Apps to Help With Your Planning and Travel

Car hire planning and travel apps

Many travel apps can help you plan and manage your trip. These are some of our favourites for road trips.

Fuel prices

Find cheaper fuel near you with apps such as Petrol Spy Australia or Fuel Map Australia. Our petrol guide lists more fuel price apps.

Google Maps

Google Maps gives driving directions and helps you find nearby restaurants, supermarkets, service stations and sights. Reviews from locals and visitors can point you to places you might otherwise miss.

Weather

Weather apps show current conditions and warnings for temperature, rain, snow and wind. We recommend the BOM Weather app for hourly and 7-day forecasts across Australia.

Parking

Parking apps help you find the closest parking to your destination and show whether bays are free. Many let you pay without cash. EasyPark and Secure Parking are popular in Australia. Our guide to parking in Australia explains the signs and rules.

Camping and holiday parks

Camping apps help you find campsites and caravan parks. We recommend Hipcamp to search and book campsites and caravan parks. BIG4 holiday parks are also listed in the BIG4 app.

Digital wallet

A digital wallet on your phone means you don't need to carry as much cash, which avoids exchange hassles and reduces what you could lose if your wallet is stolen.

Currency converter

A currency converter app makes it easy to compare prices. XE.com and similar providers offer free converters with current exchange rates.

Surf

If you're chasing waves, the Surf Watch app gives you real-time updates on surf breaks and weather conditions.

Tides

A tide app tracks high and low tides, which is handy if you fish. Tides Near Me is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor lists top sights in cities around the world, with reviews from travellers. It also covers hotels, restaurants and other travel businesses. It mostly captures popular places, so it is less useful for finding places off the beaten track.

Google Translate

Google Translate is handy when you need help with a language while travelling overseas.

Next steps

• Safety tips for car hire travel: rest stops, fuel planning and driving in remote areas
• Toll roads and charges: how to avoid tolls with your map app

Part of Before You Book in the Car Hire Handbook.