Flying, driving & child restraints
Choosing between flying and driving changes more than travel time: luggage, child restraints and connecting transport all need to be arranged. A flight may replace a long road section between distant destinations; self-driving gives more flexibility for stops and luggage. Plan each as a chain of legs: arrival, transfer, rental car or flight, accommodation and the next activity.
Choose a flight, car or a mix
Flying may suit a trip with few spare days and far-apart destinations. Include the journey to the airport and the transfer from the arrival terminal to accommodation or a rental car. With a car, you can place stops around the children’s routine, but must fit the road distance and longer driving days into the calendar. A long east-coast journey can be split into car, plane and ferry sections; a published Sydney–Cairns itinerary uses this combination. The guide to family routes and manageable stages shows how to divide travel and stays.
Before booking a vehicle, include the child seat in the vehicle choice: the required seat type, number of seats, installation positions and return location need to work together. Reserve the seat with the vehicle; availability can be limited. If you switch from a flight to a rental car, it may be easier to schedule the first longer drive after an overnight stay.
Child restraints in private vehicles: NSW rules
The age bands below apply to children in private vehicles in New South Wales; they are not a general rule for every Australian state or transport type. In a private vehicle in NSW, children under seven must use an approved restraint suitable for their age and size. Up to six months, a rear-facing car seat is required. From six months to under four years, a rear- or forward-facing seat with an inbuilt harness is allowed. From four to under seven years, a forward-facing seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster is required.
Seating position also has an NSW rule: children under four cannot sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows. For children aged four to under seven, the front seat is permitted only when the available rear seats are occupied by other children under seven; a suitable restraint is still required. For children aged seven and over who are too small for an adult seatbelt, NSW recommends an approved booster or anchored safety harness. Use a booster with a lap-and-sash belt or approved child safety harness, never with a lap belt alone. The suggested minimum height for an adult seatbelt is 145 centimetres.
Plan taxis and rental cars separately
NSW taxi rules differ from private-car rules on one point: a rear-facing seat is required under six months; from six to 12 months a rear- or forward-facing seat with an inbuilt harness is allowed; for children over 12 months, NSW lists a booster or a properly adjusted seatbelt. Front-seat rules still apply. A taxi must have a child-restraint anchorage point; a seat or booster can be requested when booking or brought along. This taxi rule is specifically for NSW and does not automatically apply in other states or to other transport services.
For a rental car, plan around the private-vehicle NSW rule and reserve the suitable approved seat in advance. The guides to Australia with children and family accommodation connect transport choices with the day plan and overnight stay. More general foundations are in arrivals and transport, travel planning and nature and activities.
