Did you know one of the world’s most popular road trips takes place in Australia? Known to be incredibly popular among locals and tourists alike, The Great Ocean Road is easily one of the most exquisite and scenic drives you can enjoy while in Australia. From majestic views and lush greenery to hiking opportunities and incredible wildlife, this route boasts an array of things perfect to add a hint of adventure and thrill to the journey. But Australia is not just limited to this one drive, there are many more that are worth your time which is why we took it upon ourselves to introduce you to some of Australia’s most sought-after road trips.

While some road trips are only a few hours’ drive, there are a couple of them that can last days and are best enjoyed with a few stopovers on the way. In cases like these, it’s best to take the journey slow and not be in a rush to cover the distance. And the best way for tourists to experience this is by renting a car. A car rental is the ultimate way to get around and plan some of the most wonderful one-way road trips in Australia.

Benefits of Booking a One-way Car Hire in Australia

While there’s no dearth of public transportation in Australia, having your own private vehicle will grant you more freedom to plan the journey the way you want. This is where a car hire comes into the picture. Renting a car is the closest you can get to owning a vehicle in a foreign land as a tourist. With a car rental at your disposal, you won’t have to worry about planning your itinerary based on the availability and timings of buses or the expenses of booking a taxi. Once you have received the hired vehicle, you will be in command of your trip.

The benefits of hiring a vehicle don’t end here and while the list can go on and on, let’s highlight one of the most amazing parts of it, which is having an option to return the rented car to any location of your choice within Australia, as long as your chosen supplier has an office in the area. This type of deal is considered a one-way rental and the company charges a nominal fee for the same.

If you’re also considering booking a one-way rental for a road trip in Australia, use this blog as a guide to renting a car in the country.

Car Rental Companies Offering One-way Deals in Australia

Australia has a dense web of suppliers with their offices distributed at multiple spots in every major city. This makes it easier and more convenient for a renter to drop off the rented vehicle at a different spot than the one they picked it up from.

The availability of an array of local and international industry players also means a wide variety of one-way car rental deals. To simplify the process, Australia Rent Car brings all the top suppliers under one roof with a list featuring brands like Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Ace, East Coast, Alamo, etc., and displays their best deals at highly competitive prices.

Requirements to Book a One-way Car Rental in Australia

The car rental requirements can vary for each supplier and the best way to determine whether you meet the suppliers’ eligibility criteria is by checking out their Rental Terms. However, as far as most car rental companies are concerned, their requirements are almost similar with variations in rental prices and fees.

Age Requirement

A majority of car hire suppliers in Australia require the renter to be at least 21 years old to rent a vehicle, with the exception of a few companies offering their rental services to drivers 18 years old or above.

Also, renters under 25 may need to pay an additional Young Driver Surcharge if specified in the Rental Confirmation Voucher or Rental Terms.

Documentation Requirement

To ensure a successful car rental pick-up, it’s vital to produce all the essential documents mentioned in your Rental Confirmation Voucher, including a full & valid driver’s license, a valid ID proof or passport, and an International Driving Permit (IDP) accompanied by your domestic driver’s license in case the DL isn’t printed in the Roman language.

Payment Method at the Rental Desk:

Car Hire Category to Book for Your One-way Trip in Australia

Top Car Rental Locations in Australia

Suppliers with a presence in Australia have their branches in multiple locations throughout the country. To provide easy accessibility and convenience to customers, they offer their rental services at almost every prominent point, including city centers and airports. While the choice of location for pick-up and drop-off completely depends on the renter, there are a bunch of places in the country that are favored by most customers.

Popular Car Rental Airport Locations

Popular Car Rental City Locations

Popular One-way Road Trips to Plan in Australia Car Rental

From awe-inspiring countryside to urban cities, Australia boasts a dynamic landscape that alters every few miles, with each scenery offering something unique and mesmerizing. No matter which corner of Australia you’re sitting in, you can easily plan some of the best road trips from one region to another in the comfort of your rental car.

We’ve put together a list of the best drives with Australia’s most popular cities serving as the beginning and ending points of these trips.

