Everything you need to know about driving in Australia

With its stunning Outback scenery, arrow-straight roads and stupendous scale, driving in Australia is the ultimate way to see it the country up close and personally. Whether you're driving a souped-up Land Cruiser capable of crossing a croc-infested creek or a humble hatchback more at home in a Melbourne suburb, you'll find a route to suit.

Use this guide to driving in Australia to plan your trip, particularly for long-term travel. If you're looking for a self-drive vacation, get inspired with these signature trips created by local experts in Australia.

What car to choose when driving in Australia

Choosing what to drive usually boils down to time, budget and where you're planning to go. A standard hire car will get you surprisingly far in Australia, as you'll find well-paved roads and roadhouses (a garage with attached pub/pie-shop and accommodation) along all but the most remote sections of coast, even deep into the Outback.

For the romantics among you, hiring a campervan allows you greater freedom, and a true sense of adventure. Bear in mind, though, that the lack of space and the joys of a chemical toilet mean you'll often be craving the facilities of a campsite (aka campground) kitted out with power points, BBQs and hot showers. If you do go for a campervan, invest in air-con and preferably a fridge. There's nothing more Australian than cracking open an ice-cold VB beer under a star-strewn sky.

For anything truly gnarly, a four-wheel drive (4WD) is your best bet – in Australia that generally translates to the 'bulletproof' Toyota Land Cruiser. For the basics on 4WD driving print out the safety card produced by the National 4WD Association and read our Outback driving tips.

To buy or not to buy?

Many travellers on a longer trip decide to buy a car or campervan, hoping they can offload it at a reasonable price down the track. Apart from the usual suspects such as Gumtree and eBay, Sydney's backpacker car market in Kings Cross has a huge range of road-worthy (and importantly) state-registered cars for sale. If you don't fancy the hassle, Travellers Autobarn offer guaranteed buyback on cars and campervans.

If you prefer to rent instead, check out our tips on where and how to rent a car worldwide.

Rules of the road for driving in Australia

Despite its epic and often empty roads, there's a maximum speed limit of 110kph, or 68mph, across Australia. Police do not need a reason to pull you over for a breath test and you'll often find roadblocks testing every driver on the approach to big cities, especially if there's a big rugby, AFL or cricket match on.

Parking fines can also be a headache for those with a campervan who expect to be able to park anywhere (and don't expect to escape a fine once you've left the country - the authorities are great at tracking people down). Petrol and diesel, though a major expense on any road trip, are both cheaper in Australia than the UK or Europe.

Route idea #1: The Red Desert One

While most visitors now fly direct to Uluru (Ayers Rock), approaching this monumental Aussie icon is even more exciting by road. The route from Alice Springs via the Stuart Highway and Ernest Giles Road (4WD only) takes you past otherworldly meteor craters, across the dry Finke River bed and offers a tempting detour to the unmissable Kings Canyon. Along the way you might spot thorny dragon lizards skittering across the road, emus and beefy red kangaroos (it's best to avoid driving at night when they can be spooked by headlights).

Distance: 1,080km.

What to drive: Standard car/4WD for Ernest Giles leg

When to do it: April–October

Route idea #2: The Great Ocean One

An all-time classic for jaw-dropping coastal scenery, the Great Ocean Road west of Melbourne, combines gorgeous vistas of crashing surf and rocky pinnacles (notably the Twelve Apostles) with wildlife-watching opportunities, including whales and fur seals. Try and time your visit around Easter so you can drop in at the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition at the legendary Bells Beach.

Distance: 346km

What to drive: Standard car/camper

When to do it: November–April

Route idea #3: The one to the tropical tip

There are some wonderful drives in Australia's tropical "Top End", especially the Northern Territory's stunning national parks. The ultimate option, though, is the near 1,000km ride from Cairns to Cape York, the very northern tip of Australia. Passing through remote Aboriginal settlements, virgin rainforest and roaring waterfalls, you'll likely to see saltwater crocs and bizarre-looking cassowary birds along the way. If you're pushed for time, the route from Cairns to the Daintree National Park via Mission Beach provides similarly epic tropical scenery in a more modest 390km.

Distance: 1,000km or 390km (Daintree only)

What to drive: 4WD only

When to do it: May–October

Route idea #4: The city to city one

Melbourne to Sydney can be done in a butt-aching nine hours if you stick to the M31 Hume Highway. Much more fun is to take your time and explore the wonders of Wilson's Promontory National Park, before heading north through the rolling and occasionally snowy Snowy Mountains via Mount Kosciuszko, the country's highest peak at 2,228m. Between Kosi and Sydney, Canberra makes a perfect pitstop and an opportunity to check out one of the world's quirkiest capitals.

Distance: 878km

What to drive: standard car/camper

When to do it: year-round, though July/August may bring snow on Mount Kosciuszko

Route idea #5: The cross-country beast

If you're dead set on crossing the whole continent, the 3,500km Savannah Way links Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland, and provides every type of Outback driving, from parched desert to humid tropics. While you could feasibly drive this within a week or less, it's best to allow two to three, and stop off along the way (there are an amazing four UNESCO World Heritage sites to drop in at). While much of the Savannah Way is on paved roads, there are also a few sections requiring 4WD.

Distance: 3700km

What to drive: standard car/4WD

When to do it: May–October