Articles by Marcus Craft

With hybrid SUVs, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and utes, such as the BYD Shark 6, already here, and with more petrol-electric-powered vehicles on the way, like the BYD Fang Cheng Bao 5 (aka Denza B5, recently spotted testing in Australia), are petrol-electric hybrids set to relegate traditional ICE 4WDs into the dusty annals of history?Read on.A plug-in hybrid 4WD — one in which the electric motor runs the show until its battery is depleted enough that the internal-combustion engine kicks in as back-up — offers an effective compromise between helping to reduce the volume of climate change-induced woes our planet is being forced to suffer and still being able to get to and from your favourite campsite.Sure, it’s an all-wheel drive and best suited to light-duty off-roading, but the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a great example of a well-executed hybrid that is already here and well worth a look.This mid-size SUV has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (producing 98kW at 5000rpm and 195Nm at 4300rpm), an electric motor on the front and rear axles, and a lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 20kWh. Combined output (engine and electric motors) is 185kW and 450Nm and this PHEV’s electric-only driving range is listed as 84km on a full charge.It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes in this vehicle include Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud.This Outlander has three power-use modes: EV Mode (“perfect for low to medium speeds in urban areas”, according to Mitsubishi), Series Hybrid Mode (“when accelerating or climbing hills, the hybrid petrol engine can be used to generate additional power while the vehicle runs on motor power”), and Parallel Hybrid Mode (“for high-speed driving such as overtaking vehicles on the highway, the vehicle runs on engine power while being assisted by the electric motor”).The PHEV’s EV-only driving range is a listed 84km but my most recent test vehicle (a GSR-spec Outlander) used most of its battery power on a 110km highway trip. Regenerative braking regained very little of that used power and the Outlander switched to rely on petrol for the remaining 30km or so of that trip.It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes include Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud, which all tweak engine, electric motor, and transmission to suit the selected mode.This Outlander is pleasant on sealed surfaces And it’s comfortable and capable off-road as well — as long as you stick within the parameters of the kind of “off-road” terrain an AWD SUV is built to cope with: well-maintained gravel roads and dirt tracks with minor corrugations in dry conditions or, at worst, rain-puddled blacktop.The Outlander has off-road measures that are fine for a city-focussed vehicle: 18.3 (degrees approach angle), 22.2 degrees (departure), 18 degrees (ramp breakover), and 203mm of ground clearance (unladen).It’s nimble in the bush (because steering is sharp), visibility is satisfactory all-round, and it settles well on gravel and dirt tracks at speed, only skipping around on rougher sections, due to its firm suspension and road tyres.You can switch drives modes to Gravel, Snow or Mud to best suit the terrain, however, the Outlander’s lack of ground clearance, road-biased tyres and 20-inch wheels, impact its capability.But, this is still a handy dirt-road tourer, yielding comfortable and controlled ride and handling, as well as an overall refined driving experience, only ever becoming rattled when the road or track surface becomes very chopped up and bumpy.The Outlander’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system deserves a fair amount of credit. This electric-powered traction control system manages torque application so it is instantaneous, he system cuts power to the wheel that has little grip and sends drive to the wheel with the most grip, and delivers that drive with impressive levels of throttle control and an even-handed management of power.Payload is listed as 605kg, towing capacity is 750kg (unbraked) and 1600kg (braked). GVM is 2750kg and GCM is 4350kg.My most recently tested example, the Mitsubishi Outlander GSR PHEV, has a listed fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km on a combined cycle but, as with all official fuel figures from any carmaker, you can