The process for overcoming labelled driving restrictions, the types of vehicle that are subject to them and the locations of restricted areas differ between the 4WD hire companies shown on carrental.com.au. Before taking it as gospel we recommend calling us first on 1300 613 833 or proceeding to a booking using the form below.
Here it is from the car rental companies themselves:
Hertz
Drivers are responsible for all damage by animals whilst driving at night
Hertz Tasmania
Cars cannot be driven into or out of Tasmania.
The following roads are prohibited from use:
- On the West Coast, further south than the Arthur River township
- Inland any further south than where the Kanunnah Bridge crosses the Arthur River
- The back roads between Oxford and Copping on the Southeast coast
- The Ben Lomond Road above the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder
- The unsealed roads connecting Smithton and Zheehan
Hertz Queensland
- Fraser Island is deemed a full responsibility destination. Fraser Island is only accessible by 4WD.
- Vehicles can travel around the Atherton Tableland area. Vehicles can cross the Daintree River and travel as far as Cape Tribulation, however cars must stay on the sealed section of these roads.
- Vehicles cannot travel to Chillago
- “Economy” class 4WD’s can be driven as far north as Cooktown and as far West as Normanton.
- “Full size” 4WD’s are restricted to gazetted roads and tracks Australia wide.
- Due to extremely bad road conditions in the Mount Isa region, standard cars are not allowed to travel on unsealed roads.
- Standard cars can access 2 mine sites in Mt Isa – Cannington and Earnest Henry. All other mining sites must be accessed by 4wd only.
- 4WD vehicles are also available for tourist sites which are off sealed roads.
Hertz Northern Territory
Certain areas in the Northern Territory are accessible only by 4WD vehicles ie. Palm valley. Hertz Northern Territory do not allow 4wd vehicles to be taken into Jim Jim or Twin Falls under any circumstances.
Areas without restrictions:
- Kings canyon: Accessible by car (2wd) using the Lasseter, Luritja highways. All other access to Kings Canyon requires 4WD.
- The Meerenie Loop road & the Ernest Giless Hwy are 4wd only.
- Litchfield park – there is bitumen access via Batchelor to Litchfield park as far as the main site of Wangi Falls. Customers can visit Litchfield Park using the Batchelor Access in and out. They cannot travel on dirt roads in the Park, however, majority of main sites are now bitumen.
Hertz Western Australia
Driving restrictions for Kununurra and Broome:
- Groups B, C, D, E and V are available for travel within city limits and to travel on the Great Northern Highway
- Group R: Four Wheel Drive Access Only
- The Gibb River Road
- The Tunnel Creek Road
- The Windjana Gorge Road
- The Bungle Bungles
- Cape Leveque Road
Hertz South Australia
Kangaroo Island restrictions:
- Vehicles cannot be taken on the ferry to Kangaroo Island. Vehicles rented from Kangaroo Island cannot be driven off the Island
- Collision damage waiver (CDW) is included on all rentals subject to an accident damages excess (ADE).
- No vehicles are to be driven onto beaches, bush tracks or paddocks fields.
- An additional single vehicle accident (SVA) excess applies when rented from Kangaroo Island.
Avis
You and any Authorised Driver must only use the Vehicle on a road which is properly formed and constructed as a sealed, metalled or gravel road. You and any Authorised Driver are not permitted, unless authorised in writing by Avis, to:
- Drive to Kangaroo Island, Bruny Island or Fraser Island;
- Drive into or out of the Northern Territory, Tasmania or to any points in Western Australia north of Carnarvon;
- Drive in the following restricted Queensland locations:
Highway No.27 beyond Chillagoe in a westerly direction. Highway No. 1 beyond Normanton in a southerly direction and no further North than Karumba. If the vehicle is a passenger vehicle or truck, driving is banned beyond Cooktown to the North or Lakeland to the West and no further north than Cape Tribulation on the coast road. On the coast road from Helenvale to Cape Tribulation, or from Laura to Lakeland, unless the Vehicle is Group W 4WD
Other restricted areas include above the snow line in winter in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria (being Jindabyne in New South Wales and Bright in Victoria) and on beaches or through streams, dams, rivers or flood waters.