Traveling to Australia by road is great. Plan a trip and contemplate automobile rental or purchase. Read on.
Before Calling, Consider:
What’s Your Australia Stay?
This is vital when renting or buying a campervan or car. Rent if you’re just gone 3–4 months. Advantages:
- Campervan essentials
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- toll-free
Traveling?
If the prospect of breaking down in the bush and having to wave down a stranger to tow you to the nearest garage is your worst nightmare, renting gives further protection and little hassle.
Purchase if you’re daring, confident, and good with surprises.
Post-Trip Auto Sales
When you’re ready to pack up, wear flip-flops, and show off your tan, sell your automobile.
Do What?
Who’s buying your car? Timing matters. Car sales are slowest between April-July (as Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth will all be very quiet). Darwin and Cairns are hard to sell from December to June, but Brisbane and Adelaide are year-round.
Camping Tips
We put together some tips to make your campervan holiday with Australian Backpackers in Australia stress-free.
- Route-Plan
You’re not the first traveler to underestimate driving times in Australia. While you desire spontaneity on vacation, it’s helpful to know your destination, route, and travel time.
- Supermarket
After renting a campervan in one of Australia’s large cities, stop by a supermarket to stock up on supplies (and we don’t just mean beer and sausages). Gas stations and small retailers may impact a backpacker’s budget.
- Gas-Buying
Fuel is expensive. Open windows instead of running the air conditioner to save money.
- Service RV
You’re accountable while you have the campervan. This covers basic maintenance inspections every 500 kilometers. Maintenance includes checking tire pressure and coolant.
Campervan drivers should avoid low-hanging trees, parking lots, and bridges.
- Campfires
Follow the guidelines to avoid bushfires in Australia. Each state’s wildfire website or app is recommended (particularly in summer). If you construct a campfire, put it out at night and keep 10 liters of water nearby.
- Australian Roads
Australian car ownership requires some paperwork. Every car needs state-specific, yearly registration paperwork.
- Stay Put If You Break Down
If you stop with smoke coming from beneath the hood, wait till someone passes by.
In Australia, hours can pass without seeing another human. So stay in your campervan or car for safety. Leaving to get aid might involve hours or a whole day of trekking in the hot sun before you find it.
Carry water and snacks.
- Hotter Means More Water
You should carry 4–5 liters of water every day. If you break down and are trapped overnight, bring extra water. Most big stores sell 10L water bottles, so stock up.
Cereal bars, almonds, and dried fruit should be packed in case you break down. Salty foods will make you thirstier and hasten dehydration.
- Skippy’s Dangerous!
Australian outback fauna includes kangaroos, koalas, and spiders.
Outback roads regularly have animal crashes, especially at night, morning, and twilight. If you’re driving at night, make sure your companion is awake to assist you to spot animals.
- Avoid Unpaved Roads
Many outback roads are fine; however, you may find yourself on an unsealed road (such as a field or a gravel track) (such as a field or a gravel track).
If you rent a campervan or car in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth, your insurance may not cover you on unsealed roads. Read the fine print.