One-way Car Rental Melbourne to Adelaide

From boasting enchanting beachside towns and historical sites to scrumptious meals & wine and diverse wildlife, the drive from Melbourne to Adelaide is nothing short of an eventful journey. Technically an 8-hour long trip, this journey need not be rushed especially if you’ve plenty of time on hand. Create an itinerary based on your preference and schedule and add destinations you would like to stop by on your way to the city with great outdoor adventure.

Best Highlights: Great Ocean Road, Bells Beach, Twelve Apostles, Port Fairy, Victor Harbor

One-way Car Rental Melbourne to Sydney

Up for a serene and picturesque drive featuring a host of idyllic beaches and incredible national parks? A Melbourne to Sydney road trip will offer all of this and even more to you, making this expedition anything but boring. You should at least take a week to cover the distance between Australia’s two major cities, considering there’s so much to see and do on the way.

Best Highlights: Phillip Island, Walhalla, Gippsland Lakes, Wilsons Promontory, Eden

One-way Car Rental Perth to Broome

A Perth to Broome road trip is undeniably one of the best drives you can plan in Australia. Be ready to be blown away by the most awe-inspiring views and breathtaking landscapes this journey is going to expose you to. Given the long distance and a host of destinations this trip is going to cover, you need a minimum of 10 days to enjoy and make the best out of this excursion.

Best Highlights: Pinnacles Desert (Nambung National Park), Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Eighty Mile Beach

One-way Car Rental Sydney to Brisbane

One of the best ways to admire the breathtaking beauty and majestic views of Australia’s east coast is to take a road trip from Sydney to Brisbane. Brimming with coastal sceneries, the path between the two cities is dotted with an array of captivating things ranging from spectacular beaches and surf towns to national parks featuring abundant wildlife and nature at its best.

Best Highlights: Hawkesbury River, Nobbys Lighthouse, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Big Banana (Coffs Harbour)

One-way Car Rental Sydney to Gold Coast

While the shortest route from Sydney will take you approximately 9 hours to reach Gold Coast (excluding stopovers), the best way to make the most out of this road trip is by taking the journey slow and making stops at some of Australia’s best attractions. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast, nature lover, or both, this road trip will offer you the best of both worlds in the form of turquoise beaches, dense foliage, exquisite shoreside towns, and outdoor activities.

Best Highlights: Palm Beach, Terrigal Beach, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Snapper Rocks

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does a one-way car rental cost in Australia?

  The prices of one-way car rentals tend to vary from supplier to supplier. Other factors like the vehicle category, duration, and location also play a vital role in influencing the final rental cost. To get an estimate regarding the prices, use Australia Rent Car’s responsive booking engine. Its efficient search engine gathers all the top deals based on the trip details you provide and displays them at discounted prices.

• How to book a cheap one-way car hire in Australia?

  With Australia Rent Car, you’re guaranteed to find the cheapest one-way rental deals for the locations of your choice. Head to its booking engine and fill in the search form, including the pick-up & drop-off locations, rental duration, and age. Click on ‘Search Car’, allowing the system to compile the available deals and display them to you at the lowest possible prices. After comparing the options, choose a rental that best fits your budget requirements.

• Can I book a luxury one-way car rental in Australia?

  Yes, you can reserve a luxury one-way car rental for a road trip in Australia. Australia Rent Car in association with popular suppliers like Alamo, Hertz, Sixt, etc., offers a wide range of low-priced luxury cars for one-way trips like Melbourne to Sydney, Perth to Broome, Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney to Brisbane, etc.

• Can I reserve a long-term car rental for a one-way road trip in Australia?

  Yes, you can book a one-way car rental for any duration of your choice in Australia. Australia Rent Car has a wide network of rental companies, enabling them to provide the best long-term deals at budget-friendly prices.

Melbourne is among the most popular cities in Australia. Filled with natural attractions as well as architectural wonders, this city leaves travelers wanting more. And, with a rental vehicle, it’s much easier to explore it as well as nearby areas. By booking a self-drive car rental in Melbourne, you can explore every nook and corner of the city at your own pace. Whether you need a rental from the airport location or the downtown area of the city, you can book the best car hire of your choice with us.

