Australia is a ideal country to explore on your own by car or motorcycle. It is save and there is a good modern infrastructure, enabeling you to make selfdrives (or see the range of itinerary-links at the bottom of this page).
Most foreign licences are valid for a year in Australia. An International Driving Permit (available from national motoring organizations) may be useful if you come from a non-English-speaking country.
Fuel prices start at around 66¢ per litre for “super” (standard) or unleaded, with diesel slightly cheaper: prices can double at remote roadhouses, and you can expect a ten to fifteen percent increase in Outback areas.
The rules of the road are similar to those in the US and UK. Most importantly, drive on the left (as in Britain), remember that seatbelts are compulsory for all, and maximum speed limits outside built-up areas are around 100kph, except in the Northern Territory where common sense and horsepower are your only limits between towns; in all built-up areas, the speed limit is 60kph. Whatever else you do in a vehicle, avoid drinking and driving. In what has been a relatively successful campaign to lower Australia’s frighteningly high road death toll, random breath tests are common, especially during the Christmas season and on Friday and Saturday nights. The Australian media are lovingly obsessed with comparing annual figures from road deaths.
Main hazards are fatigue, losing control on dirt roads, and the presence of animals on the road – a serious problem everywhere (not just in the Outback) at dawn, dusk and night-time. Beware of fifty-metre-long road trains: these colossal trucks can’t stop quickly or pull off the road safely, so if there’s the slightest doubt, get out of the way; only overtake a road train if you can see well ahead and are certain that your vehicle can manage it. On dirt roads be doubly cautious, or just pull over and let the road train overtake you.
There are plenty of hotels, motels, resorts & campings along the way and you find below a wide range of cars, campers, motorhomes and motorcycles for rent available.
Car Rental
One-way rental might appear handy, but is usually very expensive: at least $200 extra for the drop-off fee.
Four-wheel drives are best used for specific areas rather than long term, as rental costs are steep, starting at around $100 a day. Some 4WD agents actually don’t allow their vehicles to be driven off sealed roads, so check the fine print first. See also the special hints for driving in the outback.
