Driving

Most visitors looking to drive in Oz will hire a car for part or all of their time Down Under, but there are other options too. As well as buying a cheap second-hand car and then selling it on again once you’ve finished travelling (this would work out more economical for longer stays), there’s always the option of car sharing - where a few travelling companions you’ve picked up along the way or found in a hostel are also looking to travel the same route as you, so you all chip in to hire or buy a car with enough room, or possibly a campervan. This can work out as the cheapest option; though you do have to ensure that you get on ok in confined spaces with your travelmates, and this way can mean that you have less freedom to stop off whenever you like.

When hiring a car or van, you’ll be spoilt for choice and there are various pick up and drop-off points if hiring from larger companies. This can be very useful if travelling long distances or going from state to state: you could hire a car in Sydney and drop it off in Brisbane a couple of weeks later. If you’d rather just hire a car to explore a city or smaller area however, it can be worth checking out the smaller local companies to find the best offers. When hiring a car, many companies prefer you to be 25 or over, and some may refuse to hire out to those who haven’t long qualified as drivers - so check any restrictions with your hire company as soon as possible.

If you know you’ll be hiring a car Down Under, try to arrange some insurance before you leave, or find a travel insurance policy which covers the standard hire car insurance excess of $2,000 - this can work out a fair bit cheaper than paying the excess insurance when you go to pick up car. You’ll need a credit car to hire a car too.

A basic city runaround car costs from around $24 a day, plus fuel; and 4x4s start from around $40 a day plus fuel (note: if you’re planning off-road trips, prepare well and get plenty of expert advice on the area you plan to explore in advance - being lost in the Outback with no petrol or water is no fun). It therefore makes sense to fill your car with people if possible to save cash and provide entertainment on your trip: check noticeboards in hostels, hotels and other traveller hotspots such as tourist offices to see if any other traveller wants a lift. As well as splitting costs, especially fuel, you can also take turns behind the wheel and avoid fatigue on those endlessly long roadtrips.

When we put this guide together, the best value unleaded petrol in the Upper North Shore area of Sydney was ¢110.9 per litre – around 44p; though in regional areas it’s much more expensive - but still cheaper than UK prices. Find the latest prices and the best deals in Oz’s major cities.

Some better-known car hire companies include:

• Avis
• Budget
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Thrifty