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How to Hire a Car in Australia | What You Need to Know

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If you plan to visit Australia, you need to know that a car will be essential for easy transport. How much time you will be spending in the country also matters when it comes to your mode of transportation. If you are staying for weeks, hiring a car will do you good, but if you plan to stay for months or even years, purchasing a car will be economical. Australia is considered one of the countries where people are allowed to drive at a young age. At 14, you can drive under your parent’s supervision. Most states will offer you a driver’s license at the age of 17. These qualifications, however, change when it comes to hiring a car in Australia. Here is what you need to know

1. You must be 21 or older

Car hiring companies will only allow you to hire a car if you have attained 21. If you are an Australian citizen, this means that your license will be three years old. If you are a visitor, you should have an open license that has been operational for at least one year. additional charges are given to people below the age of 25 and above the age of 75.

2. A car hire insurance is mandatory

If you are planning to travel to Sydney and need car hire for special events, you need to understand that an excess cover is necessary. This insurance will cover you against damage to the car and other properties.

3. You pick the car when it’s a full tank, and it’s expected to return that way

Whether you pick the hired car at the airport or a designated point, the hiring company will bring the car when it is fully fueled. It is expected of you that it is as it was when you received it on the day of returning. If you are coming from overseas, it will be better to book a classic car hire in Sydney online.

4. You need to stay in contact with the hiring company the whole time

When you hire a car, the hiring company has the right to know where you are taking their car and what you are doing with it. For example, it is prohibited to take a rented vehicle into ferries. That is why you need to have GPS either on the car or your mobile phone.

5. Adhere to the road rules

Australian roads are well taken care of, and any mistake you make on the road will warrant infringement notices sent to the hiring company. Be assured that this will cost you a lot. Here are some basic rules you should never forget.

  • Keep left when driving.
  • Don’t make left turns on any red signals.
  • Drunk driving is a crime. If you exceed the 0.5% limit, then you are on the wrong side of the law.
  • Seat belts on all seats are compulsory.
  • Never use your mobile phone when driving.
  • Pay your fines before leaving the country. Failure might lead to the refusal of car hires or the cancellation of your visa to the country.

Travel Tips: The Importance of Lockers in Airports

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Why airport lockers are the unsung heroes for mega travellers everywhere.

I travel, a lot. When I do get the time and funds together to pull off a really epic trip, I go all out. This means that I’m bring home a mass of rare finds, flea market jewels, and- yes, I know it’s lame- a ton of souvenirs for friends and family. On top of the fact that my baggage has baggage, I also like to make sure that I book flights with extremely long layovers (sometimes up to 48 hours) in cities that I want to lounge around in for a few hours.

This works great for me, I get to see everything and more, and I really get to make the most of the time and money I have available to me. The only part of it that was starting to get a bit worrisome was what I was going to do with bags upon bags of necessities, gifts, and all those fantastic items that make my house look like an 18th century museum. I wasn’t ready to sacrifice any of my luggage, but I also wasn’t wanting to sacrifice my travel time either. The simple solution to my perceived travel woes? Airport lockers.

This brain child came to me as I was lugging a small pachyderm and six of it’s friends worth of bag weight around Sydney Airport. I had booked one of my famous 48 hour power tours of the city, complete with museums, walking tours, discos, and bar crawls. Sydney is known for its wild nightlife as well as as for being city that is steeped in history and class. I had booked a cheap overnight in a crowded hostel near the city center. While this is a tactic I rely on more often than not, I also use websites like couchsurfing when I can and stay with locals I don’t know. This is fine by me and I’ve never really ran into any issues with it, but it does feel a bit awkward busting into someone’s home with seven giant bags and two large suitcases- just to snag a nap for the night. So there I was, standing in the middle of the airport, amongst a sea of overstuffed luggage, with a plan that absolutely did not include toting those bags with me. Right on the verge of mental breakdown, I look up and what do my wondering eyes spy? A line of airport lockers.

The lockers in the Sydney airport are brilliant. They come in a number of shapes and sizes, and are great for overnight storage. I ended up having to hire about six of them, but even then it didn’t break the bank. I kept one of my favourite messenger bags stuffed with essentials and set off. Feeling the freedom and confidence of running around the city, only armed with a fresh pair of underwear, cocktail dress, and a toothbrush, was incredible. The lockers enabled me to run around without having to concern myself with the safety of my artefact’s, or the safety of my health.

