All Posts By

MaureenD

Oct
04
2012
0

Spring into these Tasmania events

By Australia / Hobart / Tasmania /

TASMANIA is the perfect place for a driving holiday. A DriveNow rental can set you up for any situation ­­– a car, campervan or 4-wheel drive. Tassie’s wilderness, wine regions and markets are well-known tourist destinations and well worth a look. But if you have picked up your DriveNow rental from Hobart and want to see what else the island has going on at the moment, check out these suggestions. Port Arthur for school holidays, until October 7 Sentence the kids to some fun and learning at the same time at the Education Centre at Port Arthur (in the old Accountant’s House, near the Church). The centre is offering a range of engaging and fun activities to keeps kids busy – and parents relaxed. Distance: 93km from Hobart, allow an hour and a half drive. Stay at: Bay Retreat, Port Arthur. Waterfront accommodation, and only three minutes from the historic Port Arthur site.   TasART, Burnie, until October 20 Love…

Read More
Sep
05
2012
0

Got the drive and the car rental deal? Here’s four road trip ideas in Australia

By Australia / Brisbane / Melbourne / New South Wales / Queensland / Sydney / Victoria /

There’s no better time for a road trip than spring. But how do you make the most of that red-hot car or campervan rental deal you just snapped up on DriveNow? Here are five destinations worth punching into your GPS. Brisbane to Caloundra Tune in to the sixth annual Caloundra Music Festival (right) held over the September 28-30 weekend at Kings Beach. Just over an hour’s drive north of Brisbane in your car rental, Kings Beach fires up to some of the best names in the Australian and international music industry. This year features acts such as The Living End, John Butler Trio and The Cat Empire. There’s a street parade, roving performers, beach-side carnival, buskers and children’s entertainment as well. Roll up to the Sunshine Holiday Park at Dicky’s Beach or the Caloundra Waterfront Holiday Park and be only a couple of kilometres away from the action. Check out http://www.caloundramusicfestival.com/ Melbourne to Deniliquin Give yourself a leisurely four hours…

Read More
Aug
17
2012
0

Thirst for adventure quenched with Father’s Day weekend away

By Australia / Brisbane / Melbourne / New South Wales / Queensland / Sydney / Victoria /

Take the driver’s seat and let Dad relax on Father’s Day by picking up a DriveNow campervan rental and hitting the road for a couple of days of sight-seeing, fishing and a few quiet ales with the bloke who brought you up. It’s a great way to say “cheers Dad, have a good one.’’ QUEENSLAND Where: Brisbane to Bundaberg. Grab your Brisbane campervan rental and jump on Bruce Highway (M1) for four hours for a cool Queensland road trip weekend escape. What to do: Head for the Bundaberg Rum Distillery for a tour – and a tasting, of course – find out how our country’s famous rum is made, watch out for drop bears and pull up a stool at the bar to finish the day with some Bundy cocktails. Park your wheels: At Bargara Holiday Park, only 10 minutes east of Bundy and on the beach. Close to cafes and restaurants, golf courses, fishing and surfing. Powered sites start…

Read More
Aug
08
2012
0

Toast the good life with a scenic drive through classic wine country

By Adelaide / Australia / Melbourne / New South Wales / Perth / South Australia / Sydney / Victoria / Western Australia /

AUSTRALIAN wines have taken their place amongst the best in the world. Combined with a stunning landscape, wineries offer a great Australian drive-tour experience. The first thing to do is nominate a driver – maybe take it in turns if an overnight stay is planned. The next thing is to select your DriveNow rental vehicle. A roomy sedan or four-wheel drive might be handy, or why not pick up a campervan and have your accommodation sorted as well? Those in Western Australia have the acclaimed Margaret River to explore. Pick up your Perth car rental and head about 280km south to Margaret River, home to 20 percent of Australia’s premium wines. Take advantage of the area’s beaches and forests by staying at the Riverview Tourist Park and making it your base.  Xanadu winery is a popular and picturesque place to start, with an award-winning restaurant and sweeping views. In NSW the Hunter Valley is considered the grand old daddy of…

