Right from the get-go I knew my trip through the Herberton area in Far North Queensland would reveal some unbelievable history and hidden gems across an area I’ve never previously explored.

Starting off at Herberton, 90 minutes southwest of Cairns, I was immediately drawn to the Historic Village Herberton, a place that has to be seen to be believed. There is 6.5ha to explore, covering historical buildings, working machinery, antique cars and trucks, a huge array of mining gear plus a main street where buildings are period correct with live demonstrations. My advice: be prepared to spend the whole day here.

The village opened in 1973 but closed in 2003 due to rising costs. A few years later a couple drove past and made enquiries on the failing village, and ended up buying it. It re-opened in 2009 with restoration starting on the 30 buildings already on site, and since then another 20 period-style buildings have been added.

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There is an old tin mine on the property and some of the sheds and huts near here date back to 1880. The original mine head over the shaft remains in situ to this day.

Wandering around the property offers the opportunity to examine more than 150,000 exhibits, both inside and outside of the buildings, including toys, chemist potions, machines, garages, shop paraphernalia, tractors and a huge working saw mill that was relocated here from the bush.

The centrepiece of the village is Elderslie House, which used to overlook a huge tin mining operation in Herberton, and has now been moved into the village and been meticulously restored. Originally built by Queensland miner and entrepreneur Mr John Newell in 1881 for his wife, it stood atop a hill in the heart of town back when Herberton was regarded as the centre of the Atherton Tablelands.

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Herberton was known as the village in the hills when tin was found here in 1880 by John Newell and Willie Jack. A few years later they opened up a merchant store in town, and later opened another 12 stores on the tablelands and on the coast.

Up town, the Herberton mining museum has been built where the first payable tin was found in Herberton, and you can walk several mining trails here and view the old mine shafts – namely the Gully Shaft, Eastern Shaft and No. 3 Shaft. Take a wander around the old machinery and check out the old camps, while inside the building is a massive collection of mining memorabilia and minerals.

Even the main street of Herberton is like a step back in time with the verandahs of century old buildings built right to the street’s edge. There are 60 buildings that can be visited on a self-guided tour, including a spy museum with rare cameras on display.

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I found it difficult to drag myself away from Herberton but the push was on to head 30km further west towards Irvinebank, a fascinating and historic tin-mining town that remains largely untouched.

I headed straight for Loudoun House which is now the local museum. It was built by John Moffat when he discovered tin here in 1882. He built the house to overlook his mining operations which included a smelter, a mill and a dozen stampers, all within earshot.

Moffat was a religious man and was well respected within the area, and when he realised that the mine was no longer viable he refunded £20,000 pounds back to investors in good faith.

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Today Loudoun House is packed with mining information, photos and town memorabilia, and from its verandah you can see the massive tailings dam of the original tin mine.

This was drained back in 2010 and more than $20 million dollars of tin was recovered, according to the museum’s curator. Irvinebank has other handsome buildings built at the turn of the century including the National Bank, the School of Arts and the Treatment Works (originally the Loudoun Mill), and all are heritage listed and well preserved.

To the north of town the Vulcan Mine and mill are well worth exploring. The mine was once regarded as the deepest tin mine in Australia and the most successful one time during its 40 year lifespan. The massive mine head can still be found, and by following a track up the hill I found the deep shafts and could spot the tunnels heading off the main shaft.

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Irvinebank also had a small-gauge tramway that was built in 1907 and it carried passengers and tin ingots north towards Chillagoe. At the time Queensland Railways had built 3ft 6in lines, but the privately owned Irvinebank line was a 2ft gauge.

Leaving Irvinebank along the Petford Road the next stop was the old township site of Montalbion, where a huge amount of silver was found in 1885, as well as copper and gold. A small town grew here over time but eventually the primitive lifestyle and remoteness resulted in the closure of both town and mine. All that remains these days is a sign and a dam that was used for the town’s water supply.

