Blog 's

Wondering where to go in Australia in July? Don’t worry. This list can surely help.

Australia might be a wide green land, but Melbourne occupies a little pocket that’s just made for road tripping, with fabulously scenic sights to explore around every turn on the road. Whether you’re looking for weekend getaways or one day road trip and you’re into food, wine, rock climbing or wildlife, there are many destinations around the Melbourne to explore.

We’ve put together a list of six amazing destinations throughout the country side that serve as enjoyable winter travel destinations. Thinking to hire a car to explore? Contact Melbourne Car Rental and let us help you find the right car for your perfect escape. We offer an affordable car for hire options in Melbourne with a wide range of economy and luxury car options.

1. Go for Skiing and Snow Resorts in the Australian Alps

Victoria’s alpine region is the home to many ski resorts and a major winter sports area. You can head to Mt. Buller, and experience the winter sports at one of the largest network of lifts among the Victorian resorts. It is located at just 3 hours drive from Melbourne. It is also home to the Australia’s day spa- Alpine Spa Retreat.

2. Melbourne International Film Festival

Arguably Melbourne’s most iconic film festival of the year, MIFF gives you a chance to watch an incredible range of films, from local Australian filmmakers to the international. If you love films, then don’t miss a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 60 countries for seventeen days.

3. 12 Apostles at Great Ocean Road

The 12 Apostles are one of the most well-known highlights of the great ocean road. The gigantic limestone formations that tower 45 metres above the Southern Ocean, will leave you awestruck in wonder at their size and beauty.

4. Take a wine tour

Australia is the fifth largest exporter of wine in the world. The credit goes to over 60 wine regions spread out in the cooler parts of South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. So if you’re planning a wine tour, make sure to go to taste the delicious world-famous Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at Yarra Valley.

5. Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade

Phillip Island with its unspoilt beauty is definitely a great place to relax and rejuvenate from your routine. The main attraction is the Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. In June, the atmosphere is still warm enough to make the trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island and see the little cute penguins roaming and going back to their nesting areas.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your car keys, jump into your Melbourne Car Rental hired car, start your engines and wander through a wondrous winter!

In our opinion, there is no better way to explore Melbourne’s beauty than on a road trip!

But do you know, there’s a reason why Melbourne is home to some of the world’s most spectacular road trips?

It’s not because of the spectacular beaches or dramatic coastal cliffs towering over wild seas. It’s not because the view of the mesmerising 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road will leave you spellbound. And it’s absolutely not because of the intimate wildlife experiences, the cool wineries in the Yarra Valley or Philip Island’s epic penguins.

It’s not for any of those reasons in particular. It’s for all of them!
In this post, we’ve listed the essential packing tips you can follow during your road trip in winter. Winter in Melbourne starts from June and stays till August. If you are looking for a reliable car for rent, you can call Melbourne Car Rental for an affordable car hire service in Melbourne. We are a leading car rental company offering the best car hire deals for all your travel needs.
Here, you’ll find all those packing tips for road trips in winter, which turn your car journey into treasured memories.

Here we go:

Book your vehicle well in advance

This is especially true during busy days like weekends and public holidays when you’ll likely wait for your turn. It’s better to book your vehicle well ahead of time. Stock your vehicle with a travel essentials kit, including a flashlight with new batteries, swiss army knife, eye mask, and sleeping pillow.

Check your vehicle for repairing issues

Make sure your car is well maintained before you go. Check vehicle maintenance issues such as wipers, battery and fluid levels. Check your battery to make sure it’s strong and charged.

Snacks, water and first aid kit

You will find insects that like to bite and sting, so include some antiseptic cream or wipes in your first aid kit, as well as bandages, and insect repellent. Always make sure to have enough supply of water and snacks with you. This will help you to stay hydrated on the road; but also helps in the case of a vehicle breakdown or emergency when you feel hungry.

