Australia is renowned as a land of adventure, with urban hotspots teeming with culture, vast outback landscapes filled with unique wildlife, and spectacular coastal drives. To ensure you derive the best from your Australian escapade, here’s a dive into the top 20 must-have travel apps that cover every aspect of your journey – from navigation and accommodations to entertainment for both adults and kids.
Maps and Navigation
Google Maps
Google Maps is a premier navigation app treasured globally for its superior accuracy and comprehensiveness. It charts out every nook of Australia, from the busiest city streets to the remotest trails in the outback. Google Maps’ offline feature can be a lifesaver in areas with weak internet connectivity, guaranteeing uninterrupted navigation throughout your journey. This app is a failsafe tool that every traveller should have on standby.
Waze
Add a community-centric spin to your navigation experience with Waze. This dynamic app garners live data inputs from its robust user base, providing accurate information on ongoing traffic conditions, road accidents, roadworks, and even police traps. You can quickly adapt your route to avoid delays by receiving instantaneous updates on adverse road situations.
HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo is a formidable contender in the navigation apps category with high-definition maps and detailed route descriptions for commuting options such as driving, walking, and public transportation. The app allows for offline usage, which ensures undisturbed routing during connectivity issues – an essential feature when traversing Australia’s diverse terrains.
Driving, Fuelling and Parking
Fuel Map Australia/PetrolSpy
Keeping your vehicle’s fuel tank at optimal levels is critical, especially during long road trips across Australia’s sweeping scenic routes. Fuel Map Australia and PetrolSpy provide up-to-the-minute updates on fuel prices at nearby stations. By harnessing the information from these apps, you can top up your tank at the most competitively-priced fuel outpost, saving on seemingly unpredictable fuel costs.
eFleetPass
eFleetPass eliminates the hurdle of registering and managing numerous accounts for different toll operators on Australia’s extensive network of toll highways. This app provides a consolidated platform for automatic toll payments, freeing you from the burden of manual payments and creating more time for enjoying the journey.
Parkopedia
Finding a suitable parking spot can be taxing when exploring the buzzing Australian cityscapes. The Parkopedia app comes to your aid, helping you find parking spaces in your vicinity along with detailed information about prices, capacity, operation hours, and restrictions. This app is an undisputed ally in your quest for stress-free city exploration.
Accommodation
Airbnb
Looking for unique and homely accommodation with a touch of local flavours? Airbnb provides an array of lodgings, including apartments, villas, cottages, beach shacks, and even treehouses, befitting everyone’s taste and budget. Its chat feature facilitates seamless communication with hosts, aiding in pre-check-in clarifications and providing an enjoyable accommodation experience.
Booking.com
Renowned for its extensive assortment of hotels, motels, and more, Booking.com streamlines your accommodation-related decisions. The app provides meticulous details about room availability, rates, facilities, and user reviews, offering a holistic view of potential stays. The swift booking and cancellation process add to its allure, making it an ideal app for your accommodation needs.
Hotels.com
Finding amazing deals on hotels across Australia becomes easier with the well-designed app, Hotels.com. The app’s user-friendly filters, detailed user reviews, and direct booking options simplify your accommodation hunt. It also features an exclusive reward system, where you can earn a free stay after you complete a certain number of hotel nights.
Entertainment
Spotify
With its eclectic selection of music and podcasts, Spotify ensures that a beautiful soundtrack complements your Australian journey. With capabilities to curate personalised playlists, discover new music, follow artists, and even download content for offline listening, Spotify delivers top-notch entertainment throughout your exploration.
Podcast Addict
Podcast lovers will find value in Podcast Addict, a nifty app that manages all your favourite podcasts, radio, audiobooks, YouTube channels, and RSS newsfeeds in one place. Whether you enjoy storytelling podcasts for kids or informative educatory ones, Podcast Addict has you covered.
Photography
Instagram Maps
Synthesise your love of travel and photography with Instagram Maps. This inventive functionality lets tourists explore picturesque locations within Australia marked by previous visitors. Follow the overlays of beautiful photographs and uncover the nation’s aesthetic allure away from the beaten tourist path.
Snapseed
Turn your travel snapshots into professional-grade images using Snapseed, Google’s advanced photo editing app. It offers an impressive array of tools and filters that enhance your pictures, enhancing memories made from your trip.
Planning and Organisation
Packing Pro
Packing can be daunting, especially for a detailed family trip to Australia. The Packing Pro app transforms this overwhelming feat into an efficient process by offering custom packing list templates. These templates cater to different travelling profiles and styles, ensuring you have everything you need, irrespective of the nature of your trip.
TripIt
Eliminate the fear of misplacing important travel documents with TripIt. The app digitally organises your travel itinerary, hotel bookings, flight tickets, car rentals, and even restaurant reservations in a single place, making paperless travelling a delightful reality.
XE Currency Converter
XE Currency Converter provides live exchange rates for travellers tracking budgets in foreign currencies. This reliable app simplifies financial transactions during your Australian adventure, helping you avoid spending hassles and unnecessary extra costs.
Kid-friendly Apps
ABC Kids iview
The ABC Kids iview app is a treasure trove of fun and educational content for kids aged 2 to 6. The vibrant visuals and engaging programmes ensure they keep young minds busy while passing the time during travels.
Play School Art Maker
Spark creativity in your little ones with the Play School Art Maker app that lets them craft interactive art pieces using charming animated characters. This app keeps kids delightfully engaged during commute time and allows for parents’ screen time regulation.
Mathletics Students
Mathletics Students transforms the often-feared math learning process into a fun, competitive activity with live head-to-head math games and challenges. This acclaimed educational app offers a balanced blend of fun and learning, making it an excellent companion for kids during travel.
Google Arts & Culture
Let your kids embark on a cultural quest with Google Arts & Culture. The app offers kids a unique opportunity to explore artefacts, arts, and groundbreaking exhibits from worldwide museums, inspiring them to learn about new global culture and history elements.
Top Travel Apps to Cover Every Need
A well-laid family adventure to Australia hinges upon detailed planning and precise tools. These top-rated travel apps cater to every imaginable travel requirement, ensuring a smooth, exhilarating, and memorable journey. So, charge up your devices, download these apps, pack your essentials, and prepare for an Australian family excursion you’ll cherish for years.
Ensure a Seamless Journey with Alpha Car Hire
Now that we’ve covered the essential apps to aid you in your travels, it’s time to ensure that a reliable car rental agency covers your transportation needs. We are pleased to let you know that we have a wide range of discount car rentals on standby across our car hire locations. Book yours online today or take advantage of our concierge service to learn more about our car rental options and current deals.