At Emuford, a further 30km west, legendary explorer and prospector James Mulligan was on a hunt for food when he stumbled across an emu’s nest with four eggs in it, and so he named Emu Creek. Tin was found here in 1881 but it wasn’t until 1911 that a commercial operation was built, and this was an ongoing operation up until 1985.

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The town site is situated beside Emu Creek, but there’s nothing left of it bar concrete slabs and a few crumbling bricks.

The main mine site is on the western side of the creek and the sheds and stamper are still intact; it is regarded as Queensland’s most intact example of a historical tin mine battery site. The landscape out here is harsh yet beautiful, and the Petford Road follows the Atherton Ranges all the way to Petford.

Just a locality now, Petford was once an important siding on the original rail line from Chillagoe to Cairns that was built in 1900. Today, other than a little siding shack, there’s nothing left of the original town.

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The track from Herberton to Petford was the original Cobb & Co route between 1888 and 1904.

A connection to the outside world, when the driver would sound his bugle to announce the coach’s arrival, it would generate great interest by the town folk. This was mail service number 201, and it carried nearly anything to everyone, covering all the small communities along the way on its weekly 270km run.

This Herberton adventure is one of the most amazing history trails I have covered anywhere in Queensland. If you have a few days up your sleeve while exploring FNQ, I highly recommend the Herberton to Petford drive.

Adelaide may be known as the City of Churches, but you don’t have to venture too far from the city lights to find pockets of touring gold.

Within a few hundred clicks you can be in the outback proper, with Ngarkat Conservation Park about a 300km drive to the east and Alpana Station about 500km to the north. If you have a spare few days and you need a break from civilisation, here are a few 4WD tracks ‘close’ to Adelaide. Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments section below.

Five of the best 4×4 tracks within 500km of Adelaide

Explore by state

A relatively short 200km jaunt southeast of Adelaide, the Coorong, as it’s colloquially known, offers plenty for the off-road tourer.

The fantastic beach driving (the best access point is from Tailem Bend, off the Princes Highway) is an obvious highlight, but there’s also plenty of opportunity to throw a line in, with both beach-based and lagoon-focused fishing on offer (Coorong NP encompasses a lagoon ecosystem; the waters of the Coorong are protected from the Southern Ocean’s swells by the sand dunes of the Younghusband Peninsula). Salmon and shark are common catches offshore, while flathead and bream are just two species you have the chance to hook in the Coorong’s calm waters.

The ocean-beach drive (speed restrictions apply here, so be aware) is brilliant, but be sure to only tackle it at low tide and to stick to the section of beach between the low and high water marks. You can camp anywhere along the beach in this zone.

Alternatively, you can keep an eye out for post markers that signal a sidetrack that will take you to designated campgrounds on the other side of the dunes, offering a modicum of protection from the coastal winds.

The driving is relatively straightforward (don’t forget to drop tyre pressures), with the sand only becoming particularly treacherous after heavy rain. Don’t forget the ocean beach is a gazetted road, so speed limits apply – and use common sense, as people fishing, swimming and sunning on the beach means slow speeds are a no-brainer.

The beach is also shut down for a short period during spring to assist in the protection of hooded plover nests. This shutdown covers the section of beach running from the mouth of the Murray River to Tea Tree Crossing. Finally, don’t forget some of the water crossings are also tide-dependent, so check the charts first before driving in those areas.

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The Coorong’s popularity with visitors is reflected in the number of campgrounds in the park. With 14 to choose from (some are also 2WD-accessible, and there are a few that are boat-access only), spread from Barker Knoll and Godfreys Landing in the north and dotted toward the south along the curve of the Younghusband Peninusla right down to the southernmost, 28 Mile Crossing, there are plenty of options for two nights in this coastal wonderland.

Facilities are varied from campground to campground, with a number of these campgrounds offering access to bushwalks and the park’s many waterways for boating and paddling enthusiasts.

