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Perth, you west coast legends. Looking for the best Perth 4×4 tracks without driving halfway across the state? We’ve got you sorted. This week on Unsealed 4X4 we’re shining the muddy spotlights on our top 5 Perth 4×4 tracks within cooee of Australia’s most isolated capital city. From sand dunes to powerline challenges, these tracks offer everything from beginner-friendly adventures to hardcore technical sections that’ll test your skills and your truck.
Lane Poole Reserve
Distance from Perth: 100km south (approximately 1.5 hours)
Difficulty: Easy to medium
Best season: Spring and autumn
Mobile coverage: Limited to none
Can’t face a long drive for just a night or two of camping? You can’t get much closer than Lane Poole Reserve, sitting around 100km south of Perth near the township of Dwellingup.
Location, location, location. You can choose from nine camping areas ranging from cosy tent-only spots tucked amongst the jarrah, blackbutt, marri and wandoo forests, to larger open areas at Nanga Mill that’ll accommodate your camper trailer or caravan. Some of the best sites nestle right on the banks of the Murray River, giving you that perfect camping soundtrack of running water.
The reserve covers more than 50,000 hectares of pristine jarrah forest, and you’ll find Perth 4×4 tracks that range from easy gravel roads suitable for beginners to more challenging sections that’ll get your heart pumping. Play in the white water on the river in spring when rainfall has it flowing fast, or paddle gently in summer. The area’s brilliant for bushwalking, fishing and mountain bike riding too.
You will get the hill chill, so spring and autumn are top times to visit. However, if you dress warm and don’t mind a bit of solitude, winter offers plenty of space while the fair-weather campers stay home.
Best 4WD track
The historic Captain Fawcett Track is an absolute ripper. This 105km track starts within Lane Poole Reserve and showcases some of Western Australia’s best jarrah forests, historic farmhouses, original trestle bridges and magnificent views. It’s graded easy to medium, making it perfect for those newer to Perth 4×4 tracks, but still scenic enough to keep experienced drivers engaged. The track finishes at the Quindanning Pub, which makes for a nice reward after a day’s driving.
Best camping spots
We reckon Nanga Mill is hard to beat because there’s room to spread out and you’ve got the soothing sound of Nanga Brook running through the campground. It’s the largest camping area with 55 sites, suitable for caravans and camper trailers, and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
For something more intimate, Chuditch and Baden Powell offer individual campsites with better facilities including camp kitchens with gas barbecues, rainwater taps, and food prep areas. These sites require booking at least 24 hours in advance through Park Stay WA.
What you need to take
- The fur-kid (dogs permitted on leash in designated areas)
- Your own firewood (no bush collection allowed, or buy from the servo in Dwellingup)
- Warm clothes or swimming costume depending on season
- Fishing rod and valid WA recreational fishing licence
- Canoe, kayak or mountain bike
- Recovery gear basics (even on easy tracks, it’s good practice)
- Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) recommended
Current costs and booking
Vehicle entry: $17 per day (concession $10)
Camping fees: Baden Powell and Chuditch sites cost $20 per adult, $15 concession, $5 child (6-15 years) per night. All other campsites cost $15 per adult, $10 concession, $5 child per night.
Bookings: Essential for Baden Powell, Charlie’s Flat, Chuditch, Stringers, Tony’s Bend and Yarragil. Book via Park Stay WA
Important: Total fire ban operates from 15 December to 30 April. Campfires only permitted in provided fire rings during permitted seasons. Always check emergency.wa.gov.au for current fire restrictions.
Lancelin sand dunes
Distance from Perth: 127km north (approximately 1.5 hours)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (sand driving skills required)
Best season: Year-round (cooler in winter)
Mobile coverage: Good in township
Sun, sand and surf. At around 127km north of Perth, Lancelin offers a brilliant day trip or perfect salt water weekend for those wanting to tackle some of the best Perth 4×4 tracks in soft sand.
Lancelin is famous for its spectacular shifting white sand dunes that stretch over 220 hectares and reach heights of up to three storeys. These pristine dunes offer endless opportunities for dune dancing with your fourby, plus they’re perfect for bikes, buggies and sand-boarders. Climbing those dunes on foot absolutely sucks, but the ride down is a total blast. It’s a perfect way to exhaust hyperactive kids of all ages.
The dunes are accessible from 7am until sunset daily, and entry is free. However, you’ll want to drop your tyre pressures right down (13-20 PSI depending on your vehicle and load) before you hit the sand. Take a sand flag and explore the narrow, winding coastal tracks to your own spot of beach fishing paradise.