While planning to rent a car, there are a certain aspects you need to keep in mind that will help you to reserve the best deal. We have collected a few points like popular car rental types, best companies and some tips, to make your Melbourne car hire journey smoother:

Popular Types of Car Hire Deals in Melbourne

One-Way Car Rental – Book a one-way car hire in Melbourne for taking a road trip from the city to other stunning parts of the country. For reserving a one-way trip, select a location in the city as your pick-up point and a different place in the country as your drop-off location. Such a trip requires a renter to pay a one-way fee, which is a conveyance fee charged by a supplier to arrange the return of the car to the original location. Reserve a one-way rental trip on our website and take these popular road trips from the city –

Best Car Hire Companies in Melbourne

Several leading rental suppliers offer their services in Melbourne. The topmost rental brands in the city include –

Tips to Book the Best and Cheapest Car Rental in Melbourne

Popular Categories for Car Hire in Melbourne

Intermediate/standard car rental is the most frequently booked rental category in Melbourne. Apart from this, travelers can also choose from car types such as economy, luxury, SUV, or van/minivan, depending upon their itinerary.

Top Car Rental Locations in Melbourne

Tips for Driving a Melbourne Car Hire

Top Attractions in and around Melbourne

There are several popular tourist spots in Melbourne. Some of the best attractions you can get around in your Melbourne rental car include – 

Car hire Melbourne to Adelaide

Renting a car from Melbourne to Adelaide is a popular choice among all sorts of travelers. Our rewarding association with the best car hire suppliers in Australia translates into bigger savings for you as you’ll pay no booking fees, no airport surcharge, no premium location fees, or no credit card processing charges. Moreover, you can choose the cheapest car rental Melbourne to Adelaide from a wide selection of vehicles of various makes and models such as compact cars, economy cars, minivans, vans, and 4WD SUVs. Whatever your travel plans are, Australia Rent Car has the right car for your leisure holiday or business trip. For first time visitors, you may please read our Australia car rental tips and requirements blog to make your car hire experience a memorable one.

Car rental Melbourne to Adelaide one way

Australia Rent Car can help you find one way car hire specials and as well as long-term car hire deals for your road trip. Having networked with several local and international car rental companies gives us the benefit of offering cheap car rental Melbourne to Adelaide at several locations. With Australia Rent Car offering a perfect answer to the question of how to get cheap one way car rentals, all you need to do is make a reservation now. Given below are our car rental suppliers’ popular locations in both the cities, giving you a convenient option of car rental Melbourne to Adelaide return.

Melbourne to Adelaide car hire suppliers

Alamo, East Coast Car Rentals, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz Car Rental, National, and Sixt are our car hire partners that offer car rental Melbourne to Adelaide one way deals. Please note that relocation car hire Melbourne to Adelaide is solely at the discretion of the rental car supplier that you select. Australia Rent Car does not guarantee a free car rental from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Melbourne to Adelaide car rental free inclusions

Have a look at the common free rental inclusions that our rental car partners offer.

Melbourne to Adelaide routes information

Your one-way Melbourne to Adelaide drive in one go via the shortest route could consume about 8 hours. However, as all the routes offer a plethora of worth seeing places to discover, you may plan a road trip with overnight stays at places of your choice. However, let’s not forget that Melbourne and Adelaide are in different time zones. Plan your journey accordingly as Adelaide is 30 minutes behind Melbourne. You can drive from Melbourne to Adelaide via either of the following three routes.

Whether you are a leisure tourist or an avid sports fan, Melbourne holds special importance for everyone. As the city is the home of the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Australian Grand Prix, and Australian Football, you can become part of as many sporting extravaganzas as you want. The journey outside Melbourne is as exciting as the city itself. Hit the Great Ocean Road that takes you around the 12 Apostles, wilderness reserves, and beautiful beaches before entering Adelaide. With so much to explore on this route, you can easily stretch this journey to 2-3 days, depending upon the route that you choose. Choose Australia Rent Car to book cheap car hire so that you can save money on your road trip.

