It's strange that I find myself lurking and posting here! I'm an Oz citizen living and working in the US. This will be my fourth trip back home in ten years. I'm a single mother and will be taking my 1.5 year old son.

We depart on Nov 23, and return Dec 16. I am fairly content with using CityRail to get around (being that I am from Sydney and know where I'm going!), but I will be in the Blue Mountains and Port Macquarie for about a week, and was thinking it would be better to hire a car than rely on public transport, especially in the case of Port Macquarie.

I have spent time researching travel insurance this morning, and noticed that not many policies include car rental insurance. Can anyone: a) recommend a good travel insurance company that includes car rental insurance?

Also, tell me if I am understanding this correctly. If I rent a car, say it's $40 per day, if I do not have the collision waiver insurance, I have to pay $25 extra per day?

Feel free to point me in the right direction!

We've used both Access American and TravelGuard over the years - primarily for emergency health care/evacuation and cancellation ins. We've made two smallish claims and both were settled without problems.
I've never known travel ins. to include auto ins. I thought it is just done by the car rental agency. The cost is more like $5-7 per day. In some countries the insurance is mandatory. (in Italy,for example -where we were rear-ended at a red light and were very glad we had it!)
Also, sometimes your credit card will cover you.
Have fun in OZ. We were there a few years ago and loved it.

Hi emilid.
Covermore has CDW waiver cover at a very good rate. I think something like $50 for $3k cover. Most rental companies require $2500 or thereabouts.

I discovered it by accident a little while ago and it's saved me lots. You're right, it's usually another $25 or so/day otherwise and pretty well negates the "special" rates you think you're getting until you add the CDW.

Just checked with Hertz - their CD is $3250 with CDW options as follows:
Reduce to $0 ... $34/day
.. to $400 ... $23/day
to $275 .. $28/day

www.covermore.com.au

Something else you might consider - there are fantastic flight specials to Coffs pretty much all the time, so you might be better off flying up & hiring locally if you don't want to drive with a bubster.

Enjoy your trip home

Thank you everyone!

Bokhara: I would fly to Coffs but the last I remember (about ten years ago) is that the drive from Coffs to Port is about 4 hours. Maybe they've done work on the roads and it's shorter now... but that could be an option.

The only other thing is that my parents live just north of Newcastle.. so if I do rent a car, it might be from that area as opposed to Katoomba. Thanks for the idea, though!

www.bayswatercarrental.com.au/ at the Cross, just to the right of the Coca Cola sign as you look up W. Street, gives good rates.

WK

Our credit card (Visa platinum) has the coverage so we waive it at the car rental company in the US. Sometimes it isn't covered in other countries, so check. but that has saved us a lot and twice we had a claim and it was covered both times, so it works. Check with your card company and you might save a bundle.