From Sydney to Perth: Exploring Australia by Car with Hertz

Australia is the kind of destination that can make a rental car feel like more than just a way to get from the airport to the hotel. Its cities are spread across a huge continent, while beaches, national parks, wine regions, coastal towns and outback landscapes sit well beyond the usual tourist centres. For travelers who want to see more than one side of the country, having the freedom to drive can completely change the experience.

That is where Hertz comes into the picture. With more than 220 locations across Australia, including major cities and airports, Hertz gives travelers plenty of options for starting a journey, whether that means collecting a car after landing in Sydney or beginning a trip from Perth on the opposite side of the country. Its Australian fleet also includes standard cars alongside SUVs and speciality vehicles, giving travelers room to match the rental to the kind of trip they have planned.

Starting the Journey in Sydney

Sydney is an obvious starting point for an Australian adventure. The city itself has enough attractions to fill several days, from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to its beaches, neighbourhoods and waterfront dining. But one of the advantages of having a car is being able to look beyond the central city.

A Hertz rental can make it easier to turn a Sydney stay into a wider New South Wales trip. The state combines coastline, mountains, countryside and outback landscapes, meaning travelers do not have to choose between a city break and an outdoor escape. Hertz has locations at Sydney Airport as well as several other locations around the city and wider New South Wales.

For a shorter trip, that flexibility might mean adding a coastal drive or countryside excursion. For a longer holiday, Sydney can simply become the first chapter of a much bigger Australian itinerary.

Melbourne Brings a Different Side of Australia

Driving south toward Melbourne introduces a very different atmosphere. Where Sydney is famous for its harbour and beaches, Melbourne is known for its food, coffee, art, sporting culture and laneways.

A rental car can be particularly useful for travelers who want to combine the city with destinations outside the urban centre. Victoria offers everything from coastal scenery to wine regions and countryside escapes, making Melbourne another practical base for exploring beyond the city.

Hertz has both Melbourne Airport and downtown locations, giving travelers the choice of collecting a vehicle when they arrive or arranging a rental after spending time in the city without a car.

That distinction matters. Not every day of an Australian holiday needs to involve driving. Travelers can enjoy Melbourne’s walkable central areas first and then pick up a car when they are ready to explore further.

Brisbane and the Sunshine State

Further north, Brisbane offers a completely different starting point. Queensland’s capital combines a lively city scene with easy access to beaches, national parks and the wider Sunshine State.

For travelers planning an extended Queensland adventure, Brisbane can work as both a city stop and a launch point. Hertz operates locations in Brisbane, including downtown and airport options, making it possible to build a rental around the rest of the itinerary.

From here, the journey can take many forms. Some travelers may prefer a relaxed coastal itinerary, while others might use Brisbane as the starting point for exploring further north. The important advantage of having a car is that the itinerary does not have to be limited to destinations directly connected by public transportation.

Cairns: Where the Road Meets the Tropics

Cairns is another destination where having a car can change the rhythm of a holiday. The city is a gateway to some of Australia’s most famous natural attractions, including the Great Barrier Reef, tropical beaches and rainforest landscapes.

Hertz operates at Cairns Airport as well as downtown, so travelers can collect a vehicle immediately after arriving or arrange one once they are settled in the city. Hertz specifically positions Cairns as a destination suited to exploring the surrounding beaches and towns by car.

This is where choosing the right vehicle becomes important. A compact car may be perfectly suitable for a city-and-coast itinerary, while a larger vehicle can make more sense for travelers carrying luggage or planning a longer regional trip.

Crossing the Country: The Appeal of One-Way Rentals

One of the most interesting possibilities for a road trip is not necessarily returning the car to the place where you collected it.

Hertz offers one-way rentals across its Australian network, allowing eligible travelers to pick up a vehicle in one location and return it somewhere else. Hertz says customers can pick up and return vehicles at more than 200 Australian locations, with airport and non-airport locations available. SUVs, minibuses and 4WD vehicles can also be available for one-way rentals.

That opens up a different way to think about an Australian itinerary.

Instead of flying back to Sydney after exploring another part of the country, travelers can potentially design a trip around different starting and ending points. A journey that begins in Sydney and finishes in another major city can feel more like an actual expedition than a collection of separate holidays.

However, one-way availability, vehicle selection and pricing depend on the specific locations and booking conditions, so travelers should check the details before committing to a route.

Ending in Perth

Perth provides a fitting finale for an Australia-by-car adventure. Located on the country’s west coast, it has a distinct character from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with beaches, parks, the Swan River and a famously relaxed atmosphere.

Hertz has both airport and downtown options in Perth, giving travelers flexibility when arranging the final stage of a journey.

The city can also serve as the beginning rather than the end of a Western Australia adventure. Travelers can use Perth as a base before heading toward coastal landscapes, wine regions or other parts of the state.

That flexibility is one of the strongest arguments for renting a car in Australia: the vehicle becomes part of the itinerary rather than simply a means of transportation.

Choosing the Right Hertz Rental

The best rental car depends heavily on the trip. A couple spending most of their time in Sydney or Melbourne may have little reason to choose a large vehicle. A family with luggage and plans to explore several regions may value extra space.

For travelers heading beyond the major cities, an SUV can provide a more comfortable setup, while certain journeys may call for a 4WD. Hertz’s Australian offering includes standard vehicles alongside SUVs and speciality collections, although availability varies by location and booking.

It is also worth thinking about how long the car will actually be needed. Keeping a rental parked in a city for several days may add unnecessary expense when public transportation or walking would be easier. A smarter approach can be to rent only for the portion of the holiday where driving genuinely adds value.

Making the Rental Work for Your Budget

The headline rental price is only one part of the cost. Travelers should consider fuel, tolls, parking, optional protection products, additional drivers and any applicable one-way charges when comparing bookings.

Hertz also offers a Prepay & Save option at participating Australian locations, including airports and downtown branches in cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

The key is to compare the complete cost rather than choosing a vehicle based solely on its advertised daily rate. A slightly more expensive rental can sometimes make more sense if it better matches the number of passengers, luggage and distance involved.

Why a Car Can Change the Australian Experience

Australia’s scale is one of its greatest attractions, but it can also make travel planning more complicated. Major cities may be easy to navigate without a car, yet some of the country’s most memorable experiences are found outside those urban centres.

A rental car gives travelers more control over when they leave, where they stop and how long they stay. It can turn a fixed itinerary into something more spontaneous, whether that means stopping at a coastal viewpoint, spending an extra night in a small town or changing the route because a particular destination catches your attention.

That freedom is ultimately what makes Hertz relevant to the Australian road-trip experience. The company provides a network that stretches across major cities, airports and regional destinations, while one-way rentals can make more ambitious itineraries possible.

Final Verdict

Australia is best experienced at your own pace, and a rental car can make that possible. From Sydney’s harbour and Melbourne’s cultural scene to Brisbane’s coastal surroundings, Cairns’ tropical landscapes and Perth’s laid-back western charm, driving opens up possibilities that are difficult to capture with a city-by-city itinerary.

Hertz stands out for travelers who want flexibility, with a broad Australian network, multiple vehicle categories and one-way rental options at participating locations.

The smartest approach is not simply to rent a car for the entire holiday. Instead, consider where driving will genuinely improve the trip, choose a vehicle around the journey rather than the badge, and compare the full cost before booking.

For travelers ready to turn an Australian holiday into a road adventure, the journey between destinations can be just as memorable as the destinations themselves.