Road and Driving

Traffic drives on the left. Road signs are international.
The speed limit is:
. 60kph         - 35mph in cities and towns
. 50kph         - 31mph in suburban areas
. 80-110kph   - 50-68mph on country roads and highways
Unless signs indicate otherwise. Seat belts must be worn at all times and driving licences must be in the driver’s possession when driving.

Driving off major highways in the outback becomes more difficult between November and February because of summer rain, as many roads are little more than dirt tracks. Road travel is best between April and October.

Distances between towns can be considerable, and apart from ensuring that all vehicles are in peak condition, it is advisable to carry spare water, petrol and equipment. Travellers are advised to check with local Automobile Associations before departure in order to obtain up-to-date information on road and weather conditions.

Car Hire

Available at all major airports and major hotels to those over 21 years old.

Documentation
An International Driving Permit is required by nationals of countries whose official language is not English. International, foreign or national driving permits are generally valid for 3 months. An International Driving Permit is only valid in conjunction with a valid national licence. Driving Licence must be carried at all times while driving.

Coach

Major cities are linked by an excellent national coach system, run by Greyhound Pioneer and McCafferty’s . Tasmania also has its own coach service, Tasmanian Redline Coaches . There are numerous other companies operating State and Interstate services.

The main coach express routes are: Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne (inland), Brisbane and Canberra; Canberra to Melbourne; Melbourne to Adelaide; Adelaide to Alice Springs, Perth and Brisbane; Darwin to Alice Springs, Cairns, Perth and Kakadu; Alice Springs to Ayers Rock; Cairns to Brisbane; Brisbane to Sydney (inland and coastal) and Melbourne.

Coach passes are available for travel on a variety of routes for between 7 days and 1 year, such as the All Australian, the Sunseeker, the Aussie Reef & Rock, the Coast to Coast etc. The Aussie Kilometre Pass allows you to purchase your travel in kilometres and then travel in any direction on the national network to the distance purchased.

It is advisable to purchase these passes before departure from your country of origin.

Coaches are one of the cheapest ways to travel around Australia, as well as one of the most comfortable, with air conditioning, big adjustable seats and on-board bathrooms; some also have television and the latest videos.