International Visitors
Hire Vehicles
These pages have been put together primarily for International Competitors and Visitors to help them get to Lake Gairdner for Speed Week. As more information becomes available it will be added to these pages
Here is a short list of some of the larger or specialist hire car companies, there are many more businesses if you want to go searching. We have provided a number of locations dependent upon where you arrive and need to pick up your vehicle(s).
There is no affiliation or special offers for DLRA members available from any of these companies.
For more information on rental vehicles in Australia go to this Trip Advisor page.
Selecting your Vehicle
Most of your travel will be on sealed highways, but the last 200kms are dirt. Normal passenger vehicles can make it in on these roads when they are in good condition, but if there is any wet weather you really want to be in a 4WD or at least something with a bit of clearance. Most SUV's or 4WD's are fine. Your hire will need to include at least travelling on gravel roads.
To make it easy for yourself cover all the floors with heavy plastic, this will make it much easier when your cleaning up your car before returning it the hire car company. There is a couple of good high pressure car washes in Port Augusta.
Most rental companies will not hire 2WD vehicles to travel extensively on gravel roads, so you will be limited to hiring 4WD or Hilux which are only 2 berth. These they both allow you to travel where we go and your insurance/ breakdown etc will cover you. The base insurance has a big excess so consider the upgrade when shopping for price. Book ahead (availability issues sometimes) and be vague with travel plans if they ask. 2WD motorhomes on gravel roads are at your own risk and the insurance usually only allows a short distance up a made gravel road. You hit a roo or worse at 100kph you may as well own it as they will charge whatever they choose to repair.
So how much will it cost? These were actual prices for 10 days rental by members from 2015. Apollo 4wd Hilux poptop 2 berth. $1339.50 Apollo Landcruiser 2 Berth $1539 These were approved on gravel road use. Apollo also do 2,4 or 6 berth for between $724 up to $1539 but not approved for gravel. Britz do a 4wd version with a popout tent that sleeps 5 for about $1000 based on a Landcruiser.
Last piece of advice, recommend you book in advance, stock in Adelaide is normally limited.
Camper Champ is a comparison web site which allows people to find, compare and hire caravans, campers and motorhomes. They offer a lowest price guarantee and are around 10% cheaper than hiring direct.
| Car |
4wd | Truck | Campervan | Caravan, Camper Trailer |
Other | Company |
| Port Augusta | ||||||
| Y | Y | Avis Port Augusta South Rent-A-Car, 35 Victoria Parade, Port Augusta SA 5700 Phone: 13 63 33 | ||||
| Y | Y | Budget Car and Truck Rental Port Augusta, 14 Young St, Port Augusta SA 5700 Phone:(08) 8642 6040 | ||||
| Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Cedrent, 3 Victoria Parade Pt Augusta 5700 SA Mobile:0497 603 223 | |
| Y | Y | Flinders and Beyond Camper Trailer Hire, Spear Creek Tourism Centre S.A. 5700 Mobile:0419 802 268 | ||||
| Y | Y | Y | Hertz, 1A Conroy St, Port Augusta SA 5700 Phone:(08) 8644 7799 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | Thrifty Car and Truck Rental Port Augusta, 37 Victoria Parade, Port Augusta SA 5700 Phone:(08) 8344 2210 | |||
| Y | U-Haul Trailer Hire, 8 National Highway A1, Port Augusta SA 5700 Phone:1300 883 075 | |||||
| Adelaide | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Apollo Motorhome Holidays, 969 Port Road Cheltenham, Adelaide, South Australia, 5014 Free Phone 1800 777 779 | |||
| Y | Around Australia Motorhomes Campervan Rentals, Adelaide 91 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton Adelaide | |||||
| Aussie Camper Vans (Portal Site) | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Avis, Arrival Road Adelaide SA 5950 Phone:08 8154 2440 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | Budget, Adelaide Airport, Adelaide SA 5950 Phone:(08) 8234 4900 | |||
| Y | Britz, 376 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032 Free Phone:1800 331 454 | |||||
| Y | Camperman Campervan Rentals Adelaide, 127/129 Richmond Rd, Richmond, Adelaide SA | |||||
| Y | Complete Ute & Van Hire, 125 Holbrooks Road, Underdale, SA, 5032 Phone:(08) 8234 1300 | |||||
| Drive Now (Portal Site) | ||||||
| East Coast Car Rentals (Portal Site) | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | EuropCar, Terminal Building Adelaide SA 5950 (08) 8150 3090 | |||
| Go 4 Motorhome Rental | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Hertz, Sir Donald Bradman Drive Adelaide (West Torrens) , South Australia, Australia, 5950 Phone:08 82344566 | |||
| Kola Rentals | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Maui Australia, 376 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032 Phone:1800 670 232 | |||
| Y | Y | Mighty Campervan Rentals Adelaide, 376-388 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park Adelaide, S.A. | ||||
| Thrifty, Terminal Building Adelaide SA 5000 Phone:08 8234 3029 | ||||||
| Vroom Vroom Vroom (Portal Site) | ||||||
| Melbourne | ||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Avis, Arrivals Drive, Melbourne VIC 3045 Phone:03 8855 5333 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | Budget, Melbourne International Airport Terminal 4, Airport Dr, Tullamarine VIC 3045 Phone:(03) 9241 6366 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | EuropCar, 70-90 Garden Drive 3043 Tullamarine Phone:(03) 99992699 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | Hertz, Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport, Melbourne Phone:03 9338 4044 | |||
| Y | Y | Y | Maui Australia, 2/9-45 Ashley St, Braybrook VIC 3019 Phone:(03) 8398 8855 | |||
| Thrifty, Terminal Building, Tullamarine Airport VIC 3043 Phone:03 9241 6100 | ||||||
Trailer Hire
There are several configurations that are common, 6 x 4 trailer, 6 x 4 with a cage, 7 x 4 with a cage, 7 x 4 enclosed, 8 x 5 tandem, motorcycle trailer and car trailer tandem. These trailers can be hired from most service stations. Prices start around $160 to $180 per week, a car trailer will be around $330 for the week.
. Note: In Australia we use a 50mm ball as a standard tow hitch and 5 or 7 pin plug. The hard part is going to be getting a hire car with a tow bar. This is something many companies do not do.
If your vehicle has it's own special trailer, I'd plan on bring that with you. AND and matching tow ball.
Are you looking for more information? Contact us