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Off-road driving can seem intimidating. But contrary to what you might see on some YouTube channels, it doesn’t have to be treacherous and wild in order to be fun. You can stay (mostly) within your comfort zone. While still getting out there and exploring places that only 4WDs can go. No matter where you are in Australia, there are plenty of beginner-friendly places to explore and test the waters if you’re keen to try 4WDing. Here’s a list of 10 of the best beginner tracks around the country to help get you started!
Northern Territory
Finke Gorge NP – Palm Valley
The roads in and around this Red centre park are all 4WD accessible. The first section along the entry road near Hermansburg is straightforward, although quite often very corrugated. It’s not strictly necessary to lower your tyre pressure for corrugated roads but it makes the drive much more comfortable! The gravel road is gradually replaced by the Finke River. A long dry, stony riverbed sandwiched between spectacular red cliff walls that loom on either side of the river.
Once you get past the turnoff to the Palm Valley campground, the road changes its tune. The track gets increasingly rocky with drop-offs and ruts in the track. Some sections are entirely made from undulating rocky slabs that form the base of the riverbed. You’ll need to be in low 4WD with your tyres down to about 26 PSI. and take it VERY slowly.
It took us around an hour to get from camp to the beginning of the Mpulungkinya Palm Valley walking trail. The advantage of taking your time is that you have the chance to take in the spectacular views of the gorge walls and stunning red rock surrounding you.
Reynolds River Track – Litchfield NP
Most of Litchfield NP is 2WD friendly, but it gets pretty crowded. Heading South along the Reynolds River 4WD track towards Tjaynera and Surprise Creek falls will get you (somewhat) away from the masses. And reward you with some fun creek crossings, beautiful swimming holes and stunning fields of termite mounds.
This 44km track is only open during the dry season. The trickiest part is navigating the first creek crossing because you can’t quite see the end from the beginning meaning you have to trust that someone isn’t coming the other way! Keep your speed steady, use a low gear and let your tyres down before entering. The water level drops later in the season so if you’re nervous, don’t attempt it in May and check river levels online before heading out.
Once you’ve explored your fill, you can return the same way or keep heading out to the Stuart Highway via Daly Waters.
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South Australia
Sleaford to Wanna 4wd track – Lincoln National Park
Lincoln National park is a magnificent expanse of beaches, forests and dunes on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in SA. The 4WD track from Sleaford to Wanna is a great way to see some of the best bits of the park and test your sand-driving skills!
This 18 km track follows red marker poles along the coast, taking you over Limestone cliffs, past sparkling beaches and through some awesome sand dunes. The views along this stretch of coast are truly stunning. You could complete the whole thing in around 2 hours. But I reckon you’re better off taking a whole day so you have time to stop and soak in the view and maybe have lunch and a swim!
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The sand can get really soft and the dunes are known to shift so pack appropriate recovery gear like a compressor and recovery boards and be sure you know how to use them. You can do the track in either direction and both entry points are about 20 minutes drive from nearby Port Lincoln. If you’ve got time, spend a few extra days in the park hiking and exploring the other beaches like September Beach and Memory Cove.
Tasmania
Brushy Lagoon Dam
This scenic track is located 20km north of Westbury in central north Tasmania. It takes around 40 minutes to drive the 25km track one way through the forest to Brushy Lagoon Dam. The track has some gravel but is clay based and can get muddy so avoid driving it after wet weather and always take appropriate recovery gear, or better yet, take a friend with you in another car! This track is perfect for a beginner off-roaders to start to get the feel of their car and to get familiar with their instincts and techniques when driving off-road.
This spot is a great place just for lunch in nature or to camp and spend the weekend walking, wildlife watching and fishing. The dam is a family fishery that is regularly stocked with trout and salmon.
Victoria
Tallarook State Forest
This 51000 ha forest 1hr 15 mins drive north of Melbourne is a 4WD adventure playground. This would be a perfect spot to head away for a weekend camping adventure with mates and go exploring together. It’s always safest to travel in a group when doing 4WDing, especially if you are new to it. Plus it’s more fun! Freemans Camp and picnic area is a great central spot in the park to spend a night or two.
The forest is filled with a huge variety of tracks from beginner to advanced. The main road through the park is a 2WD accessible, unsealed road with side tracks where you can start getting comfortable with the off-road capabilities of your vehicle. You’ll find rocky sections, some clay and some lower tracks that can get quite muddy. Always check the weather before going as wet weather can make most tracks more challenging! Some good options to look into are Horan’s track, Jenkin Track and Falls road.
Queensland
Big Sandy – Five Rocks Conservation Area
Five Rocks Conservation Area is located 60km north of Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland. It’s only accessible by a fun 4WD track up a 1km long sand dune affectionately known as ‘Big Sandy’. This track is probably the most advanced of this list. But we’d never driven up a sand dune in our lives (only a little bit of beach driving on nice hard sand) and we managed it on the first go in our good old Troopy.
Normally for sand driving, people let their tyres down to about 18 or 20 psi. But to get up Big Sandy, you’ll want to let your tyres straight down to 15psi. Make sure you’re in Low Range, probably in second gear and keep your revs high the whole way up the dune. The track’s pretty bumpy and it’ll feel wild and fast. But don’t let off the accelerator or your revs will drop and you’ll slow to a stop halfway up. Make sure you radio ahead on UHF channel 10 that you’re heading up Big Sandy so others know to watch for you.
Once you get to the top, there’s a spot to pull over where you can pause to revel in the glory of conquering the dune and watch the other cars charge up it too. Past Big Sandy it can feel like a bit of a maze of sandy tracks leading every which way. The first track leading off to the right will take you down along 9 Mile Beach to the sand dune camp spots. Straight ahead will lead you into Stockyard, a tiny fishing village, and to the Five Rocks campsite and headland lookouts. It’s worth spending a couple of nights out here swimming and exploring!
Double Island Point
If you happen to be a surfer, heading out to Double Island Point is like going to paradise. But even if you don’t surf it’s pretty special. This stunning spot is about an hour’s beach drive through the Great Sandy National Park on the Sunshine Coast. It’s accessed via Noosa in the South or Rainbow Beach in the North.
The tricky thing about this spot is that it can only be accessed on low tide. So you have to check really carefully before heading down to the beach. Once you’ve got your times right, and your tyres low, it’s pretty straightforward driving along the sand! This spot can get pretty busy on holidays and weekends. So make sure you leave yourself enough time to surf, swim, chill AND get back along the beach before the tide rises again. If you’re keen, there are designated camping areas in the park and permits are required.
New South Wales
Wadbilliga Road Drive
This lesser known track is accessed from Cobargo on the Sapphire Coast. The official 4WD section is 16 kilometres of dirt that starts at Wadbilliga and winds up the mountains until you reach an intersection at Tuross Road. You can turn right to Cooma or head left and back to the coast via Nimitabel and the Snowy Mountains Highway.
It’s an easy grade but you’ll need to engage L4 as the track steepens up into the hills and the drop-off on the side is very steep. So be careful not to get too distracted by the view! There are some creek and river crossings that are often friendly but could be challenging after a bit of rain.
Experienced 4WDers will love this track too. Soak up incredible views as you climb up the mountainside looking back across the coast and through the rainforest. While you’re on the track, take the time to stop for a swim and a picnic at Tuross falls and Cascades swimming hole.
Barrington Trail
This stunning 15-kilometre drive traverses part of Barrington Tops National Park in the hinterland behind Forster on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. This iconic track used to be for foot traffic only but is now open for drivers. It boasts epic mountain views, some of the oldest trees in Australia and incredible wildflowers in Spring. There are camping options at Murray Campground and Junction Pools, which both offer peaceful scenery and a relaxing spot to extend your adventure.
This track can get tricky in sections after rainfall, so make sure you have the right recovery gear. The gates of this track are locked in winter due to the conditions so plan ahead and check road closures before you head out. Mountain bikes often traverse this track too so keep an eye out for your fellow riders.
Western Australia
The Gibb River Road
The Gibb River road from Derby to Kunnunurra is an Aussie 4WD road-trippers rite of passage. Although it’s a long track (660km) it’s not technically very difficult. The main challenge with the Gibb is the bone-shuddering corrugations, which are made far easier with a bit less pressure in your tyres and the right consistent speed. Luckily the absolutely incredible waterholes and walks and campgrounds along the route make it totally worth it! Although this 4WD route isn’t difficult, make sure you know your car. Have a compressor for your tyres. And have recovery gear just in case. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are some side trips from the main road that require a bit more technical 4WD negotiating.
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