Transport > Australia > Driving in Australia
Driving in Australia
Driving is the best way to travel around Australia. Having access to your own set of wheels frees you from the constraints of routes and schedules and allows you to visit places off the beaten track.
Anyone over 18 can drive in Australia with their local licence, providing it is valid and that you've been in the country for less than six months. If you’re spending longer in Australia you should bring along an international driving permit or apply for an Australian driver’s licence.
Driving in Australia is easy. Traffic drives on the left and roads are generally well-maintained but motorways are usually restricted to the approaches to major cities and heavily travelled routes such as Melbourne-Sydney and Sunshine Coast-Brisbane-Gold Coast. A regular car will take you virtually everywhere in Australia, but a four-wheel-drive is essential for beach driving or if you want to explore Fraser Island and the Cape York Peninsula.
There are some very long and boring stretches of road in Australia and fatigue is a big killer – make plenty of rest stops, drink plenty of coffee or cola and share the driving with someone else. Check noticeboards in hostels to see if another traveller wants a lift. Offering a lift is a good way to split your fuel costs as well as avoiding spending too much time behind the wheel.
Speed limits on most country roads are 100-110km/h, although the top speed limit is 130km/h on highways in the Northern Territory. On motorways the limit is usually 110km/h outside cities and 100km/h in built up areas. Minor roads in towns and cities are usually either 50km/h. It is compulsory to wear seat belts and it's illegal to talk on a mobile phone while driving. You must not park facing oncoming traffic.
Watch out for road trains if you're driving in the outback. These 50-metre-long semi-trailers can’t stop as quickly as a regular car so keep out of their way and make sure that you allow plenty of room to overtake one. Also be alert if you’re driving in the countryside around dusk – kangaroos are active at this time and are unpredictable – often jumping into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