Boaters and kayakers will have a ball here thanks to the 150km of lagoon (the Northern Lagoon and Southern Lagoon are ‘split’ by Parnka Point that nearly touches the peninsula’s Hells Gate, linking up small beaches and the lagoon’s islands, such as Seagull and Wild Dog).

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One bushwalk – Godfreys Landing, which is about a 3km hike of around an hour’s length – is boat-access only. There are numerous other short walks that are accessible to everyone, the majority of which are ideal for families as they usually entail only an hour at most and take you past a number of historic and natural sites within the park.

A great family-oriented short wildlife walk is the Jack Point Observatory Walk, a short 20-minute journey through sand dunes to a lookout positioned over the park’s pelican-breeding islands. Another nice one is the Lakes Nature Walk Trail, an hour loop that mixes in lakes, dunes and the ubiquitous mallee scrub.

For the more adventurous hikers, the two-day, 25km (one-way) Nukan Kungun Hike is brilliant. Located in the park’s southern section and running from its northern start point of Salt Creek (accessed via the Princes Highway) to 42 Mile Crossing down south, this trek passes by a chain of lakes that include Chinaman Well Lake (don’t forget to check out the short diversion of Chinaman Historic Walk) and has a number of bush campgrounds just off it.

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You can even stretch the hike out another one kilometre and traverse the sand dunes near the 42 Mile Crossing campground, to reach the ocean beach. Fishing is very popular in the Coorong, and with good reason: the same-named ocean beach provides easy access to deep channels near shore, while the lagoon contains Coorong mullet and mulloway. Note: fishing is not allowed in the marine park sanctuary zones near here, so check access and maps first.

Add the fishing and bushwalking to the fact the Coorong is a haven for birds – more than 200 species, including numerous water birds, have been recorded here – and pile all this on top of the beach driving and sublime campgrounds and you’ve got an epic weekend (or longer) in the Coorong.

The quaint coastal township of Robe, 335km southeast of Adelaide, belies its underwhelming appearance by acting as a gateway to the Limestone Coast, one of Australia’s most spectacular environments.

As the Limestone Coast name suggests, the coastline here is dramatic; craggy rocky cliffs, sea caves and more dot this part of the coast, linked together by sweeping beaches abutting the waters of the Upper South East Marine Park. The beaches around Robe are also renowned as top-notch surfing destinations.

This part of South Australia offers not only said spectacle in terms of the coastal/hinterland landscape, but truckloads of outdoor activities – fishing, 4×4 touring, hiking, kayaking, swimming, surfing and camping – with most of these located within the boundaries of Little Dip Conservation Park, around two kilometres south of Robe (if accessing the park through its northern boundary).

For those keen on checking out the park’s southern section, you can follow Nora Creina Road southeast out of Robe and enter the park near Long Gully Campground. The conservation park is named after one of its beaches – Little Dip Beach – and contains four campgrounds.

For those lugging a camper trailer, the Long Gully campground offers the best access as it (unlike its moniker) is a wide, flat area of ground with plenty of site space. This area also provides more protection from coastal winds as it’s about one kilometre from the beach. You can drive the sand tracks from here through sand dunes to the beach, but don’t forget to drop tyre pressures accordingly.

The other three campgrounds – The Gums, Old Man Lake and Stony Rise – are more compact but closer to the surf and offer the bonus of more shaded sites (The Gums and Stony Rise are found in the park’s northern section; Old Man Lake and Long Gully are in the south).

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All four campgrounds have minimal facilities, so remember to bring water and all supplies. Also be aware that solid-fuel fires are banned year-round; a portable gas barbecue/stove is the go (usage of this will be subject to fire bans within the park).

Little Dip Conservation Park contains numerous small lakes including Fresh Water Lake, which is also the start-point for a nice bushwalk that leads along a melaleuca-shrouded path (with intermittent coastal views) and is ideal for those with young kids (just remember to cover them with insect spray, as the midges in the park have a fearsome reputation).

