Down Under Adventuring: Guide To Your First Australian Road Trip

With its estimated 427,000 km of paved roads, Australia is the perfect destination for a road trip. This, after all, is a country where you can drive 4200 km on pretty much one road, directly from Brisbane to Perth. It is also a place where you can drive 3000 km through the guts of the country from Adelaide to Darwin.

These journeys, and plenty more like them, take days and often over a week or two to complete.

During which time, you can trace a route along the ocean, visit remote, regional towns such as Cooladdi (which has a population of between 2 and 7, depending on who you believe), or visit one of several farms that are the size of Belgium.

To road trip in Australia, you obviously need a car. Which type will depend on where you are going. But 4WD are a good option, especially if you are heading into the Outback. Companies like Redspot can help with car hire in Australia for Kiwis, Brits, Americans, or any other nationality.

Before you start to traverse the Great Southern Land, there are a few things you should know about road tripping in Australia.

1. Car Hire Requirements

To start with, if you want to hire a car, you’ll need a valid driver’s licence. International visitors can usually drive on their home licence if it’s in English. However, if not, you’ll need an International Driving Permit.

You should also be aware that if you are under 25, then many car hire companies will apply extra “young driver” charges.

2. Drive on the Left

Another thing you should be aware of is that Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road. This shouldn’t be an issue for Kiwis, Brits, or citizens of any other country that also does this. However, if you are from countries like the USA, Canada, France, Italy, and Germany that drive on the right, then it can feel unfamiliar.

This might be especially the case at roundabouts and intersections. Although most people adjust quickly after a short time behind the wheel.

3. Australian Road Laws

Australian road laws should also be taken very seriously, as there could be severe consequences if you don’t.

Essentially, drink driving, using a mobile phone (unless it’s via hands-free technology), and excessive speeding are complete no-nos. You can find out more about the laws here.

4. Driving Distances

As touched upon earlier, driving distances are something to be well aware of in Australia. The country is vast, and driving days can be long.

To put this into perspective, the Nullarbor Plain stretches for around 1,000 kilometres with very few towns along the way. For this reason, it is imperative to plan fuel stops and rest breaks.

5. Wildlife

Wildlife is very much part of the driving experience in Australia. Depending on where you are driving, kangaroos, wallabies, and livestock are often active near roads, particularly before sunrise and after sunset.

To reduce the risk of having an accident with them, you are advised to drive predominantly in daylight hours. If you hit an animal, you can call organisations like WIRES (1300 094 737) or the RSPCA (1300 264 625).

Should you be injured yourself or involved in an accident with another driver, this is what to do.

When it comes to road trip routes, Australia is spoilt for choice. There are literally hundreds of roads you can take to the four corners and centre of the country.

Where you end up going may well depend on your starting point. However, here are some popular options you might want to consider.

This drive officially starts in the surf town of Torquay and finishes in Allansford, near Warrnambool in Victoria.

It is a popular journey from Melbourne and includes the 12 Apostles, dramatic coastal cliffs, and lush forests. Typically, it takes between 2 and 3 days to complete.

For those looking to enjoy a longer drive, this is a great choice, as it showcases plenty of beaches, national parks, and wildlife.

You can easily spend a week visiting its main highlights, which include the Royal National Park, Jervis Bay’s white sand beaches, Sapphire Coast wildlife, and Gippsland/Phillip Island penguins.

If you want to discover Australia’s rich indigenous heritage, then you should venture to the Red Centre Way.

Leaving from Adelaide, you can head up to Alice Springs and experience Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Kings Canyon along the way.

This journey takes you up the eastern seaboard of Queensland. If you leave from Brisbane, you’ll cover a distance of around 1600 km until you get to Cairns.

During this drive, you will also have the opportunity to visit hundreds of beaches, numerous islands, including those in the Whitsundays, and explore the Great Barrier Reef. Should you want to go further, you can even drive another 1000 km up to the Cape York Peninsula, at the very top of the state.