Embark on one of the many classic self-drive routes around Australia and enjoy an exciting and rewarding journey at a pace that suits you.
Request a Brochure
Australia
The Gibb River Road, Australia
For self-drive tours in Australia, there are a number of car hire options depending on your itinerary, how many people are travelling and the type of terrain on which you will be driving.
Below are the main hire car types that can be included in a self-drive tour of Australia through Audley.
One thing to consider is if you are travelling 'off-road' at all on your journey is that car hire companies do not cover this in their insurance premium.
If you are planning to explore some of the many unsealed side roads, or wish to embark on one of the classic off-road journeys during your itinerary then please be sure to discuss this with your consultant as your plan your holiday.
Toyota Yaris or similar: suitable for two adults and two children or three adults with luggage capacity for 1 large suitcase. These cars are available in automatic only and whilst suitable for short day trips and overnight journeys along main highways the 1.5litre engines are not recommended for long drives nor on steep mountain roads. All vehicles have air conditioning though this can reduce performance when in use.
Toyota Corolla hatchback or similar: suitable for four adults and with luggage space for one large and one small suitcase. These cars are available with manual transmission only which combined with a 1.8 litre engine makes them more suited to steep routes but they can be tiring on long drives on highways. All vehicles have air conditioning.
Toyota Corolla sedan or similar: suitable for up to four adults these cars are available in automatic only but can take up to two large and two small cases in the boot space. The 1.8 litre petrol engines are economic and are recommended where longer drives are mixed with urban driving. All vehicles have air conditioning.
Toyota Camry sedan or similar: these cars come with a generous 2.8 litre engine which is perfect for long motorway and highway driving. The vehicles are all automatic, air conditioned and have a useful cruise control function for motorways and long straight roads. The boot capacity is three large and two small suitcases which makes these vehicles ideal for family touring.
Toyota Aurion sedan or similar: with a 3.5 litre engine these cars have plenty of power and whilst rather too powerful for urban driving they are ideal for the Outback highways and interstate motorways. All vehicles have air conditioning, automatic transmission with cruise control and can accommodate up to five adults with up to three large and two small suitcases in the boot.
Toyota Kluger or similar: despite being two wheel drive these vehicles are better suited for country and Outback driving where you do not need to drive off sealed or prepared roads. The four litre engine has plenty of power and the higher ride height is useful for drivers and also for children who can see more clearly from their seats than in a standard car. Cars are automatic with cruise control, air conditioned and have large luggage space in the rear which can take up to three large and two small suitcases.
Toyota Tarago or similar (equivalent to Toyota Previa): ideal for large families these vehicles can accommodate up to six adults and two small children but when full to capacity have only very limited luggage space. We recommend these for no more than six people allowing you to fit additional luggage in the rear seating space. All vehicles are automatic with cruise control and fully air conditioned and the standard luggage capacity is two medium and two small suitcases. Not ideal for longer drives due to the 2.4 litre engines, these vehicles are more suited to short drives between the airport and local accommodation when fully loaded offering good family transport for day drives.
Toyota Rav 4 or similar: the 2 litre petrol engined four wheel drive versions of this famous car are good for drives which involve some unsealed routes which are prepared and where high ground clearance is not required. The engines are all automatic but have no cruise control and can feel a little under powered when the air conditioning is on. The seat up to four adults but luggage is limited to two large and two small cases and so we do not recommend these for two couples travelling together.
Toyota Prado or similar (equivalent to the Toyota Landcruiser): ideal for robust Outback drives where road conditions are not always predictable. These vehicles are essential for any of the classic unsealed routes in Australia such as the Gibb River Road and Bloomfield track. The 3 litre turbo diesel engines have a lot of power and the high clearance is perfect in difficult conditions. The manual transmission is ideal for Outback driving but automatic vehicles can sometimes be found. Seating 5 adults comfortably, the boot space accommodates up to four large and two small cases. We also highly recommend this vehicle for families used to four wheel drive cars in the UK and for two couples travelling together who appreciate the ride height and space.