Other lakes worth checking out include Lake Robe, Lake Eliza (check for aboriginal middens along its shores) and Big Dip Lake. The longer hike between these two bodies of water is worth the effort as well, thanks to the mix of vegetation and the resultant birdlife inhabiting it (and the lakes themselves; waterbirds are prolific), along with some speccy views to the Woakwine Range farther inland.

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Along with bushwalking in the park’s hinterland there are the obvious beach walks on offer, with the added bonus of the kids being able to do some beachcombing for lost treasures, as well as have a crack at some beach fishing.

In terms of fishing, this park is brilliant; depending on the season and the conditions at the time, you may catch salmon, flathead and snapper from the beach. Rock fishing also yields similar species and (hopefully) potential for success.

Driving here is challenging as the sand’s very coarse nature promotes a soft texture that offers zero support for a two-tonne 4×4 (or even when walking on it, for that matter). Drop tyre pressures to around 18psi and, if you do cop an early bogging, don’t hesitate to drop further.

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It’s also essential to bring recovery gear (MaxTrax, snatch strap, shovel, etc.). It sounds daunting, but the fear of a potential bogging shouldn’t put you off exploring the beaches in your vehicle. Just remember to keep your speed low and an eye out for people on the beach, and be aware of tide times.

For a relatively small park, at 21.5km², Little Dip Conservation Park does a sterling job of proving size doesn’t matter when it comes to offering an awesome outdoor/camping experience not that far from Adelaide.

Another Limestone Coast destination, albeit a better kept secret, Canunda National Park is around five hours’ drive south of Adelaide, so it’s probably at the outer limit of a weekend away.

However, tackle that drive and you’ll be rewarded with a coastal park that allows you to pack in a couple of days full of fishing, beach driving, camping, surfing, diving, bushwalking and exploring.

The Canunda NP landscape differs from its northern neighbour (Little Dip CP) by offering a totally different experience in the northern section of the park, where rugged limestone cliffs dominate, along with spectacular rock stacks off the coastline and rugged, thick bushland to explore.

The southern section contrasts with its more open terrain dominated by sand dunes that stretch to the park border, and low dunes just back from the beach. Driving in Canunda NP you can cover the full length of the park, with the northernmost entry point accessed via the township of Southend.

You can also enter the park via Carpenter Rocks in the south, or the township of Millicent, which has an access road that leads to the park’s centre section, just above the expanse of Lake Bonney. The town of Southend is worth spending some time in, even if it is just to pick up some mega-fresh seafood (lobster, anyone?) on your way to camp.

Upon entering the park’s northern section you have the option of two campgrounds: Kotgee and Nal-a-wort. These are two of the six campgrounds you’ll find in the park; Oil Rig Square and Geltwood campgrounds are located in the centre of the park, while No 2 Rocks Campground south of these two, and Cape Banks Campground at the southern border, just north of Carpenter Rocks.

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Most of these campgrounds are small and the majority have six sites; Kotgee has seven, with limited facilities. The pick of the campgrounds would be Number 2 Rocks. This is the most remote campground with limited sites and a pit toilet (be fully self-sufficient if camping here), but the reward is the beach is only 200 metres away, plus there are beaches to the north and south of the campground, separated by a lagoon that offers great swimming for young kids (the beaches are considerably rougher).

This campground also allows access to two beautiful limestone headlands. Having said that, Cape Banks, right down south, is also worth a final night stay; the historic Cape Banks Lighthouse is near here, too, so check it out before the long drive back home.

The off-road driving here is sublime – and surprisingly uncrowded – with a nice mix of challenging and straightforward coastal terrain to experience. As with any beach driving, check and double-check tide times before heading out onto the soft sand of Geltwood Beach. If it looks sketchy, there are numerous alternative tracks to explore behind the beach among the sand dunes, but, again, be well-prepared and deflate tyres accordingly.

