Articles » Driving in Australia
Created: 11th April 2008
This is one of the best ways to see Australia. They drive on the left and the set up is very similar to the UK.
Driving is the best way to travel around Australia. Having access to your own set of wheels frees you from the constraints of routes and schedules and allows you to visit places off the beaten track.
Driving Licence
Anyone over 18 can drive in Australia with their local licence, providing it is valid and that you've been in the country for less than six months. If you're spending longer in Australia you should bring along an international driving permit or apply for an Australian driver's licence.
How long can I drive in Australia on my UK licence?
You can drive for up to 6 months in most states on the UK licence:
Handy web sites:
Driving in Australia is easy. Traffic drives on the left and roads are generally well-maintained but motorways are usually restricted to the approaches to major cities and heavily travelled routes such as Melbourne-Sydney and Sunshine Coast-Brisbane-Gold Coast. A regular car will take you virtually everywhere in Australia, but a four-wheel-drive is essential for beach driving or if you want to explore Fraser Island and the Cape York Peninsula.
There are some very long and boring stretches of road in Australia and fatigue is a big killer - make plenty of rest stops, drink plenty of coffee or cola and share the driving with someone else.
Speed Limits
Speed limits on most country roads are 100-110km/h, although the top speed limit is 130km/h on highways in the Northern Territory. On motorways the limit is usually 110km/h outside cities and 100km/h in built up areas. Minor roads in towns and cities are usually either 50km/h or 60km/h with an increasing number of towns adopting the lower speed limit.
Distances Miles
Sydney to Brisbane 584
Sydney to Adelaide 881
Sydney to Darwin 2474
Sydney to Melbourne 544
Sydney to Perth 2483
To calculate distances visit http://www.travelmate.com.au
Australia is a large country with a low speed limit. It often takes a long time between cities. The bonus is the roads are quiet.
It is compulsory to wear seat belts and it's illegal to talk on a mobile phone while driving. You must not park facing oncoming traffic. Watch out for road trains if you're driving in the outback. These 50-metre-long semi-trailers can't stop as quickly as a regular car so keep out of their way and make sure that you allow plenty of room to overtake one. Also be alert if you're driving in the countryside around dusk - kangaroos are active at this time and are unpredictable - often jumping into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Rent Or Hire
Renting although expensive over a long period, renting a car is a good option if your time is limited and if you want to explore a particular region in depth. Car rental companies with branches nationwide are generally the most expensive although these companies do offer advantages such as airport pick-up and drop-off points, frequent flyer points and long-distance one-way rentals.
It is virtually impossible to rent a car without a credit card.
Car rental companies include:
Avis
Website www.avis.com/au/
Budget
Website www.budget.com.au
Delta Europcar
Website www.deltaeuropcar.com.au
Hertz
Website www.hertz.com.au
Thrifty
Website www.thrifty.com.au
Road Side Assistance
Telephone number 13 11 11 in any state.
Motoring Organizations
There are the same motoring organizations as in the Uk. They are all based in each state: www.aaa.asn.au
AANT (Automobile Association of Northern Territory)
81 Smith Street, Darwin
tel: (08) 8981 3837
NRMA (National Roads & Motorists Association)
74 -76 King Street, Sydney. Train Martin Place, Wynyard
www.nrma.com.au
tel: 13 21 32
RAA (Royal Automobile Association)
41 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide
tel: (08) 8202 4600
RACT (Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania)
Corner Murray & Patrick Streets, Hobart
www.ract.com.au
AANT (Automobile Association of Northern Territory)
81 Smith Street, Darwin
tel: (08) 8981 3837
NRMA (National Roads & Motorists Association)
74 -76 King Street, Sydney. Train Martin Place, Wynyard
www.nrma.com.au
tel: 13 21 32
RAA (Royal Automobile Association)
41 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide
tel: (08) 8202 4600
RACT (Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania)
Corner Murray & Patrick Streets, Hobart
www.ract.com.au
tel: 13 11 11
RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland)
300 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley
train: Brunswick Street
www.racq.com.au
tel: (07) 3361 2444
RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria)
360 Bourke Street, Melbourne
train: Melbourne Central
www.racv.com.au
tel: 13 19 55
RAC of WA (Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia)
228 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
www.racwa.com.au
tel: (08) 9421 4444
Renting a CamperVan
Campervans are a popular alternative to a rental car since they give you somewhere to stay. However they are more expensive than regular car rental and you'll often have to pay to stay in a caravan park so you can have a shower.
Several companies that rent fully equipped campervans complete with camping gear and prices are quite reasonable for longer rentals. Campervan rental companies include:
Backpacker Campervans
Website www.backpackercampervans.com
Britz
Website www.britz.com.au
Devil Campervans
Website www.devilcampervans.com.au
Integra
Tel 1800 067 414
Website www.integracampervan.com.au
NQ
Website www.nqrentals.com.au
Travellers Autobarn
Website www.travellersautobarn.com.au
Wicked Campers
Website www.wickedcampers.com.au
Buying a Vehicle
If you're going to be travelling around Australia for several months it may be worth the trouble to buy your own car and sell it before you leave. Cheap reliable cars are generally large cars such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, which can cost a lot to run but are generally cheap to fix and service.
Used cars need a certificate of roadworthiness before they can be sold - don't buy a car without one as you'll need to show it when you transfer the registration. You will also need to get a certificate of roadworthiness before you sell the car at the end of your trip. Many mechanics can assess your car and issue the certificate.
Once you have a roadworthiness certificate, take it along with the receipt, your driver's licence and passport to the local department of transport; this department is known by different names in different states (refer to the list at the end of this paragraph). You will need to pay a fee, which is calculated according to the value of the car. If the annual vehicle registration is due, or if you are buying a car in a different state to which it is registered, this will also need to be paid. The registration (or rego) includes the minimum legal third-party insurance. You can count on these fees running to several hundred dollars. Each state's laws vary, check with the department of transport in the state where you plan on buying or selling your car.
Department of Transport & Works (Northern Territory)
Website www.nt.gov.au/dtw/aboutus/branches/transport/roadtransport/
DIER - Transport Division (Tasmania)
Website www.transport.tas.gov.au
RTA (New South Wales)
Tel 13 22 13
Website www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Transport Queensland
Website www.transport.qld.gov.au/driving
Transport Roads & Traffic (Australian Capital Territory)
Website www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au
Transport SA (South Australia)
Website www.transport.sa.gov.au/rls/
Transport Western Australia
Website www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/
VicRoads (Victoria)
Website www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
