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Car Hire Australia

If you need car hire Australia then there are certain things you need to know. Rent a car Australia is easy and get out on the roads of the country, which are considered some of the safest in the world. But it is a big country and there are some areas of Australian life that you need to consider in order to get the most from your Australia rental car in the country. You don’t want to depend on the public transport system in such a large country, so your Australia car hire is an important way to get from the airport, visit the cities and travel across this vast place that they call Australia. Here is our guide to getting a rent a car Australia for your trip.

We advise that you book your car hire Australia well in advance to secure the vehicle you want at the best rates possible. There is a lot of demand for rental car Australia so decide on what you want soon and compare the prices to get the best deal.

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The Country

Australia is a large place with a lot of people centred in the cities. The country covers nearly 3 million square miles and there are around 25 million inhabitants, so you can see that there is plenty of space in the country to drive around in. It is an island, so has no land borders, but is very close in terms of location and outlook to New Zealand. It is seen as a place where you can see everything and live in a relaxed atmosphere and this attracts any people to Australia to live, work and travel.

The country is so large that there are different climates in different regions. It is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the Summer lies in December to February and the Winter across June, July and August. The interior of the nation is arid and similar to a desert. Around the coast, you see different temperatures. The South of the country, where Sydney and Melbourne lie, sees temperatures change with the seasons. Across the North, closer to the equator, it is mainly a tropical climate, and perfect for spending time on the beach or surfing.

There is no official language of Australia but many of the people there speak English. As it is made up of people from across the world, there are many languages spoken. Australian English has many words borrowed from their immigrant population as well as from the language of the Aboriginal people.

The nominal capital of Australia is Canberra. Although it is only the 8th largest city in the country and doesn’t have the same international appeal as other cities in the nation, it was chosen in 1908 to become the site of the capital. It was seen as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne and was built over the years to house the Parliament, High Court and other government buildings.

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Driving Tips

You need to know the rules and differences when driving on the road in your rental car Australia on the trip. The driver of the vehicle is responsible for complying with all the laws of the road, specifically:

  • Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road
  • The law states that the driver is charged with making sure all occupants of the vehicle are wearing seat belts
  • Child seats are compulsory across the country for babies, and some states extend this requirement until the age of 7.
  • The drink-drive law states that a maximum of 0.05% blood alcohol is the legal limit. We suggest that you do not drink at all if you are going to drive in a country that is new to you.
  • The use of a cell phone is prohibited while driving.
  • You must park on the left side of the road clear of all traffic. Parking facing the oncoming traffic is not allowed and will result in a fine being issued to you.
  • You cannot turn left when the traffic signal is red, unless the sign specifically states this.
  • In many states of Australia, you cannot perform a U-turn at a traffic signal. Be aware of this when driving.
  • On the multi-lane highways of the country, you must stay in the left lane unless overtaking – you overtake on the right.
  • You give way to a vehicle on your right at an intersection, unless they are shown a sign stating ‘STOP’ or ‘YIELD’
  • The speed limit on country roads and highways is between 100 kmph and 130 kmph
  • The speed limit in built up or residential areas is between 50 kmph and 60 kmph
  • The speed limit in school zones is between 25 kmph and 40 kmph
  • There are some toll roads in the country, especially in the cities so make sure you have means of payment with you
  • Some of the roads in the outback can be poorly maintained, so you need to take care when driving on them

Make sure that you are aware of the rules of the road in Australia before you travel. It is vitally important to know what you what you must do. This will keep you safe and prevent you from running into trouble with the law.

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Airports in Australia

As a country that has links to the rest of the world through its population and trade, Australia has many international airports that maintains these links. The international airports in Australia are:

  • Sydney Airport
  • Melbourne Airport
  • Brisbane Airport
  • Perth Airport
  • Adelaide Airport
  • Gold Coast Airport
  • Cairns Airport
  • Canberra Airport
  • Hobart International Airport
  • Darwin International Airport

With your car hire Australia to travel from an airport or any other part of the country, make sure that you know all the rules and you are confident with driving somewhere new. Australia rent a car is great, so get out there to see what the county has to offer. If you ever have a problem on the roads in your rental car Australia then help is at hand from the emergency services. The Country emergency number is 000, so dial that if you need assistance. It is best to programme it into your phone, so you can make that call quickly if you find yourself in an emergency situation.

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