Ultimate Australia Drives

Posted By: mcleare  //  Category: Uncategorized

Kangaroos and didgeridoos, wombats and boomerangs, koalas and surfers, convicts and soap operas…Australia is a vast continent, rich in beautifully mysterious landscapes and a fascinating history. What better way to discover down under than with a rental car and map? Our low cost car hire rates ensure that you can explore all of Oz’s national treasures at your leisure. Stop off to listen to kookaburras in the wild, stroll through heritage towns or laze on sun-bleached sands- hiring a car in Australia makes anything possible. With Argus Car Hire’s cheap rates and exciting choice of locations all across Australia, your voyage of discovery couldn’t be easier. For further inspiration, check out our recommended Australia car hire itineraries:

1. Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive

This wonderfully scenic drive offers visitors the chance to explore rugged bushlands, craggy mountain ranges, vibrant rainforests, windswept bays and sleepy villages. Beginning at cosmopolitan Sydney, this journey takes visitors past the stunning New South Wales coastline, through the pretty Victoria countryside and on to friendly Melbourne.

Estimated Duration: 6 Days
Suggested Itinerary:

  • Day 1: Sydney to Jervis Bay
  • Day 2: Jervis Bay to Tilba Tilba
  • Day 3: Tilba Tilba to Mallacoota
  • Day 4: Mallacoota to Metung
  • Day 5: Metung to Walhalla

2. Brisbane to Cairns:

Take a trip through tropical Queensland. Along the way you’ll discover a superb range of attractions including the World Heritage listed Fraser Island and the pretty Whitsunday region. This route could easily be called ‘the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef’, an in-road to the world’s largest and most spectacular structure made by living creatures.

Estimated Duration: 9 Days
Suggested Itinerary:

  • Day 1: Brisbane to the Fraser Island
  • Day 2: Fraser Island
  • Day 3: Fraser Island to Raglan Farm Stay
  • Day 4: Raglan to Airlie Beach
  • Day 5: The Whitsundays
  • Day 6: Airlie Beach to Townsville
  • Day 7: Townsville to Mission Beach
  • Day 8: Mission Beach to Cairns

3. Hobart Circular Self Drive

Once you’ve arrived in Hobart and picked up your Hobart car hire vehicle, you’ll be free to explore rugged, windswept landscapes, rich in history and contrasting scenery. Discover national parks, dramatic mountain ranges, stop over at sleepy villages and bustling towns. Tasmania truly is a joy to tour.

Estimated Duration: 10 Days
Suggested Itinerary:

  • Day 1: Hobart
  • Day 2: Hobart to Strahan
  • Day 3: Strahan to Cradle Mountain
  • Day 4: Cradle to Mountain
  • Day 5: Cradle Mountin to Launceston
  • Day 6: Launceston
  • Day 7: Launceston to Freycinet National Park
  • Day 8: Freycinet National park.
  • Day 9: Freycinet National park to Hobart
  • Day 10: Hobart

4. The Northern Territiory

Uluru/Ayer’s Rock
Take your four-wheel drive on an unforgettable adventure through the Red Centre (Australia’s heartland). Starting out at Alice Springs, travel through the vast red desert to explore the natural wonders of Palm Valley and Kings Canyon. Finally, drive to Ayers Rock to experience iconic must-sees such as Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Estimated Duration: 4 Days
Suggested Itinerary:

  • Alice Springs
  • Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
  • Kings Canyon to Uluru/Ayers Rock
  • Uluru/Ayers Rock

5. Broome to Darwin

Having collected your hire car in Broome, you’ll be on your way to discovering spectacular gorges, deserted waterholes and wild, windswept mountain ranges. Two of Western Australia’s brightest gems, El Questro Wilderness and Kakadu National Park are to be found en-route.

Estimated Duration: 9 Days
Suggested Itinerary:

  • Broome to Mt Hart Station
  • Mt Hart to Mt Elizabeth Station
  • Mt Elizabeth Station to El Questro
  • El Questro
  • El Questro to Kununurra
  • Kununurra to Katherine
  • Katherine to Kakadu NP
  • Kakadu National Park
  • Kakadu National Park
  • Kakadu to Darwin

Europes Most Magical Christmas Markets

Posted By: mcleare  //  Category: Uncategorized

Glossy parcels tied up with ribbon, cute stocking fillers, handcrafted Christmas tree ornaments…these are just a few of the festive goodies you’ll be loading into your hire car this November and December. As temperatures begin to dip, town squares all over Europe are being blanketed with fairy dust and seasonal cheer. Here at Argus we’ve compiled a veritable selection box of the sweetest Christmas markets taking place across Europe this winter.