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Some of the tracks in the dunes behind the beach are dotted with marker posts that will guide you through these sections, with a number of tracks looping back to Geltwood Beach. Before you do delve into the park’s tracks, though, one drive that should be on your list is the short poodle up to Cape Buffon, just outside the park’s northern boundary.

The cliffs, sea stacks and roaring ocean below make for a speccy intro to your weekend. Along with the expected beach driving, the park’s tracks will throw up other challenges including rocky sections and soft sand behind the beach dunes. Follow some of these and you’ll pass through small clusters of coastal wattle and other coastal tree species as you move east/southeast away from the beach itself.

Another great track is Bevilaqua Ford, with its undulating dune sections, that acts as a great link track to park highlights such as Khyber Pass, a collection of large sand dunes that are ‘solid’ on top, being capped by sandstone and petrified tree roots.

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For keen bushwalkers the Seaview Hike is a must. This 12km trek takes you along the steep cliffs in the park’s north. You’ll spot plenty of wildlife here; sea birds are commonplace, plus dolphins, seals and – during migration – whales.

On land there’s every chance you’ll surprise a grazing wallaby or wandering echidna. For those looking to catch their own seafood meal, the beach fishing is excellent; mulloway and salmon are commonly caught off the beach here, while rock fishing may reward with sweep. For divers – noting the bag limits – crayfish and abalone can be found along the many reefs offshore.

For a small, relatively out-of-the-way national park, Canunda packs a mighty big punch. As we mentioned earlier, it’s a longish haul for a weekend, but, snare yourself an extra day and it’s the perfect long weekend away.

South Australia has long been known for its multitude of outback station stays, all of which offer amazing experiences.

Property owners in this part of Australia twigged early to the financial benefits of opening up their lands to 4×4-borne tourists, and there are now many of these types of off-road adventures available.

Alpana Station is a great example of this kind of escape, with the massive (206km²) working sheep station just north of Wilpena Pound (around five hours’ drive from Adelaide) first offering 4×4 guided tours in 1998 and now offering both these and a number of self-drive adventures around the property’s amazing landscape.

Plus, the accommodation is pretty awesome; the four powered campsites (for caravans and camper trailers only) each have their own private en suite bathrooms, while the other amenities at this campground – covered barbecue, table, firepit and toilet – make it even more spectacular. As a bonus for dog owners, the station is pet-friendly.

Bush camping on the station is restricted to two sites (and is again pet-friendly), with the high-clearance-access Horseyards campground set off the nearby road and accessible only if you have a key from the station. There are four sites in here, with pit toilets and – if in season – a running creek right next to them.

The Bill’s Paddock campground is closer to the Alpana homestead, nestled on the bank of Butler’s Creek, and is accessible to ’vans and even 2WD vehicles. For those who want to mix a luxury digs experience with a night in the bush, you can even book an ensuite bathroom for your own use.

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Of course, for that truly luxurious outback ‘camping’ experience, you can opt for one of the buildings on the property (including a huge shearers’ quarters building for large groups), with the 4×4-accessible Nungawurtina Hut (a traditional-style hut built from pine and stone), located in a secluded valley.

This hut offers sleeping room for six, a gas stove, table, chairs and solar-powered lighting, and it would be a cracking weekend away for a family (you can also set up additional tents around the hut if there are more in your group). There’s even a walking track that takes you into the nearby Angorichina Village.

The station has some great 4×4 tracks that range between easy to very challenging, all of which take you through some truly amazing outback South Australian terrain.

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The two self-drive options are a mix of moderate grade and challenging. The two-hour Sunset Hill 665 self-drive track is the perfect option for those keen on witnessing an outback sunset/sunrise, with the top of Sunset Hill offering expansive views across the ABC and Heysen ranges. Views to the south take in Wilpena Pound and its red-rock cliffs, as well as the distant waters of Lake Torrens.

You can also tack on an additional 10km of driving to Nungarwurtina Hut (if there’s nobody camping there). The big bopper is the one-way, five-hour Mt Samuel Track, which is rated challenging. This drive will most definitely test your off-roading skills, but the reward is a journey through the full gamut of quintessential Flinders Ranges terrain.

This drive doesn’t mess around; after winding through open grazing country, you are soon into the serious stuff and confronted with a steep climb along a narrow creek bed that throws in rock ledges, a loose, shale-covered surface and plenty more.

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Throw in regular steep washouts that will test your 4×4’s approach and departure angles, as well as plenty of ruts (caused by flooding during heavy rain), and you can see how the ascent to near the summit (of what is actually two Mt Samuels) achieves such a tough rating.

Once you finish the long, steady ascent you’re about a 30-minute walk from the summits of Mt Samuels. It’s a steep walk but you’ll regret it if you don’t make the effort as, again, the views from the top are magnificent.

The next part of the self-drive is the descent into the aptly named Mt Buggery Gorge where, if you have the option, having someone walking out front of your vehicle will help to guide you down this steep section – it is definitely low-range, first gear for this.

Upon reaching the bottom (and letting out that held breath) you trundle along the still-challenging track that follows Mt Buggery Creek, with the high peaks of the surrounding mountains shadowing your progress. The terrain here is still a challenge with washouts, tree roots (and branches) and large rocks to ensure you pick your way slowly along.

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If there has been recent rain – and you are visiting in season – this area offers the chance to view some wildflowers. It’s a cracking experience and definitely one to challenge drivers.

For those less keen on the rough stuff, joining the guided Alpana Station Experience is a must. There are half- and full-day options and these drives are still great fun, with the added bonus of showcasing both the history of the station and just how much work goes into running these properties.

It’s a bit of a haul from Adelaide, but for those looking for the true ‘station stay experience’ Alpana Station does a great job of fulfilling that dream. And then, of course, you can always return and tackle a few of the other station stays in the area, a number of which fit the Adelaide weekend escape bill to a tee.

For a contrast to bright lights, busy traffic and a bustling city, Ngarkat Conservation Park’s vast outback landscape, a touch more than three hours’ drive west of Adelaide along the Mallee Highway, is the perfect choice. 

The park’s sand dunes, mallee scrub and heathlands tick all the boxes when it comes to the quintessential outback elements. As you’d expect, the park’s location – and its weather – means this desert escape is a definite cool-months-only destination. We’d recommend any time from late April until September to experience Ngarkat at its best.

Ngarkat CP features 11 campgrounds, the majority of which are 4×4-access only. Pertendi, just off the sealed Ngarkat Highway, offers caravan sites, while Nanam Well and Pine Hut Soak – both in the northwest section – offer 2WD access, as does Comet Bore, off the Ngarkat Highway.

Most campgrounds in the park are quite small, and sites range from unallocated to one, through to six sites at Cox’s Windmill. Of course, think of Ngarkat CP and you can’t help but be reminded of its most famous attraction for off-road tourers: the Border Track.

As the name so obviously implies, this north-south track follows the fence-line boundary that signifies the Victoria/South Australia border. The track is challenging and includes a southbound (from the park’s northern boundary) section that reverts to a two-way track once it joins the Centre Track (around 29km south of the track’s northern start-point). This is designed to ensure the fragile sand dunes and vegetation are as protected as possible.

The Border Track is a fantastic adventure, and for visitors who loop up and enter the park from its northern boundary just south of Pinnaroo, it’s a great way to kick off your Ngarkat experience with a true desert driving test.

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The Border Track isn’t the only exciting touring option in the park; another option, for those heading north to south in the park’s western section, is to enter via Pinnaroo but turn toward Pine Hut Soak (rather than the Border Track start-point).

From the campground here you can drive south along the Centre Track, stopping along the way for the short (40 minutes return) Orchid Hike that, as the name suggests, leads bushwalkers through a pine forest that contains beautiful native orchids – a seeming oddity out here in mallee/desert country.

