Driving in the UK... at times it seems to happen without any thought at all. We just turn the key and off we are to wherever we need to be. Without all too much effort, we're there! In Australia, driving is a little different. Of course people drive on the left side of the road like we do; however the distances are so much greater and the driving facilities are very different. Based on our own experience with driving in Australia and that of our customers, we would like to provide you with the following practical tips.
Planning your drive
Certainly you could drive all through Australia, but do you have the months needed to do so? If your trip is a little less ambitious than driving all through Australia by car, try to plan your drive well and take an air plane to cover the truly large distances. This will make your holiday a lot more relaxing and less stressful. As a guideline: the routes Darwin – Alice /Ayers Rock, Cairns – Brisbane (or Sydney) and Sydney – Melbourne – Adelaide are fine to drive. If doing your holiday overland isn't a main priority for you, we suggest planning routes around the larger cities that will take you 5 - 6 days. This way you will be able to see the top attractions, without having to spend the majority of your holiday in the car to reach them. We definitely would advise against driving from Darwin - Cairns on your own. Driving for about 400km is vigorous enough. Try to plan your trip in such a way that you will also have a day to move around and get out of the car after a day of driving.
Type of travel
Driving around the continent with your travel partner(s) may seem like the ultimate holiday escape, but is it really? Sometimes it's better to cut a really long drive into two shorter drives and to spend a few days seeing the sights or being active, in between. Two shorter drives are better than one longer drive. For instance, try to combine your road trip with one of our organised travel modules. Spending a few days in between with an international group of travellers can be a fun diversion and break the monotony of driving long distances. You'll meet many interesting people, you'll be able to exchange experiences, you'll get tips from a genuine Aussie... and most of the time, you'll save time in the long run
Type of car
Undoubtedly however you plan your road trip, you'll have to cover some significant distances. That's why it's best to check to make sure you're not selling yourself short by not upgrading to a larger size car. Storage space in the compact cars is limited and sometimes it pays to have more space while travelling, many of our past customers certainly seem to think so. Especially when travelling around Darwin and (North) West Australia, or if you want to go off-road, a 4x4 can be a worthwhile investment.
Departure
Make it a habit to leave early in the morning: the roads are much quieter and you won't need the air-conditioning as much, which will save you petrol. Driving with your windows open is also much nicer during the morning
Speed
Try not to exceed a speed of 90km per hour. This may seem slow, however it will save you a significant amount of petrol (and petrol in the Outback isn't that cheap) and it's much safer. Especially when driving on a deserted a road you'll find that a car appearing out of nowhere in your mirror or a so-called ‘road train’ can really startle you. You may also come across dead kangaroos on the road. Don't be alarmed if you hit a small bird or salamander; unfortunately you'll probably hit quite a few during your long drives. Having a good screen in front of your car can help. Driving through the Outback is discouraged after dark, simply because the chance of hitting a wild animal is far greater and aside from this, it's an extra insurance risk. Not to mention a health risk.
Tanking
It may seem obvious, but still.... make sure to tank your car with petrol at every opportunity. It may seem like a lot of work, but try to think of what it feels like to be driving through Australia and almost be out of petrol in the middle of nowhere.... no fun at all while on holiday!
Food and drink
Do most of your shopping for food and drink in larger cities. This is more affordable, you'll have a better selection to choose from and you're more flexible which will save you more time than when you have to stock up at the last minute. Take care to always bring along enough drinking water and other cold drinks. Especially as temperatures rise, you'll drink up to 3 litres a day per person. It won't be long before you realise that a small ice chest is a good investment. If you decide to purchase one, it's best to do so when you arrive in the big city where there are plenty of large stores and a better selection. This way you'll enjoy cool drinks and food for the rest of your holiday.
Swimming
A car can get quite warm from a lot of driving and we're sure your muscles and joints will start screaming at you after a long drive as well. So why not plan to go for a swim every once in a while. It's fun, it will cool you down, you'll loosen up and you'll get back behind the steering wheel (or the rest) of the car feeling refreshed.
Baggage
What to bring along and what not? Well, since you'll be travelling for quite some time you may think you need to bring along a lot. Try to keep the following in mind when packing:
1. Aussie dress is usually informal, so don't worry about wearing holiday attire.
2. You'll find that Australia has plenty of shops (except in the Outback) where you can buy clothes and souvenirs, so if you forget anything you can buy it there.
3. When planning your holiday attire, try to think about dressing in layers. The difference between daytime and night-time temperatures can be significant in large portions of the country (have a look at our climate information for Australia for more information). South Australia is very beautiful, but you could be surprised when cool temperatures hit.
4. Hard-shell suitcases do not fit well in car storage spaces. Bring along duffel bags or other soft baggage, but make sure they can be locked with small locks.
5. Bring along a proper money belt and never ever leave anything of value behind your car.
6. Wet wipes (wetties) can be very convenient in the car and so can a torch.
Information on location
Naturally you'll receive a map when you arrive. However we also recommend buying a proper car driving map of Australia at a travel bookstore in the UK. This may be a little more expensive than if you were to buy one in Australia, however it will give you a chance to prepare for your trip properly. Underestimating the long distances you'll be travelling is one of the worst mistakes a traveller can make in Australia.
Have a look below and click for more information:
Car hire rates
Car hire terms & conditions and extra fees to be paid locally
Driving distances in Australia
Australia itineraries |  
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