take it with a grain of salt.On my most recent test, dash-indicated fuel consumption was 5.8L/100km; actual fuel consumption, as measured from pump to pump, was 7.7L/100km.Dash-indicated power usage was 20.8kWh/100km. This PHEV gobbled through most of its 20kWh battery capacity quite swiftly on the drive from the vehicle pick-up point in Sydney to our test start-point just over 100km away. It recouped 10km electric driving range via regenerative braking on a series of long downhills when set to ‘Charge’ driving mode (with the combustion engine generating power to the battery), but I had to cycle through regen modes to optimise that power regain.The dash-indicated combined driving range (battery and engine) was 748km on a full charge and a full 56-litre tank.Note: off-roading places a heavier burden on any vehicle – combustion, hybrid, EV – so battery capacity in a PHEV will be depleted faster and more fuel will be used than on sealed surfaces.Another intriguing hybrid already here is the BYD Shark 6 ute. This first for Australia – a plug-in hybrid ute – presents a strong case, in terms of performance and potential.It has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with dual electric motors: a 170kW/310Nm front motor and a 150kw/340Nm rear motor (total: 320kW and 650Nm).This BYD ute has a claimed driving range of 100km (electric only), and approximately 850km (hybrid).That’s a decent stretch of driving and worth noting because a plug-in hybrid doesn’t burden its driver with the crippling range anxiety that troubles some EV drivers.The Shark has a listed payload of 850kg and braked towing capacity of 2500kg. It doesn’t have the 1000kg payload or 3500kg market-standard towing capacity of non-hybrid utes, but it can still take on a considerable burden and clock up big distances before it needs to be refuelled/recharged, which is more than anyone can reasonably expect from any current EV.The good news is there are more hybrid 4WDs to come that, on paper at least, also have the potential to be decent off-roaders.Most noteworthy for now is the Shark 6’s stablemate, the Denza B5. As a a plug-in hybrid 4WD with a ladder-frame chassis and BYD’s Dual-Motor Intelligence technology onboard, the Denza B5 has a similar powertrain and platform set-up to the Shark 6.The B5 has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with twin electric motors (one at each axle) producing a very impressive 500kW and 760Nm.Bolstering its expected capability off-road, the B5 has that aforementioned ladder-frame chassis, three diff locks, 18-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres and the brand's Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System. Similar in principle to other existing systems in other vehicles – for example, onboard the Nissan Patrol – this set-up is claimed to tighten on-road for more dynamic on-road driving and loosen off-road for more wheel articulation – but it is also claimed to be able to independently raise wheel heights by up to 200mm.In other good news for those who want plenty of driving range out of their touring 4WD, the B5 has a 31.4kWh battery – bigger than that of a standard hybrid – and that’s tipped to yield a 120km electric driving range. All up though – with a full fuel tank and fully charged battery – this Chinese-made 4WD should offer a total driving range of more than 1000km.So, it’s obvious the 4WD realm is rapidly changing and the future is a world in which there are more well-engineered and off-road-capable PHEVs on the road and on bush tracks.

The Ford Ranger was the best-selling vehicle in the country for the second consecutive year in 2024.And now there’s another Ford ute on the horizon that looks set to shake up the ute market in Australia.Due on sale here in 2026, the Ford Ranger Super Duty has been touted as a mid-sized ute with “next-level, work-ready capability”, according to Ford.Purpose built for those with harsh job requirements, including emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners and infrastructure technicians, the Super Duty will have a 4500kg braked towing capacity, a 4500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) and an 8000kg gross combined mass (GCM) rating.Let’s take a deep dive into everything we know so far about the Ford Ranger Super Duty.Read on.The Ford Ranger Super Duty is a mid-sized ute intended to be capable of tackling extremely tough work duties