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May 28th, 2010

My Australian Tour

Posted by admin in Adventures, Travel Management

Touring Australia, travelling from Sydney to Melbourne on the coast line was one the greatest experiences I have gone through. There was beautiful scenery, lots of things to do and sociable Australian people.

There are numerous car rental Sydney and car hire Melbourne options and that’s unquestionably the handiest way to experience the coast. Car rental companies are eager to help you arrange the tour of your dreams. I discovered a great one way special to Melbourne at a car rental in Sydney.

I embarked on my journey by heading south from Sydney through the Royal National Park. I was blown away by the Grand Pacific Drive, it was exciting. I spent a few hours in Wollongong and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the many coastal villages along the way before spending the night at Jervis Bay.

The next day I boarded a cruise to see the resident dolphin population that Jervis Bay is famous for. I fell in love with the beaches and had a hard time deciding whether to stay or go. Further south I managed to buy some great, high quality craft items in the historic villages of Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba.

I swam in the lagoon at Mimosa Rocks National Park and then drove a little further stopping to watch surfers at Tathra Beach. That evening I lodged in the stylish village of Metung and had a tremendous seafood platter in one of the lakeside restaurants.

Wilsons Promontory National Park is home to great scenery and an abundance of wildlife such as emus, wombats and kangaroos. I spent an entire day hiking through eucalypt forests, exploring beaches and coves and climbing on granite mountains.

Next destination was Fish Creek, a tiny, eccentric and thriving town with arts and crafts, books and cafes. I took the bridge over to Phillip Island, a popular family stop. At Nobbies Centre you can watch the penquins strutting up and down the beach and see one of Australia’s largest fur seal colonies.

I ended my trip in Melbourne making my last stop at the working heritage farm on Churchill Island. Hiring a car was the single best decision I have made, taking the coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne at my own pace was truly an eye opener. Next time I may get a car rental in Melbourne and do this trip the other direction!

August 30th, 2009

Hiring a Car in Australia

Posted by admin in Adventures, Travel Management

The smallest continent and biggest island in the world is Australia. It is almost as large as the 48 contiguous U.S.. There are about 20.4 million people and they are mostly concentrated in th eastern and southeastern coastal urban regions. This means that there are tremendous open areas to explore in the rest of the country, and this can be best done by car. Gorgeous coastal lines, inland mountainous regions and verdant tropical forests with exotic plants and wildlife are there for the traveller to experience.

A traveler with an international driving permit or a valid American or European driving permit in English can easily organize for a car rental at the airport or hotel. There are dozens of car hire companies providing different kinds of vehicles, from diverse makes and sizes of cars and SUVs to minivans, camper vans and RVs, minibuses, and 4WDs. There is always a vehicle type to suit any need or preference. For instance, those who want to camp can find campervans that will sleep up to 6 people, and come fully equipped with a microwave, gas stove, griller and refrigerator. Some even have double beds, toilet and shower in addition to the mini-kitchen. If you are travelling in more rugged terrain, there are 4WDs. If budget is restricted, there are economy compact cars and economy campers. There are also convertibles and luxury large cars, if you want to enjoy some luxury.

One should be familiar with the fundamentals of driving conditions in Australia: driving on the left side of the road, observing the different speed limits (in kilometres) and regulations in the States to be visited, checking weather and road conditions before travel, letting police know of travel plans if driving in rural areas, making way for the road trains (a semi-truck hauling 3 large trailers), etc. Expect the car rental company to supply thorough information on driving rules and regulations, supplies to take (most importantly, plenty of water), what to do in case of emergency, potential dangers such as wildlife and driving at night, as well as accommodations, routes and resources on the road. Study and preparation in advance will insure a successful and enjoyable car vacation in Australia.