Travel Australia on a Budget

Author Archives: budi@wickedcampers.com

Driving Down Under

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Driving in Australia

First of, just like driving in the UK, you stick to the left hand side of the road…might sound obvious, but for those who didn’t know, you do now 🙂

What’s the speed limit in Australia?

Contrary to some beliefs, speed limits in Australia are not pedal to the metal, despite the vast open roads and outback stretching for miles and miles upon end. The limit in cities is generally 60 kilometers per hour (35 mph), and the speed limit on Australian highways is generally 110 kph (68 mph).

How old do I have to be to drive in Australia?

You must be 18 years old to drive a car in Australia. Learner drivers will go through an extensive training program, enabling the majority of drivers on the road to be very safe and cautious.

What do I need to drive in Australia?

You must have a full drivers license to be able to drive in Australia, in my case a fully qualified English license. If you’re going to be in the country for more than six months, you can get an international driver’s license before you leave home, or you can apply for a license in Australia when you’re there. If you’re going to rent a car, you will need your local, unexpired driver’s license (that you’ve held for at least one year), with another form of identification and credit card.

How old do I have to be to rent a car in Australia?

The minimum age for renting cars in Australia is essentially 21 years old, but drivers under 25 may have to pay an extra charge. Check with the car rental agency before you set your heart on a particular model. The standard age for renting vans is usually 25, but if you’re between 21-24 you may have to pay extra charges.

What’s the deal with campervans in Australia?

Campervans are a great way to get around Australia. The size of the country is phenomenal, so exploring OZ in a campervan can be a very mind blowing experience. For instance, travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane can take days and days, if travelling direct (without stop overs). Do check out our deals and prices over on our campervan rental website 😉

Petrol prices in Australia?

Petrol is sold by the litre, with prices usually cheaper than that of the UK, however different in comparison with many other countries. For an idea of prices across areas in Australia, check out this website, for an accurate description of petrol costs across the whole of Australia.

Can I buy a car in Australia?

Purchasing a vehicle in Australia is very easy and highly recommended for those of you who plan on staying out here for a lengthy duration. There are plenty of companies that advertise themselves as backpacker car dealers, with businesses offering to purchase used and old cars also. Your Australian hostel’s bulletin board is also an excellent place to look for a backpacker car for sale. Just remember to check out everything and don’t rush into your purchase, you don’t want to be ripped off with a dodgy car now do you.

Alice Springs to Adelaide

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With World-Heritage Listed National Parks and endless desert plains, the drive from Alice Springs to Adelaide is an experience that cannot be replicated in any other part of the world – and our cheap campervan and 4WD hire lets you truly sleep under the Outback stars! Rich in Indigenous history and culture, the land is as much a place to be revered for its beauty as its spiritual heritage. Alice Springs is a quirky little Outback town, with a bunch of colourful locals and pubs – it’s a great place to begin your campervan or 4WD hire adventure! Campervan and 4WD hire is available from the very centre of Alice Springs – and right opposite the Alice Springs Visitors Centre, so before starting you campervan adventure, be sure to pop in to the Visitors Centre to grab a few maps and brochures. The guys in the Alice Springs Visitors Centre are very helpful and can also provide you with heaps of information about the surrounding landscape – and the best place to stay for the night in your Campervan or 4WD Hire vehicle!

Alice Springs

Alice Springs


Hire a campervan or 4WD from our depot in Alice Springs and head south-west to Ayers Rock! The World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park covers an area over 311,000 acres. Uluru (Ayers Rock) – is one of the world’s largest monoliths. Uluru is 348 metres at its tallest point: 43 metres higher than Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower, 24 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, and just 33 metres lower than the Empire State Building. You’ve come too far not to see this amazing natural wonder!!!

Once you get back onto the Stuart Highway, you’ll head south towards Adelaide. The border town of Kulgera is basically just a service station & pub – but it also has a great little campground attached, so you can park your campervan or 4WD for the night and grab a few outback beers! Kulgera offers a great chance for some funny pics too, with a bunch of weird statues and stuff all around the place! If you are into hot deals, you should check out some amazing travel deals in Australia then check out the Johnny FeelGood website.

Darwin to Broome

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Darwin to Broome
From Darwin cruise West towards Kununurra. A little further is the turn off for the Gibb River Road and El Questro, so if you’ve hired a 4WD then get going baby! El Questro is a great place to stop for a cold beer and fish for barramundi, set on a remote Kimberley Cattle Station.

