Melbourne petrol prices at highest ever seen in Australia

Petrol prices in Victoria are the highest the country has ever experienced, just as the state prepares to get out of lockdown.

Petrol has been priced at a staggering $1.84 per litre in Sandringham in Melbourne's south-east today.

Across the city, prices varied a huge 37 cents, but the average unleaded price per litre was $1.79.

READ MORE: Victoria's lockdown to end on Thursday, with more restrictions to ease than first planned

Peter Khoury from the NRMA said the prices set new records.

"These are the highest prices Australia has ever seen - certainly the highest prices - well above anything Melbourne has seen," he said.

"And as much as we'd like to say that's the worst of it, we can't even give that guarantee."

The high prices come ahead of Victoria's lockdown ending on Thursday night, when Melburnians will be able to freely travel across the city for the first time in months.

However, petrol could affect travel, with filling up an average petrol tank now costing almost $60 more than it did 18 months ago.

READ MORE: Unvaccinated Victorians to be locked out of venues 'well and truly into 2022'

Mr Khoury said the prices were not conducive with the state economy's need for people to be spending at businesses.

"We need families to get out and about. Spend money on themselves. Spend money in their local economies, go to a restaurant," he said.

"And they're not going to do that if we're paying $1.80 for petrol."

The problem is being experienced across the country, with Sydney petrol prices reaching an all-time high yesterday with unleaded costing an average of more than $1.70 a litre.

The hike is said to be due to global oil prices spiking because supply is failing to keep up with demand as travel resumes following lockdowns caused by COVID-19.