Be prepared for strong coastal winds – which are brilliant for wind or kite surfing, but can make sandboarding and camping a bit challenging. The wind typically picks up in the afternoon, so hit the dunes early for the best conditions.
Best 4WD experience
The dune play area just north of Lancelin township is where you’ll find the best Perth 4×4 tracks for sand driving. Access is via Beacon Road off Hopkins Street. There’s a designated 4WD area separate from the sandboarding zone, so you can let loose without worrying about running over sandboarders.
For those less experienced in sand driving, there are several tour operators who run 4WD tours through the dunes if you want to learn the ropes before tackling it yourself. These tours typically last 45 minutes and include sandboarding.
Camping situation
Free camping is prohibited in the dunes area and regularly patrolled by rangers. You’ll need to stay at one of Lancelin’s caravan parks in town, or head further north, south or inland to find legal camping spots. Alternatively, make it a day trip from Perth.
What you need to take
- Air compressor and accurate gauge (essential for sand driving)
- Shovel and recovery boards (MaxTrax or similar)
- Snatch strap and a mate in another vehicle
- Sand flag (mandatory on coastal tracks)
- Fishing rod for beach fishing
- Surfboard, kiteboard or sandboard
- Plenty of sunscreen and water
- Spare fuel (fill up in Lancelin)
Current costs and access
Dune access: Free
Opening hours: 7am to sunset
Sandboard hire: Approximately $7-15 per hour
Caravan parks: From $40-60 per night
Important: The sand can be extremely soft, particularly near the beach. Don’t be surprised if you need to drop pressures below 13 PSI. Know the tides if you’re driving on the beach – some stretches are very narrow at high tide.
Mundaring Powerlines Track
Distance from Perth: 40km east (approximately 40 minutes)
Difficulty: Medium to extreme (depending on route choice)
Best season: Summer and autumn (avoid winter wet)
Mobile coverage: Generally good
If you haven’t driven the Powerlines Track, you haven’t driven a 4X4 in Perth. Period. It’s right up the hill in Mundaring, so you can enjoy a big brekky on the way and still have a full day of track tackling on what many consider the best of the Perth 4×4 tracks for technical driving.
The beauty of the 24km Powerlines Track is you can expect the unexpected. Some sections are perfect for newbies or soft roaders looking to test their vehicles with the big boys. Particularly in summer, you can take the easy path around the tougher obstacles and sit back to watch the tough trucks tackle the toe-curling terrain. It’s ideal for a group of vehicles with varied capability, as you can challenge yourself according to your personal limits.
Be extremely careful in winter. The track is clay-based and you can slip and slide your no-claim bonus away very easily when it’s wet. The track is maintained by Western Power for their powerline access but remains open to four-wheel drivers. However, it’ll stay open only as long as gung-ho warriors stay within respectable boundaries and don’t cut up the track impossibly during heavy winter conditions.
The main entry point is next to the Sawyers Valley Tavern on Great Eastern Highway, 40km east of Perth. Several connecting roads intersect the track, giving you options to make an early exit back to the highway if needed. Many experienced drivers prefer starting at Flynn Road, as the section closer to Perth is less challenging.
Best 4WD experience
Track difficulty varies significantly along the 24km length. Allow five to six hours to complete end to end, including breaks and time spent watching (or helping) your mates tackle the gnarly sections. There’s a particularly challenging hill climb section that’s become known as “Gnarly Hill” – this extreme section really benefits from diff lockers, though you can usually find a chicken track around it.
For first-timers, we recommend starting mid-track at Flynn Road rather than from Sawyers Valley. The Flynn Road entry gives you access to the more interesting sections without the boring graded sections closer to Perth.
Camping situation
No camping along the track – this is strictly day trip territory. Head back to Perth for the night or camp at nearby Avon Valley National Park if you want to make a weekend of it.
What you need to take
- Winch or hi-lift jack (highly recommended)
- Recovery gear including tree trunk protector, snatch strap, shackles
- A mate to footprint or help you winch (never drive this track solo)
- Diff lockers are handy but not essential for most sections
- All food and drink (no facilities on track)
- UHF radio for communication between vehicles
- First aid kit
- Tyre repair kit
Current costs and access
Access: Free (maintained by Western Power)
Track length: 24km
Duration: 5-6 hours end to end
Recommended tyre pressure: 22 PSI or lower
Critical: Check emergency.wa.gov.au for vehicle movement bans before heading out. During total fire ban days, vehicle movement bans apply and the track must not be used. These bans are enforced to prevent fires, which can be catastrophic in this area.
