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Next: cairns & queensland
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External
Since: Jun 28, 2005
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:25 am
Post subject: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads
Archived from groups: rec>travel>australia+nz (more info?)
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Hi, I am trying to rent a small 4WD (we have 2 people only) for 7 days
in Darwin, NT, to go to Kakadu National Park. I do not intend to go
off-road, but I do want to go on unsealed roads which are recommended
for 4WD vehicles.
However, most car hire companies, tell me I can't take their small 4WD
on unsealed roads, and even with large 4WD's, they still won't allow on
some roads which are designated as 4WD by the National Park.
This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
can't go on unsealed roads? How can they do that? Is it legal to make
such crazy restrictions?
Thank you for any insight,
Mark Galecki |
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External
Since: Dec 21, 2004
Posts: 13
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(Msg. 2) Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:55 am
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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wrote in message
> Hi, I am trying to rent a small 4WD (we have 2 people only) for 7 days
> in Darwin, NT, to go to Kakadu National Park. I do not intend to go
> off-road, but I do want to go on unsealed roads which are recommended
> for 4WD vehicles.
>
> However, most car hire companies, tell me I can't take their small 4WD
> on unsealed roads, and even with large 4WD's, they still won't allow on
> some roads which are designated as 4WD by the National Park.
>
> This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
> can't go on unsealed roads? How can they do that? Is it legal to make
> such crazy restrictions?
>
> Thank you for any insight,
>
> Mark Galecki
>
I'm surprised at the restriction you refer too, there are some differences
in terminology that the hire industry loves to exploit.
Roads - generally are (in hire industry terms) "gazetted" and maintained
by the local shire council, state government or via the state government
by Federal funds. My understanding is that you can drive any hire vehicle
down any gazetted road with impunity.
Unsealed roads if they are gazetted roads are just another road. There are
long sections of the Pacific Highway which are being upgraded at present
and are "unsealed" but the hire industry would have absolutely no chance
of arguing that you drove on an unsealed road. Mind you dont need a 4x4
to drive down an unsealed road.
Off road means not on a gazetted road - this can include a lot of National
Parks - mainly so that the National Park Rangers can close roads when
they like to - which is a pain in the arse if you ask me.
How do you tell a gazetted and non gazetted road? I do not have a clue,
especially in outback Australia where station tracks, mining access roads,
gazetted roads and roads someone thought would be a good idea to create
with their 4x4 vehicle exist. |
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External
Since: Jan 30, 2005
Posts: 9
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:10 pm
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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In article 1119965139.220920.248440.DeleteThis@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com,
" "
wrote:
> This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
> can't go on unsealed roads? How can they do that? Is it legal to make
> such crazy restrictions?
Not only is it crazy, but here near Cardwell NQ there are "bountys" paid by
the rental companies to local residents who have units that overlook two
offroad highways. Since the rental companies put distinctive markers on
their vehicles, they can easily report the rego numbers to the rental
companies who then impose an off-road assessment when the vehicle is
returned. >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: Dec 30, 2004
Posts: 293
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:08 pm
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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wrote in message
> Hi, I am trying to rent a small 4WD (we have 2 people only) for 7 days
> in Darwin, NT, to go to Kakadu National Park. I do not intend to go
> off-road, but I do want to go on unsealed roads which are recommended
> for 4WD vehicles.
>
Frankly I wouldnt take a small 4WD on those roads. Most simply dont
have the ground clearance to cope in my opinion, the Jeep Wrangler
being an exception.
> However, most car hire companies, tell me I can't take their small 4WD
> on unsealed roads, and even with large 4WD's, they still won't allow on
> some roads which are designated as 4WD by the National Park.
>
Thrify's policy is
"The Vehicle must not be used by You or by any Authorised Driver (unless
authorised by Us in writing):
On any unsealed road (being a road not sealed with a hard material such as
tar, bitumen or concrete)
unless the Vehicle is a 4WD in which case it may also be used on graded
unsealed roads."
This seems perfectly reasonable, unless the road is maintained washouts
can make it impassable even to a 4WD
> This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
> can't go on unsealed roads?
During The Wet even a 4WD wont cut it on many of the unsealed
roads in Kakadu and you'll find the park can and does close
them.
> How can they do that?
Hey it's THEIR vehicle after all and they dont want to cope with
recovering vehicles hoplessly bogged in 150 km down a track
by a clueless tourist.
> Is it legal to make
> such crazy restrictions?
>
Well yes actually it is and in fact Aussie companies are a damm
sight less restrictive than US or British rental outfits.
Keith >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: Aug 25, 2004
Posts: 127
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(Msg. 5) Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:10 pm
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Ya ever seen what a tourist's corpse looks like, recovered after sitting for
6 weeks in a stuck car.
Too dumb to follow the rules, dont advise anyone where they are going, drive
anywhere its 4wd
Bodies decompose, the flesh adheres to the seat when you move them to the
body bag, its NOT nice,
If you had to ask this question, you dont know enough to drive outside of
the streetlights,
--
_
wrote in message
| Hi, I am trying to rent a small 4WD (we have 2 people only) for 7 days
| in Darwin, NT, to go to Kakadu National Park. I do not intend to go
| off-road, but I do want to go on unsealed roads which are recommended
| for 4WD vehicles.
|
| However, most car hire companies, tell me I can't take their small 4WD
| on unsealed roads, and even with large 4WD's, they still won't allow on
| some roads which are designated as 4WD by the National Park.
|
| This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
| can't go on unsealed roads? How can they do that? Is it legal to make
| such crazy restrictions?
|
| Thank you for any insight,
|
| Mark Galecki
| >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: Nov 23, 2004
Posts: 24
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:38 am
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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AlmostBob wrote:
> Ya ever seen what a tourist's corpse looks like, recovered after sitting for
> 6 weeks in a stuck car.
