Experience true thrills as you cruise through cool, shady forest tracks or tackle dusty outback adventure trails. Remote locations, challenging terrain and unexpected beauty will open up to you as you travel through some of Queensland’s parks and forests in your 4WD.

If you're a well-prepared and experienced driver, and up for a challenge, here’s a selection of some of the best 4WD experiences on offer around the State!

Sand and surf in the South East

Head for the endless beautiful beaches and sandy inland roads of Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton), Bribie and K’gari islands. Whether it’s a day trip or a week of camping with the kids, these island parks provide the perfect getaway. And they are so easily accessible from the city! Bribie is less than an hour from Brisbane and connected to the mainland by road bridge, while K’gari and Gheebulum Kunungai are well-connected to the mainland with barge services.

Coastal mainland parks, such as the Cooloola, section of Great Sandy National Park, also offer sun, surf and sand—the quintessential Queensland holiday! Cruise the majestic beaches and tackle the challenging sandy inland tracks, exploring diverse landscapes.

Fantastic forests

The gorges and lush forests of Conondale National Park in the rugged Conondale Range of the Sunshine Coast hinterland offer scenic 4WD experiences as you traverse Booloumba Creek and Sunday Creek roads. The scenic forest drives of Mount Mee in D’Aguilar also offer adventurous 4WD experiences as you navigate through picturesque native and plantation forests.

Then, in the southern inland, is the rugged wilderness of Sundown National Park. With forested ranges, spectacular gorges, sharp ridges and peaks to explore, you'll feel as though you’ve really got away from it all—and you have!

Sandstone spectacular

Discover amazing geological formations, fascinating history and First Nations peoples culture in Carnarvon National Park's Mount Moffatt, Salvator Rosa and Ka Ka Mundi sections in central Queensland. Explore remote and diverse landscapes with sandy river valleys, grassy woodlands and striking outcrops of sculpted sandstone with formations like Marlong Arch.

Outback adventure

Venture to the far west of Queensland’s remote Outback and discover our largest national park—Munga-Thirri—with its red sand dunes, ironstone pebbles, grey-green spinifex and clear blue skies. What seasoned four-wheel driver can resist the challenge of crossing the Simpson Desert?

Or take a 4WD journey through the parks of Central West Queensland and South West Queensland’s mulga lands to discover the diversity of the Outback from floodplains and channel country to spinifex-clad sand dunes, Mitchell grass downs and mulga scrubs. Take some time to enjoy refreshing waterholes, wetlands and river channels at Currawinya, Culgoa Floodplain and Diamantina, an oasis in an arid landscape.

Journey to the top

A mecca for adventurous four-wheel drivers—Cape York Peninsula features landscapes of unsurpassed beauty and immense diversity, rich with fascinating history and culture of our First Nations peoples. See picturesque lakes carpeted in colourful lilies at Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL), try fishing at Oyala Thumotang National Park (CYPAL), go wildlife watching at Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL) and get some stunning camera shots of the cascading freshwater creeks at Eliot and Twin falls in Heathlands Resources Reserve on your way to the very ‘tip’ of Australia. The best time to visit is during the dry season (May to October) and remember to be Crocwise in Croc Country.

Access and permits

Access to some roads in parks and forests is restricted—these roads are indicated by signs. Ensure you comply with any requirements specified on signs.

If you are driving as part of an organised group, you may require an organised event permit.

In some recreation areas, such as Moreton, Bribie, Cooloola and K’gari, you require a pre-booked vehicle access permit to drive through the area.

Drive safely

Before you leave, research where you are planning to drive, make your preparations and pack everything you need (for yourself as well as the vehicle). This way you'll have the most fun possible on 4 wheels.

Check out four-wheel driving with care for safe driving practices and to have minimal impact on the natural environment you’re visiting.