If you want to see the Bungle Bungles then you need to take into account that it’s around 250kms south (which means you gotta do another 250km to get back to Kununurra). But it’s worth it – the Bungles (Purnululu National Park) are amazing and the orange and black domes have borne witness to sacred aboriginal rituals for over 20,000 years.

Darwin to Broome

Darwin to Broome


Remember though – you can only ride the dirt tracks if you hire a 4WD – so you kids who’ve hired a 2WD Campervan need to stick to the Great Northern Hwy! Boring stuff aside – further along the Gibb River Road, you’ll see wild Emus, big red Kangaroos and more Gorges than Beyonce (because she’s gorgeous…get it?!). Aaahhh.

Tunnel Creek is comprised of a myriad of bat-filled caves, with fresh water flowing along the ancient red sandstone walls. Perfect for exploring during the day as it gets very hot around midday! Windjana Gorge is equally impressive, with massive sandstone cliffs and crystal clear water. Stop off and make out for a few hours.

Bell Gorge and Bell Falls are particularly beautiful and perfect for a swim, so be sure to check it out along the way to give your 4WD Hire Vehicle a rest! There’s a heap of secluded places to camp out and gorges to swim in, so take your time along the Gibb River Road and really take it all in!

Up ahead and closer to Broome is the beautiful Cape Leveque. Cape Leveque is the northernmost tip of the Dampier Peninsula and set on remote, pristine coast. The colours of the land spring to life as the red of the desert collide with the pure white sand and deep azure waters of the North-West.

Be sure to check it all out – lucky for you the 4WD package includes access to the Gibb, Bungle Bungles and Cape Leveque! Woo hoo!!! This is one of the great road adventures on Earth and one you’ll never forget! Want to hire a Campervan or 4WD in Broome or Darwin? Looking for cheap car hire in Broome? Well call them guys and get discounts on your rental.

Albany Loop

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The very South-West extreme of Australia is a mix of lush green vineyards and barren desert. With blue-azure ocean and white sandy beaches, Albany is the perfect place to spend a weekend…or longer!

Albany Loop

Albany Loop


Wave Rock, near the wheatbelt town of Hyden, is one of Australia’s most recognisable landforms.Rising 15 metres from the ground and more than 100 metres long, Wave Rock looks like a giant surf wave of multicoloured granite about to crash onto the bush below. It’s believed this amazing formation was more than 2,700 million years in the making!

The town of Margaret River is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city lifestyle. Offering top-notch wining and dining, the creature comforts do not have to be left behind to enjoy the stunning, picturesque landscape characteristic of the south west. With stunning beaches, majestic forests, spectacular caves and a cosmopolitan lifestyle Margaret River will please even the most discerning visitors.

Albany Loop

Albany Loop

417km south-east of Perth, Albany is a 5hr 30min drive on the Albany Highway. Rugged coastline and a dramatic convict past gives this town a massive point of difference. Walking along the coastline is a great way to experience this town. Stop by Muttonbird Island before heading to Whale World, Albany’s Whaling Museum. Learn more about the town’s interesting history at the Princess Royal Fortress Museum. Check out the campervan hire website for more details.

Wilson’s Promontory National Park

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Often overlooked for the Great Ocean Road, Victoria’s Wilson’s Promontory is an arid, coastal wonderland with wild wombats, kangaroos, emus & echidnas all shitting all over the place! About 3 hours from Melbourne, it’s a real wildlife experience with endless views and incredible isolation…
Jumping on the Monash Freeway and heading South-East, you’ll traverse through acres of farm land and cow country until you reach the entry point for the park (be sure to stop at the entrance to grab a park map). Wilson’s Promontory National Park is over 500 square-kilometres of land full of animal poo and bush scrub!
Wilson's Promontory National Park

But look further than the poo and you’ll soon see wild wombats and emus crossing the road in every direction. About 15 minutes into the park you’ll see a clearance to your left often with a couple of emus plodding along and a couple of friendly Germans stalking their every move. If you park your campervan and walk past the first line of scrub you’ll find a massive flat terrain with wombat dens, kangaroos and emus! Best time to see these furry little fuckers is around sunrise or sunset if you’re too hungover to get up early!
Wilson's Promontory National Park

Apart from wildlife, the coast is incredible. With massive sand dunes and offshore islands, the view is amazing. There’s a tonne of little spots to park your Wicked Camper and picnic by the sea, and also plenty of offroad hiking, so wear some comfy shoes!

If you’re into surfing, there’s a few waves in and around Tidal River and Whisky Bay if you get lucky and the swell manages to snake it’s way through the myriad of offshore islands.