Grab a cup of your favourite brew

Sometimes we hit the road at midnight, and sometimes we accidentally leave during high traffic… But the great equalizer of any road trip is an extra-large shot of hot espresso. What’s better than warming up in beautiful Melbourne with your favourite cup of Coffee or tea swirling in one hand? We recommend that you stay careful while handling hot liquids when driving. Taking a coffee break won’t set your time back by too much.

Don’t forget to pack your winter clothes

Make sure you keep yourself warm during the cold nights with winter clothes.

Your Favourite Book

Curling up with your favourite book inside your car is the best thing to do outdoors for those winter days. Imagine, your favourite brew and a great book in front of you. Is there any better winter day treat for the inquisitive type?

Campfire

When you’re having a fabulous winter in Australia, there’s nothing like a romantic campfire to help keep you warm. Get the tent, stove, matches/lighters, and lanterns beforehand.
Make the perfect campfire, and the fun begins after. Always ensure that you are a in a fire-safe area before setting up an open fire.

Imagine this. You are starting your trip with the melody and hustle bustle of Melbourne city, art-filled laneways and departing with the taste of some of the finest coffee. An hour later, arrive in the lush green Yarra Valley and watch kangaroos jumping around the vineyard as you explore and run for the hot air balloons. Come sunset, feel the sand between your toes and the laugh in your belly as hundreds of little penguins parade up the beach on Phillip Island. And that’s just day one. Everything mentioned here is possible if you don’t just dream it, but hit the road this season.

Ready to plan a road trip from Melbourne yet? Better book a vehicle in advance. If you’re planning a trip and are thinking about renting your vehicle, then read on.

These car rental tips will help you find an affordable rental car in Melbourne and spare some cash for your next trip.

Research for reliable car hires companies first – perform some research online to find a trustworthy car rental company in Melbourne. Melbourne Car Rental offers affordable car rental deals in Melbourne. Whether you plan to explore the city or simply need a car for a leisure vacation, we can help. We have a range of safe, powerful, fuel-efficient and reliable cars – from current models to late models for you.

Determine your pickup and drop-off points – make sure your car rental company allows you to pick-up and drop-off the vehicle in your desired areas. Make sure you can select the right dates, time, pickup and drop off points while booking your vehicles for rent online.

Choose your car according to your needs – find a car that suits your requirement. Just don’t go for a car that’s too small for your family. Choose an economical car with extra boot space for luggage that can leave you with an unmatched road trip experience.

Be aware of toll charges – make sure you check with the service provider and be sure to pay your tolls so you don’t end up with a heavy fine. Melbourne Car Rental offers rental vehicles with e-tags pre-installed; all toll fees are automatically charged to your credit card using e-tags.

Join the Loyalty program – if you need a car for rent for more than a few times a year, join the membership program to earn rewards and special deals for future car rentals. For example, we offer a VIP Membership to our regular clients. Call us to get to know more about our special program.

Performance without settlement. With a 1591 cc Petrol Direct Injection (GDI) Engine that yields 138hp @ 6,300 rpm for a commanding get up and go, the 2015 Kia Rio is, without a doubt, the hi-tech sub-compact that’s as cool at appearance as it is to drive and is the latest entrant in the Melbourne Car Rental’s fleet of cars. In short, now you can hire a 2015 Kia Rio in Melbourne.

2015 Kia Rio has a stylish exterior and interior. It comes with, Halogen Headlights, Projector Beam Headlights, and Front Fog Lights (Projector Beam), making it one of the best cars in the sub compact category.

The dashboard is equipped with a state-of-the-art UVO Infotainment System, Bluetooth® Wireless Technology w/ Steering-Wheel-Mounted Control & Audio Buttons, Tilt Steering Column and Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column                .

Child safety features like Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children and Rear Child-Safety Door Locks also come standard with all variants. Kia’s Idle Stop and Go (ISG) System ensures you get 27 MPG in city and 37 MPG on highways.

