How to experience Australia’s iconic heartland safely and responsibly in your rental car.
The Australian Outback: it’s a place of vast horizons, ancient landscapes, and unforgettable adventures. A road trip through its iconic red centre is on many travellers’ bucket lists. But driving in the Outback is an experience that demands respect and proper planning.
It’s not like a coastal drive to the Gold Coast. Distances are huge, conditions are extreme, and help can be a long way off. As your Aussie-owned car hire experts, we want you to have an incredible and safe adventure. Here is our essential advice for planning your trip.
The Golden Rule: Sealed Surfaces Only
This is the single most important piece of advice: All Alpha Car Hire vehicles must only be driven on sealed (paved) surfaces.
- Why? Our vehicles are 2WD passenger cars, not 4x4s. They are not built for corrugated dirt roads, sand tracks, or off-road driving.
- Your Liability: Driving on an unsealed road is a breach of your rental agreement. This means that if you have an accident on a dirt road, you would be fully responsible for all costs, as your liability waiver would be voided.
What this means for your trip: Your Outback adventure will be on the network of excellent sealed highways that connect the towns, like driving your car hire from Brisbane to Longreach, or up the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs. This is still an epic journey, and this guide is about doing it safely.
Essential Safety Tips for Outback Highway Driving
Plan Your Fuel, Water, and Rest
You cannot be casual about distances in the Outback.
- Fuel: Towns and roadhouses can be 200-300 kilometres apart. Never let your fuel tank drop below half-full before filling up again.
- Water: Always carry a large supply of emergency water in the car (e.g., a 10-litre container) in addition to your personal drinking water.
- Rest: Do not try to drive for 12 hours straight. Fatigue is a major killer. Plan your overnight stops in towns and book accommodation in advance.
Avoid Driving at Dawn, Dusk, and Night
This is a non-negotiable safety rule for the Outback. These low-light hours are when kangaroos, emus, and other wildlife are most active and hardest to see. A collision with a large kangaroo can be extremely dangerous and cause major damage. Plan to be at your destination well before sunset.
Understand Road Trains
You will share the highway with “Road Trains”—massive trucks pulling three or four trailers.
- Overtaking: Do not attempt to overtake a Road Train unless you are on a very long, very straight, and clear stretch of road. They are often over 50 metres long.
- Be Patient: It’s often safer to sit behind them (at a safe distance) until they pull over or you reach a designated overtaking lane.
You Will Lose Phone Service
Do not rely on your mobile phone. For vast stretches of highway, you will have no signal.
- Download Offline Maps: Use your phone’s GPS, but make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use before you leave.
- Tell Someone Your Plan: Always let your family or your next hotel know your intended route and expected arrival time.
What to Do if You Break Down
If your vehicle has a mechanical issue on a sealed road, our Roadside Assistance and Damage cover is there to help. But in the Outback, the procedure is critical:
STAY. WITH. THE. VEHICLE.
This is the number one rule of survival. A car is large and easy to spot from the air; a person is not. Wait for help to come to you. Our 24/7 roadside assistance will be actioned, but you must be patient, as distances are vast.
Your Outback Adventure Starts Here
An Outback road trip is one of the greatest adventures in the world. By sticking to the sealed highways, respecting the distances, and following these simple safety rules, you can ensure your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.