Munich Christkindlmarkt

Dates: 30th November-23rd December
Venue: Marienplatz
Best Germany Car Hire Buys: Wooden nativity scenes, handcrafted Christmas decorations, fragrant festive wreaths.
Tasty Festive Fare: Baked apples, roasted almonds, roasted chestnuts, potato pancakes, traditional Glühwein and spicy gingerbread Lebkuchen biscuits.

Prague Christmas Market:

Dates: 01 December-01 January
Venue: Old Town/Wenceslas Square
Best Czech Car Hire Buys: Czech glass, wooden toys, Christmas tree ornaments, scented candles, hand carved puppets and dolls.
Tasty Festive Fare: Corn on the cob, fried sausages, svarene vino (mulled wine).

Budapest Christmas Market:

Dates: 24th November-27 December 2007
Venue: Vörösmarty Square
Best Hungary Car Hire Buys: Handcrafted ceramic mugs, Hungarian Christmas cakes, traditional folk arts and crafts.
Tasty Festive Fare: Hungarian flat bread, grilled meats, strudel, mulled wine, pastry horns.

Krakow Christmas Market:

Dates: 28th November-26th December 2007
Venue: Rynek (Market Square)
Best Poland Car Hire Buys: Woollen slippers, amber jewellery, Szopki Christmas Cribs.
Tasty Festive Fare: Grilled sausages, fried local oscypek cheese, Grzaniec Galicyjski (mulled wine)

Salzburg Christmas Market:

Dates: 22nd November-24th December2007
Venue: Cathedral Square and Residenz Square in the Old City
Best Austria Car Hire Buys: Gingerbread hearts, woollen sweaters, Nativity figurines, Christmas tree ornaments and handcrafted wooden toys.
Tasty Festive Fare: Toasted almonds, baked apples and mulled wine.

Geneva Cointrin International: A Divided Airport

Posted By: mcleare  //  Category: Uncategorized

Sharing just 4.5km of its border with the rest of Switzerland and the other 103km with France, Geneva can be geographically puzzling for some visitors. On touchdown in Geneva Cointrin International Airport passengers may wonder whether they’ve arrived in France or Switzerland and it’s easy to see why.

Geneva Cointrin International Airport is divided into a French sector and a Swiss sector. The airport is situated approximately 5km from the city centre, with its northern corner running along the Swiss-French Border. The airport can be accessed from both countries. However, passengers on flights from France aren’t required to undergo usual customs and immigration checks if they remain in the French section of the airport.

The French section of the airport allows those travelling without a Swiss visa to take domestic French flights to the French sector of the airport, as well as the option of taking road connections to nearby French towns and ski resorts without passing through Swiss territory. The segregated nature of the airport has implications for car hire too.

Hiring a Car in French Geneva V Hiring a Car in Swiss Geneva
  • Generally speaking, prices for car hire in the French sector are cheaper
  • Cars rented on the Swiss side come with a visible motorway sticker called a ‘vignette’. This allows drivers access to all motorways in Switzerland.
  • Hiring a car on the French side means motorway stickers aren’t provided for Switzerland. This is a drawback for those planning on driving in Switzerland. Motorway stickers cost CHF 40 (€24) and if not provided, need to be purchased from post offices, petrol stations, garages or other motoring organisations. Currently, a fine of CHF 100-(€60) is in place for those who fail to display a valid motorway sticker.

Getting to France from Cointrin International Airport:

It’s possible to completely avoid Swiss territory by driving direct to France via Ferney-Voltaire on the D-984.

Getting to Switzerland from Cointrin International Airport:

Follow the N1 motorway from the airport. Be aware that motorway stickers are required for use of this route.

Click here for more information on Geneva Airport - Swiss Side

Click here for more information on Geneva Airport - French Side

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