Running around with a mass of luggage isn’t just awkward and embarrassing (no one wants to be that tourist) but Sydney is hot, and I am not exactly in my prime health. I mean, I’m fit, but I’m not running any marathons any time soon. Pack on seven huge bags, heat, and several miles worth of walking tours, and I would have ended up looking like the back end of a baboon. Only extra sweaty.

Leaving my bags in the airport lockers kept me looking fresh as a daisy while I spent all day and all night experiencing this great city. Not only that, but I didn’t lose any sleep over worrying about whether or not my purchases were safe from any prying roommates.

I always find it surprising that lockers aren’t utilized more often. They’re spectacular for packing away your baggage while you have an overnight romp in an unknown city- but their usefulness doesn’t stop there. Travelling with kids? Lockers are a great way to store a bunch of luggage for a few hours while you bustle around the airport, making sure that you have your hands free for feeding, changing diapers, and general wrangling. They also work really well for stowing things away while you use the bathroom to freshen up between flights, or slip into the bar to relax before hitting the plane again. Lockers are what keep you from looking like a harried sentinel, desperately attempting to keep one eye on your charge at all times.

The peace of mind that you get from knowing that your items are safe and easily retrievable is something that you can never get enough of when your living out your travelling dreams. Lockers are definitely the things that keep these dreams from turning into nightmares.

Things To Do At 7 Capital Cities In Australia

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There’s a reason why Australia is at the top of the list for most vacationers around the world. Its bustling beaches, lush jungles and luscious rainforests packed to the brim with every kind of exotic greenery you can come up with.

Without doubt, Australia is where you should be spending some quality time with your spouse or better half. We advise the reader to spend their hard-earned frequent flyer points and catch a free ride, or better yet spend free time in luxurious hotels in Australia. To get started, this is the best place for you to redeem your virgin points.

Australia is behemoth of a continent; therefore, we prepared a list of capital cities that you should be visiting and places of interest that you should definitely be keeping on the top of your to-do list.

1. Adelaide
While the city itself is laced with world class art rooms, hidden bars and restaurants, what you should be watching out for is the Kangaroo Island, Australia’s most popular destination to explore wildlife, witness the fur seals, echidnas and beautiful koalas in their natural habitats. You can get to the island by hitching a ferry ride.

2. Canberra
If you’re a food enthusiast, then Canberra must definitely be given a mandatory visit, dine in at popular restaurants such as Aubergine, Capitol Barr and Monster Kitchen and Bar. Or simply marvel at the miniature trees – also known as bonsai – in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Visit the iconic Nishi Gallery located inside Nishi Building where artists from all walks of life showcase their creativity.

3. Darwin
Located in Darwin’s busiest business district is the Mindal Beach which attracts thousands of tourists year round – it is a common sight to spot visitors eating at one of the dozens of food stalls located in Mindal Market while watching the Sun setting down casting an orange hue onto the sparkling sea.

4. Brisbane
The most populous city of Australia is also home to one of the most important landmarks of the country. For example, the City Botanic Gardens—which houses the Bamboo Grove – is home to a collection of some 23 bamboo species, where innumerable bamboo sprouts tower over the entire landscape, and the sun illuminates a magnificent aura to the bamboo peaks, lending a luscious contrast between green and orange.

5. Melbourne
The best place by far to spot penguins in their natural habitat is Phillip Island; located south-east of Melbourne. It is packed to the brim with pristine beaches where you can set up camp and watch exotic animals unperturbed by visitors gawking at them. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Cape Woolamai to catch a glimpse of numerous pink granite forms in Westernport Bay.

 

6. Sydney

While Sydney is home to hundreds of attractive tourist locations, we can’t help but point you towards the most photographed swimming pool in the world at the Bondi Icebergs club. You can also become a member of the oldest winter swimming pool in Australia, something that you can brag about to your friends.

 

7. Hobart

No trip to Australia is complete without paying a visit Mount Wellington, the place is also easier to reach by vehicle, there’s a range of activities to partake in, from mountain bike riding to sightseeing from a plethora of vantage points scattered around the mountain.