Driving — Left-Hand Traffic
Australia has left-hand traffic — the steering wheel is on the right, and you drive on the left side of the road. For most Europeans, the biggest adjustment of the trip.
Tips for Left-Hand Traffic Beginners
- First Step: Practice at the airport in a quiet parking lot (indicators, wipers are swapped!).
- Roundabouts: Drive clockwise (opposite to Germany). Yield to vehicles from the RIGHT.
- Mantra: "Keep left, look right" when turning.
- Overtaking: Overtake on the right side (opposite).
Driver's License
- German/Austrian/Swiss driver's license is accepted (plus international driver's license recommended)
- Apply for an international driver's license at ADAC/ÖAMTC/TCS (approx. 15–20 €)
Outback Driving
- Roadtrains: Up to 53-meter-long truck trains. 1 km clear view needed for overtaking. Don't provoke, make way.
- Wildlife: DO NOT drive on country roads at dusk or night. Kangaroos, wombats, and even camels are the biggest accident risk in the Outback.
- Fuel: ALWAYS fill up the tank. In the Outback, there can be 300+ km between gas stations. Prices: 1.80–2.20 AUD/liter on the coast, up to 2.50–3.00 AUD in the Outback.
- Speed: Highway 110 km/h (NT: 130 km/h), town 50 km/h, school zone 40 km/h. Speed cameras are ubiquitous.
Achtung
Alcohol while driving: The limit is 0.05% BAC (stricter than in Germany!). Police checks are frequent and penalties are severe: From 0.05% BAC driving ban, from 0.15% BAC possible imprisonment. Random Breath Tests (RBT) anytime and anywhere.