Plan a road trip in Tasmania in a rental car

Situated just south of mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania is known for its beautiful coastal region, mountainous landscape, and rich wildlife. Tasmania’s compact size makes it a perfect place to plan road trips. Nowhere else you will see so much of natural beauty without covering hundreds of kilometers in one day. However, car rental in Tasmania is a must to explore the island at your own pace. As Tasmania is predominantly hilly, it offers tremendous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and trekking.

Arriving in Tasmania

Rental car companies in Tasmania

Sixt Car Hire, Europcar, Alamo Rent a Car, Thrifty Car Rental, National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and East Coast Car Rentals are our rental car partners in Tasmania. Our partner suppliers offer rental vehicles at the following locations in Tasmania.

A brief overview of the road trip

The best time to visit Tasmania is from December to March. Your road trip will start from Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, and while covering around 1,193 km (741 miles), it will end in Hobart. This ultimate Tasmania road trip is comfortably doable in about 2 weeks. Opt for a long-term Tasmania car hire to save on rental car costs. For the fact that Tasmania is largely made up of protected wildlife areas, hiring a 4WD car is recommended. Read our guide on 4WD car rental in Australia for more information.

Hobart

Hobart is one of the oldest cities in Australia. Owing to its location, Hobart happens to be the starting point for most of the leisure tourists arriving in Tasmania. The city is also known for its historic architecture, which dates back to the Victorian and Georgian eras. The most popular tourist attractions in Hobart include the following.

Launceston

Situated in northern Tasmania, Launceston is settled on the confluence of North Esk and South Esk rivers. Another old city in Australia, Launceston is known for its well-preserved historic buildings. Located about 200 km away from Hobart, the city is an important tourism hub. Don’t forget to visit these places during your stay in Launceston.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Located in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is about 141 kilometers away from Launceston. The wilderness reserve is popular for its numerous walking trails. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the national park is home to Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mount Pelion East, Mount Pelion West, Mount Ossa, and Lake St Clair. Driving from Launceston, you’ll reach the park’s northern entrance located at Sheffield Town in about 1.5 hours.

Freycinet National Park

Located on Tasmania’s east coast, Freycinet National Park is about 125 kilometers northeast of Hobart and 149 km southeast of Launceston. Named after Louis de Freycinet, a French navigator, the wilderness reserve is one of the oldest national parks in Tasmania. The park area is widely renowned for its pink granite formations, white sandy beaches, Wineglass Bay, and amazing birdlife. Your drive from Launceston to Freycinet National Park via the A3 Tasman Highway will take around 2.5 hours.

Port Arthur

A former convict settlement and small town on the Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur is a heritage area. An open-air museum, the site features 11 penal sites built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Port Arthur is about 189 km south of Freycinet National Park. Port Arthur visitor center and ticket office open by 9 AM. Guided walking tours, Convict Water Supply Trail, Isle of the Dead cruise tour, and ghost tours at night are the most sought after ones among leisure tourists.

Bruny Island

Located off Tasmania’s southeast coast, Bruny Island is also called Lunawanna Allonah. Separated from mainland Tasmania by D’Entrecasteaux Channel, the island is famous for its panoramic views and wildlife. For taking your rental car to Bruny Island, you’ll have to first reach Kettering Town. Once you arrive here, the next step is to wait for your turn to get into the Bruny Island Ferry, which takes not more than 20 minutes to cross D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Please note that the ferry service begins at 6:30 AM until 7 PM on all days. Given below are the famous tourist attractions on Bruny Island.

Mount Field National Park

Situated just 64 kilometers northwest of Hobart, Mount Field National Park came into existence in 1916. The oldest national park in Tasmania features world-famous attractions such as Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Lady Barron Falls, and Lake Dobson. Park area’s other prized possessions are one of the world’s tallest trees. Besides offering an abundance of flora and fauna, the protected area provides a great opportunity to enjoy stunning outdoor locations.

