International Driving Permit for Heard Islands

The Heard and McDonald Islands are an uninhabited, volcanic Australian external territory in the remote southern Indian Ocean, with no roads, settlements or vehicle traffic. By convention any driving rules would follow Australia, meaning the right-of-way is the same right-side standard, but in reality access is restricted and there is nowhere to drive.

Do you need an IDP to drive in Heard Islands?

Useful

There is no public road network on the Heard and McDonald Islands, so an International Driving Permit serves no practical purpose for this uninhabited Australian territory.

Driving side: Right
Minimum driving age: 18 years
Region: Oceania
IDP: Useful

Local languages: English

Driving in Heard Islands: key facts

The islands are uninhabited and have no roads, fuel stations or car-hire services.
Access is tightly controlled as the territory is a protected nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site.
Glaciers, an active volcano and harsh subantarctic weather dominate the landscape rather than any transport network.

How to get your IDP for Heard Islands

Getting your International Driving Permit for Heard Islands takes only a few minutes:

1
Apply online
Complete a short application in about 2 minutes — no paperwork or appointments.
2
Upload your documents
Add a photo of your national driving licence and a passport-style photo.
3
Get your IDP instantly
Receive your digital International Driving Permit by email, ready to use in Heard Islands.

Frequently asked questions about driving in Heard Islands

Do I need an IDP to drive in the Heard Islands?

No, the islands are uninhabited with no roads or vehicles, so an International Driving Permit has no use there.

Can I rent a car on the Heard Islands?

No, there are no rental services, roads or settlements on the Heard and McDonald Islands.

What side of the road do the Heard Islands drive on?

There is no road traffic, but as an Australian territory the nominal standard would be right-side driving.

Can visitors travel to the Heard Islands?

Access is highly restricted and permitted only for approved scientific or conservation purposes, as the islands are a protected reserve.

Other countries in Oceania

American Samoa Antarctica Australia Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia (Federated States of)