Advice for Driving in Australia

"punksmurph" (punksmurph) 01/03/2016 at 18:33 • Filed to: None

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So I am going to Australia later this year for two weeks of vacation. One of the plans is to drive the Pacific coast from Sydney to Brisbane and make stops along the way for a week. I am hoping that I can get a Holden Commodore (V6 rental special) for the trip, no guarantee’s of course but the hope is strong as Hertz has a lot of them at the airport location.

So here is the question to Oppo, any tips for driving in Australia? Given my route anything I just have to stop at? What do I need to look out for, other than kangaroo’s, while out on the roads? I am going to study traffic laws in Australia and the “territories” I will be visiting right before we leave. Does anyone have any tips on ensuring I get a Commodore for rental? Also is this even the best choice of car? I just want something super ‘Stralia for the trip but an SUV could be a better choice.

Thanks in advance Opponauts!

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 18:43

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Damn, I’m jealous. I’m actually on the AU Hertz website right now....I’d get the Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon....

JGrabowMSt > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 18:45

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Do not hoon in public. They will come for you.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 18:47

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Drive on the left side of the road.

punksmurph > JGrabowMSt 01/03/2016 at 18:54

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Yeah, an Aussie coworker said to NEVER hoon it on the road. He spent a night in jail his first day home last year “getting on” in a Falcon.

Wohnson89 > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 18:54

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Smear your car in Thousand Island dressing. Not only will it repel snakes, spiders and the occasional rogue koala, but it has also been shown to absorb the radar in Australian spec radar guns.

Cé hé sin > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 01/03/2016 at 18:55

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Beat me to it...

punksmurph > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/03/2016 at 18:57

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Thrifty give you the choice of wagon as well, that is very tempting.

Cé hé sin > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 18:57

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Stick to speed limits. The police in Oz are said to be rather vigilant.

j.davism5 > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 19:03

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Ok, a few things.

Firstly, commodore rentals are plentiful here, but make sure you specify an SV6, otherwise you’ll get lumped with a base omega with the 3lt, and it wouldn’t pull the skin off milk. aware You can specify with hertz, budget or avis, they should be readily available. Look around the car before you take it and make sure you point out any existing damage.

Secondly, wildlife. Roos can do decent damage, koala’s not so much. the one to be afraid of is a wombat. It’s the equivalent of running over a boulder. They do big damage. Most animal strikes occur at dusk, but sunrise is also a bad time. Late at night can also be bad in some states that are quite hot, like N.T, to the point where a rental company will recomend you dont drive after certain times. the southern states don’t have this issue.

third, Police here aren’t great when it comes to speed. the tolerance is a mere 3km/h, and they have big quotas to fill. be wary on freeways entering and exiting major towns and cities, and weekends will have extra units around tourist areas. They generally will not negotiate, but it’s always worth a try. They won’t approach with guns drawn, we don’t have the same gun problems you guys do, so they will be fairly casual in their approach. Fines here are expensive, ranging from $180 for a minor infraction, through to 5-600 for major. It can get expensive quickly. once you are well out of a major town or city, things will back off substantially.

Fourth, speed cameras. They range from fixed, to redlight cameras at intersections with radars, to new unmarked SUV’s parked inconspicuously on the side of the road or curb. You wont get the fine for up to 2 months after the fact. The give away for a camera car is the fact that it’s a new current model SUV like a captiva or RAV4, and has a nudge bar with extra lights which act as the flash when needed. good motorists will give you a flash to let you know you are coming up on one, but many are oblivious. driving standards vary wildy between capitals, so beware of that too.

Fifth, we have many great driving roads. plan your trip. If it looks alpine, you going to have a good time. Coast roads are great, but often filled with caravaners or motorhomes filled with old people taking in the sights before they kark it (die). Last time i had an sv6 I had it to 230km/h in the territory, but I think the limiter is not far from there. Steering is better on the falcon, it’s the car I would want, but they are harder to get. Dont get an SUV unless its a territory. but just dont get an SUV.

Roundabouts: give way to the right, you’ll be fine.

Also, don’t be dick.

Enjoy australia, I hope you love it.

Telumektar > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 19:03

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Iknow this is a no-brainer, but...

Do not EVER litter in Australia, specially while on the road. I’ve heard some stories about road police going nuts after someone threw a cigarette box out of a window or something. Hefty fines apply, also.

I guess it comes with wildfires being a real problem over there, so they get super strict with this stuff.

marshknute > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 19:09

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Not really advice per se, a word of warning: you WILL mistake the windshield wiper stalk for the turn signal.

Asian LHD cars flip the indicator/wiper stalks. So try not to freak out when you indicate left and accidentally spray the windshield with washer fluid.

