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The Official Car Rental Blog
05 February, 2013 - Peta Daniels Peta Daniels

Brisbane Car Hire - Tips for Your Travel Plans

Planning a trip to the inviting and captivating capital city, Brisbane? When exploring your options to spend time in this lively city, consider your car hire options and discover more of what Brisbane and its surrounding locations have to offer. Here are a few helpful tips on what you can see and explore in and around Brisbane, and the options available for your car rental needs.

Discover Brisbane

Brisbane City
Photo Courtesy of www.instituteoffilmandtv.com

With warm sunshine and endless possibilities of places to explore and experience, your trip to Brisbane will not disappoint. Prepare a picnic lunch, pack the car, load your music player with your favourite driving tunes, and hit the open road to engage with the gorgeous landscapes and contrasting environments in and around the city.

Looking for inspiration for planning your road trip itinerary? We have compiled a list of popular locations that will offer something exciting for everyone.

Budget Day Trips Ideal for All Travellers
  • Green Rolling Hills
    If you love to indulge in the green rolling hills and open landscapes of the countryside, then a day trip to either Dayboro, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Mount Glorious, or Mount Nebo is a must-do!

    Head to the hills with a visit to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. See natural and unspoilt beauty within the surrounds of this magnificent location. Be captivated by the awe-inspiring views of the Glasshouse Mountains, take a relaxing dip within the refreshing waters of Gardiners Falls or Kondalilla Falls, or engage in some light exercise with a walk along the trail of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. For the kids, a trip to the Maleny Diary will be both educational and fun!

    Dayboro is a welcoming country town that comprises of a community that exudes a warm hearted approach to all visitors from near and far. In addition to the landscapes of the region, the trip there is both relaxing and inviting. Whether you take the route along Dayboro Road through Petrie, Mt Samson Road via Samford, or Mt Mee Road along the D'Aguilar Range, you will delight in the scenic drive. Upon your arrival, delve into history by exploring the township and visiting the Hay Cottage information centre, historic pubs, and buildings. Treat the kids to a horse riding adventure, or the opportunity to feed deer and lamas.

    Mount Glorious is a destination to also add to your travel plans. Mount Glorious offers you the perfect escape to immerse yourself in the surrounds of breath-taking rainforest scenery that boasts an amazing and lively array of flora and fauna. During your explorations, spot tropical birds and view trees that express intrigue regarding their formation and robust growth.

    While planning the trip to Mount Glorious, you may also like to add Mount Nebo, Mount Pleasant, and Mount Mee to your itinerary as they all form part of the D'Aguilar Range.

  • Coastal Coolness
    If you love to explore the coastline and engage in an adventure that allows you to discover the inviting waters of destinations in and around Brisbane, then these are some great hot spots to whet your appetite.

    The waterfronts of Cleveland and Victoria Point are a casual and short drive from the heart of Brisbane. With a variety of restaurants and dining experiences, you can sit back and relax with a great meal while escaping into the water views on offer.

    If you are prepared to explore even further, why not consider a trip to the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast. Both coasts offer you an amazing array of adventures, and exciting things to see and do. Robust with various accommodation options to suit all budgets and needs, you can convert your day trip into a unique and exciting short getaway.

    Bribie Island and Redcliffe are also two other great locations within close proximity to the Brisbane city. Bribie Island offers you two superb swimming destinations - the lapping calm waters of the passage side or the ocean surf side of Woorim. With barbeque facilities available, you can cook a fresh and tantalising feast for lunch. If you prefer, you may like to have a feed of fish and chips and sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in.

    Redcliffe offers a sprawling esplanade that allows you to walk, swim, eat, or simply relax! Drive along the esplanade and enjoy the water views and rejuvenating seaside atmosphere!

Getting Out & About

Getting Out & About

For interstate and international travellers making the trip to Brisbane, there are plenty of transport options for you directly within the heart of the city. Buses and taxis are popular if you wish to keep your plans within the city centre. There is also the opportunity to hire a bike and include some exercise as part of your travels. Catch a train and venture to the surrounding locations with plenty of great suburbs accessible by rail. But if you want to explore further and experience more, car hire is a perfect addition to your holiday.

With a vast array of suppliers (both major and independent) servicing the Brisbane downtown, you will be sure to find a rental package to suit your budget and travel needs. For small travel groups, there are a great selection of vehicles ranging from compact / economy through to intermediate / full size / SUV. Larger groups may like to explore the options to hire a van with a choice of seven, eight, or 12 seater vehicles available.

Tips for Renting a Car in Brisbane

Brisbane Car Hire Tips

  • Book in Advance
    If your Brisbane car hire plans fall within peak periods such as, school holidays, Christmas, Easter, New Years, or at the time of festivals and events hosted within the city, you will need to book well in advance to ensure you can select from the best discounted deals.

  • Wherever the Road Leads
    If you love to be spontaneous with your travel plans, then ensure you book a rental package that offers unlimited kilometres. Most deals do come standard with unlimited kilometres, but you may find certain suppliers will include a kilometre allowance. If an allowance is detailed, a key note to remember is that while it may be outlined as a daily rate (i.e. 100 km per day), you can travel more than this in one day, just as long as you do not exceed the limit allocated for the entire rental period. For example, if your rental package has a 100 km daily allowance but your hire period is for five days, you have an overall allowance of 500 kms (100 kms x 5 days). Upon returning your vehicle to the supplier, as long as you have not exceeded 500 kms, then you will not incur any additional charges.

  • Love to Plan Ahead?
    If you love to embark on your travel adventure with a comprehensive itinerary, then research your car hire options during your planning stage. Once you have determined your adventures, you can then choose a car hire vehicle that is most suited to your travel needs. For example, lots of driving equals choosing a rental package offering unlimited kilometres and a fuel efficient vehicle. Not a light traveller or planning on returning with a few souvenirs from your holiday? Then select a vehicle that offers you great luggage space. A great tip is to look at icons associated with each quoted vehicle to determine your passenger and luggage capacity.

  • Automatic vs Manual
    Automatics are great for city driving where you may experience peak periods of traffic - also known as 'stop-start traffic'. They may also be a better choice for customers that prefer to drive an automatic in a car that they are unfamiliar with. Top Tip: Manuals are generally cheaper to hire than automatics, so if you would like to save on both your rental cost and fuel usage, you may like to opt for a manual.

  • Car Hire Range
    Compact vehicles are a popular choice for many customers that have travel plans encompassing the city. Brisbane has various parking options ranging from street to complex parking with fees applicable based on length of parking time. Compact vehicles offer you a slight size variance from your larger sized vehicles that provide a level of comfort for those car hire customers that are travelling from overseas, new to driving in a city location, or may find it a little more difficult to become familiar with driving a different car.

    For larger groups, van hire is an ideal choice. If you prefer, you may like to opt for two full size vehicles which will allow you to split your travels should your group like to partake in different holiday adventures.

    Top Tip: Hatchbacks offer you the option to fold down the back seats which means more space for your travel items! While compact and economy vehicles are categorised as being small, don't be too quick to overlook their nifty and versatile features that can add a great level of convenience to your travels.

Intrigued to Explore Your Car Hire Options?

Buddy
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Start comparing your Brisbane car hire or Brisbane Airport rental options with Car Rental Buddy and be on your way to making the most of your Brisbane travel plans.