that no other standard mid-sized ute is capable of doing straight out of the factory.Details and specs remain somewhat sketchy, but the Super Duty will be, according to Ford, a new ute that's engineered from scratch for heavy-duty applications. It will also be the first mid-size ute to carry the Super Duty badge in Australia.Ford reckons its Super Duty project is a direct response to Aussie customers who want a gung-ho ute capable of hauling big loads, but in a vehicle size that is easier to manoeuvre than a bigger US-style pick-up.The new Ford Ranger Super Duty is intended as a heavy-duty work vehicle for emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners and infrastructure technicians, as well as having lots of potential as a recreational 4WD touring vehicle and towing platform due to its “enhanced off-road capability”, so sayeth Ford.The factory-built Ford Ranger Super Duty is covered by a full Ford warranty, and has been designed, developed and engineered in Australia by a 1500-strong crew.Recent testing has been conducted in Australia.If its claimed GVM (4500kg), GCM (8000kg) and towing capacity (4500kg) turn out to be accurate, then the Super Duty is going to be a bloody beast on work sites everywhere, for lugging loads, and for weekend wanderers who want to tow boats, horse floats and the like.For quick reference, in comparison, the Ford Ranger XLT turbo-diesel V6 4x4 has a listed GVM of 3280kg, a GCM of 6400kg and maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg, and Ford’s long-wheelbase F-150 pick-up or truck offers lower GWM (3265kg) and GCM (7315kg), but equals the Super Duty’s 4500kg braked towing capacity.In terms of styling, the Ford Ranger Super Duty will have new wheels, wider arches than a standard Ranger, an all-new grille design, replete with a new off-road-style front bumper, as well as substantial underbody protection.There are no details about what powertrain the Super Duty will get, but perhaps the Ranger’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine (184kW at 3250rpm and 600Nm from 1750-2250rpm), along with the line-up’s 10-speed automatic transmission, will be a good fit. A power and torque boost may even be on the cards, in order for the Super Duty to handle the much-touted heavier loads it may be burdened with.Australia’s Super Duty will likely sport the eight-stud, 18-inch steel wheel and 33-inch all-terrain tyre package of the US Ford F-250 Super Duty.Also, it could be in line to share the Raptor's wheel track, which is 50mm wider than the standard Ranger.No word on suspension yet, but upfront it may be fitted with new front control arms (similar to the Raptor’s cast-alloy units), and it will likely have a leaf-sprung rear axle rather than Raptor-esque coils, as the Super Duty is a vehicle intended for load-carrying and towing.It may also have job-specific accessories such as push-button Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Trailer Navigation (aimed at ensuring your vehicle and trailer go via a route that the combination will be able to physically travel through) and even on-board scales.The Ford Ranger Super Duty – or Ford Super Duty Ranger as some have dubbed it – will be manufactured at the same Thai facility as most made-for-Australia Rangers.The Ford Ranger Super Duty is expected to be unveiled sometime later this year and is tipped to be on sale here in 2026.An all-new ute sporting major hardware upgrades, resulting in impressively uprated payload and tow ratings, being sold in a ute-hungry market? Name your price…At time of writing, there were no clear indications of what the Ford Ranger Super Duty’s eventual price-tag would be, but expect to pay upwards of $75,000.It will be bigger and built more robustly for heavier duties than those undertaken by standard Rangers.And it will likely be in a price range comparable to the Raptor.Keep reading CarsGuide.com.au to stay up to date with news on all upcoming vehicle releases, including the Ford Ranger Super Duty, which is due to be launched here in 2026.

The Toyota Fortuner has been available in Australia for a decade but has never got anywhere near hitting the sales heights of the HiLux on which it's based.With a new Fortuner possibly due in the not-too-distant future, it's worth revisiting the seven-seat Fortuner to see how this ageing 4WD wagon stands up against in a realm dominated by fresher, more sophisticated rivals.

