Chauffeur service in Australia

BlaakLane.com provides chauffeur, black car and limousine service in 12 Australia cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Hobart, Darwin, Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast. Every city page lists the airports served, the pickup rules, the business districts and hotels we drive to most and the intercity runs booked from there. Trips are booked on one account at a fixed fare shown before you confirm, with flight tracking on every airport pickup.

Chauffeur service across Australia: what to know

Australia's international traffic is spread across several big airports. Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) handles international flights at Terminal 1 and domestic flights at T2 and T3, about 9 km from the CBD, a 20-40 minute drive. Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) is about 23 km from the city, 25-45 minutes by car. Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER) have separate international and domestic terminals, so check which one your flight uses. Chauffeured pickups are made at each airport's designated pick-up area. An arrivals-hall greeting with a name board is an add-on at Australian airports, available in selected locations. Business jets use Sydney's private aviation facilities and Melbourne Essendon.

Every visitor except New Zealanders needs a visa or an electronic authority, such as an ETA or eVisitor, before boarding. Australia's biosecurity rules on food, plants and animal products are strict, and undeclared items bring fines. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the rules.

Main routes by car in Australia

Most chauffeured road trips are short hops from a capital to a wine region, resort coast or national park.

Driving in Australia: tolls, distances and events

Australia drives on the left. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane run electronic toll roads with no cash booths, including the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Melbourne's CityLink. Kangaroos and other wildlife make rural driving at dusk risky, which is one reason to schedule country transfers in daylight. Summer bushfire and storm seasons can close regional roads at short notice. Sydney and Melbourne airport parking charges and gratuity are added to the fare at the amount actually charged.

Australia's major events set the calendar:

• January: the Australian Open in Melbourne.
• March: the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne.
• May to June: Vivid Sydney, the festival of light around the harbour.
• September: the AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
• First Tuesday in November: the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
• December 31: New Year's Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour.

Which vehicle suits which trip in Australia

A Luxury Executive Sedan is standard between the airport and the Sydney or Melbourne CBD. For a cruise departure from the Overseas Passenger Terminal, families with luggage choose a Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV. Winery groups in the Hunter or Barossa travel together in a Sprinter Van or a Sprinter Luxury Jet Van. Race days and weddings suit the Luxury Stretch Limo. See the fleet.

Business and leisure hubs in Australia

Sydney and Melbourne hold the banks, the resource companies' head offices and the big convention centres, which keeps corporate car service busy. Perth serves the mining industry, and Canberra hosts the federal government. Leisure travellers head to the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast and the wine regions. Tourism Australia lists events, and rates explains fares.

Booking tips for Australia

Distances between the state capitals are long, so most travellers fly between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and book a chauffeur at each end. International and domestic terminals are in separate buildings at Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and a car can link them if you book that leg. Hunter Valley and Yarra Valley wine days suit an hourly booking, minimum 3 hours, so the car waits at each cellar door. Queensland's resort coasts are busiest during school holidays and in the dry months from June to September. Australian trips are run by vetted local affiliates, with the operator and chauffeur named on the confirmation, and firms can consolidate billing through corporate accounts.