> Too dumb to follow the rules, dont advise anyone where they are going, drive
> anywhere its 4wd
> Bodies decompose, the flesh adheres to the seat when you move them to the
> body bag, its NOT nice,
>
> If you had to ask this question, you dont know enough to drive outside of
> the streetlights,
This is absurd. In Western Australia (my home state), most roads in the
country areas are unsealed - even "highways" and frequently used roads.
With a minimum number of sensible precautions, it is not particularly
dangerous to drive on them. Of course there are also a number of remote
tracks that should only be attempted by experienced users of
well-equipped, fully maintained 4WDs. But the blanket-ban on unsealed
roads by hire companies has much more to do with vehicle damage than
renter safety, and unfortunately means that many interesting drives and
sights are out of bounds to most visitors.
Tom >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 7) Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 8:58 pm
Post subject: AW: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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I have made good experiences with TCC (Travel Car Center)
They have a subsidiary in Darwin and rent all kind of 4WD vehicles.
And you are allowed to drive 4WD tracks etc.
mark_galeck_spam_magnet:
> Hi, I am trying to rent a small 4WD (we have 2 people only) for 7
days
> in Darwin, NT, to go to Kakadu National Park. I do not intend to go
> off-road, but I do want to go on unsealed roads which are recommended
> for 4WD vehicles.
>
> However, most car hire companies, tell me I can't take their small
4WD
> on unsealed roads, and even with large 4WD's, they still won't allow
on
> some roads which are designated as 4WD by the National Park.
>
> This does not make sense! What is the point of renting a 4WD if you
> can't go on unsealed roads? How can they do that? Is it legal to
make
> such crazy restrictions?
>
> Thank you for any insight,
>
> Mark Galecki >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: May 21, 2006
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 8) Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 6:49 am
Post subject: Re: AW: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Imported from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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External
Since: Jun 28, 2004
Posts: 307
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(Msg. 9) Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:20 am
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Keith W wrote:
[deleted]
> When I last rented a 4WD from Thrifty in Alice Springs they
> handed me a flyer with the current list of tracks that were off limits
>
> Their rules vary with 4WD type, for a large 4WD they are
>
> <Quote>
> Access is denied as per above to the areas listed within the following
> regions:-
[deleted]
> Central Australia
> Tanami Track, Gunbarrell Highway, Plenty/Donahue Highway, Canning Stock
> Route, Oodnadatta Track, Strzlecki Track, Birdsville Track only when
> travelling with another vehicle and with Thrifty?s consent and knowledge.
>
> </Quote>
They're joking, right!?
Gunbarrell Highway and Canning Stock Route, 'yes' (AFAICT). But the
rest!? Unless they mean "*or* with Thrifty's consent and knowledge.",
instead of "and ...". The consent condition is quite common (for example
Apollo and Camperworld also have it (IIRC)). But "only when travelling
with another vehicle" is ludicrous for those tracks (at least as a
general condition). (FWIW, we've driven all these normal tracks (i.e.
except Gunbarrel and CSR).) >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: Jun 28, 2004
Posts: 307
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(Msg. 10) Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:04 pm
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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zadock.TakeThisOut@invalid.au wrote:
[deleted]
> Police no longer advise phoning ahead to next town when
> traveling in remote areas so they can look for you if you break
> down and don't get there when you should?
It depends. In our experience the answer generally is no. It's not so
much that they don't (or do) advise it, but they often (more or less)
refuse to take/accept your details.
This negative experience dates back as far as (end of) 2002 (Tanami
Track to Alice Springs). On the other hand (in November 2003), the
people at the Innamincka shop *did* appreciate our note saying we were
going to Coongie Lakes (with probably (and in fact) nobody there) and us
reporting back afterwards.
So I guess it's YMMV.
[deleted] >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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External
Since: Dec 30, 2004
Posts: 293
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(Msg. 11) Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 12:29 am
Post subject: Re: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message
> Keith W wrote:
> [deleted]
>> When I last rented a 4WD from Thrifty in Alice Springs they
>> handed me a flyer with the current list of tracks that were off limits
>>
>> Their rules vary with 4WD type, for a large 4WD they are
>>
>> <Quote>
>> Access is denied as per above to the areas listed within the following
>> regions:-
>
> [deleted]
>
>> Central Australia
>> Tanami Track, Gunbarrell Highway, Plenty/Donahue Highway, Canning Stock
>> Route, Oodnadatta Track, Strzlecki Track, Birdsville Track only when
>> travelling with another vehicle and with Thrifty?s consent and knowledge.
>>
>> </Quote>
>
> They're joking, right!?
>
Look on the site for yourself.
> Gunbarrell Highway and Canning Stock Route, 'yes' (AFAICT). But the
> rest!? Unless they mean "*or* with Thrifty's consent and knowledge.",
> instead of "and ...".
They say AND , I guess thats what they meant
Keith >> Stay informed about: why 4WD hire in NT, requires drive on sealed roads |
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