8 Places in Australia You Need a 4WD to Get To (That You Definitely Don’t Want to Miss)

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4WDing For The Destination

If Australia really is ‘the lucky country’ it has to be for its unrivalled natural beauty, unreal landscapes, and unique flora and fauna.

While travelling this country from end to end, there’s one thing I noticed… all my favourite spots were on the other sides of some deep rivers or rugged terrain that you NEED a 4WD to find.

My 4WDing philosophy is ‘I must go there’. I don’t go out for the sake of 4WDing itself, but for the sake of getting somewhere truly remote and exploring places few have seen (or at least that’s how it feels when you’re there).

Without mentioning the obvious standout 4WD destinations like K’gari and Cape York, here are my favorite spots in Australia that you NEED a 4WD to get to.

Read more: 9 Things to Think About Before Your First 4WD Trip

1. Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park, NT

With water leaping 200m off the Arnhem Land Escarpment into the narrow gorge below, Jim Jim Falls is both one of the country’s tallest waterfalls and one of the most impressive.

On a hot day you can hang out on the sandy banks of the river just down from the falls, surrounded by monsoon forest and giant boulders, thrown by the falls over millennia.

Believe it or not, this massive waterfall entirely dries up during the Top End’s dry season, and in the wet season, access to the thunderous falls is impossible, with much of Kakadu underwater.

Read more: 5 Wet Season Swimming Holes Near Darwin

Because of this extreme seasonality, conditions on the 4WD track to the trailhead to the falls vary. When the park first opens after the big wet, expect deep water crossings and mud. While later in the dry season (the last time I went) it wasn’t more than shin-deep water running over rocky-bottom crossings and a few softish sand drifts – easy going in any 4WD.

The 4WD track to the falls is about 10km from Karnamarr Campground, which has flushing toilets and hot showers. The campground itself is a bit over 40km down a dirt road off the Kakadu Highway.

The hike to the falls from the car park is not much over 1km, but it’s a bit treacherous! Expect lots of rock hopping to get to a nice swimming spot.

Read more: How To Stay Safe Around Swimming Holes & Waterfalls

2. Gibb River Road, WA

If 4WDing has a Mecca, this is it.

Running about 650km through the remote heart of the already remote Kimberly region, the Gibb River Road is famous for its horrific corrugations, blown tyres, deep water, cars literally rattled to pieces, and spectacular untamed wilderness.

Read more: What Should You Carry In Your 4WD Rescue & Repair Kit?

While there are dozens of outstanding spots to stop along the way, these are just a few of my faves.

Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary is a few hours off the Gibb on another 4WD track running south and is a must-see. The property is run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy who have spent decades restoring the land.

The property has access to remote gorges along the isolated upper Fitzroy River, where you can laze the day away and canoe along at your leisure. Plus there are a bunch of other water holes, spectacular birdwatching, and even an on-site restaurant and accommodation.

Please note! Unfortunately Mornington Wilderness Camp is currently closed to visitors due to damage from Cyclone Ellie. Please check the AWC website for updates before heading out there.

If Australia has a top ten for waterholes, the Gibb would have at least half of them.

One of the standouts is Galvans Gorge, both for its uniqueness and its accessibility. Only about an 800m walk from the side of the main road, the swimming hole appears like a magical spring, perfect for a quick dip on a long journey.

The El Questro Gorge hike is another stand-out on the Gibb where the journey and destination are equally rewarding.

As you hike and rock-hop further and further up the gorge, the rocks get slipperier, the walls close in, and the terrain gets steeper – but the reward at the end is simply stunning.

These are just a few of many incredible stops on the Gibb, where you’ll realistically want to spend at least ten days tackling.

Read more: Gibb River Road: Road Tripping Australia’s Most Famous 4WD Track

3. takayna / Tarkine Wilderness, TAS

With vast wilderness and well-kept national parks, Tassie is an adventure wonderland. But sometimes it feels a little tricky to get off the trodden path. Here’s where the takayna/Tarkine Wilderness comes in.

Making up a large chunk of northwest Tassie, takayna/Tarkine has rugged coastlines, vibrant temperate rainforest, and plenty of wild swimming, even just on the side of the road.

While there are some great 4WD tracks and camping around Arthur River, and the infamous Balfour Track not too far away, it’s simply exploring the many dirt tracks around the Tarkine Wilderness Area that make it memorable.

Make sure to stop in at Corinna

Particularly around Corinna, you‘ll find some great secluded spots on peaceful streams and calmingly still forests down the many unmarked 4WD tracks in the bush. Some places you’ll get stuck, or find dead ends, but eventually you’ll find a spot all for you – and finding it yourself makes it more rewarding.

Read more: It’s Time to Add Corinna to Your Tassie Itinerary

4. Tjaynera Falls and Campground, Litchfield National Park, NT

Litchfield National Park is world-famous for its waterfalls and Top End beauty. Combine that with a short drive on tarmac from Darwin, and it means the park is swarming with visitors all through the dry season.

Luckily, there’s the perfect escape inside the park, tucked away across a deep river crossing.

Tjaynera Falls is a huge, secluded swimming hole fed by a 50m waterfall where there are plenty of private spots to relax and swim. Because there’s only one small campground nearby, it’s likely you’ll get some alone time at these magnificent falls.