We know there are many websites that offer deals from various car rental operators. However, these merely compare cars; they don’t offer car rental directly. Thus, it’s always a better deal to go for a car rental agency like Melbourne Car Rental. We offer a FREE QUOTE. We are a small boutique car rental house but are vast on service. Our services are available 24 hrs for airport car rental collection and return. In addition to the Rio, we offer potential renters a wide choice of vehicles and lots of local knowledge and Travel Victoria Information.

To rent the 2015 Rio, call Melbourne Car Rental on +61 3 9329 8587.

At Melbourne Car Rental we believe good quality service should never change.  There are reasons why we are still the first choice when it comes to airport pickup and drop off in Melbourne. Our partnership with Jetport Parking has been going for 8 years and runs like clockwork. There are many rental car providers in Melbourne, but none of them provides what we have on offer:

• Best fleet of vehicles
• Ease of booking: online, onsite, on call.
• Provision for child seats and baby booster
• Special attention to corporate and sole travellers
• Best-in-class customer support services
• Pick up and drop off from Tullamarine airport terminal 24/7

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Jetport Airport Parking, a constant stream of minibuses is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get you to our rental cars. Gone are the days when you had to carry your luggage across an airport terminal car park to look for a rental car hidden among hundreds of other cars. You simply ring Jetport Parking when you have picked up your baggage from the baggage carousel and they will direct you to their minibus where Jetport’s friendly staff will assist with your luggage. They will then drive you back to their depot where your rental car will be waiting for you. Your paperwork will already be done and all you need to do is complete your damage report and drive away.

When you return the car it is even easier. You simply drop the car back at Jetport, they will put your luggage on their minibus and take you to the airport terminal straight away. We will then check in your car and send you a receipt once this has been done.

Good old fashioned service should not change. With Melbourne Car Rental and Jetport Parking,  you can save money and get good service, a rare combination these days.

Renting a car is a great option when going out of town, especially on a long trip. With such a large range of cars available from rental agencies, there is an opportunity to save some money by taking a car that is not new. With demand for cheap rental cars skyrocketing, rental agencies often keep cars longer so they can offer a cheap alternative. First time renters often mistake them for a new car.

All cars old or new can break down so there is never a guarantee that you won’t be inconvenienced. So how do you minimize the risk of this happening to you?

Here is how to make sure your rental car is the right one for you:

1. Where are you travelling to?

When renting a car, always consider how far you w ant to travel. If you just want to grab a car to get around the city because your car is in for repair, then an older model car is great for saving money. If you want to travel a long distance then always go for a new car option. Reputable rental companies advertise the age of the vehicles honestly on their websites.

2. The reputation of the agency

A reputed agency in the city will never put an unreliable car for rent. It’ll have clear terms regarding the quality of car that it rents.  The reviews of car rental agencies in your neighbourhood will give you a fair idea of which one to choose and which one to avoid.

3. Do the cars have roadside assistance included free of charge?

Given there is no guarantee a car won’t break down, good rental companies include full service roadside assistance as part of their car rental agreement. This should be free of charge to the renter so if you are being asked to pay for roadside assistance, go to another agency.

Take a test drive and ensure the performance is smooth and noiseless before making the call.

At Melbourne Car Rental, we cater for all budgets by providing current and late model vehicles for rent. Talk to us about where you are going and not only can we help you with tourist information, we can advise you on the best car to take for your budget.

When most of the west enjoying the pleasant, warm summers, Melbournians are busy beating the cold, wearing layers and layers of winter clothing. Although winters in Melbourne are not very cold like those in some parts of Europe, it is still a bit cold for someone from the tropics. The mercury can easily drop to 1-2 C after sunset though it doesn’t snow. The days are short and it rains frequently.

There are many places to visit in Melbourne during winter, starting with Ski Resorts.

1. Ski Resorts in the Australian Alps

The alpine region, northeast of Melbourne, is a major winter sport area. The skiing season starts from the first weekend in June to early October.

For more information on Victorian ski fields, click here

2. Warrnambool

Logan’s Beach is considered as a nursery site for the Southern Right Whale or Eubalaena Australis, making it a great place for whale watching. During the breeding period, a few adult female whales visit this area to give birth to calves. The calves stay there for a period until they turn adult, usually during mid-September to late September.

Logan Beach Whale Viewing Platform is the perfect place to start your whale watching experience. Australian Fur Seals, Little Penguins and the common dolphin, also frequent Logan beach if you miss the Whales.

3. Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces is an annual series of art exhibitions held every year for 100 days between June and October. Melbourne Museum, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) are home to Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

One of the exhibitions, The Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, last year attracted around eight hundred thousand visitors of which some three hundred thousand were from overseas.

Find out more about the 2015 event here

4. Open House Melbourne

Open House Melbourne, a NGO based in Melbourne, organises an open house every year to showcase and help you discover the city’s hidden engineering, architectural and historic buildings.

The showcase includes commercial, residential, green buildings, sports grounds, and spiritual places.

Information about this years event on July 26^th and 27^th is available here

5. Melbourne International Film Festival

The Melbourne International Film Festival is among the oldest film festivals in the world, just one year younger than Cannes. It runs for a period of 17 days and attended by cinematic delicacies from 50 countries.

The festival showcases the best in current cinema from around the world as well as retrospectives, tributes and Talking Pictures discussion programs.

We live in an era where the Internet has put the world at our fingertips and with smart phones we can take the world with us wherever we go. Travelling used to be about researching and booking before you left, now a lot of travelers just research and book as they go. A traveler’s electronic soulmate has to be free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi not only saves us from hefty mobile data charges, but also gives us the liberty to access the internet without using a cellular connection. Worldwide many cities are transforming to offer free Wi-Fi to its citizens.

Luckily, when it comes to Wi-Fi, Melbourne is well equipped and there are many free Wi-Fi hotspots around the city. Most restaurants and cafes offer complimentary Wi-Fi with their services. These are great places and money-savers for tourists to sit and have a meal while getting back to their family abroad using free Wi-Fi.

Among the places with free Wi-Fi in Melbourne, Federation Square by the Yarra River is very popular. Playing your favorite online game sitting with the view of the river is an amazing experience in itself.

Couldn’t find a place to sit in the square? Move to Flinders St Railway Station just across the road, switch on Wi-Fi on your device, select “Metro Wi-Fi” from the list of available networks, and let your friends on Facebook know what you’re enjoying in Melbourne.

Most public Libraries and Museums across the city offer free Wi-Fi access in addition to bars and hotels.

For those in central part of the city, free Wi-Fi is being launched in central Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo. Central Melbourne has wide coverage of free Wi-Fi extending from the entrance of Victoria street to the whole of Queen Victoria Market.

In Central Ballarat, Sturt Street at Queen Victoria Square, opposite Ballarat Town Hall, has a pretty fast Wi-Fi network. However, if you find this place too crowded with teenagers sitting sticking to their mobile screens, Bendigo Art Gallery is the place for you. Sit in this quiet art gallery reading your favourite eBook or share the beautiful Street Art in this Precinct on Instagram.

If you are having touble accessing free Wi-Fi in Melbourne,follow these Steps:

1. Locate your nearest WiFi hotspot
2. Go to the Wi-Fi settings on your mobile device and select VicGovFreeWiFi
3. Follow the prompts on the screen to connect
4. Start using WiFi

VicGovFreeWiFi stands for Victorian free public Wi-Fi network project, a project to cover whole of Victoria with Wi-Fi, including Melbourne. The project is still in development and more Wi-Fi hotpots will become available during 2015.

NOTE: Free Wi-Fi means it’s free to use and you don’t need to provide any personal information like Name, Email or Password. Stay Cautious!

With the Easter break just around the corner, many are getting ready for a family holiday.  If you are heading away for a well-earned break, are you well prepared with a checklist, or are you planning to make it up as you go along? No matter which way you prefer to travel, there are some things you should not leave home without. In case you’re still undecided, we at Melbourne Car Rental have curated a checklist that should come in handy for any prospective traveller this Easter. No doubt some will see this list as unnecessary. We have tried to make more of a general list that every traveller in Australia should benefit from. Remember this is not the final list but covers most of the essentials.

• Driving licence: The most important piece of document every traveller should carry even if he or she is not travelling in a rental car or private car. In addition, the driving license also adds up as a Proof of Identity, which you might need time to time during the course of your travel. In case you are travelling abroad, are you aware you can get an international driving licence locally? This license is very helpful if you want to rent a car outside Australia where English is not spoken.
• Passport: Once again, if you are travelling abroad, you will require a Passport. Although there are a few countries that permit Australians an entry without a passport, we still recommend you to carry a Passport.
• Visas for Australians travelling overseas: A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter transit or remain in a particular country. Although Australian Citizens can travel most of the world by getting a Visa on arrival, you should always check what is required for entry into the country you are travelling. Remember, not all countries have representation in Australia and vice versa so do your research before you leave.
• Child Seat: If travelling with little children or babies, child seats are essential and mandatory in Australia. Most rental car companies have them available for hire so be sure to book them early during peak periods so you do not miss out.
• Charging for your phone:  We might sound dumb here, but our experience of facilitating travels at Melbourne Car Rental has taught us one thing: Travellers often forget to carry charging equipment for their phones. We do not always have spare adaptors available, but it is worth asking if we can help out if you do not have any way of charging your phone.

Conclusion:

Easter Holidays is a great time to spend with your family and friends. You can make the most of your precious time off by being prepared. Plan accordingly before you go and spend more time relaxing while you are away.

During February, Melbourne’s summer is at its peak. The days can be relatively mild or burning hot with the average temperature varying from a low of 15 to a high of 26 degrees Celsius.  Averages are deceiving however as days with a maximum temperature below 20 C or above 40 C can also be expected once in a while.

Because of these weather conditions, participating in an outdoor activity can be a bit sweaty. Staying indoors is the best option for some but if you love it hot, get involved in some cool outdoor activities like water sports, beaches, swimming, and surfing.

With such fantastic weather, February is a busy month in Melbourne and finding suitable accommodation can be tough. Public transport can also be crowded and stuffy in the summer months.

Places to visit:

Go swimming

While Victoria’s coastline is a beautiful place to be, you won’t be short of excellent beaches thanks to Melbourne’s proximity to Port Phillip Bay. Port Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle park and StKilda beaches are all accessible by tram. There is also a magnificent bike track that goes along the beaches as far as Beaumauris.

If you want to see some of Victoria’s beautiful coast line, then jumping in a rental car for couple of hours takes you to the beautiful back beaches at Sorrento and Portsea. If you head west a couple of hours drive away is Torquay and the surf haven that is Bells Beach. Of course if you head to Torquay, you well on your way to the Great Ocean Road so book some accommodation and spend a relaxing couple of days exploring this beautiful area.

Spent some time with seals and dolphins

Sorrento is also great for taking your marine adventures to the next level. Sorrento has large local colonies of both dolphins and seals.

An experience of a lifetime, swimming with dolphins and Seals can really be a fun, especially if you’re accompanied by kids.

Visit Heide Museum

Located around 15 Kms from Melbourne CBD is the Heide Museum of Modern Art which is home to ever-changing exhibitions many times a year. Heide is a perfect place, with climate control, for an art lover to spend their day out of the ruthless heat that can often pop up surprisingly during some days of February in Melbourne. A real treat is Vue De Monde’s café at Heide. The restaurant Vue de Monde is well known for its amazing cuisine and their café at Heide is a gourmet experience at café prices.

Conclusion

Melbourne in February is not only perfect for beachside fun, there is also many festivals and activities going on. When you visit, be sun smart and pack hats and sunscreen because you are going to need them!