Where to put L plates on a car in Australia?L plates must be displayed on the front and rear of a vehicle in a way that is easily visible for other drivers.Some states/territories insist that your L plates must be positioned on the outside of the vehicle, but some are okay if your L plates are inside the vehicle, as long as they are clearly visible to other drivers from the front or rear.Here’s a state by state/territory breakdown of where to put L plates on a car so you abide by the law and you avoid copping a fine.ACT Policing states: “‘L’ plates must be displayed on the front and rear of a vehicle in a way that is easily visible for other drivers.“Plates should be the correct size and colour and the letter on the plate should be fully visible.Where to display L plates? “It’s important to select the most visible display option for your vehicle,” ACT Policing said. Good spots are on an external panel at the front and rear of the vehicle or fastened to the registration plate, without obscuring that plate at all and ensuring that the ‘L’ on the learner plate is completely visible.So, can you put L plates in the window? “You can use plates specifically designed for display in the front or rear windscreen," ACT Policing said.“However, a slanted windscreen is not suitable for displaying plates as the plate will face up, towards the sky, and won’t be easily visible to other drivers from the front and rear."How to put L plates on a car? Where to put L sticker on car?“Other options, such as magnetic plates, plate display brackets and plate clips are also available to drivers,” ACT Policing said.The ACT Road Rules Handbook clarifies the “easily visible” description by stating: “‘L’ plates are not clearly visible if they are placed, for example, behind wiper arms, behind rear louvres or inside tinted windows.”In the ACT a “Fail to display ‘L’ plates on car as required” offence may attract a $208 fine, but no demerit points.Where to put L plates? Transport NSW states: “You must clearly display your L plates on the front and back of the outside of your vehicle – the letters must not be hidden.”The NSW government expands on that explanation, by stating: “When driving, learners must display L plates clearly on the front and back of the car.“The plates must be on the outside, or there must be an L sign on the roof.“The letter L on the plate must not be hidden.“So your plates do not fall off, secure them with a clip or holder.”In NSW a “Fail to display ‘L’ plates on car as required” attracts a $272 fine and two demerit points.How to display L plates? “L plates [150mm by 150mm and consisting of a black letter ‘L’ against a yellow background) must be clearly displayed on the front and back of the vehicle.Northern Territory Police Force said: “The L plates must be easily seen by other road users and must not block or obscure the driver’s view.“It is recommended that L plates are displayed vertically on the vehicle — not facing upwards on the bonnet or boot. Brackets for mounting L plates next to the number plate can be purchased at most automotive supply stores.“Roof-mounted L plates do not replace the L plates that must be displayed at the front and rear of the vehicle.“Where an L plate is displayed in the window of the vehicle, make sure that the angle of the window, any tinting or louvers on the window or anything on the outside of the vehicle (like spoilers or items in the tray of a ute) do not obscure other road users’ clear view of the L plate.“If towing a trailer, an L plate must also be displayed on the back of the trailer.” (Note: In the NT, you’re allowed to tow while on a class C learner licence. You may not be legally allowed to do so in other states or the ACT, so check before you tow.)In the NT, if you’re a “Learner driver or rider without L plates” then you may cop a $100 fine and two demerit points.Where to put L plates in Qld? The Queensland government doesn’t mince words about this issue.It states: “You must display L plates so the letter 'L' on each plate can be seen clearly at the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles) from 20m away.“The minimum size and colour of an L plate is 14.6cm x 14.6cm, with a black uppercase letter 'L' on a yellow background. You can't use any other colour.”It goes on to state: “You and your supervisor may both be fined if your L plates are not correctly displayed.“As the learner driver, you will get two demerit points recorded on your traffic history. If you get four or more demerit points in a 12-month period, you will be suspended from driving for three months.”In Queensland if you commit the following offence – “Learner licence holder failing to display L plates clearly legible at front and rear of vehicle” – then you face a $258 fine and two demerit points.Helpfully, there is a L plate template (https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/l-plate-template) so you can print two full-colour L plates, laminate them, and attach those to your vehicle.Road rules in South Australia around learner driver permit conditions and laws are similar to those in other states/territories.It states: “You must display the prescribed L-plates so that they are clearly visible from the front and the rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles).“Driving with a learner's permit means you need L-plates on the vehicle so drivers know you are an inexperienced driver. L-plates must meet the following requirements:“The minimum size is shown here . L-plates must have the letter L printed in black on a yellow background.“L-plates must be clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorbikes).”In SA, if you’re the holder of a Learner’s permit and commit the following offence – “driving a car on road while plates are not correctly affixed to the car” – then you are liable for a $248 fine (if you have only L plate affixed to the vehicle), or $428 fine and two demerit points if you have no L plates affixed to the vehicle.Among the many sensible rules for those learning to drive, the Tasmanian government states that as a learner licence holder, “you must ensure your L plates can be seen from the front and back of your car”.Tasmanian Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021 states: “A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a public street under the authority of a learner licence unless a sign issued or authorised by the Registrar displaying the letter "L" in black lettering on a yellow background (an L-plate) is displayed so as to be clearly visible:– (a) in the case of a motor cycle, at the rear of the motor cycle; or– (b) in the case of any other motor vehicle, from the front and rear of the motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle is towing a trailer and the trailer would obscure the visibility of the letter displayed at the rear of the motor vehicle, from the front of the motor vehicle and from the rear of the trailer.“Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.”In Tasmania, if you’re the holder of a learner licence and, as a “novice driver” or as a “learner driver”, you commit the following offence – “fail to display clearly visible L-plates as required” – you may face a $101 fine and two demerit points.Where to put L plates on your car in Victoria? Transport Victoria is absolutely clear about this: “Attach your L or P plates to your front and back windscreens.“You should use L or P plates that attach to external parts of your car (other than your front and back windscreens) if: your windows are so tinted it’s hard to see the plate (or) you’re worried you might damage the demister lines on your back windscreen.“Your plates must be visible from at least 20 metres away, on the front and back of your vehicle.“If you don't do this, you could be fined.”That fine for (offence code 2112) “Fail to display 'L' plates when and as required” amounts to one demerit point and a $165 fine (correct at time of writing).WA’s Department of Transport (DOT) states that the holder of a learner’s permit must display the “appropriate” L plates on the front and back of the vehicle when they are driving and those plates must be clearly visible.So, what is an “appropriate” L plate? “Each L plate must measure not less than 150 mm by 150 mm and bear a black letter “L” clearly marked on a yellow background,” according to WA legislation.If towing (learner drivers in WA are allowed to tow a trailer as long as they abide by the conditions of their learner permit), the learner driver must ensure that the L plates are fully visible at the front and back of the vehicle, which may require one plate being positioned on, and correctly affixed to, the rear of whatever is being towed.Demerit points apply to learner drivers in WA and they may not have any more than three demerit points recorded against them or their learner’s permit will be suspended or disqualified.Failure to properly display L plates on a vehicle in WA may result in two demerit points for the learner driver.Note: All details (laws, conditions, penalties etc) are correct at time of writing. This feature is not intended as legal advice. Make sure you check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory for up-to-date details.

How many passengers can a learner have?Learner drivers are permitted to carry passengers but the answer pertaining to the number of passengers permitted and the conditions that apply depends on the state or territory in which you live.But what is certain is that learner driver rules state that the learner driver, supervisor (an individual who holds a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and has held that licence for at least one year) and any passengers in the vehicle must be properly restrained by seat belts or approved child restraints.Are there exceptions? No.Of course, common sense dictates that the fewer passengers in a car when a learner drive is at the wheel, the fewer distractions there are within the vehicle for that learner driver…Anyway, here’s our state-by-state/territory guide to 'How many people can a learner have in the car?'Can learner drivers have passengers? Yes, as long as they and the driver are all properly restrained with seat belts or, where appropriate, government-approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in the ACT?A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the legal passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat – and that person must have a valid open licence for the class of vehicle the learner driver is driving and must have held that licence for at least one year.Does the age of passengers matter (e.g. babies)? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in NSW?A learner driver in NSW is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the driver of the vehicle and all passengers must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in the Northern Territory?There are no passenger restrictions for learners or provisional drivers in the NT, other than the learner driver is only permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, and they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in Queensland?A learner driver in Queensland may carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but the vehicle’s driver and all passengers must be wearing seat belts properly or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in South Australia?Learner's permit holders in South Australia are not subject to any passenger restrictions, other than the legal passenger-carrying capacity of the vehicle which they’re driving at the time.How many passengers can a learner driver have?A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in Tasmania?A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in Victoria?A learner driver is permitted to carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving, but they must have a supervising driver in the front passenger seat.Can a learner driver drive with a child in the car in Victoria? Yes, as long as that child is properly restrained with a government-approved age-appropriate child restraint.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved child restraints.How many passengers can a learner driver have in Western Australia?There is no restriction on the number of passengers a learner driver may have in a vehicle in WA, except, of course, the vehicle must only be carrying the number of passengers it is legally allowed to have onboard.Also, the learner driver, supervising driver and all passengers must be properly wearing properly wear seat belts or government-approved child restraints.Does the age of passengers matter? No, but everyone in the vehicle – the driver and all passengers – must be properly wearing seat belts or, if appropriate, approved baby seats or child restraints.

