Australia is a THE thing for overlanders. Vast outback territories and stunning scenery that are easily accessible with the right vehicle. And you must have a car to get around.
Here are some tips from our trip to the Northern Territory and Western Australia September 2023.
It is possible to ship a car to Australia from Europe, but it is expensive and involves a lot of hassle with importing. If you’re going to stay for a while is it better to buy a fully equipped car. There are websites and Facebook groups dedicated to just this. For example Australia Car Market. The formula is simple; you buy a car, drive around for a few months and sell it again. If you are in the right place at the right time, you can make a good deal if the seller has a flight to catch.
Rent a Car
For shorter trips, it is easier to rent. There are many companies who can offer luxurious motorhomes, simpler campervans or four-wheel drives. A four-wheel drive in Australia is usually a Toyota Land Cruiser or a HiLux. The options are many, and you have to choose based on your desired comfort level and where you want to travel. You can see large parts of the country without four-wheel drive, but then you have to stay on the main roads. To take detours to sights and several popular camping areas, you might need four-wheel drive.
The prices for rentals is quite high. In fact, it was more expensive to rent a motorhome in Australia than in Europe in September/October 2023. For example, a Hilux with equipment would cost around 6,000 to 7,000 EUR for 3 weeks of rental. We wanted to explore northern Australia from Darwin as a starting point. Here lie vast national parks, and Kimberley, a unique area in the northwest with jungles, mountains, and deserts sprinkled with gorges and waterholes where you might take a dip, provided there are no crocodiles around. Kimberley is crossed by the legendary Gibb River Road, a gravel road without bridges that requires a four-wheel drive and good ground clearance to navigate. Hence, we opted for a four-wheel drive.
This company rents out cars owned by private persons, but the company handles contracts, insurance, etc., and the prices are significantly lower than regular rental agencies. We paid 3,6000 EUR for 3 weeks, including insurance. The car came fully equipped with everything you need, from bedding to a cooler box, but it’s not intended for heavy off-road driving. It lacks a compressor and recovery equipment, and it’s not allowed to ford deep rivers.
If you plan to drive extensively on gravel roads, which are often very corrugated, it’s important to be able to release air, and for that, you need a compressor to air it up again. Consider bringing one from home if the car doesn’t have it.
Seasons
If you want to explore the northern regions, July-August is the peak season. This is the dry and cool period. We aimed for the shoulder season in September when there are far fewer tourists. But it’s also warmer. The heat rises in September-October, before the hot and wet season with monsoon rains kicks in. During this time, most roads become impassable until the water recedes around May.
We arrived in Darwin on September 6th and headed straight to Kakadu National Park, and somewhat surprisingly, already the day after, we experienced temperatures of around 40 centigrade. Normally, it should have been closer to 30.
Where to go?
The Northern Territory is most easily reached by flying to Darwin. From here you can reach the enormous Kakadu National Park, as well as several smaller parks with spectacular scenery. Read here: (coming)
If you take highway 1, the Victory highway to the west, you will reach Western Australia and the large outback area of Kimberlay, which can be crossed on the legendary Gibb River Road. Read here: Kimberley – El Questro. Western Australia
Here you will also find unique natural wonders such as the limestone formations Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park. Read here: Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park – Western Australia
Practical tips
- • In the northern area, only one telecommunications operator has coverage, Telstra. Be sure to buy a SIM card from this, or another that uses the same network. Only coverage in urban areas.
- • You can pay by card almost everywhere. Certain campsites in the national parks must be paid in cash.
- • Camping outside nature parks costs around 30$ per night, without electricity. They have a good standard.
- • If you are traveling in the northern regions and want to buy some beer or wine, please note that sales only take place in “bottleshops” and there are quotas on how much you can buy per day. The rules vary from place to place. The shops open between 12:00 and 14:00.
- • Car hire cost us EUR 3000 for 3 weeks. In July and August it is quite a bit more expensive.
- • Check carefully what restrictions the landlord places on car use. Most prohibit wading in rivers and use on so-called 4wd roads. Damage to the undercarriage is not covered by the insurance. Cars that are rigged for such use are significantly more expensive. But you get to see a lot without having to engage low-series.
- Wikicamps Australia: App with an overview of campsites and free camping opportunities. Where you can find water, shop etc. A must!
- Fuel Map Australia: App with fuel stations.
- Road status: https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au Shows road closures and roadworks.
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