Search car rental at Brisbane - Hamilton

Hiring a car in Australia

Don’t miss out on any of the region’s top attractions during your trip to Brisbane. Some of the most exciting Queensland experiences, such as the coastline and the rainforest, are located outside of central Brisbane. You can definitely rely on public transport while you are exploring central Brisbane, but in order to see the sights outside of the city, you’ll want to hire a rental car. With a rental car, the options for places you can visit are endless. You can head out of the city for a day or head up the coast for a more extended Queensland road trip. Webjet compares cheap car hire in Hamilton, which is an inner suburb of Brisbane. Rent a car in Hamilton and have the freedom to explore the Brisbane area on your terms and at your own pace.

Things to know before hiring a car in Hamilton

In order to rent a car in Australia, drivers must be at least 21 years old and hold a full driving license. A young driver fee may also be incurred for drivers who are younger than 25. While visiting Australia from abroad, you can drive on an international license as long as it is in English. If your license is in a different language, you’ll need to obtain an international driving permit. These can be applied for online for a low price. While driving in Queensland, be sure to keep both your international driving permit and your original driving license with you.

Car insurance is a must while driving in Australia. Some travel insurance companies include rental car insurance with their plans, so you may already be covered. If not, rental car insurance can be purchased along with the rental car. Depending on the rental car company, you’ll have several rental car insurance plans to choose from that range in price and coverage level.

While driving in rural Queensland, it is important to be cautious of wild animals you may see. Kangaroos and wallabies can regularly be spotted in rural areas of Queensland. If you spot an animal while driving, slow down and stay aware of your surroundings. Animals can hop into the road without warning. Hitting one could injure you and damage the car in addition to hurting the animal. You will most likely see kangaroos and wombats at sunset and at night, so plan to do most of your rural driving during the day if possible.

Once you know which areas you would like to visit with your rental car, check to see if any of the spots are located down unsealed dirt roads. Unsealed roads can be common in national parks and the rainforest and are only accessible by 4x4. If you are hoping to visit any spots that aren’t accessible by a standard car, it may be worth paying a bit extra for a 4x4 so you won’t miss out.

What to do when hiring a car in Hamilton

Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park

These side-by-side national parks are located a short distance from the Gold Coast. Travelling from Hamilton, you can reach Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park in about an hour and a half. Throughout the parks, there are rainforests, hiking trails that vary in difficulty, and some incredible viewpoints. The Natural Bridge rock formation is one of the most iconic spots to visit. It consists of a waterfall flowing into a cave. If you visit at night, you’ll even be able to see the resident glow-worm colony. For an adventurous rainforest experience, you could also visit O’Reilly’s Treetop Walk for some scenic views over the parks.

The Sunshine Coast

Drive about an hour and a half north from Hamilton, and you can visit the laid-back and beautiful Sunshine Coast. This area is particularly known for its beaches, but is also home to some scenic rainforests. The town of Noosa is the most famous spot in the Sunshine Coast. Within Noosa, you can lounge on the beach, enjoy the surf, and hike through the gorgeous Noosa National Park. For an even quieter experience, you could head to the beaches of Alexandra Headland. For an inland adventure, you can get some incredible views from the Glass House Mountains. The Sunshine Coast is also home to the world-famous Australia Zoo, which was made famous by Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. At the zoo, you can learn all about the country’s native wildlife, such as kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, and Tasmanian devils.

North Stradbroke Island

North Stradbroke Island is located just off the coast of Queensland. Travelling from Hamilton, you can reach the island in about two and a half hours, which includes a drive-on ferry as part of the journey. The island has lots of beautiful nature, such as its brown and blue lakes and the North Gorge walk. The island is also home to some great snorkelling and diving opportunities. Animal lovers can spot kangaroos and koalas across the island; and if you visit between May and November, you’ll be able to see humpback whales making their annual migration past North Stradbroke Island.