[Updated: July 2020]
Queensland is an off-roading paradise and with the weather cooling down. Now is the perfect time to check out Queensland’s 4WD inland tracks for an awesome 4WD adventure! Grab some friends, pack a bag and head to the outback for a whole heap of mud-covered fun exploring remote landscapes, crossing rivers and climbing mountains. We’ve compiled a list of the ten best 4WD destinations in Queensland, so all you’ve got to do is pick one! They’re all within a 20-hour drive from Brisbane and ordered by distance. They’ve all been chosen as stand-alone destinations, but you could always combine a few to create your own 4WD circuit!
Distance from Brisbane: 140km
Trek Distance: Various
Skill level: Easy
For the perfect cruisy week away, go on a tour of the Conondale National Park combined with the Jimna and Imbil State Forests. They’re all within 150kms of each other and have a range of 4WD-friendly tracks that you can use to see all of the best sites within these parks.
Jimna State Forest has many well-maintained fire trails with some nice steep sections and river crossings while Imbil has rainforest to explore with some river crossings and muddy fun! Conondale National Park can only be accessed by high clearance 4WDs and is full of some of the most spectacular rainforest scenery in the state with boulder-strewn creeks and waterfalls.
Bring the family as well because there’s more than just 4WDing to do! You can also enjoy numerous walking and hiking trails, fishing, wildlife viewing, mountain bike riding and horse riding.
There are campsites scattered throughout all three parks but if you’d prefer a bed, Kilcoy is just 40kms away from Jimna, and Imbil State Forests and Kenilworth is only 15kms from Conondale National Park. Both towns offer motels, restaurants and basic supplies.
Don’t miss the Jimna Fire Tower, an Australian icon and the tallest fire tower of its type in the southern hemisphere.
Distance from Brisbane: 160km
Trek Distance: Various
Skill level: Easy, moderate and difficult tracks
For a dedicated 4WD holiday, head to the Janowen Hills 4WD Park, just 2 hours south west of Brisbane. The park has approximately 80 established tracks, crossing 1000 acres of rocky gullies and hilly terrain, creek-side camping, hot showers and basic supplies. There is a buddy system so you’ll need to bring a friend with a 4WD and then you’re free to hit up any of the trails you’d like from fun, easy beginner tracks to extreme routes that’ll test your skills. There’s plenty here to keep you entertained for days!
Distance from Brisbane: 180km
Trek Distance: 21km
Skill level: Easy
The 14 River Crossing track weaves its way over the Condamine River 14 times making it a fun, local favourite! The hard, rocky river base make it a must-do for any novice who wants to get wet and muddy and the scenery is also incredible!
Check the weather before you head out as recent rainfall can make the river crossings impassable. There are some excellent camping spots further down the track but make sure you bring everything you need as there are no amenities along the gorge road.
You can access the trail from either end at the nearby towns of Boonah or Killarney, but we’d suggest making it a round trip. Both of these towns also offer motels, restaurants and basic supplies.
Although under good conditions it’s possible to finish this track in an hour or two, take your time to enjoy the rugged mountain scenery, lookouts and take a short walk to one of the nearby waterfalls.
Distance from Brisbane: 300km
Trek Distance: 20km
Skill level: Difficult
Sundown National Park definitely deserves to claim a spot in our top 10 Queensland’s 4WD inland tracks! If red, rocky and remote is your kind of 4WD scene, don’t miss Sundown National Park! Winter is the best time to visit this dry wilderness with steep-sided gorges, sharp ridges and views over the Severn River. There’s fishing, challenging hiking, kayaking and swimming making it an ideal family holiday location.
There are a number of camping options available along the river but for a more secluded option, take the 4WD only track up to Red Rock Gorge. There are no supplies within the park so you’ll need to be self-sufficient or venture out to Stanthorpe or Tenterfield for food, gas and other accommodation options. Check out our Sundown National Park 4WD blog for more 4WD camping info.
Once you’ve explored the 4WD tracks within the park, there are plenty more nearby. Try the Burrows to Rats Castle track for an obstacle-filled descent.
Distance from Brisbane: 400km
Trek Distance: Various
Skill level: Easy, moderate and difficult
While Coffs Harbour is usually thought of as a beach destination, it’s actually one of the best 4WDing destinations on the east coast of Australia. A 5-minute drive in any direction from town will have you heading down a dirt road.
There’s a wide variety of landscapes to explore too with sub-tropical rain forests, eucalyptus forests, banana plantations, old logging trails and steep mountain tracks. Check out Hinterland trail section of Coffs Harbour Touring trails for a host of local track information. Our favourite is the must-do, medium-grade Orara Escarpment.
There’s plenty of accommodation options and things to do in Coffs Harbour, so bring the family along and check out the local restaurants and attractions while you’re at it. We’re half way trough of our most recommended Queensland’s 4WD inland tracks.
Distance from Brisbane: 500km
Trek Distance: 106km
Skill level: Easy to moderate
Robinson Gorge is one of the main features of Expedition National Park and winds 14kms through 100m high sandstone cliffs to reveal stunning views of the Carnarvon Ranges.
