In Australia, they drive on the left.

Travelling along the Great Ocean Road by car is a relaxed experience thanks to the high-quality main roads and, generally speaking, very considerate drivers.

How and when to book a car

If you’re setting off on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, it’s best to hire a car directly at the airport upon arrival in Australia or in the major city where you land.

In Melbourne or Adelaide, car hire companies have branches not only at the airports but also in the city centres, although prices tend to be the same or very similar.

So, if you’re staying in Melbourne or Adelaide for a few days, it’s best to hire a car on the day you set off for the Great Ocean Road.

During the peak season (December–February), we recommend booking a car2–3 months in advanceto get the lowest price.

Outside peak season, booking 2–4 weeks in advance is sufficient.

However, it’s best to book with a free cancellation option as early as six months before your trip and check prices from time to time to see if a better deal becomes available.

You’ll find the most car hire companies near the Great Ocean Road in the following locations:

• Compare car hire prices in Melbourne (airport or city centre)
• Compare car hire prices in Adelaide (airport or city centre)
• Compare car hire prices at Avalon-Geelong Airport
• Compare car hire prices at Mount Gambier Airport

Car hire prices

Car hire prices in Australia are relatively low due to fierce competition, particularly in the major cities of Melbourne and Adelaide.

The highest prices are found when hiring from the small regional airport at Mount Gambier, where only a few car hire companies have branches.

Generally speaking, car hire companies in Adelaide offer slightly lower prices, whilst those in Melbourne are a little higher. On the other hand, Melbourne is only 100 km from the Great Ocean Road, whereas Adelaide is over 600 km away.

Prices also vary depending on the season.

• Weekly hire in peak season (December to February): from 410 aud
• Weekly hire in the off-season (May to October): from 290 aud
• Book a car in Melbourne (airport or city centre)
• Book a car in Adelaide (airport or city centre)

Prices for larger SUVs are often only slightly higher, or even the same, as for standard compact cars.

One-way hire (returning the car to a different location)

One-way hire is extremely popular amongst tourists in Australia. For example, you can hire a car in Melbourne and return it in Adelaide.

Unlike some other countries (such as the USA, South Africa or Canada), where one-way hire is often very cheap, Australia is, unfortunately, the opposite.

The fee for a one-way hire and returning the car to a different city is often 3–4 times higher than the hire price itself.

If the Great Ocean Road is your main destination, it’s worth collecting and returning the car in Melbourne and then, if necessary, flying to Adelaide, where you can hire another car and explore the area around that city.

How long should you hire a car for?

As is the case elsewhere in the world, the longer you hire a car for, the lower the daily rate you’ll pay.

You can drive the entire Great Ocean Road in a single day, but most tourists hire a car for 4–7 days.

Will you need an SUV or a 4x4?

Most of the attractions along the Great Ocean Road and within Great Otway National Park are accessible via well-maintained roads.

The main Great Ocean Road is a high-quality, wide tarmac road that can be driven on without the slightest difficulty by all types of car.

Gravel or dirt tracks lead to many beaches, waterfalls and viewpoints, but even these side roads are, in the vast majority of cases, passable for all types of car provided you drive with caution.

Nevertheless, we would still recommend hiring a larger SUV, which is incomparably more comfortable on these side roads than small cars.

What’s more, car hire companies usually charge the same or only slightly more for large SUVs as they do for smaller compact cars.

International driving licence and other documents

All car hire companies in Australia officially require the following documents:

• A national driving licence from your country
• An international driving licence
• A credit card (although many car hire companies now also accept standard debit cards, provided there are sufficient funds on them to cover the deposit)

Petrol prices and petrol stations

Petrol is generally relatively expensive in Australia. European units of measurement are used here, so all prices are quotedper litre.

Petrol prices range from 1,55 aud to 1,70 aud per litre, depending on current prices.

How do petrol stations on the Great Ocean Road work?

You’ll find petrol stations in all towns along the coast and inland, and they’re all self-service.

When you arrive at a pump, you fill up with as much petrol as you like and then go inside the shop to pay. You can always pay by card or in cash.

Many petrol stations have limited opening hours for their staffed shops, but you can usually fill up 24/7. If you’re refuelling outside of opening hours, you must first use a debit or credit card at the machine to confirm how much petrol you want, and only then can you go and fill up.

In Australia, the labelling of petrol is slightly different from that used in Europe or the USA, for example.

Standard unleaded petrol is labelled with an octane rating of 91 here. Higher octane ratings of 95 or 98 are used only for premium fuels.

The vast majority of cars from car hire companies use91 unleaded petrol.

Road quality and signage

The quality of the roads along the Great Ocean Road is excellent. The main roads are very well signposted, including road markings, good hard shoulders and very useful recommended speed signs before every bend.

The tarmac main road runs along the entire coastline, and the main roads leading to all the towns in the inland part of Great Otway National Park are also tarmac.

Although the side roads are, in the vast majority of cases, merely gravel, chippings or dirt tracks, they are nevertheless well maintained and are usually passable without any problems, even in the rain.

Traffic regulations

In Australia, they drive on the left.

Drivers are very considerate and obey the traffic rules.

You needn’t worry about reckless driving or aggressive overtaking, provided you drive more cautiously than the locals.

Book a car in Melbourne

Speed limits

Speed limitsare measuredin kilometres per hour, and the maximum permitted limits are as follows:

• In built-up areas – 50 km/h (approx. 32 mph)
• Outside built-up areas – 100 km/h (approx. 62 mph)

However, in some smaller towns, higher speed limits are permitted (usually 60 or 70 km/h).

Conversely, in the centres of larger towns, the speed limit is often reduced to 30 or 40 km/h, and everyone sticks to it!

The maximum speed limit is indicated by a circular sign with a red border.

Before most bends, there are usually yellow signs indicating the recommended speed, which is very useful for drivers travelling on that road for the first time.

Right of way and roundabouts

At standard junctions not controlled by traffic lights or road signs, the right-of-way rule applies.

At T-junctions, vehicles on the through road always have right of way over those on the road that ends at that junction.

Roundabouts are common, and vehicles already on the roundabout always have right of way. You should indicate before entering a roundabout in the same way as you would when approaching a normal junction, i.e.:

• I am leaving the roundabout via the first exit – I indicate right
• I’m leaving the roundabout via the second exit (or the first, if it’s directly opposite) – I don’t indicate
• I am leaving the roundabout via the last exit – I indicate left

Once you are driving round a roundabout, you must always indicate right just before leaving it.

Alcohol, seatbelts and using a mobile phone

The use of seatbelts is compulsory and using a mobile phone whilst driving is strictly prohibited. Wearing earphones is also not permitted.

In Australia, the legal blood alcohol limit for driving is 0.05 per cent.

Parking

Parking is free everywhere along the Great Ocean Road.

You’ll find car parks at all the viewpoints and natural attractions, and you’ll have no trouble parking in the centres of larger towns such as Apollo Bay, Lorne or Port Campbell.

Common risks when driving

The greatest risk when driving on the Great Ocean Road is wildlife on the road.

Kangaroos, which are found in large numbers in this area, pose the greatest risk. They appear on the road without any warning, and the risk is greatest at night and in the early evening.

Side roads are often quite narrow and full of bends, so we recommend that you always slow down before approaching bends.