The foreign affairs department spent close to $100,000 of taxpayers' money on an Australian tour for European journalists which included business class flights.

Documents obtained by AAP under freedom of information, show six journalists and a think tank researcher were flown business class from Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Sweden, at a cost of close to $54,000 in March last year.

DFAT spent close to $100,000 to bring a group of European journalists to Australia. Credit:Jeffrey Chan

The remaining money was spent on hotel accommodation at the Stamford Plaza in Melbourne, Pullman hotel in Sydney, domestic flights in Australia, bus hire and travel allowances covering food costs.

The Office of the Information Commissioner ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to release the documents after a seven-month wait.