Australia’s best 4WD tracks

Going off-road is an exciting adventure; to escape the hustle and bustle and hit the untouched soil of our country’s land is a simple pleasure that brings so much happiness. You don’t know freedom till you’ve escaped the bitumen and left the city behind.

Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 73 is giving you the chance to experience this dream with the opportunity to win a V8 4WD—someone will drive away in their choice of a Nissan Patrol OR Toyota LandCruiser Sahara. It also comes with a Boston Whaler Sport boat for your ultimate get away experience.

Start dreaming about where you would go! Here are five of Australia’s most desired 4WD adventures.

Cape York Peninsula

One of the best known 4WD tracks in Australia is the Cape York Peninsula Development Road. From Cairns to the tip of Australia, and only open during the dry season, this adventure is a must-do. Traversing through tropical Queensland’s lush rainforests, you’ll navigate creek and river crossings and experience the beautiful wilderness only found in North Queensland. Once you arrive at the Cape, it’s an easy 20 minute walk to the northern most part of Australia. For more info, check out Tourism Cape York.

Birdsville

Birdsville is located on the edge of the Simpson Desert—1,590 km west of Brisbane, 1,188 km north Adelaide and 720 km south of Mount Isa; this tiny town has a population of 115 that swells to 7000-9000 during the annual Birdsville Races. Mark this in your calendar and hit the road for an adventure of a lifetime. No matter which point of the country you start from, you’ll experience the red dirt of Australia and travel through some of its most remote and iconic townships. Check out some suggested routes highlighted by the Birdsville Roadhouse and start planning!

Stockton Beach

Swap the red dirt for white sand and hit the dunes of Stockton Beach, north of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Accessible all year round, 32 km of pure 4WD paradise will take you from Stockton Beach to Anna Bay. These dunes are not for the faint-hearted and will test even the most experienced 4WDer! Hit the beach at low-tide and check out the MV Sygna (that washed ashore in 1974). Check out this blog about Stockton Beach.

Gibb River Road

Known as ‘The Gibb’ this 660 km track will see you journey through the spectacular scenery of the Kimberley; from the west coast of Derby head east to Kununurra and along the way enjoy the rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, pristine rock pools and waterfalls and the colourful sights only found in the Kimberley. Open red roads and endless skies—this is definitely one for the bucket-list! Be prepared as this track really does take you into the wilderness and beyond and will put your 4WDing techniques to the test. Only open during the dry season, find out more about this incredible exploration.

Fraser Island

The world’s largest sand island is found right here in Australia. World Heritage Listed, Fraser Island’s protected sands stretch 123 km in length and there is 184,000 hectares to explore. With over 100 freshwater lakes, white sandy beaches, rainbow coloured sandy cliffs, rainforests and some of the best beach fishing in the world—this is a destination you don’t want to miss. All roads on Fraser Island are 4WD only! There is plenty to explore—the inland Central Lakes scenic drive takes around 2 hours alone; so give yourself at least 2-3 days to make the most of this natural wonder. Click here to find out more about visiting Fraser Island.

It’s time to 4WD

Whenever you’re organising a 4WD adventure, be sure you check if you require permits for any of the tracks you plan on exploring; and don’t forget speed limits still apply whether you’re in the outback or on a beach. And always be prepared—check out our blog ‘Go off-road’ to find out about what 4WD must-haves you need before getting behind the wheel and heading off into the sunset.

Don’t miss out on your chance to win a brand new V8 4WD. Grab tickets to win Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 73 now!