It is all well and good to explore the city roads in your Jeep, but the real adventures lie on the unsealed roads of Australia that lead to gorgeous locations. Before you hit these trails, though, there are some safety tips to consider.
Quick tips to help you prepare for your off-road adventure
Ensure all of your tyres (it is always best to take a few spares) are in tip-top condition and your vehicle is recently serviced.
Read the owner’s manual to understand the limitations of your vehicle and which terrain it is suited for.
It is always best to speak to experienced off-roaders before you leave to get tips and advice.
When you and your vehicle are ready for the big trip, here are the ultimate off-road destinations in Australia to add to your bucket list.
Cape York Track / Old Telegraph Track, Queensland
For the best off-road experience at the northernmost tip of Australia, this is the track to take on. Starting at Cooktown and winding 848km to Seisia in far north Queensland, this is a trip that will take plenty of planning and will take about 24 days.
For a shorter experience, you can travel from Bamaga to the Jardine River Ferry, which can safely be covered as a day trip or overnight. This track is also best tackled between May and October to avoid the monsoonal wet seasons, which can wash out large sections of the road.
Victorian High Country and Billy Goats Bluff, Victoria
You can easily get (deliberately) lost in the Victorian High Country, with 25,000km of tracks and unsealed roads that will take you through lush countryside, historic Aboriginal hotspots, bushranger sites and much more.
The Mansfield to Harrietville portion of this track takes in Billy Goats Bluff and many other scenic landmarks. And at 306km, it will take you about three days – plenty of time to soak in all the scenery.
Blue Mountains National Park, NSW
There are numerous experiences to be had in the expansive National Park west of Sydney, so you can keep coming back for more off-road adventures.
Mount Hay has been an exploration point since early settlement and remains a popular destination for off-roading and mountain bike riding.
There is also Six Foot Track, Wolgan Valley, Newnes Plateau, Kings Tableland and many more destinations to explore on unsealed roads.
Karijini National Park, WA
For those looking to travel far for the best experiences, this is one of the most picturesque places in Australia to take your Jeep.
Located 1500km north of Perth, this is widely regarded as the best national park in Australia taking in the majesty of the Pilbara. Red rock walls, gorges, hiking spots, water holes and much more can be accessed on these gravel roads and the more you explore, the more you will find.
Honourable mentions: Birdsville Track (Queensland), Kakadu (NT), Fraser Island (Queensland), The Red Centre (NT), Barrington Tops National Park, NSW and The Simpson Desert (South Australia).
We should also note that The Tarkine in Tasmania has long been a popular off-road destination. But before you load your jeep onto the Spirit of Tasmania, these tracks have been closed by the government to preserve vegetation and Aboriginal heritage sites.