Travelling Australia: By Road

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Travelling Australia By Road

Australians don’t need to be told this, but for the benefit of International travellers, let me say that if you want to get to see the real Australia, you have to do at least some of your travelling by road. Driving your own vehicle, or hiring one, is often the only way to gain access to some parts of Australia that are serviced only by road transport. Australia’s major roads and highways are all sealed, so you can see just about all the major attractions the country has to offer without going off the bitumen.

Australia’s towns and cities are linked by a network of well signposted, well maintained sealed highways and major roads which allow for easy travel between localities. In most states, the speed limit on the open road is 110 kilometres per hour. In built up areas the speed limit is either 50 kilometres per hour or 40 kilometres per hour. Speed limits are clearly marked with International-standard signage. In Australia, a drivers licence from your home country or another Australian state is sufficient to drive a motor vehicle in all states and territories, as long as it is current, has photo identification and is for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive.

Australia’s Best Drives

In our busy, modern-day world where we expect everything to happen instantly, travel time is so often seen as an inconvenience and a waste, rather than an opportunity to take it easy, relax, stop and smell the roses. If you are one of those people to whom the journey is as important as the destination, these are the iconic drives across all Australian states and territories that will not only enhance your travel experience, but could well be the highlight of your travels. They include a variety of journeys, from single day trips to cross country treks.

Rent or Purchase?

If you are considering renting a vehicle, purchasing an older vehicle is a viable alternative, thanks to websites like Cars 4 Backbackers and Travellers Auto Barn which provide a useful service for travellers wishing to take up this travel option. Travellers can purchase a cheap car, campervan, station wagon or 4wd through the website, and when they have finished with it when they are ready to leave Australia, they simply sell it back or advertise it on the website and sell it to another traveller seeking their own set of wheels during their visit to Australia.

Four Wheel Driving

For thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of Australia have used a network of tracks to get from one part of the island continent of Australia to another. Following British colonisation, camels and horses were introduced to make these epic journeys easier for the explorers and pioneers. Today, thanks to 4-wheel drive vehicles, the outback has become accessible to just about anyone. These are the major highways and tracks – some of which are sealed (paved) and some of which are mere dirt tracks – favoured by 4-wheel drivers.

50 Years of Australian Motoring