So you’re thinking about a self drive tour of Australia…
The first thing to take into account, and the most obvious, is that Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. If the same applies in your home country, then you won’t have any problems. If driving on the right hand side is what you are used to , then you’ll need to concentrate a lot harder on what you are about to do when behind the wheel.
Drivers Licences
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Austria : Belgium : Canada : Croatia : Denmark : Finland : France : Germany : Greece : Guernsey : Ireland : Italy : Isle of Man : Japan : Jersey : Luxembourg : Malta : Netherlands : Norway : Portugal : Singapore : Spain : Sweden : Switzerland : UK : USA
If there is any doubt about your driving licence being accepted , obtain an International Drivers Licence from your local automobile association before you leave home.
Vehicle Rentals
If you are an overseas visitor , you’ll need to think about the type of rental that best suits your needs. Australian vehicle rentals fall into two types :
a) cars that can be driven all over the country and returned to any rental office. This is the most expensive form of rental and is provided by operators such as Hertz, Avis, Thrify and Europcar.
b) vehicles that can only be driven within a limited distance of the rental office and which must be returned to that office . This is the cheaper option provided by hundreds of 2nd tier rental operators throughout all cities and larger towns.
c) there is an excellent range of both 2WD and 4WD rental campervans that are custom fitted for the independent traveller looking for a self catering option . The major camper rental companies usually allow different pick-up and return locations.
Vehicle rentals on the Gold Coast
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Speed Limits
Speed limits are different from state to state but are usually 100-110kph on the highways and 50-60kph in built-up areas. There are numerous city arterial roads and bypasses and it is common for the speed limits to be 70 and 80 kph on these roads. Speed traps are commonplace and authorities generally use radar guns to catch offenders. Interstate motorways do not compare with USA and European highway systems but nor do they carry the same traffic volumes.
In Australian summers , the interior of a locked car can reach very high temperatures and you should never leave small children or animals locked in vehicles. Dehydration occurs rapidly and poses a very real risk. This practice is illegal and offenders may be fined.
Australia is a big country with long distances between cities. The most serious danger on Australian roads is driver fatigue. Find out about driver refreshment stations. Pull off and rest every couple of hours.
Outback Driving
Visitors from overseas are unlikely to have experienced some of the unique considerations that apply to driving in outback and remote locations.
Drivers need to be careful on country roads at night in cold weather. Cattle and native animals like kangaroos lie on the bitumen road surface which holds the warmth of the sun. Car lights startle and confuse the animals which are just as likely to run into your vehicle as run away from it. The locals in outback towns have bull-bars fitted to the front of their vehicles. They do that for a reason!
When travelling on remote outback roads/tracks, you should always advise somebody at the destination end of your expected arrival time and the number of people in your party. If you fail to arrive within a reasonable time, help procedures can be started. Never leave the vehicle because it’s a lot easier to find than a missing person. Always check the vehicle before setting of off on the next sector of outback travel. There is no help along the way.
Another unique outback driving condition is sharing the road with road-trains. These cattle transport prime movers haul multiple trailers and can be 50 metres (170 feet) long and travel at surprisingly high speeds. The wind blast you receive as they pass in the opposite direction is quite severe. On unsealed roads, road trains create quite a dust storm in their wake that will usually obscure your vision. Don’t take risks, slow down or stop until the dust settles and you can see what’s behind the road train.
If you are thinking of overtaking a road train, allow at least 1 kilometre (3000 feet) of clear road before overtaking.
Australia is a country of extremes and torrential rains will often generate flash floods. Don’t attempt to cross flooded rivers and causeways unless you know the water depth and any possible road surface damage that could trap your vehicle. Most flash floods pass within 24 hours or less.
So there you go… just a few things to be aware of as you plan for your Australian self drive holiday.
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