DIY Car Hire Locations
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport is 10 kilometres south of the city. There is a good rail and bus system connecting the airport to the city; and a taxi will cost around $50 into the city. While in Sydney check out the Rocks area, the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Park Zoo, the Olympic Stadium and Darling Harbour. Sydney is a great place to walk around, but no visit to Sydney can be complete without catching a ferry to cruise around the harbour. If you have more time, rent a car and drive up to the Blue Mountains or take a tour of the Hunter Valley Wineries.
Cairns
Cairns Airport is around 15 kilometres north of the city. Cairns is a tropical city, and as the brochures say, is where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. There is plenty to see in and around Cairns but you will need to hire a car to see everything. Take a leisurely drive up to Port Douglas, Mossman, the Daintree or the cool of the Atherton Tableland. The Kuranda markets are a not-to-be-missed social event. The Cairns Sky Rail will give you a bird’s eye view of the beauty of the tropical rainforest.
Canberra
Canberra Airport is 10 kilometres east of the city. A taxi into the city will cost around $30. Canberra is 30 minutes by air or three hours by road from Sydney. From Melbourne it’s seven hours by road or 50 minutes by air.
Car Hire Melbourne
Melbourne Airport is 20 kilometres north-west of the city, a bit more than half an hour’s drive and about $70 in a taxi. The city and suburbs are serviced by tram, bus and rail. Melbourne is known for its trams which provide a cheap and efficient means of travelling around the city. While in Melbourne be sure to visit St Kilda, the MCG, and Lygon St in Carlton. If you have time, rent a car and take a drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road.
Car Hire Brisbane
Brisbane Airport is 15 kilometres east of the city, and has bus and rail transfers. Taxis charge around $45 from the airport to the city. Buses run regularly from the Roma Street Transit Centre to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and to other intra and interstate destinations. If you want to travel in style from Brisbane to Sydney or Cairns, The Great South Pacific Express offers a luxurious rail experience. Brisbane is an easy 2 hour drive from both Byron Bay and Noosa.
Car Hire Perth
Perth Airport is 20 kilometres north-east of the city. The 20 to 30 minute trip by taxi to the city will cost around $60. The historic port of Fremantle (known as ‘Freo’ by the locals) is a pleasant 15 kilometre drive, along the Swan River, to the west of the city centre. Hire a car and head south to Bunbury and the beautiful Margaret River wine region.
Darwin
Darwin Airport is 12 kilometres from the city. Bus and taxi services operate between the city and suburbs. If you hire a car and plan on exploring outside Darwin, check the fine print on driving on unsealed roads and consider whether you need to hire a four wheel drive.
Car Rental Adelaide
Adelaide Airport is 7 kilometres south-west of the city, and a taxi ride to the city costs around $45. The central city is designed on a grid pattern measuring around 2 square kilometres, and is very easy to navigate around. The city is surrounded by a belt of parklands that creates a pleasant leafy feel. Be sure to visit the famous wine regions of the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.
Car Hire Hobart
Hobart International Airport is 22 kilometres from the city and the trip costs around $50 by taxi. There are escorted Historic Hobart walks or you can pick up a self-guide walking map. The former penal colony of Port Arthur is a pleasant 1.5 hour drive south of Hobart. The world famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race finishes in Hobart in late December each year.
There is no better way to see the real Australia than to rent new cars and hit the road.
- Renters have to be 21 or older and hold a current driver's licence.
- Seatbelts must be worn by the driver and all passengers.
- Infants must be in 'baby capsules' and small children in child seats, which can be hired from Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar or Thrifty.
- DIY Car Hire have thousands of rental cars and hire cars to put the vroomvroom into your day.
Car Rental Depots
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia