Yes, Google Maps works in Australia, but with important caveats, especially in remote areas where it might direct you down unpaved or inappropriate roads; downloading offline maps for large regions and using alternatives like Waze or physical maps for the outback are recommended for a smoother experience.
Importantly it is free and easy to use, and my go-to app for exploring an unfamiliar destination by foot or by car. I have used Google Maps in the USA, Canada and Australia as well as the UK. The maps are clear, directions are good, and it can be connected to your car, in place of a sat nav.
Agree Garmin is the best for Australia & NZ. Although as mentioned a map is the next best option. Both Aus & NZ roads are all well sign posted for getting from A - B its the city driving which can be difficult & when a GPS is definitely needed.
User reports indicate no current problems at Google Maps.
On your computer, open Google Maps. Choose Language. Select a language. Map labels will be shown in your country's local language, but you'll find place information in the language you selected.
See results for a different country
Can I use Google Maps internationally? Yes, you can use Google Maps in other countries. It works the same way as it does in your home country.
Clear the app's cache and data
Start here, then finish the process on your device. Tap Apps & notifications. Follow the steps on your device to find the Google Maps app. After you select the app, storage and cache options should be available.
Weekly Active Users (Australia): 2.61 million. Monthly Usage per User: 152 minutes. Australian Websites with Maps Integration: 269,000+ Global Monthly Users: 2+ billion.
Gmail is available worldwide. Less than 3 issues were reported in the last hour.
The best travel apps for Australia depend on your needs, but top contenders include Google Maps/Waze for navigation, WikiCamps/CamperMate for camping, Hopper/Skyscanner/Webjet for booking flights & stays, TripAdvisor for reviews, and State-specific apps (Opal/Myki) for public transport, alongside essentials like Uber/DiDi for rides and Emergency+ for safety.
Positioning Australia's geospatial reference products and services enable centimetre-accurate position applications offered by modern technologies, despite being on the fastest moving continent on Earth! To determine position, velocity and time we rely on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology.
Yes, Google Maps does show speed cameras in Australia, including fixed, mobile, and point-to-point cameras, using a combination of official data and user reports (via the "Police" or "Hazard" reporting features), though users note the data for fixed cameras can be inconsistent or outdated, making Waze often preferred for real-time alerts in Australia.
By default, offline maps are downloaded on your device's internal storage, but you can also download them on an SD card. If your device is on Android 6.0 or higher, you can only save an area to an SD card that's set up for portable storage. To set up your SD card, get help from your phone's manufacturer.
One of the best ways to see Australia is on a self-drive road trip. Driving Australia can be easy on most routes but you need to be prepared for long distances, road rules, 4WD tracks and outback roads you might travel, so GPS navigation will come in handy many times.
Waze's driver-focused features are so good that you will even find some of them in Google Maps, which draws on Waze data to plan its driving routes. Google Maps can better help with other forms of transportation, such as buses and subways.
While it's not the only country where Google Maps doesn't fully work, South Korea stands out in stark contrast to other nations like China, Russia or Cuba, which have long had fractious relationships with the United States.
No, you cannot see exactly when someone checks your location on Google Maps, as there's no built-in notification or log for view counts; however, you receive monthly reminders when you've shared your location and can see who you're sharing with via the Location Sharing menu, but not how often they've looked at your live location.
Our ageing population means demand for GP services is increasing faster than the population is growing. The number of GPs in Australia is actually going up. In recent years it has increased 5.1%, from 37,530 in 2019 to 39,449 in 2024. This mirrors total population growth.
Google Maps could crash due to various reasons such as low memory space or storage capacity issues within your device or software glitches in the app itself. By clearing cached data or reinstalling the app, you can often fix such problems.
Google Maps may still use data in the background, affecting battery life. To limit this: Navigate to Settings > Apps > Maps > Mobile Data. Turn off Allow background data usage.
User reports indicate no current problems at Google Maps.
Google Maps Market Share in Australia
Google Maps: 79.9% Waze Navigation & Live Traffic: 17.1% Google Earth: 1.4% GPS Map Navigation: 0.9%
Mobile Mapping Apps
For most travelers concerned about data roaming, the best option is an app that works offline: Google Maps, Here WeGo, and Navmii give you turn-by-turn voice directions without a data connection — and if you make a wrong turn, will recalibrate and send you on the right way.
Using Google Maps abroad can get expensive if you're relying on your carrier's roaming. Roaming fees can be very high, and exploring a new country usually means checking the map several times a day.