Read More
Jul
31
2012
0

Road-tripping Aussies taking the home ground advantage

By

AUSTRALIAN travellers are bypassing the tough economic road and taking the caravan and camping path to good times and value-for-money holidays with the Caravan RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia reporting a jump of 14.7 percent more RV registered products in the past three years. It’s a good sign, but not everyone wants the responsibility, or has the room – or the budget – for a caravan or campervan and that’s where companies such as DriveNow come to the rescue. With its extensive range of campervan rentals DriveNow is contributing to the scores of Australians setting out to discover their homeland. Many see it as a way to “try before you buy”. CRVA chief executive Stuart Lamont says people see caravan and camping holidays as the “most affordable holiday” with the bonus of lifestyle and health benefits. “It’s the freedom from daily routines that is so appealing,” he says. “Bonding with like-minded people over happy hour, swapping recipes and travel…

Read More
Jul
26
2012
0

Solar leads the charge as campervanners and business travellers search for greener pastures

By

Savvy, environmentally-conscious road trippers are jumping on the solar bandwagon when it comes to charging their mobile devices on the go. The old plug-in-the-wall charger days are disappearing fast as campervanners learn to charge their gear while they are either on the road or out and about in a holiday park. Those who pick up a DriveNow hire car or campervan rental in Australia can have their solar-power gadgets at work while they take a road trip, stop for a bush-walk or go sightseeing. One of the most popular tourist spots on the Australian coast is Byron Bay, home to Jack Wilde of Nomad NRG, a company dedicated to sourcing quality mobile power accessories. Its range features UVA technology developed in low light environments, so it continues charging in cloudy weather and rain. For DriveNow travellers, Mr Wilde recommends products such as the Nova Backpack, with a battery that can refill your tablet and a mobile phone. Then there’s the…

Read More
Jun
28
2012
0

The road to fun and friendship drives a girls’ weekend away

By Australia / Cairns / Melbourne / New South Wales / Perth / Queensland / Sydney / Victoria / Western Australia /

A weekend away with the girls is a great way to take some time out to recharge the batteries. Whether you want to get away from the kids for a while, have some fun with your bridesmaids before the big day, or catch up with old school friends you haven’t seen in ages, there are some fabulous packages around that are designed to spoil you rotten. When it comes to choosing a Australian hire car, find a vehicle that is roomy and comfortable enough for several adults. You might even decide to stay in a holiday park, so a campervan may be the way to go. So if girls just want to have fun, where do they go? In your Melbourne car rental head for Daylesford. This beautiful town in Spa Country in Victoria has an excellent reputation for accommodation, restaurants and relaxing spa treatments. It’s a 110km (one and a half hour) drive from Melbourne taking the Western Freeway…

Read More
Jun
15
2012
0

Put the brakes on time – and your campervan rental – to enjoy historic Echuca

By Victoria /

Echuca, a beautiful destination in country Victoria’s Goulburn Valley region, is a town where you can turn back time, slow the pace a little and heighten your curiosity. No more than a three-hour drive from Melbourne, after picking up your Melbourne campervan rental you are on the Hume Hwy (M31) in no time. Take the Kilmore exit onto the Northern Hwy (B75) and then follow the signs to make your way through Rochester and on to Echuca. It’s a great little Australian road trip with some interesting little places along the way. The mighty Murray River is the lifeblood of Echuca’s fascinating history and modern-day tourist industry. Take your pick of the excellent holiday parks, settle your DriveNow camper into a site and wander into the historic port.  A gigantic log on display is symbolic of how large and vital the bustling port was in its hey-day. It also hints at the rough and tough nature of the times. Horse-drawn…

Read More
Jun
05
2012
0

Snow adds new thrill to an Australian driving holiday

By Melbourne / Victoria /

THE snowfields are plump with the white stuff already, signalling a brilliant ski season ahead. Australia’s high country regions are as beautiful as any in the world, with their unique quality drawing visitors from all around the globe. But a holiday on any snow-capped mountain Down Under is only half the fun – the other half comes with the road trip there, and after clicking up a DriveNow car hire deal in Sydney or Melbourne, the only thing left to do is to work out which snowfields you’ll be heading to. After jumping in a Melbourne car rental, Victoria has magnificent snowfield options. But most importantly, make sure you choose the right  Car Rental Snow insurance options, and check out such deals as Europcar’s Early Bird Snow Package.  Hotham – 381kms from Melbourne – records large snow falls and is known as the powder capital of Australia. Falls Creek (387km) is the state’s largest ski resort and has consistent snow…

Read More