We got it all to ourselves when we visited!

The falls is about a 1.5km easy walk from Sandy Creek Campground, which only has 14 campsites that need to be booked ahead of time via the NT Parks booking system.

Read more: Litchfield National Park Road Trip

5. Coffin Bay National Park, SA

Tucked right down the end of the Eyre Peninsula, Coffin Bay is clear blue water and golden sand at its best – and you don’t want to take the tracks lightly. The soft, changing sands and fast-moving tides (three in 24 hours) have had many a 4WD done for good.

Dreamy landscapes only accessible by 4WD

Due to its remoteness and the difficulty getting in and out, you’ll get a lot of the campgrounds, beaches, and dunes to yourself, outside of holiday season at least.

There are good waves to surf and even better fishing, if that’s your thing. At the right time of year, you can catch Australian salmon off the more gnarly beaches as well as mullet, whiting, herring, and garfish in the calmer waters.

6. Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park, WA

Of all the beautiful places in Australia, the Bungle Bungles at Purnululu National Park would have to be the most unique landscape in the country and almost on Earth.

This is a destination in itself, both because it’s a must-see and as it’s very far out of the way if you’re doing the Gibb River Road – but well worth the trip.

It’s not just the sheer size of the many stripy, colourful rock domes that stands out, but the sheer vastness. Stretching out like a marching army, the famous rocks spread over 400 square kilometres.

The 4WD track to the domes (and many other great sites in Purnululu) is about 70km long from the Great Northern Highway. The drive in can get quite arduous for its many bumps, corrugations, and understandably slow caravan traffic.

Palm Valley in the Bungle Bungles

Like many of the great northern parts of Australia, this whole area is cut off in the wet season and track conditions will vary. But when my partner and I visited in June, the track had little more than ankle-deep water – but a whole lot of sharp rocks and big holes.

Read more: The Bungle Bungles is an Out-of-This-World Experience

7. Sundown National Park, QLD

Sundown National Park might not have any big-ticket features, but it’s a personal favourite of mine and I try to get out there a couple of times a year.

The simple, yet rugged, 4WD track in and out gives one a true sense of adventure and isolation, despite only being about three hours from Brisbane, Gold Coast or Byron Bay.

After big rains, the tracks can get quite deep

While Sundown does attract 4WD crews looking to loudly test their cars, it’s actually a haven for birdwatching and there are heaps of quiet campsites and spots where you’ll feel like the only person in the world. You can sit back in silence, kayak, and watch the sun go down over the granite and red rocky landscape.

There are a bunch of campgrounds in the park, but my pick is The Burrows on the edge of the tranquil Severn River.

Read more: 5 Easy 4WD Tracks in Brisbane

8. Ningaloo Coast, WA

White sand, blue water, gorges, rivers, and ranges – the Ningaloo Coast in north-west Western Australia seems to have it all.

It’s a pretty special experience waking up, literally, on a white sandy beach, ready to roll into the ocean, followed by a hike down a rocky outback canyon or creek, only to come back and watch sunset over the ocean and turn your head to see the glowing ranges behind you.

Read more: Guide to the Ningaloo Coast – Where the Desert Meets the Coral Reef

Starting just outside of Exmouth, famous for Whale sharks, the Ningaloo Coast stretches more than 300km along the western side of the cape and includes Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Station, Warroora Station, Gnaraloo Station, and Quobba Station, all of which have camping and 4WD access to the famous coastline.

Camp in paradise every day

From those properties and parks, there has to be at least 30 campgrounds to choose from, but my pick is South Lefroy Bay at Ningaloo or the famous Red Bluff at Quobba.

You’ll need a 4WD to get around as there’s plenty of sand and simply horrible corrugated dirt tracks that are out to shake your car to bits.

Read more: 10 Nifty 4WD Storage Solutions You Probably Haven’t Thought Of

FAQs of 4WDing

Do I need a big 4WD to visit all these places?

Yes and no. Smaller SUVs like X-trails and Foresters are actually pretty good on sand and mud, but their biggest letdown is the lack of clearance and/or lack of under-body protection. So you’ll make it sometimes, but not without risk of serious damage, like a hole in your sump pan.

What gear should I carry?

Most importantly have a full size spare tyre, recovery tracks, and recovery gear like ropes and shackles, plus a well-stocked tool bag. Someone will always come along eventually at any of these locations.

Read more: What Should I Carry in My 4WD Rescue & Repair Kit

What tips do you have for driving in these 4WD places?

Tyre pressure is key. Run them low and have an onboard compressor to fill them up again. It’s always good to check in with local park rangers for the latest road conditions and they’ll often give you good tips on the best spots, even some local secrets if you’re nice.

If you’re not familiar with the area, you can always wave down another 4WD on its way out and they’ll be more than happy to chat about what tyre pressure they’re running or other tricky spots and how to tackle them.

Prep your rig properly and enjoy your adventures for longer!

There are so many good 4WD-only spots in Australia you’d need a few lifetimes to properly see them all, but I reckon all the places on this list are worth adding to your list. 4WD touring is all about heading into the unknown, being prepared and practical, and finding the spot that suits you. So have fun and get out there.