Milky > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 19:30

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Put this on the rental and hoon.

punksmurph > j.davism5 01/03/2016 at 19:53

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Thank you for the advice, my usual speed tolerance in LA and Orange County (California) is 5 MPH, so keeping it at speed is a must then. My initial hope was to get a Falcon, but many are getting retired from the fleets, my understanding is that Hertz only hands out the SV6 in the premium group (the extra $150 is worth it for 7 days of driving). I am only going to be on roads, and I am going to take dusk driving off the list, so the car will do. I am looking for some back roads up to the Blue Mountains for our first day, that will be fun. Then something north of Brisbane on our way back from the reef.

Also I will note the cameras, I didn’t know you had so many types, there are almost none left were I live because of corrupt corporations. And taking special note on the roundabouts, don’t have many here.

And I promise to not be a dick, courtesy has gotten me much farther in foreign lands than everyone I know that is an entitled prat.

punksmurph > Telumektar 01/03/2016 at 19:54

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I don’t throw things out of my car, especial hot stuff. I live in California and we are really strict on littering for the same reasons. A hot cig can start a nasty wildfire.

punksmurph > Milky 01/03/2016 at 19:55

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Temping but I don’t know what Hertz will charge me to remove it.

punksmurph > marshknute 01/03/2016 at 19:56

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Oh shit I don’t remember that from my days living in Tokyo, I will remember this comment for the first time I do it to myself.

j.davism5 > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 21:23

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Yeah, speed and ‘hooning’ laws are pretty draconian here. We have managed to substantially crack down on drink driving, but speed is the convenient scapegoat for road trauma, as opposed to the poor standards of roads, driving and education.

Spending the extra on commodore SV6, or even securing a falcon is worth the spend. The traction control and stability control on the falcon have a very long leash.

Cameras are run by the government, so whilst they are cleanly run, they are prolific. its basically a form of taxation. Sadly our government relies on the revenue taken from them :(

Nauraushaun > Cé hé sin 01/03/2016 at 21:34

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The police aren’t vigilant. The police don’t do shit. It’s the speed cameras they set up, those are vigilant. They’re everywhere and you can’t argue with them, best not to test it.

Nauraushaun > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 21:34

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Bah. Just pick the right time and place.

Nauraushaun > Telumektar 01/03/2016 at 21:36

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My mother has been pulled over because the car in front of her threw a cigarette butt out the window. She didn’t get in trouble, but it proves the point: they’ll get you for littering.

Nauraushaun > punksmurph 01/03/2016 at 21:39

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Don’t speed, there are cameras everywhere. True in towns more than anywhere, less so on the open highways.

Watch for kangaroos, particularly sunrise and sunset.

If you see a kangaroo and manage not to hit it, be careful passing it. They’re so unpredictable. They’re liable to hop along out of the way for a few meters, only to abruptly turn in front of you when you try to go past.

But you’ll be fine. It’s not so bad, I’ve driven around up there (though I’m from Victoria).

Rosco > punksmurph 01/04/2016 at 01:22

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you’d probably get a VF commy, not the VE you pictured.

Here’s a tip about Australia. At least a litre of the engine capacity is used on airconditioning....... so go for the biggest you can get.

Hertz has a 15% off sale at the moment at hertz.com.au

also Hertz picture a ford territory turbo on their website. Aussie built and designed...4wd drive with 260kw of ‘Barra’ inline six with a lovely turbo on the side. Unfortunately its just a rental because with a reflash these can be put to around 500hp ATW with relative ease.

If you arent with the family go a commy or falcon ute........fill ‘em with an el Caminos worth of rampage and have at it.

Thrifty do the Caprice which is a nicer Commodore and is specced with the v8.

pip bip - choose Corrour > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 01/04/2016 at 02:36

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THIS!!!^^^^^^^^

pip bip - choose Corrour > Cé hé sin 01/04/2016 at 02:37

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YEP!!

can confirm!

pip bip - choose Corrour > punksmurph 01/04/2016 at 02:49

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Keep left

Keep left on freeways/highways (unless overtaking)

don’t ‘hoon’ , cops WILL impound car. generally for 30days! you pay for towing to compound. car not released till towing bill paid in full and you will banned from driving on the spot (no ifs or buts , overseas license will not matter)

keep your speed down. limit is 110km/h or 68mph.

it’s a long way so make sure you plan rest breaks.

Commodore will make an excellent choice , “SUV” choice will most likely be Mitsubishi Outlander / Holden Captiva or a Toyota maybe a Ford Territory.

wallabies can be a nuisance too , avoid wombats as they’ll fuck the cars suspension.

radio stations will be pot luck.

always indicate when turning

mobile AND fixed speed cameras exist , as well as red light cameras

PG; the scalpel wielder > punksmurph 01/04/2016 at 03:12

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if your coming from up north to the blue mountains, I highly recommend a detour from Singleton to Richmond via Putty Road.

Enjoy your stay! and yes the police are quite brutal haha.