Getting the best deal on hire cars

A guide to getting the best prices on hire cars in Australia

Driving a hard bargain

Our girl on the inside shifts from the skies to the dusty roads, bringing you all the best car hire tips for your next Australian adventure.

Renting a car can be a nightmare if you’re not careful. Even when you think you’re ahead of the game it’s often not the case: that traveller who leans across the counter to kiss the salesperson when his sedan has been upgraded to the 4WD he’s always dreamed of might not be laughing 500km later when he looks at his six-cylinder petrol bill. Overkill.

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Read the fine print, delve deeper. The car rental industry is crazily competitive, but if you do things by the numbers, you’ll be fine. Begin with a thorough car inspection: treat it as your own, logging each and every blemish. If it’s not noted, it’ll be your dilemma to deal with on your return. And always end your journey by filling the tank with the cheapest rates in town. Hire companies are not afraid to charge more than two dollars a litre if they have to fill up themselves.

The Internet is increasingly becoming the way to book. Sounds obvious enough, but when you’re saving up to $5 a day, it’s worth noting. And do shop around. Broker sites like www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au will let you quickly compare all the rates out there. Also, the big five of Hertz , Avis , Budget , Thrifty and Europcar can manipulate their rates according to supply and demand; some broker sites like www.holidayautos.com have fixed tariffs that can’t fluctuate, making car rental during peak periods less daunting.

Don’t automatically search for a specific car. These might be booked out and, in finding one, the cost will sting. Settle for something similar: it might, for all you know, be superior. If it’s readily available, it’s more affordable. Bargain.

Renters and readers, reward yourselves. Use your partner membership cards – are you an ANZ MasterCard holder, an auto club member or even a Virgin Blue frequent flyer? There are massive savings and points to redeem, so ask up front who your chosen car company is in partnership with. In-flight mags are also a prime source of car rental vouchers. Scanning them just prior to landing will save you money.

Insurance is expensive, but we of course urge all travellers to be covered at all times. Many people aren’t aware, however, that a lot of credit cards actually come with their own travel insurance – negating the need to purchase car hire insurance altogether. If you’re not with a credit card company that offers travel insurance, it might be time to switch.

If you’re wheeling and dealing your way around the airport, renting from terminals can cost a bomb, sometimes up to 15 percent more than at a downtown branch. But all the booths are usually right there: why not press hard and negotiate one company’s rates against another? Late at night, agents might be keen to rid their remaining cars, bettering his competitors’ costs. Think of it like an airline palming off last-minute seats: discounted fares do occur, as long as you’re not too shy to try your luck.

Going against the flow can also work wonders. Like migrating whales, the movement of rental cars between dealerships is seasonal, so booking Broome to Perth or Sydney to Cairns out of season will earn you a rate that’s hard to beat. Moving in the opposite direction to the masses is amazing anyway: the destination is deserted and beaches are your own. Sit back and picture the queues in Thredbo as you cruise the open, empty roads in Queensland. What a ride.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.