Whether you arrive in Tasmania via Hobart or Launceston, you can start with this road trip without any delay. Australia Rent Car, through its network of trusted suppliers, is always ready to offer low-cost car hire deals in Tasmania. Please go through our guide to a car rental in Australia If you need more information on car hire requirements, documentation, etc.

Quick Links

Guide to a car rental in Australia

If you plan to rent a car in Australia then getting familiar with the rules of the land is a sensible idea.

Renting a car in Australia requirements

Age- 19 is the minimum driving age in Australia whereas the minimum rental age varies according to suppliers, generally, it is 21 years. Car renters below the age of 24 years might have to pay a young driver’s surcharge. The car rental age varies according to the car category.

Driving license- In Australia, driving licenses in English are acceptable but provisional license are not accepted. If you are a tourist then the maximum time frame for which you can use your driving license which is in English is 3 months. In case, the license is not in English then the renter needs to carry an International Drivers Permit (IDP). In any situation, carrying an IDP along with your native driving license always benefits if you wish to drive in a foreign country.

Renting a car in Australia with US license – You can hire a car in Australia with a US driver’s license. As stated above, an international visitor, with his/her native driving license in English, can drive a rental car in Australia for three months.

Renting a car in Australia with Chinese license – You can hire a car in Australia with a Chinese driver’s license. Rental car companies ask for your original Chinese driving license and a NAATI-certified translated copy of your license. NAATI stands for National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Should I rent a car in Australia?

1. ) Driving in Australia is sheer pleasure as the panorama is broad and extremely beautiful.

2. ) Moreover, Australian drivers are well-mannered and drive safely.

What are the popular locations where I can rent a car in Australia?

Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns are the most popular car rental locations in Australia but there are many more locations where you can rent a car in Australia.

One-way car rental in Australia

You can go for one-way rentals in Australia by paying an extra charge, applied by most of the suppliers. The most-popular one-way trips in Australia are Hobart to Launceston, Melbourne to Adelaide, and Melbourne to Sydney. Through our car hire partners in Australia, we offer value for money 1-way car rentals from cities, downtowns, airports, and several remotely located suburbs. Please note that the one-way car hire fees is not levied in case you return your rental car at the same location from where the pick-up was made.

Booking a cheap car rental in Australia

Where to book from? – A wise way to book a rental is through a website where you can get deals from multiple suppliers and can compare them easily using helpful filters. One such website is australiarentcar.com which lets you book comfortable rental cars in any part of Australia.

Car rental suppliers- The most popular and reputed brands operating in Australia are Ace Rental Cars, Alamo Rent A Car, Apollo Car Rentals, Atlas Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Europcar and National Car Rental.

Payment- Book early to get better quality vehicles at a cheaper price. Just like most of the other locations, car rental suppliers in Australia ask you to pay via credit cards. In case you obtain a fine for speeding then it will be charged to your credit card by the car rental suppliers and your details will be submitted to the law enforcing agencies.

Most of the car rental suppliers expect you to return the car with a full tank, failing to do so can result in extra charges to your card. This charge usually comprises of the cost of the petrol plus service charge.

Rule of the road- Australia drives on the left-hand side of the road while most of the cars have their steering wheel towards the right-hand side. Make sure you follow the speed limits: 50 km/h (crowded city areas), 70-90 km/h (open roads) and 100-110 km/h (highways). All the distances and the like are measured using metric units in Australia i.e. meters, kilometers and km h.

Driving to the Outback

1. ) Distances can be overwhelming especially on the Outback so always carry ample of drinking water, snacks and first-aid kit while travelling in this region of Australia.

2. ) Keep your car equipped with fuel as the fuel stations are usually shut in the night.

3. ) As a precaution, always inform your hotel or friends before heading out on a road trip as the networks are weak in most of the areas.

4. ) The Outback can turn out to be nightmarish if you aren’t well-prepared with precautions like a spare tyre, enough of drinking water and snacks.

Also, the internet coverage is pretty bad in many regions of Australia, especially, the Outback so make sure that you have all the needed information available offline.