Page 562 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

560  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Car and Four-Wheel Drive

It is well worth considering hiring a car when visiting Australia. equipped with restraints
Other modes of transport will get you around the cities and according to Australian laws (see
from one country town to another, but, once you arrive in a p546). A Global Positioning
System (GPS) can also be hired
rural area or a small town, you may find it impossible to for around A$11 per day or A$60
explore the area other than on foot or with a tour. Australia per week. Check with the hire-
offers the motorist the chance to meander through areas car company whether you will
such as the vineyard regions of South Australia (see pp342–3), need an electronic tag fitted for
the Southern Highlands of New South Wales (see pp190–91) road tolls that are common on
and the Great Ocean Road of Victoria (see pp432–3), as well motorways in major cities, espe-
cially Sydney and Melbourne, or
as the experience of Outback travel on near-empty roads. if they are billed separately.
Credit cards are the expected
method of payment when
hiring a car. If paying with cash
you will usually be required to
pay the full cost of the rental,
plus a deposit and provide
sufficient identification.

Insurance
For peace of mind it is a good
idea to have comprehensive
insurance when hiring a car.
Check first whether your travel
insurance or credit card –
Driving through the Outback desert in Australia’s Red Centre particularly American Express if
you used it to book your travel –
Driving Licences
A$120 and are more costly in cover car hire claims to avoid
Providing your driving licence is remote areas where demand is paying twice for damage
in English and you have proof high. You can reduce daily rates waivers. “Third party fire and
that you are a tourist, there is no by hiring over longer periods theft” insurance is standard and
need for an additional permit (usually three days and over). included in the cost of the
when driving in Australia. If the Most deals include unlimited hire, as is insurance against
licence is not in English, you kilometres. Be sure taxes and accidental damage to the car.
must carry a translation. You fees such as levies for collecting However, you will have to pay
must have your licence with a car from an airport are inclu- extra to reduce the excess
you at all times when driving. ded in the final quote and not payment. From upwards of A$7
added later. Check providers’ a day, you can bring the excess
websites for current offers. down from around A$3,000 to
Car Hire
Smaller local operators offer A$300. This option is usually
Rental cars are available almost very competitive rates, some- only offered by the larger car
anywhere in Australia. They can times as low as A$25 a day, but hire companies.
be picked up at the airport on read the small print carefully; the Personal accident plans are
arrival, or arrangements can be quote may not include the extras also available, but they may not
made for delivery to your hotel. that larger companies consider be necessary, depending on
The big car rental firms Avis, standard. If travelling with the cover offered with your own
Budget, Hertz and Thrifty children, make sure the car is travel insurance. Four-wheel
have nationwide networks (see
p562) – an advantage if you are
making several different trips
across the continent. Check
with your travel agent before
leaving home about discounts
or special fly-drive offers.
Rates vary from around A$35
a day for a small car to more
than A$100 a day for larger
vehicles. It is invariably more
expensive to hire a 4WD vehicle;
rates average out at around Car and van rental company in Sydney