Your Gateway to the Whitsundays: Car Hire at Proserpine Airport

Yes, you can drive in Queensland with a valid foreign licence—if it's in English. If your licence is in another language, you'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it. An IDP costs about £15 and is available from AA or RAC offices. The minimum age to rent a car is typically 21, with a young driver surcharge of roughly AUD $30 per day for drivers under 25.

Queensland drives on the LEFT, and your steering wheel will be on the right. This catches many visitors out. Rural roads like the Bruce Highway heading north are generally well-maintained two-lane highways, but be cautious on unsealed roads in the Whitsunday hinterland after rain. Take it slow, stay left, and remember: odometer markings are in kilometres, not miles. Speed limits are 50–60 km/h in towns and up to 100–110 km/h on open highways.

The wet season runs November to April, bringing heavy tropical downpours and flash flooding. After heavy rain, some back roads become impassable and signs may understate water depth—never cross a flooded causeway if in doubt. During these months, check weather forecasts daily and allow extra travel time. December–March also sees tropical cyclones; heed all road closure warnings. May–October is the safer dry season for self-driving.

Proserpine has two fuel stations open extended hours, but distances between stations can stretch beyond 100 km on some routes to the north or west. Always leave Proserpine with a full tank if heading into more remote areas. The route to Airlie Beach (35 km) has fuel options, but don't rely on finding a 24-hour station outside town. Fuel is unleaded petrol and diesel; electric vehicle charging infrastructure is minimal in this region—stick to a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Very real. Wildlife strikes are one of the biggest hazards in outback Queensland. Kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats are most active at dawn and dusk—and especially at night. If you see one animal by the roadside, expect more behind it. In the Whitsunday region, slow down after dark, use high beams sparingly to avoid blinding oncoming drivers, and if a collision occurs, pull over safely before calling your rental company's emergency line. Most rental policies do NOT cover wildlife strikes—check whether you need additional coverage.