Going off the beaten track for a 4×4 adventure often conjures up images of the remotest Outback or one of Australia’s far-flung destinations, but the good news is there are plenty of great tracks an hour or so outside Melbourne! If you’re a newbie to 4WDing or just needing a bit of inspiration close to home, buckle up and let’s get those tyres rolling to just a few of these awesome places just waiting to be explored.
Best tyres for the drive
When it comes to 4×4 tyres, whatever your vehicle and type of adventure, Maxxis has you covered, with the RAZR range worth a closer look! While the cutting edge and puncture resistant Maxxis RAZR MT772 muddy has become a popular “go to” for many avid 4WD’ers around Australia for its exceptional traction in mud and other challenging terrains, the RAZR AT811 has proved itself as an all-terrain performer that combines the best of the RAZR’s off-road features with a comfortable and durable on-road drive. Plus, now there’s the newcomer RAZR AT-S, a brand new all-terrain SUV tyre. It’s got the grip and handling for loads of weekday on-road driving, while being ready and raring to go for a bit of off-road weekend adventure! Check out the full range of Maxxis 4×4 tyres, and if you need some help in choosing the right ones for your vehicle and destination, our network of dealers is easy to locate.
Here are a few 4×4 tracks to get your journey started…
Mount Disappointment
When it comes to 4×4 adventure, Mount Disappointment is nothing like its name and has heaps to offer! Just a hop, skip and a jump north of Melbourne (about 80km and an hour and a half on the Hume Highway/M31 and North Mountain Rd), Mt Disappointment is situated on the Great Dividing Range at Whittlesea. The Ladder is one track that is generally considered suitable for beginners. Some of the tracks in the area are seasonally closed and a good map is absolutely essential to make sure you don’t get lost! If you’re keen to make a weekend of it, there are a few camp sites in the Mt Disappointment State Forest including Regular Camp, Andersons Garden and No.1 Camp.
Tallarook State Forest
Tallarook (not far from Mt Disappointment, between Broadford and Seymour), is another renowned 4×4 destination with tracks to suit a range of difficulty levels. Freemans Camp site (situated in the forest) has toilets and BBQ facilities.
Wombat and Lederberg State Forests
Just over 80km from Melbourne, the Wombat Forest 4WD Tour (stretching from Gisborne to Ballan) is the perfect way to get to grips with the area while putting your 4×4 skills to the test. Firth Park, located within the forest offers free, unpowered sites and is a great spot to set up camp for the night. Also well worth putting on the list is the Lederberg State Forest (near Bacchus Marsh) with some great tracks to explore for both beginners and more experienced 4×4’ers alike. While some of the forest is accessible to a range of vehicles, both Blue Gum and Diggers Tracks head through pretty tough terrain, so you’re likely to encounter plenty of challenges such as bog holes, boulders, ruts and rocks. Camping is free at the Lederberg Campground set in beautiful bush surroundings.
Toolangi State Forest
The drive to the Toolangi State Forest (about 78km from Melbourne) takes you through Yarra Glen and Dixon Creek and some spectacular Yarra Valley countryside. Toolangi is another favourite with 4WD’ers keen for some weekend fun, with a variety of tracks to suit different experience levels. Downies Spur, Luke Creek, Martins and Lyndalls tracks can be good places to start (and where beginners can often get to grips with driving in mud) being somewhat easier than the renowned and ultra challenging Rocky Track.
Before you go
Particularly if you are a 4×4 newbie, doing your homework as well as travelling with an experienced mate (and ideally with other vehicles) is advisable. Having your full recovery kit ready (winch, lift jack, tracks etc.) packed and along with you for the ride is an essential part of any 4×4 adventure – you never know when you’re going to need it! It’s also likely you’ll be needing to deflate your tyres to drive on sand or softer terrains, so have a tyre air compressor on board to reinflate your tyres on the other side. As WIFI may be patchy in some off-road areas, having a good map of the area you’re travelling to is also a good plan! And, it goes without saying that it’s absolutely vital to do a thorough check of current bushfire risks and other weather conditions as well as possible track closures before you set off.
