Tips For Travelling In Australia

Cruisin’ offers a wide range of resources to help you plan your holiday! You can check out our blog, social media, itineraries, and location pages for information.

Whether you prefer an immersive holiday full of tours or a thrifty getaway focused on nature and exploration, there are a few things you can do to save some extra coins, including:

  • Snatch an early bird or long hire discount from Cruisin’
  • Practice good driving techniques to save fuel
  • Use fuel apps to find cheaper prices
  • Travel in the off-season or shoulder seasons
  • Book campgrounds with great deals
  • Make mindful purchases
  • Prep homemade meals in your motorhome
  • Plan your itinerary
  • Research, research, research!

Yes, you can travel from any of our branches to Tasmania via the Spirit of Tasmania.

It is your responsibility to organise and book a ferry crossing with the Spirit of Tasmania.

Yes, you can travel between any of our branches with a one-way hire.

Please note: Make sure the dates you select offer enough time to relax and explore. The distance across Australia is vast, so don’t forget to factor driving time into your holiday.

Many campgrounds in Australia offer WiFi, and hotspotting from your phone is suitable for most people on short road trips.

However, if you need internet for work, or you’re planning to travel for a month or more, it is worth researching a prepaid plan.

For more information about staying connected on the road, check out this blog article.

What you pack will depend on the season, state(s), and destinations you’re visiting. A 5-day winter hiking trip around Tasmania will look vastly different to a month-long tropical Cairns getaway.

As a rule of thumb, you should pack:

  • The essentials: Driver’s license, card and cash, tickets, passes, and other important documents for insurance.
  • Tech and entertainment: Charging cables, phones, cameras, laptops, movies, books, crafts, or anything you need to entertain yourself and your travel companions.
  • Bits and pieces: Pens, notepad, torch.
  • Kitchen goods: Containers for food storage, dry goods such as salt, pepper, other herbs, and dry goods.
  • Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, hairbrush, cosmetics.
  • Personalised first aid kit: Mosquito repellent, insect bite treatment, adhesive bandages, allergy medication, stomach medication, or anything you need to make your trip comfortable.
  • Clothing: Water/wind-proof jacket, warm jacket, casual and formal outfits, shoes/hiking boots, thongs/flip-flops, pyjamas, socks and underwear, hat, sunglasses, clothing for all weather types.

Parking in Australia is usually well-signed. You will be fined for parking incorrectly. Many parking lots around cities have time limits to be aware of.

Please note: Motorhomes should not be parked in undercover parking lots due to height limitations.

We recommend a maximum of 6 hours driving in a day (with plenty of stops in between). Remember to stretch your legs and plan rest days for exploring.

Toll passes can be obtained through the official Linkt website. If you are travelling to multiple states, your best choice is the Sydney Pass as it covers all toll roads in Australia.

Watch our Tutorial Video if needed!

Please note: You will be charged for any unpaid tolls as well as a $55 admin fee per toll we have to pay on your behalf.

Cruisin’ does not permit the use of snow chains on their vehicles.

Fuel prices change regularly. To get a general idea of the current fuel prices visit the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission or the Australian Institute of Petroleum.

You can use websites like Petrol Spy and FuelRadar to check the prices of fuel near you.

It depends on the time of year and the state you’re visiting.

Here is a general guide to the seasons in Australia:

New South Wales (NSW)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Mild to warm with increasing rainfall in late spring. Sydney: 14–25°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Hot and humid along the coast, drier inland. Sydney: 20–30°C, but the Outback can exceed 40°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Warm days and cool nights. Sydney: 12–25°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Cool along the coast and snow in the Snowy Mountains. Sydney: 8–18°C.

 

Victoria (VIC)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Cool to mild with unpredictable rain. Melbourne: 10–22°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Warm to hot with heatwaves in northern areas. Melbourne: 15–30°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Mild and pleasant. Melbourne: 10–25°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Cold and damp in the south, snow in the Alpine regions. Melbourne: 6–15°C.

 

Queensland (QLD)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Warm, increasing humidity. Brisbane: 16–28°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Hot, humid, and Northern QLD experiences monsoonal rains and cyclones. Brisbane: 22–35°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Warm and humid but cooling down. Brisbane: 15–28°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Mild and dry, very warm in the north. Brisbane: 10–24°C.

 

South Australia (SA)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Mild to warm. Adelaide: 10–25°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Hot and dry, especially inland. Adelaide: 18–35°C but the Outback can exceed 45°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Mild and pleasant. Adelaide: 12–26°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Cool and wet in the south, drier inland. Adelaide: 6–16°C.

