Best 4WD day trips in Australia

If your idea of giving your 4WD a workout is going over speed bumps in a supermarket car park, it might be time to get out of town. Fortunately, you don’t have to cross the Kimberley to get a taste of off-road fun. Here are some quick 4WD tracks that will have you back and parked in your driveway within a day.

Before you go anywhere, take a look at our 9 tips for preparing for a 4WD adventure, and research the route you’re going to take. The difficulty grades given below are just guidelines; rain changes everything and a track that was easy one day can be difficult, dangerous or impassable the next.

Call ahead to check trail conditions if possible, and avoid tackling anything that’s beyond your or your car’s capabilities (joining a 4WD club and learning some skills could be a good idea).

New South Wales: Yengo National Park

Length: 24km

Distance from Sydney: 130km, 2hrs

Grade: Easy to medium

Head to Yengo National Park to explore remote Blue Mountains World Heritage wilderness by 4WD – just up the road from Sydney. For a great day trip into the northern reaches of the park, start at Boree Valley Road near Laguna, veer right on the Yango Track and head along the fire trail to the stunning Finchley lookout and the Finchley cultural walk. The return trip should take about three hours (including stops) along a track that isn’t too technically challenging but can get pretty rough, with at least one creek crossing. Check road conditions with Cessnock City Council before setting off.

Victoria: Wombat State Forest

Length: 100km

Distance from Melbourne: 85km, 1hr 15min

Grade: Easy to medium

Gold once lured people to these parts of Australia; now it’s 4WD adventure that calls Melburnians to the Wombat State Forest. Starting near the Macedon Ranges town of Gisborne (and ending in Ballan, or vice versa), the track offers a full day of forest exploration, crossing plenty of creeks and gullies, with historical mine sites and picnic areas to stop at en route.

Northern Territory: Reynolds Track

Length: 44km

Distance from Darwin: 160km, 2hrs 20min

Grade: Medium to difficult

Litchfield National Park could be considered a mini Kakadu; it's closer to Darwin and is easier to explore than the original. This NT treasure is full of waterfalls, termite mounds, and cool, refreshing swimming holes. You can explore it entirely via a sealed road, but for a more adventurous option, duck off onto the 4WD Reynolds Track, which gives you access to a couple of the less-visited falls. It includes several creek crossings and is open only during the dry season. 

Queensland: Range Road Forest Drive

Length: 27km one-way

Distance from Brisbane: 72km, 1hr 30min

Grade: Easy to medium

D’Aguilar National Park starts right on Brisbane’s doorstep, and its northern section offers a network of 4WD tracks that allow you to explore the park’s magnificent gorges, eucalypt forest, rainforest and swimming holes while having some 4WD fun at the same time. One of the tracks less travelled is the Range Road Forest Drive, which leads to the highest part of the D’Aguilar Range, with incredible views out to Moreton Bay from the Kluvers Lookout.

Western Australia: Captain Fawcett Track

Length: 105km

Distance from Perth: 130km, 1hr 30min

Grade: Medium to difficult

Forged in the 1880s by the region’s pioneer Captain Theo Fawcett, this trail’s a little easier to navigate these days, but it’s still enough of a challenge to keep 4WD fans on their toes. The Captain Fawcett Track passes through some superb jarrah woodland on its way from Dwellingup to Quindanning, and over some challenging terrain that will take about three hours to cover; it closes in winter when it gets too cut up in the wet.

South Australia: Eagle View 4WD Track

Length: 32km

Distance from Adelaide: 85km, 1hr 20min

Grade: Medium, with optional difficult sections

A dedicated 4WD track through a private conservation area in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Eagle View offers some steep climbs and descents amid dramatic, rugged scenery, with plenty of places to stop and roll out a picnic rug. It takes about three hours to drive the loop. Entry is $60 per car (must be a 4WD with low range) and bookings are essential. 

Tasmania: East West Trail

Length: 20km

Distance from Hobart: 30km, 50min

Grade: Difficult

Right on Hobart’s doorstep, Wellington Park, located on the western side of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, is criss-crossed by fire trails that offer some fantastic 4WD experiences. Confident drivers will love tackling the East West Trail, with its spectacular views over the Derwent and Huon valleys. Only six vehicles a day are allowed on the track, and you’ll need a permit and gate key – see link above to apply.

Australian Capital Territory: Brindabella National Park

Length: 30km

Distance from Canberra: 30km, 1hr

Grade: Easy to medium

Canberrans are only a hop, skip and a jump from Brindabella National Park, where a network of 4WD trails wind through alpine and subalpine wilderness. For a great day trip, take the Gentle Annie Track down to Flea Creek, followed by a steep climb up Webbs Ridge Trail, then a descent down Waterfall Trail to the historic McIntyres Hut, and a riverside picnic.

Images: Getty Images