The popularity of 4X4s/4x4s/4WDs/4wds/off-roaders/whatever you want to call them has grown tremendously in the past 10 to 15 years and these vehicles regularly top national sales charts and they’re everywhere on our roads and bush tracks.

The D-Max Blade, a collaboration between Isuzu and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, was developed locally as a hardcore four-wheel drive. It has 3mm steel bash plates, Aussie-tuned and lifted suspension, light truck construction all-terrain tyres and Blade-specific design enhancements. But, without extra power and torque, is the Blade actually worth $15,000 more than the LS-U+ on which it's based?

The 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado (aka the 250 Series) is big news: it's larger than previous versions of the Prado and it is now able to tow the industry standard 3500kg rather than the 3000kg the previous generation is limited to.It also looks a lot different to the softer style of Prados past. But does being bolder and bigger make it better?

Utes are incredibly popular in Australia as evidenced by the fact that the Toyota HiLux and the Ford Ranger consistently top the sale charts here.

Is it illegal to park on the nature strip in Australia?Yes, it is illegal to park on the nature strip in Australia. A driver is only legally permitted to park on a nature strip if they stop “at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules; or the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction”, as stated by the Australian Road Rules.And that law applies no matter whether you’re in Qld, NSW, Vic or any other state or territory.Nature strip parking is generally frowned upon, no matter where you reside.A nature strip, also sometimes referred to as a road verge, is the public area of land between a property boundary and the road, and this area is usually covered in grass.In Australia, the local council of the area in which you reside owns the nature strips, but the owner or resident of each property adjoining each nature strip is ultimately responsible for the nature strip and that includes the maintenance of it, such as weeding, nature strip mowing and keeping edges neat where the grass meets the kerb and driveway.No. According to Australian Road Rules (Reg 197):“Stopping on a path, dividing strip, nature strip, painted island or traffic island(1) A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area, unless—(a) the driver stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules ; or(b) the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction.”As above: you may not park on a nature strip unless there is clear signage permitting you to do so for the period you are parked there, or “the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction” – check with your local council to make sure you have up-to-date information applicable to your specific situation.No, Australian Road Rules (Reg 197) apply throughout the country and if you do park on a nature strip, you may be fined by police or a council ranger. You may be lucky enough to be a rare example of an individual case of leniency, but it’s not worth the risk.Yes, there are penalties for illegally parking on a nature strip in Australia. The severity of those may differ between states, territories and local council areas but, as we all know, it’s not fun to cop a fine.Penrith City Council states that “the penalty for parking on the footpath or nature strip in a built-up area exceeds $257”, and that “the penalty for parking on a footpath or nature strip in a built-up area within a school zone exceeds $330 and 2 demerit points”.The fine for parking on a nature strip in Victoria varies from councils to council, but expect to pay between $110 and $580 for the offence.If you are fined for parking on a nature strip in Noosa Shire Council area, you may cop 20 penalty units. A penalty unit value in Queensland, as of 1 July 2024, is $161.30. That works out to be a total fine of $3226. Ouch.No. Parking on a nature strip is illegal. Having said that, some councils are known to take a more, shall we say, relaxed approach in that they’ll permit you to park on a nature strip without penalty as long as you have written permission from the adjoining property’s landowner to park there. But don’t tell them I said that…This is a tricky subject because you don’t want to cause friction with your neighbours but you also don’t want them parking on your nature strip. Contact your local council and let them know your concerns as soon as you’re aware of the issue. Then hopefully there’ll be a peaceful resolution to the problem.Contact your local council for up-to-date details on this and any other parking-related issues and you’ll, hopefully, stay on the correct side of the law.However, if you’re still asking at this point, “Are you allowed to park on the nature strip?”, or “Is it legal to park on the nature strip?”, then return to the top of this article and re-read it all.