This section of the park is accessible by 4WD only and although the track is relatively easy, it is impassable after heavy rains so check recent weather before you head out.
The Starkvale camping area is the perfect place to set up camp for a truly remote Australian experience. The nearest town, Taroom, is 90km away so be sure to bring all your supplies. From here there are a number of walking tracks that offer great photo opportunities, some of them quite challenging. You can read about destination and sightseeing here.
Distance from Brisbane: 590km
Trek Distance: 100km (approx.)
Skill level: Easy to moderate
For those wanting to get totally off the paved tracks, head to Carnarvon National Park’s 4WD-only area, Mount Moffatt. It’s a wild and remote part of Queensland’s high country and is a great place to get back to basics, camp, hike and explore sandy valleys, woodlands, sandstone sculptures and enjoy spectacular views.
The unsealed road into the park is relatively easy but after that, you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD to reach most of the parks features via some great roads. Winter’s milder temperatures make it the perfect time to visit Mount Moffatt, however, the roads may be impassable for a few days after heavy rains.
There are four campsites within the park and the nearby towns of Injune and Mitchell have basic accommodation, supplies and petrol stations. For more information and to book your campsite, visit the Carnarvon National Park’s website.
Distance from Brisbane: 1400km
Trek Distance: 100km (approx.)
Skill level: Easy
There’s something about the vast emptiness of central Queensland’s plains that draw people in and the Scrammy Gorge section of Bladensburg National Park is no exception! This national park was once a cattle grazing station and gives you an idea of what it would have been like to live in such as dry and harsh landscape.
The high-clearance 4WD only track will take you past a restored homestead and numerous waterholes, through the gorge and up to a lookout with spectacular views of expansive grasslands. Also explore 100kms of unsealed road through endless claypans, gidyea trees and ghost gums to the nearby town of Winton.
With a permit you can camp within the park but don’t forget to bring all of your supplies! There are also accommodation options in Winton along with opal fossicking and the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world.
Distance from Brisbane: 1400km
Trek Distance: 22km, 44km and 55km treks
Skill level: Easy to Moderate
Welford National Park has pretty much everything you’d want and expect from an outback experience! Fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching, billabongs, historical sites and Aboriginal heritage are topped off with stunning red sand dunes and it’s only accessible to those with a 4WD!
There are three scenic 4WD-only tracks here that snake through the park to let you discover the true charm of this remote, arid landscape. In dry weather these tracks are relatively easy to maneuver on but even small amounts of rain can leave them impassable. Taking an extra week’s worth of supplies is recommended in case of stranding.
Camping is permitted along the river at Little Boomerang Waterhole. Campsites are primitive with only a vault toilet provided so bring all your supplies including lots of water! The nearest town, Jundah is 55km away and has basic accommodation, gas and supplies.
Distance from Brisbane: 1585km
Trek Distance: 517 km from Marree to Birdsville
Skill level: Easy
Birsdville is one of the most remote town situated in even more remote part of central Queensland. Bordered by the famous Simpson desert, the Birdsville track is one of the main highlight when it comes to outback 4WD adventure. As put rightly by Big Red Bash, one of the major music festival, “It is in the middle of bloody nowhere!”.
Over 500 km long, Birdsville track starts from Town of Marree to Birsdville. Expect typical outback country tracks and fantastic desert-scape with beauty of Simpson desert, Strzelecki desert, Diamantina River and rustic charms.
Apart from the clasic outback settings, Birsdville is also well known for Birsdville horse race hosting more than 7000 people for the 2 days event.
If you need a place to halt , there is Birsdville hotel in the middle of nowhere!
Queensland’s 4WD inland tracks
Distance from Brisbane: 2000km
Trek Distance: 60km
Skill level: Moderate
If you’re taking a road trip to Adelaide this winter, or just want to use it as an excuse to visit one of the most iconic 4WD locations in Australia, make sure you head to the Skytrek Willow Springs Station in the Flinders Ranges. This trek is one of the most popular and diverse 4WD journey’s in the country and will take you through a variety of landscapes including native pine groves, blue bush plains, rugged mountain valleys and river gum lined creeks.
Like most 4WD tracks in the Flinders Range, the Skytrek is located on private land that’s open to the public for self-drive 4WD tours. It’s also a beautiful place to stay with campsites and self-contained accommodation and a taste of what life’s like on a working sheep station.
While you’re there, spend a few nights in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park as well. It’s right next door and has more scenic 4WD tracks to explore!
Even if you don’t own a 4WD, there’s no reason why you can’t have your own true Australian outback adventure! Here at FleetCrew, we’re here to help you make it happen. We specialise in high-quality 4WD hire vehicles that are well-maintained and fully-equipped for your off-road adventure. With friendly and knowledgeable staff, we’ll help you to match your holiday destination to your interests and driving experience. If you like to have more inside tips on Queensland’s 4WD inland tracks or any other 4WD enquiries, feel free to contact us!
We have several 4WD pick up locations around Queensland: Brisbane, Mt Isa, Dysart & Mackay, so load your stuff up and hit the road!
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