Left-Hand Traffic

• Australia drives on the left side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right. The adjustment takes a day or two rather than a week. Give yourself extra conscious attention at every turn for the first 48 hours.
• Speed Limits
• Speed limits in Australia are posted in kilometers per hour. The main thresholds to know:
• Urban areas: 50 mph (31 mph), sometimes 40 mph near schools
• Open roads and highways: 100 mph (62 mph)
• Northern Territory designated highways: up to 130 mph (80 mph)
• Speed cameras are common across all states, including on open highways. Point-to-point average speed cameras in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland calculate your average speed between two fixed points , sustained speeding is detected even if you slow down at obvious enforcement zones. Fines are issued by mail and passed on through the rental company.
• Fuel
• Australians call it petrol, not gas. Prices are listed per liter, not per gallon. At current averages ($1.80–$2.20 AUD per liter). Prices in metropolitan areas are generally lower than at rural roadhouses. In the Northern Territory and remote Western Australia, fuel stations can be 200–250 miles apart. Fill up whenever you drop below half a tank on any regional route.
• Road Trains
• In the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and outback Queensland, road trains, trucks hauling two to four trailers, can run up to 175 feet in total length. Never attempt to pass a road train unless you can see clearly for at least 500 meters ahead. When a road train overtakes your vehicle, ease off the accelerator slightly to help it clear you faster.
• Wildlife on Roads
• Kangaroos are most active at dawn, dusk, and overnight. A large kangaroo striking a moving vehicle causes serious damage and is a significant risk on any rural road after dark. Avoid driving in rural areas between dusk and dawn where possible.

Australia sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons run opposite to North America. December through February is summer; June through August is winter. What this means for road tripping changes significantly depending on which region you're visiting.

December through February (Australian Summer) Best for: Tasmania (peak hiking season), the Great Ocean Road, Sydney and New South Wales coast, Melbourne Avoid: The Northern Territory and far north Queensland, monsoon season with extreme heat in the Outback and some roads impassable due to flooding.

March through May (Australian Fall) Best for: East Coast shoulder season before Queensland humidity builds, Western Australia, the Outback as temperatures begin to cool Highlights: Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef (March–July), wildflowers beginning in Western Australia

June through August (Australian Winter) Best for: Northern Territory (Kakadu, Uluru), Western Australia's north, Queensland's Whitsundays and Tropical North. This is the single best window for the Outback and the Red Centre. Note: Winter in southern Australia (Melbourne, Tasmania, the Great Ocean Road) is mild but wet. Still roadworthy; pack layers.

September through November (Australian Spring) Best for: Broadly the most reliable season across every region. Western Australia wildflowers peak August through October. The East Coast before Queensland's wet season. The Outback before summer heat arrives. Victoria and New South Wales at their most temperate.

The most popular months for Australia campervan rentals are December, January, and July.

Minimum age: 21.

• License: A current, valid driver's license is accepted across all Australian states and territories. No International Driving Permit required.
• National Parks passes: Most Australian national parks do not charge entry fees. Exceptions include Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park ($38 AUD per adult for a 3-day pass). Budget separately for any Uluru itinerary. Book through Parks Australia (parksaustralia.gov.au) for federal parks; state systems (NSW National Parks, Parks Victoria, Queensland National Parks, Parks Tasmania) each run separate booking platforms.
• Free camping apps: WikiCamps Australia and Campermate are the two most widely used tools for mapping free and low-cost camping on public land. For a full rundown, see our guide to essential camping apps for your Australian road trip.
• Driving hours: The Australian government recommends a break every two hours on any long drive. Fatigue is the primary road safety risk on long outback stretches, take it seriously.
• Sun and insects: Australia has the world's highest rate of skin cancer per capita. Sunscreen, a hat, and UV-protective clothing are standard travel gear, not optional. Flies are abundant in rural and inland areas in summer; a fly net hat is practical equipment in the Outback.