Important: This track runs through residential areas. Please be respectful of locals – don’t use their driveways for turning around, keep noise levels down, and don’t air up/down on their property. The track’s continued access depends on responsible behaviour from the 4WD community.
Wellington National Park and Harvey Hills
Distance from Perth: 180km south (approximately 2 hours)
Difficulty: Medium to hard (Lennards Track)
Best season: Summer (Lennards Track seasonally closed in winter)
Mobile coverage: Patchy
Follow the hills inland from Harvey, past Brunswick Junction and down to Wellington National Park near Collie. There are enough hilly tracks here to take your breath away and provide some of the most challenging Perth 4×4 tracks within a few hours’ drive. They can also get you unequivocally and totally lost, as they twist and turn onto well-graded forestry tracks and back on themselves.
Follow a few of these tracks and you’ll be constantly checking the sun for directions. Take a GPS and make sure you know how to log waypoints, or you’ll reach camp way after dark. Watch out for timber trucks on the logging roads and be prepared for rocky scrambles that can require winching.
Be warned that tracks can deteriorate and peter out without warning, so a reversing camera and confident footprinting skills are very useful. The area around Wellington National Park offers excellent camping, swimming and water sports opportunities across three dams: Harvey Dam, Logue Brook Dam and Wellington Dam. Wellington Dam doesn’t permit motorised water activities, keeping it peaceful for paddlers.
Best 4WD track
The Lennards Track in Wellington National Park is the standout challenge. This 12km track requires high clearance and low range gearing throughout, finishing with a very steep hill climb that’s near impossible when wet. That’s why it’s closed seasonally to prevent track erosion and the spread of Jarrah Dieback (phytophthora).
The track is day use only and provides breathtaking scenery with several access points to the Collie River. There are even more challenging tracks in the area, including firebreak tracks near the end of Lennards that offer gnarly sections requiring rock sliders and diff lockers. However, chicken tracks exist around most extreme sections.
In winter, the Harvey Hills area offers numerous tracks that range from easy to challenging, though you’ll need to be confident in wet, slippery conditions.
Best camping
Potters Gorge on Wellington Dam is excellent for caravans and campers, with a well-appointed picnic area next to the campground and boat launching facilities. The shady forest setting features beautiful views across the dam with its distinctive red gravel shoreline.
Honeymoon Pool is another top choice, offering three campgrounds for tents and swags within walking distance of the stunning swimming and picnic area. Facilities include a camp kitchen with gas barbecues, sink and toilet facilities. All sites have fire rings. This area gets very busy during holidays and long weekends, so book early through Park Stay WA.
What you need to take
- Full recovery kit including winch, snatch strap, tree protector, rated shackles
- Back-up vehicle (never attempt Lennards Track solo)
- GPS with waypoint logging capability
- Firewood (no collection in national park)
- Water sports equipment (kayaks, paddleboards, fishing gear)
- UHF radio for communication
- Rock sliders recommended for extreme tracks
- Tyre repair kit and compressor
Current costs and access
Park entry: Free
Honeymoon Pool camping: Bookings essential, fees apply per person per night
Lennards Track: Day use only, seasonally closed (check current status)
Information: Contact DBCA Collie office on 9735 1988
Important: Always check track status before heading out. Lennards Track is closed during wet periods and for Jarrah Dieback prevention. The steep hill climb at the end is extremely difficult when wet and has caught out many experienced drivers.
Avon Valley National Park (Moondyne Country)
Distance from Perth: 65-80km northeast (approximately 1 hour)
Difficulty: Easy (suitable for beginners)
Best season: Spring for wildflowers, autumn for mild weather
Mobile coverage: Limited to none
Avon Valley National Park, sitting around 80km northeast of Perth, provides a soothing feast of undulating green for the eye at any time of year. It’s more about kicking back and relaxing than engaging the short stick, but it absolutely rates a mention as one of the most accessible Perth 4×4 tracks. It’s close enough to the city that there’s no excuse not to use it as the perfect overnighter or dry run for new camping gear.
