Search car rental at Melbourne - Melton

Hiring a car in Australia

Planning a holiday to Melbourne? While the city is teeming with excitement and beauty, some of the region’s top attractions are located outside of the city limits. And although public transport is great within the inner suburbs, it can get unreliable or nonexistant the further out you go. By renting a car, you’ll have the freedom to explore all the places you want to see during your trip, such as the legendary Great Ocean Road or the scenic Grampians. The suburb of Melton will give you easy access to each of these spots. Compare cheap car rental in Melton with Webjet, which pools all the best deals from the top rental car companies. Rent a car in Melton for your holiday, and start planning your adventures around Victoria, Australia.

Things to know before hiring a car in Melton

When renting a car in Melton, drivers must be at least 21 years old and hold a full driving license. Drivers younger than 25 may also incur a young driver fee in addition to the cost of the rental car. International visitors can rent a car in Australia with a license that is in English. If your driving license is in a different language, international driving permits can be applied for online. When you are driving, make sure to have both your international driving permit and your original driving license with you.

It is important to have car insurance while driving in Australia. Check with your travel insurance company to see if you are already covered, as rental car insurance is often included in plans. If you still need coverage, you can purchase it for a small fee while reserving your rental car. Most car rental companies offer a variety of rental car insurance plans in a range of prices and levels of coverage.

If you will be driving through central Melbourne, it’s important to understand how to perform a hook turn. These are especially common in the CBD on roads that have tram tracks. If you see a sign for a hook turn and want to turn right at the upcoming intersection, get into the left lane. Once the light is green, pull into the intersection and stay to the far left in front of the stopped traffic from the perpendicular road. Once the light turns green for the road on the right, carefully make your turn. Hook turns can seem daunting at first, but once you do them a couple of times, they will become second nature to you while driving in central Melbourne.

While driving in rural areas, it’s important to be aware of wild animals that may be near the road. It is common to see kangaroos, wallabies, or wombats while driving in country Victoria. These animals can enter the road without warning, so when you spot one, be sure to slow down and be cautious. Hitting an animal could seriously harm you or the car in addition to the animal. You are most likely to spot wild animals near the road during sunset and at night, so plan to do most of your rural driving during the day if possible.

What to do when hiring a car in Melton

The Grampians

The Grampians are a popular national park located west of Melbourne. You can reach the national park in about 2 hours from Melton. Throughout the Grampians, there are gorgeous views of the mountains, hiking trails, and waterfalls. While visiting the Grampians, be sure to check out Mackenzie Falls, the Pinnacle hike and lookout, the Balconies, the Boroka Lookout, and the Ngamadjidj Aboriginal Art Shelter. As well as experiencing nature, you can visit a handful of wineries and high-end restaurants in the Grampians. To fully experience the Grampians, try to spend a couple of days there, and if you have extra time, you could even combine it with a drive along the Great Ocean Road.

Great Ocean Road

Head about 50 minutes south of Melton, and you’ll be at the start of one of Victoria’s most iconic attractions – the Great Ocean Road. This coastal drive winds along the Pacific for 243 kilometres (150 miles) and begins just outside the city of Geelong. Along the Great Ocean Road, there are plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the views. Popular stops include Bells Beach in Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, the Twelve Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge. Much of the drive is surrounded by eucalyptus trees, so you may even spot some koalas while making your way along. It’s possible to drive the Great Ocean Road in a day, but in order to appreciate it without feeling rushed, a two or three day road trip will provide you with the best experience.

Wilsons Promontory

East of Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory is another popular spot for both tourists and locals alike. It is a national park that you can reach in about three and a half hours from Melton. There are diverse landscapes within Wilsons Promontory, which include mountains, rainforests, and beaches. It is also known for being the southernmost point in mainland Australia. Hiking and camping are both popular activities to enjoy in Wilsons Promontory. There are countless hikes throughout the park, which range in length and difficulty. Some of the most notable places to see within Wilsons Promontory National Park include Mount Oberon, Squeaky Beach, the Tidal Overlook Circuit, Tongue Point, and the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk.