A SELF-DRIVE TOUR
Read more >
Asko Meriläinen
Your travel planner, Entrepreneur
Going on a self-drive trip is an excellent way to explore your surroundings compared to a regular holiday trip. You have the freedom to travel exactly where you want to go and stop whenever you want to. In most cases, renting a car is cheaper than booking organized tours or transfers.
Australia and New Zealand are great places to explore by car. They offer stunning scenery, nature, and local culture, and a car is often necessary to reach beautiful destinations.
There are many holiday options to consider depending on the length of your trip and the season you plan to travel. You could opt for a short self-drive holiday, such as a five-day drive from Auckland to Wellington in New Zealand, with stops at Rotorua and Napier. For those with more time, a two-week drive through the South and North Islands is also an option.
In Australia, the best way to see Uluru and Kings Canyon is on a five-day road trip at the Red Centre.
If you have the time, taking a drive along the Pacific coast from Sydney to Cairns can be an unforgettable experience. You can have the opportunity to explore the world’s largest sand island along the way and drive along the famous Great Beach Drive on Fraser Island.
Certainly! If you’re up for it, you can rent a car for a day and take a fun day trip. For instance, if you’re in Melbourne, you could take a day trip to the Great Ocean Road. If you’re in Sydney, you could visit the Blue Mountains, or if you’re in Brisbane, you could head down to the Gold Coast.
Australia and New Zealand are countries where left-hand traffic is followed. If you have never driven on the left-hand side of the road before, it is strongly recommended that you practice driving in a car park first. It might feel weird initially, but you will soon find that driving on the left-hand side comes naturally. Most cars come equipped with automatic gearboxes, which makes driving easier. However, manual gearboxes are also available if you prefer them.
We can assist you in arranging your car rental, travel plans, lodging, and potential activities, as well as providing you with information on recommended stops and tourist attractions along your route. However, the choice of when to depart, what to see and where to stop is entirely up to you. It is recommended that you plan to cover a maximum of 300 kilometers per day when planning a self-drive in order to allow ample time for sightseeing or spontaneous detours.
Photo credits: Asko Meriläinen
Similar posts
Broome – Sunsets, Dinosaurs, and Horizontal Falls
Asko Meriläinen• 19.7.2026We recently visited the stunning town of Broome in Western
Tasmania, vol. 2 – Historic Launceston
Asko Meriläinen• 13.12.2021I visited Tasmania in June and was captivated by its-
Darwin, Capital of the Top End
Asko Meriläinen• 7.8.2026This July, we visited Darwin, the capital of the Northern
Ready to plan your dream journey to Oceania?
I am a qualified travel professional from Finland, living in Australia for over 20 years. Because I am based locally in the destination, I will tailor-make your itinerary with the best insider tips and provide reliable on-the-ground support throughout your trip.
Get in touch, and let’s make your travel dreams come true! Read more >
Asko Meriläinen
Your travel planner, entrepreneur
A tour operator you can trust. 5 week tour of New Zealand and Australia, everything went as agreed and as stated in the itinerary. Great job Asko and Project tours. Really professional operation and service
A very well-organized trip to Australia and New Zealand. Thank you!
The concept worked perfectly for us:Peaceful vacation: We appreciated that it wasn’t a group trip. We were able to explore the destinations at our own pace, but the schedule and advance reservations gave the trip a clear framework.Reservations in order: All hotel and tour reservations worked flawlessly in principle.Safety net: When there were twists and turns along the way – such as flight cancellations – the office handled the situations for us nicely. It was relaxing to know that someone else would take care of the logistics if the original plan changed.
A 2-week tour of Australia tailored for us. Interesting destinations and good hotels. Exceptions to the planned program were handled very well. I highly recommend!
The trip went well. The destinations were interesting and the transportation was handled as planned. I definitely recommend this trip organizer.
Asko listened to our wishes and tailored the package to our needs. Highly recommended!
We had a wonderful 4,5 week tour across Australia and Project Matka made excellent job planning the trip and made all needed reservations including all travel, accommodation and activities. The schedule and all activities were really well planned and we saw a lot of Australia, its nature and animals and the culture during our trip. We absolutely loved our trip!
Big thanks to Asko and Project travel! I was on a 3-week vacation in Australia. All the details were carefully and carefully planned and thought out. The trip went without a hitch. I got to see amazing places and have new experiences. Super thanks. I can warmly recommend Asko and Project travel!
Many thanks to Asko and Project Matka. A wonderfully planned and executed three-week trip to Australia, during which we got to explore great city destinations and above all, wonderful nature, from rainforests to fabulously beautiful sandy beaches and, as the cherry on the cake, snorkeling on the reef. The arrangements were really well made. With the written and verbal instructions from Asko, it was easy and safe for even the most relaxed traveler to travel. I recommend Project Matka, with their help you can tailor a trip to your own preferences.
I can really recommend Projekt Matka. They planned a memorable New Zealand and Australia tour for me, everything went smoothly. Asko was always available quickly when I needed advice or directions. A well thought out trip!
The travel program was as tight as we had hoped, but it ran smoothly and every detail was carefully thought out. The arrangements exceeded our expectations in every way.
My experience with Project Matka was absolutely outstanding! From start to finish, they provided exceptional services that went above and beyond my expectations.First and foremost, the planning process was a breeze, thanks to their invaluable tips and recommendations. Asko, from Project Matka, not only designed our dream holiday but also added incredible value by suggesting fantastic restaurant options and local gems that truly made our trip unforgettable. It's the little details like these that make all the difference.Moreover, the communication with Project Matka was superb. Asko and his team made sure we felt like we were in exceptionally good hands throughout our entire journey. They were responsive, attentive, and always ready to address any questions or concerns we had, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable experience.Thanks to Project Matka, we had a dream holiday that exceeded our expectations. I can't recommend them enough for their top-notch services, thoughtful planning, and outstanding communication. Asko, you delivered our dream holiday, and we're incredibly grateful. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you are considering a trip to Australia and/or New Zealand don’t hesitate to use Project Matka. We are experienced travelers and never used an agent prior to this trip. Project Matka not only listened to our wants, preferences, style, likes and dislikes, but provided guidance and suggestions we hadn’t consider. Our final itinerary not only met but exceeded our expectations. The cities, hotels, tours which was a combination of self guided, private and semi-private tours was seamless and absolutely perfect. We spent 30 days between the two countries and it was a trip of a lifetime primarily due to the support we got for Project Matka.
Asko Project Matka helped me plan and implement a wonderful holiday in Melbourne. However, in a relatively short time I managed to see a lot. Thanks to the useful tips I received from Asko. His local knowledge of Melbourne is in a class of its own. I can warmly recommend Project Matka if you are looking for a holiday in Australia!
A thousand thanks to Asko and Project Matka for the absolutely fantastic arrangements for our trip to central Australia. Everything went perfectly, and the experiences were one after the other. We asked for an active itinerary with hiking in stunning landscapes as the main focus, and that's what we definitely got. Other highlights included dinner under the stars, a camel ride at sunrise, and the light art installation Field of Lights. Warm recommendation to Asko and the Project Matka team.
24/7 support at every stage of your journey, before, during, and after your trip
Free travel planning
Submitting the form does not commit you to anything