Australia is a vast country with a diversity of landscapes, each one begging to be explored and experienced. But where do you start? How do you get around? There are so many options available.
One of the best ways to truly explore a country is to slowly traverse each and every corner. To become intimate with the landscape, the food, the people, the culture. While traveling by air is efficient and fast, it is also a disconnect. Think of all the wonderful places you’re missing while you’re in the air. The funky little towns. The local bars filled with their unique stories. The ability to stop and have a picnic in the middle of nowhere, because that’s one thing Australia does really well – wide open spaces of nowhere. Be it beaches, national parks or deserts. You’ll want to see these places and unfortunately they are really hard to reach by bus or train.
In my opinion the best way to experience a country is by car. It’s easy, cheap, and you have complete freedom. After all, is freedom not one of the reasons why we all travel? I know that’s why I do it!
A car really is the best way to see Australia with kids. A car offers the flexibility to stop whenever you want and as often as you want. If you need to take 50 toilet stops without annoying a bus full of 50 tourists, just Dad with his travel plans, then a car is the way to go!
Public transport in Australia isn’t cheap either, particularly for families who have to multiply everything by 3, 4 or more. Even with the cost of petrol in Australia, it’s still usually cheaper to drive than take public transport for families if you are trying to see large areas of Australia.
Renting a car is one option. Weekly rates on smaller and midsized cars can be quite affordable, particularly outside of school. Be sure to look on multiple websites though as rates do vary quite significantly.
Renting a car over a longer period of time does become expensive and restrictive. Mileage limits, restrictions on what types of roads you can drive on. Some of the best places in Australia are only accessible via unsealed roads, which are usually frowned upon by rental companies. The best way to traverse a large country like Australia and see everything you’ve dreamed of seeing is to buy a car (new or used), even with all the registration costs figured into the equation.
Buying a car in a foreign country is not as hard as one might think, especially if you’re buying a used car and paying cash. The hardest part is finding a vehicle that will be durable and reliable. I did a lot of research and ended up going for a reliable manufacturer like Subaru.
With my Subaru I have the freedom to go pretty much everywhere in Australia. I can do a classic Gold Coast road trip, stopping in seaside towns and hanging with surfers. I can travel in to the vastness of Western Australia. Explore the outposts in Northern Australia, or drive from metropolis to metropolis in South Australia and New South Wales.
Or if I’m feeling really ambitious I can spend the next year or two explore every nook and cranny, and exposing myself to everything Australia has to offer.
Being a long-term traveler I have the ability to make my own schedule. I can do things like buy a car, explore a country, then sell it and get some of my money back. In my opinion this is the best way to travel, and if you haven’t thought of doing it before, you should!
Exploring Australia by car
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