Geraldton car hire: Can I rent a car at Geraldton airport?
Car hire deals at Geraldton Airport in Western Australia cost from $49 a day. Avis, Thrifty, Budget and Hertz all offer Geraldton car hire options, but it’s also possible to rent a campervan from Geraldton Camper Hire.
Most visitors to Western Australia won’t need to rent a car in Geraldton. If they’re passing through this Western Australian coastal town, it’s likely they’ll be driving from Perth to Broome. Or, if not as far north as Broome, driving to Shark Bay for stromatolites and dolphin feeding at Monkey Mia, then moving on to the Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth. Here, you can snorkel with whale sharks, swim with whales, take a Ningaloo Reef kayaking tour or try a scenic flight in a microlight.
However, you may choose to rent a car in Geraldton if you’re visiting as a short break from Perth. While there are a few things to do in Geraldton, the main reason for visiting is a trip to the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands.
The 415km drive from Perth to Geraldton takes around four-and-a-half hours. That’s annoyingly long for a short break from Perth, so understandably, some people might choose to fly to Geraldton rather than drive. It’s possible to book a taxi from the airport, then rely on tours and scant public transport while in Geraldton. But realistically, if you’re planning to explore Geraldton and the surrounding area, you’re going to want a rental car.
6 cool Geraldton experiences you should book in advance
- (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Hear astonishing shipwreck stories, spot tiny wallabies and enjoy white sand beaches – on a full day Abrolhos Islands tour including scenic flight.
- See what you can reel in on an Abrolhos Islands fishing charter.
- Try your hand at lobster farming on lobster pot-pulling tours.
- Gasp at migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Marvel at Hutt Lagoon from above on a pink lake scenic flight.
- Watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean on a Geraldton harbour sunset cruise.
Car hire at Geraldton Airport
The airport is about 10km east of the city on the Mt Magnet road. Therefore, the most convenient Geraldton car hire option is picking up a rental car at Geraldton Airport. International car hire brands Avis, Thrifty, Budget and Hertz all have car rental operations at the airport.
Searching three months in advance for a week’s car hire, Australia Travel Questions found Geraldton car hire deals for from $49 a day. This was for a standard car, such as a Hyundai Elentra, from the Budget desk at Geraldton Airport. It did, however, have a 100km a day limit before extra charges kick in. A compact SUV, such as a Nissan Qashqai, cost from $67 with Hertz. That had the same 100km per day limit.
Geraldton car hire: city rental car outlets
Thrifty and Hertz also have outlets in Geraldton itself, although not in especially convenient locations. It’s largely pointless taking a taxi to these Geraldton car hire outlets when you can just pick a vehicle up at the airport.
The other option for vehicle hire in Geraldton is Geraldton Camper Hire. This small, independent company offers caravan and campervan hire. The cheapest campervan – a Jayco Swan Outback – costs $90 a day.
Travel between April and November – the Geraldton weather can be uncomfortably hot in summer.
Geraldton accommodation recommendations
Booking site Wotif offers Geraldton accommodation for from $119 a night. Search for the best deals here.
However, the following places to stay in Geraldton are particularly worth considering.
- For central location: Gerald Apartment Hotel.
- For low prices, but with a pool: Ibis Styles.
- To be by the beach: Ocean Centre Hotel.
- For overall quality: Mantra Geraldton.
More regional Australian car hire
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Can I pick up a hire car in Proserpine, Queensland?
Renting a car in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Mildura car hire deals, Victoria.
Rental cars in Port Lincoln on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.