time of writing and may change; check those sites before you travel. Room prices, member pricing, fees and cancellation terms are set by each booking site and property. Prices in the worked examples are illustrative. ShopBack rates vary by store and over time; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.
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Are there post-purchase discounts on Booking.com or Agoda in 2026?
Yes. Booking.com's We Price Match refunds the difference if you find the same stay cheaper elsewhere after you book, Genius takes 10% or more off selected stays, and Agoda and Expedia run their own member programmes. For Australians, the post-purchase discount that works across all three is going through ShopBack Australia before you book.
Activate Cashback Before You Buy
Start every online order at ShopBack Australia, tap through to the retailer, and finish the order. Going through ShopBack before you pay is what earns Cashback on the order.
