This article summarizes the experience of car rental and camping in Australia into practical information, hoping to give some easy reference to friends who have never tried such a game.
1. Can I rent a car with a Chinese driver's license? Heard about notarization?
Australia recognizes the Chinese driver's license. But there must be an interpreter of the driver's license. In the past, it was generally necessary to translate the driver's license into English, and then to get a notarization certificate of translation from the notary office, which was rather troublesome. Now there is a convenient way not to run to the notary office, on the rental platform can apply for a free "international driver's license translation", only need to fill in a simple information, after the examination and approval can be delivered home, generally about three days or so can be obtained.
Two, how do I rent a car?
We rent a car in Tasmania this time is a rental platform, Chinese interface, listed the price of each car shop. Before departure, confirmed the rental model and date, then placed an order on the platform, with the order number can be picked up directly in foreign countries, very convenient and easy to use.
There are several points to be noted when renting a car:
- Booking in advance is cheaper than a temporary ride-hailing. Meet the peak season, as early as possible to book the choice of models will be more;
- Repaying cars in different places is more expensive than returning cars in the same city. If you want to save some fare, you should pay attention to the itinerary planning;
3, Insurance option
It looks complicated, but a little research is actually quite simple. This is also detailed analysis in my last article, here is a brief description. Insurance is divided into three combinations:
- [经] basic insurance
- Basic insurance super supplementary total insurance
- Basic insurance full insurance
In the above three combinations, the wider the scope and the higher the premium.
- Basic risk: collision and scraping to cover maintenance costs up to A $3800. That is, less than A $3800 out of their own pocket, more than A $3800 on the insurance company is responsible. The basic insurance does not require extra money to buy;
- Basic risk Super Replenishment Total: that is, the maintenance costs of A $3800, which is not included outside the basic risk, are covered, with the exception of collision scraping and glass protection tyres, road anchoring and misfueling. The car we chose charged 154 yuan a day.
- Basic risk full collision risk: the most complete insurance, essentially non-drunken driving and unintentional violation of traffic regulations caused by the loss of vehicles are covered. But the cost is very expensive, about 400 yuan a day. It's more expensive than renting a car.
We choose a relatively high cost-effective combination 2. Deductible from zero, in addition to collision scratches but also glass tires, road pointing and misfired fuel. We chose a compact SUV with a daily premium of 154 yuan.
This trip with foreign friends also know some backpackers popular car rental, I have not tried, later try to write a detailed strategy to share. Now, let's share the information with you, and maybe those who are ready to travel can use it.
4. Australian traffic rules
- On the left! On the left! On the left! Before listening to friends remind Australia is the right rudder, it will not be used to. In fact, a little attention, basically open a day or two to adapt. Maybe we didn't drive much at home, we didn't depend on the left rudder, so we didn't have a bit of pressure at the right rudder. And there are often signs of keep left on the road in Australia, but it's not easy to ignore them.
- Roundabout: most intersections in Australia use the roundabout, with fewer traffic lights. As long as everyone obeys the rules, the ring island is better than the traffic lights. Before entering the roundabout, be sure to slow down and pay attention to the right-hand side of the car. Enter clockwise and follow the right-hand vehicle first principle. If there is a car on the right, you must let go. Access to the roundabout is only possible if there is a safe distance in the traffic flow;
- Speed limit: Australia's speed limit marks are very clear and scientifically defined;
- Make way: in short, the main road, left transfer straight, right transfer left turn, the roundabout to the right side of the car. The standard is that you don't have to slow down the other side's car. It sounds complicated, but in fact the operation is very simple. There are obvious GIVEAWAY signs and STOP signs on the way you need to make way. In this case, you have to stop for three seconds.
- Note kangaroo: the rental company also has a rule: driving outside Australia between sunset and pre-sunrise is non-compensable if it is to avoid damage to animals or collision animals. So try not to drive late, because there are so many animals in Australia that we often meet kangaroos in the middle of the road when we drive at sunset, and we look very cute at you and don't know how to get out of the way. You must drive slowly at night and turn on the headlights!
5, come on.
Australia is very suitable for self-driving, the distribution of gas stations is also very reasonable, basically can find a refueling place along the way.
Recommend Fuel Map this APP, to find the oil point is very convenient. When renting a car, remember to confirm the type of oil you want, usually 91.
In Australia refueling is self-help, you need to do it yourself, add in the back-to-back store and tell the clerk pump's number to pay directly.
I heard that the oil charges in Australia vary greatly, some remote places will be as high as 2.29 Australian dollars / L, the cheapest road we have traveled is 1.07 Australian dollars / L, the most expensive is 1.29 Australian dollars / L.
There is a small Tips, that spends more than A $30 at a single woolworh or coles supermarket, a four-cent discount per litre at its gas station, a small ticket that can be kept, and a discount when it comes to the right gas station.
6, what is camp?
Simply put, a camp is a green space without a bed. In Australia, you can only sleep in camps marked for the night, and you will see that many parks have the Only for day use logo, and only those who write for camping are camps that can be camped. Generally speaking, camps are divided into several categories:
- Free camp Free Campsite. There is no charge. The general conditions would be simpler, but at least there would be latrines, some free camps with potable water and BBQ facilities;
- Self-service camp Self service campsite. I need to pay a small amount of money, about 5 Australian dollars per capita, unmanaged, self-help payment, all self-conscious. We lived in a self-help camp around the island in a very nice location, a minute's walk to the beach, toilet and water, $5 a night per person, and a mailbox to pay for itself. Need to make their own fire;
- Car Camp Park Caravan Park. The average charge is around A $15 per person per night, and some camps distinguish between powered site and unpower site, where the former is mainly charged by a RV, and the former is a little more expensive. The facilities in the car camps are quite complete, with utilities, latrines, bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens generally available, and there are also auto camps with retrofitted house or cabins that charge A $70-A $140 per house per night. Can accommodate 2 to 6 people, suitable for family trips or friends together.
Seven, several sleeping methods in the camp
- Bring your own tent: people who sleep in tents are expected to sacrifice comfort. They must have never seen a large enough party tent with an inflatable mattress in it. If you don't want to start setting up tents every day, you can choose to try them out.
- Car roof tent: this type of model has its own roof tent. During the day, the tent can be put up, just press the button at night to put the tent up, it is also convenient. Sleeping on the roof is better than sleeping on the ground tent moisture-proof, but also easy to isolate mosquitoes, snakes and ants. The downside is that when the wind blows, it is steady but noisy;
- Rent a RV and sleep directly in the car. RV types are also divided into many types, AB C, and trailer class. Generally speaking, the choice of RV, eat and drink Lhasa can be solved in the car. Suitable for the trip with a family, will be more comfortable. The disadvantage is that the RV will be more troublesome to enter the city, it is difficult to find the parking space, we should also consider the need for convenient charging, water tank and water power site and dump point; for handling the stolen goods in the toilet.
- At the car camp park, Caravan Park.. Cabins or cabarets are usually rented for about A $70 a night. We used to live on Bruny Island with a modified house, one room for one room, four sleepers, just A $70 a night, and it felt like the price-to-price ratio was very high.
Our choice this time is to rent a SUV, and sleep in the car most of the time in addition to occasional sleepovers. Why don't you rent a RV in the sleeping car?
- Easy to operate. (the first time I drive myself, I dare not drive a RV);.
- It is more free to choose a camping point. (rental cars need to be charged with water, be sure to find powersite, and SUV does not have to charge for water to the camp requirements are much less.)
- The price is much cheaper. Cheap RV rents also cost 500 or 600 a day, while the car costs just in its early 200s.
