Heading Off the Beaten Track

Each year hundreds of 4WD vehicles leave the bitumen for an offroad adventure! If you are looking to take on one of Australia's most challenging 4WD tracks, here are seven of the best:

The Cape-Telegraph Road / Penninsula Development Road, QLD

• The route to the northern-most point of mainland Australia
• Starts at Lakeland
• 743km - five days or more
• Best travelled April to October
• Archer River to Bramwell Junction is the longest distance between fuel and supplies (162km)
• Hard, rugged drive.
• Highlights include ancient Aboriginal art and the ruins of Somerset.

Simpson Desert, SA & QLD

• Birdsville to Dalhousie Springs
• 440km - four days or more
• Closed from last week in Nov until the end of Feb
• Always check conditions before setting out
• Mt Dare to Birdsville is longest distance between fule and supplies (511km)
• Extremely remote drive, crossing hundreds of dunes separated by salt and clay pans.
• Attach a flag to your aerial at all times for visibility in dunes. Dunes continualy moving with some steep drop offs. The grow in height as you travel east so crossing from west to east is best.
• Highlights include old ruins, The Knolls, Poeppel Corner (meeting of 3 states), Big Red highest of the sand dunes.

Binns Track, SA & NT

• Mount Dare to Timber Creek
• 2191km (at least 10 days) or break into four separate sections
• Always check road and weather conditions before trip
• Attach flag to your aerial in the dunes
• Longest distance between supplies and fuel - Mt Dare to Santa Teresa (344km)
• Highlights include Gregory National park, Simpson Desert, Old Andalo Homestead, rare acacia peuce trees, ancient rock carvings, Santa Teresa Aboriginal community, gem fossicking, Devils Marbles and more.

Cameron Corner and Sturt National Park, NSW, QLD & SA

• Starts from Tibooburra NSW
• 140km but worth including the Geaorge Loop Road (another 100km)
•  Best travelled April to October
• Tibooburra to cameron Corner - longest distance between fuel and supplies (140km)

Canning Stock Route, WA

• One of the most remote 4WD tracks in the world
• 1619km from Wiluna to Billiluna
• Best travelled April to September
• Hightlights include Aboriginal sites, pioneer history, rugged ranges, sand dunes, flora and fauna
• Longest distance between fuel and supplies - Wiluna to Well 23 Fuel Dump (707km)
• All vehicles require permits and permission to pass through Aboriginal communities

Anne Beadell Highway, SA & WA

• Alternative in-land route for 4WDrivers crossing the nullabor
• very remote with more than 1000 sand dunes to cross
• Very competent outback drivers only
• 1324km from Coober Pedy to Laverton, allow five to eight days.
• Best travelled May to September
• Longest distance between fuel and supplies is Coober Pedy to Ilkulka Roadhouse (750km)
• Tell police at Coober Pedy and Laverton when you leave and arrive

Goog's Track, SA

• Ceduna to Malbooma
• 188km with 360 sand dunes to cross
• Best travelled April to September
• Supplies only at Ceduna and Glendambo (350km)
• Due to sand dunes, best travelled north to south with low tyre pressure

Thankyou to Danielle Lancaster from Escape.com.au for this information