For the less experienced, summer and autumn offer good opportunities for reconnoitring the occasionally steep and rutted tracks under dry conditions, with most roads suitable for 2WD. It’s soft roader heaven. Winter can see easy tracks offer a bit more bite, though nothing too extreme. There are no vehicle access roads to the river within the park – the closest vehicle river access is at Cobblers Pool just outside the park boundary.
The spring rush of white water on the Avon River dwindles to tranquil pools that provide welcome relief to the park’s abundant wildlife in summer. The park is brilliant for wildlife watching, with over 90 species of birds recorded. Rising early on a cool morning, you might be able to quietly stake out a river pool and spot western grey kangaroos, echidnas, or reintroduced species like the black-flanked rock wallaby, tammar wallaby and quenda (southern brown bandicoot).
The park features stunning granite outcrops that provide panoramic valley views. Bald Hill Campground sits right next to one of the best viewpoints – the short walk to the top is well worth the effort, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Best 4WD track
Follow the Moondyne Track and soak up the history of our locally infamous bushranger Moondyne Joe. The track is named after Joseph Bolitho Johns, who earned his nickname from the Moondyne Springs where he was caught stealing horses in the 1860s. He became Western Australia’s most famous convict, known for his multiple prison escapes from Fremantle Prison.
Only one optional section requires engaging 4WD, making this one of the most beginner-friendly Perth 4×4 tracks. However, it still offers scenic forest driving and interesting historical connections. The track links several camping areas and viewpoints throughout the park.
Best camping
Homestead Campground is our pick – it’s 4WD access only, which means it’s generally quieter than the other sites. The large, flat camping area in the centre of the park is suitable for camper trailers and offers a good base for exploring.
Bald Hill Campground is another excellent choice, positioned next to a granite outcrop with sweeping views of the Avon River valley. The sunrise and valley fog displays in winter are spectacular from this location.
All four campgrounds (Bald Hill, Homestead, Valley and Drummonds) are non-bookable and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Each has basic facilities including toilets, picnic tables and fire rings.
What you need to take
- Camera for wildlife and landscape photography
- Warm clothes (valley fog can be cold, even in summer mornings)
- All food and drinking water (untreated water available at some sites)
- Insect repellent (check for ticks after bushwalking)
- GPS or area maps (phone coverage is limited)
- Binoculars for birdwatching
- Firewood (when fires are permitted)
- Basic recovery gear (even though tracks are easy, it’s good practice)
Current costs and access
Vehicle entry: $15 per vehicle
Camping fees: $11 per adult per night, $7 concession, $3 child (6-15 years)
Bookings: Not available – first come, first served
Access: Via Toodyay Road and Quarry Road (unsealed roads not recommended for caravans)
Important: Campfires permitted in provided fire rings only, between March and October (subject to fire restrictions). No dogs or other pets permitted in the national park. Best time to visit is late autumn through spring – it can be extremely hot in summer with no river access for cooling off.
Planning your Perth 4×4 tracks adventure
Essential recovery gear for Perth 4×4 tracks
Regardless of which Perth 4×4 tracks you’re tackling, you should carry basic recovery gear. At minimum, this includes a rated snatch strap, bow shackles, a shovel and a quality air compressor with gauge. For more challenging tracks like the Powerlines or Lennards, add a winch, tree trunk protector, hi-lift jack and recovery boards to your kit.
Never drive solo
Even on the easiest Perth 4×4 tracks, you should always travel with at least one other vehicle. Mobile coverage is limited or non-existent at most locations, so if you get into trouble, you’ll need someone to help or drive for assistance. Join a 4WD club if you don’t have mates with capable vehicles – they run regular trips to all these locations.
Check before you go
Always check current conditions, closures and fire restrictions before heading out. Visit emergency.wa.gov.au for fire bans and vehicle movement restrictions, and alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au for park closures and alerts.
Respect the locals and the land
Many of these Perth 4×4 tracks run through or near residential areas and sensitive environments. Be respectful – keep noise down, don’t use private driveways, stick to designated tracks, take all rubbish with you and leave campsites cleaner than you found them. Our continued access to these tracks depends on responsible behaviour from the 4WD community.
Your turn: which Perth 4×4 tracks are your favourites?
There you have it – our top 5 Perth 4×4 tracks ranging from beginner-friendly adventures to proper technical challenges. Whether you’re after a family camping weekend or want to test your truck and skills, these destinations offer something for every level of experience, all within a few hours of Perth.
Love ’em? Hate ’em? Got a hidden gem we’ve missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let us know which Perth 4×4 tracks are on your regular rotation.
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