Driving Tips For Australia By Andy Burrows At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Touring Australia by car offers a unique freedom and more and more people choose to traverse this beautiful land on their own four wheels. For New South Wales and the Queensland coast, no special considerations need to be taken into account when renting a car. Just make sure the seats are nice and soft, as you’ll be in the car for long periods.

If you’re heading for the hinterlands of central Australia, it’s a different matter altogether. A four-wheel drive vehicle is a must, and you’ll need to bring your own food and water supplies as well as extra fuel.

It is generally a hassle-free experience to rent a car in Australia. As long as you are staying for less than 6 months, you can drive anywhere with your driving licence from home. Australia recognises foreign licences and you are not required to use an international permit.

The road rules are fairly straightforward and common sense should prevail. Everyone in the car must be strapped in with a seat belt, while 0.5mg/ml is the legal alcohol limit. The police conduct random stops in all states. Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road.

The driving age is 16 to 18 years old, depending on the state. Expect to part with anywhere from A$0.90 to A$1 per litre at the pump. You may notice prices are higher in the outback compared to those on a highway near Sydney.

In developed areas, Australia’s motorways are excellent. They are all paved, wide and uncongested outside of the big cities. They are also simple to navigate with all signs being well-marked.

The motorways are classified as ‘A’ routes. Their speed limits are between 60 and 68mph (100 and 110kph). ‘B’ routes are smaller highways, usually having two lanes, but are equally well-maintained. You can comfortably travel at 60mph (100kph). When you get into suburban areas or city driving, this will be considered a ‘C’ route and your speed should not exceed 30 to 35mph (50 to 60kph).

If you’re heading to the outback, regular highway rules apply, except on the Northern Territory’s remote roads. These roads are long, narrow and straight. For the most part, these routes are hassle-free, but be prepared for a few potholes and adverse weather conditions. A dust storm will reduce your speed to a crawl.

Service stations are spread roughly between 60 and 200 miles (100 and 300kms) along motorways, many of them open 24 hours, making it easy to travel continually. A few hours is all you should undertake in one driving session before stopping to rest. The best way to travel is to plan ahead to stop somewhere overnight. Having more than one driver will also help the long journeys to pass more easily.

In the outback, it’s not so cut and dry. The operating hours of service station are erratic, and you may not find it as easy to use your overseas credit card. As with everything in the outback, it’s always better to plan ahead as there are many more chances to be stranded in this massive desert. One precaution could be to join an auto club. In case of emergency, dial: 13 11 11 for roadside assistance.

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