Enjoying the freedom of the open road is one of the fundamental pleasures of travel. Most Bridge & Wickers holidays offer this experience, often along some of the world’s most famously scenic drives. Best known in Australia, for example, is the Great Ocean Road linking Adelaide with Melbourne, but you can also drive the Sapphire coast from Melbourne to Sydney, the Pacific Coast Highway from Sydney to Brisbane and, for the adventurous, the Outback Gibb River Road through the Kimberley. We can also arrange self-drive holidays in places you might not have even considered, including Namibia, Oman and Thailand. And in New Zealand, Canada and Australia you might want to consider renting a motorhome, offering the freedom to travel wherever you want and amazingly affordable prices.

Africa

If you enjoy the freedom of setting your own pace, following your fancy and changing the day’s plans on the spur of the moment, a self-drive tour of South Africa, Namibia or Oman makes a fabulous holiday. In comparison to Europe, there is little traffic, roads are good – and they drive on the left, too. We provide detailed driving instructions. We can also arrange an exciting self-drive camping safari for you in Namibia. All the equipment is provided and campsite bookings made.

Australia

Travel Down Under can be far more rewarding than simply moving from place to place. Such are the options for getting around that they’re bound to play an intrinsic part of your holiday experience. Although distances in Oz are on an alien scale, we recommend several superb drives either by car or, for excellent value, motorhome. These include the iconic Great Ocean Road between Melbourne and Adelaide, plus the coastal routes between Brisbane and Sydney and from Sydney to Melbourne, or from Perth either north along the Coral Coast or south to the Margaret River and beyond. 

New Zealand

There’s no finer way to appreciate New Zealand’s scenic grandeur than by driving. Whether you travel by car, motorhome or even motorbike, you’ll relish the freedom of the open road – especially since you’ll have to share it with so few people. But even visitors who explore New Zealand by hired car are likely to incorporate a range of other transport, either by water (ferry, sea kayak or jetboat), by air (helicopter hops or flightsee jaunt) and land (on walking trails or TranzAlpine train).

Canada
Canada cries out to be explored. You’ll find driving remarkably easy and courteous, even in the big cities where the traffic is still relatively light compared with home. For unbeatable value and the convenience of not having to find a hotel at the end of the day you might want to consider a motorhome, especially if you are travelling with young children, staying at the country’s network of well-appointed campsites.

Asia

Malaysia is considered the single best country in South East Asia to explore by hired car, travelling along either the east or west coasts and up into the Cameron Highlands. You might also want to at least think about self-driving – also on the left hand side - in Thailand, although we would only recommend this in the north of the country and never in Bangkok.