 

Western Australia (WA)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Mild and sunny in the south, warming in the north. Perth: 12–26°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Very hot and dry with tropical cyclones in the north. Perth: 20–40°C, but North WA can exceed 45°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Warm days, cooler nights. Perth: 14–28°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Mild and wet in the south, warm and dry in the north. Perth: 8–20°C.

 

Tasmania (TAS)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Cool and windy. Hobart: 5–18°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Mild to warm, with longer daylight hours. Hobart: 10–24°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Cool and crisp. Hobart: 5–20°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Cold, with snow in the highlands. Hobart: 2–12°C.

 

Northern Territory (NT)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Hot and dry in the Top End, mild in the Red Centre. Darwin: 25–35°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Wet season in the north with heavy storms. Central NT remains hot and dry. Darwin: 26–34°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Humid and stormy in the north, cooling in the south. Darwin: 24–33°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Dry season—warm days, cool nights. Darwin: 17–31°C, but it gets cold in the desert around Alice Springs (5–22°C).

 

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Cool to mild. Canberra: 5–22°C.
  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Warm to hot, with dry heat. Canberra: 12–35°C.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Cool nights, mild days. Canberra: 5–24°C.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Cold and frosty, sometimes snow. Canberra: -2–12°C.

What are the roads like in Australia?

All the major highways in Australia are easy to drive. However, as you get to National Parks there will be unsealed roads.

Please note: We do not permit our motorhomes to be driven on unsealed roads.

Please use our itineraries to find some epic road trip inspiration.

The best time of year will depend on what kind of holiday you’d like to have. Read this comprehensive guide to Australia’s seasons.

Here’s a general guide:

 

Spring (Sep–Nov)

  • New South Wales – Beaches warming up, whale watching
  • Victoria – Wildflowers in the Grampians, Great Ocean Road drives
  • Queensland – Great Barrier Reef is perfect for snorkelling
  • South Australia – Kangaroo Island wildlife, Adelaide Hills blossoms
  • Western Australia – Wildflower season, Margaret River wine tours
  • Tasmania – Lush green landscapes, hiking in Freycinet National Park
  • Northern Territory – Waterfalls in Kakadu, crocodile-spotting
  • ACT – Floriade Festival (huge flower festival), perfect hiking weather

 

Summer (Dec–Feb)

  • New South Wales – Beaches (Bondi, Byron Bay), outdoor festivals
  • Victoria – Melbourne’s events, Mornington Peninsula beaches
  • Queensland – Tropical islands (Whitsundays, Fraser Island)
  • South Australia – Adelaide’s beach scene, Kangaroo Island for summer wildlife
  • Western Australia – Rottnest Island (quokkas & beaches), snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef
  • Tasmania – Best hiking weather (Cradle Mountain), MONA FOMA festival
  • Northern Territory – Storm-watching in Darwin, stunning waterfalls after rain
  • ACT – Warm weather, perfect for visiting national museums & Lake Burley Griffin

 

Autumn (Mar–May)

  • New South Wales – Blue Mountains autumn leaves, Hunter Valley wine harvest
  • Victoria – Alpine roads (Bright), stunning foliage in the Yarra Valley
  • Queensland – Great for Outback trips before winter chill
  • South Australia – Barossa Valley wine harvest, fewer crowds
  • Western Australia – Road trips to Karijini National Park, cooler weather
  • Tasmania – Beautiful golden leaves in Hobart & Cradle Mountain
  • Northern Territory – Comfortable for outback road trips (Alice Springs, Kings Canyon)
  • ACT – Crisp mornings, beautiful autumn colours around Canberra

 

Winter (Jun–Aug)

  • New South Wales – Snowy Mountains skiing, cosy Blue Mountains getaways
  • Victoria – Skiing in the Victorian Alps, Great Ocean Road without the crowds
  • Queensland – Warm winter escapes (Gold Coast, Port Douglas)
  • South Australia – Cosy wine country stays, whale watching in Victor Harbor
  • Western Australia – Truffle hunting in the south, sunny north (Broome)
  • Tasmania – National parks in the snow, stunning winter hiking
  • Northern Territory – Dry season (perfect for Kakadu & Uluru hikes)
  • ACT – Cold but great for visiting cosy cafes & nearby ski resorts

 

You will also find plenty of inspiration and recommendations on our Blog Page!