The Centre Track turns east to join the Border Track and, continuing south, you reach the turnoff to the rugged Mt Shaugh Track. This leads to the sealed Ngarkat Highway before you turn, again, onto dirt and follow the South Boundary Track west to Rabbit Island Soak campground (or Bucks Camp if you so wish). It’s a big day, but this campground makes it worthwhile.

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For the energetic (and those with young’uns in tow), there are two short walks – the Gosse Hill Hike and Mount Rescue Hike – near here, both of which offer some cracking views across the low hills and open country of the park’s interior.

Following these short jaunts you have the option of leaving the track via Mount Rescue Track on the western edge, or you could head north along Jimmys Well Track to Box Flat for another night of camping.

A second drive option, again starting from Pine Hut Soak in the north but this time with a short hop across the border into Victoria’s adjoining Big Desert Wilderness, repeats the Centre Track-to-Border Track adventure south until you reach the junction of the Border and Red Bluff tracks. You can continue east from here to camp below this big outcrop, then return west via Mt Shaugh and South Boundary tracks to Rabbit Island Soak.

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An alternative, for those who wish to return north, is to turn right before Rabbit Island Soak and head up along Baan Hill Track. This eventually leads out of the park. As well as off-roading Ngarkat CP has a load of great bushwalks, ranging from the short ones mentioned previously (Gosse Hill and Mount Rescue) through to more ‘serious’ treks that are more suited to experienced feet-borne adventurers.

Pine Hut Soak is the start-point for three big ones: the four-hour/11km return trek from Pine Hut Soak to Fishponds takes walkers through a sand dune landscape dotted with claypans; the shorter hike to Nanam Well takes you to a restored water well of the same name; while the longest – 17km/seven-hour return Pine Hut Soak to Scorpion Springs – allows well-prepared, experienced hikers to enjoy a journey through more mallee country, interspersed with clumps of native pine trees and stringybark mallee bush.

For the vertically inclined, there is the 1.5-hour slog up to the summit of Mount Shaugh. The views across to the ‘other side’ (aka Victoria) make this worth the effort. Keep an eye out for wildlife at any (small and often dry) waterholes, as this arid country hides a surprising amount of native animals and wildflowers when in season.

With a certified GVM upgrade, Ranger owners can increase their vehicle’s carrying capacity and tackle challenging loads with greater ease and safety.

GVM upgrades typically involve reworking the suspension by fitting stronger springs or shock absorbers, as well as updating the brakes to ensure the vehicle can safely handle the increased load capacity. Here are some products we recommend, and they’re intended as a starting point to give you an idea of what’s available ?

ARB GVM upgrade

The ARB GVM upgrade for the next-gen Ford Ranger increases its Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) to about 3500kg, enhancing payload capacity for heavy gear and towing.

This upgrade includes a complete suspension system with heavy-duty coil springs and shock absorbers, improving off-road performance and ride quality. It enhances comfort and traction over rough terrain while boosting safety through better braking and cornering.

Compliant with Australian Design Rules (ADR), the upgrade ensures roadworthiness. Though it requires a significant investment and professional installation, the ARB GVM upgrade offers substantial benefits for off-road and heavy-duty use.

ARB GVM upgrade

Specifications:

• Upgraded GVM: 3500kg
• Increase: 150kg

Buy now

• Upgraded GVM: 3500kg
• Increase: 150kg

TJM XGS GVM+ upgrade kits

The XGS GVM+ kits provide a complete suspension upgrade.

The Medium/Lite option features lighter coil and leaf springs for a more compliant ride and reduced fringe benefits tax (FBT), while the Heavy/Complete system allows for a higher weight capacity. XGS also offers a wide range of shock options (Roamer, Rugged, and Remote) to customise your GVM upgrade.

These upgrades undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and durability, with components subjected to both internal and accredited third-party assessments to meet Australian Design Rule (ADR) standards.

Designed for tough Australian conditions, the GVM+ upgrade enhances your 4×4’s comfort, braking response, and cornering stability, maximising performance and allowing you to kit out your vehicle with confidence.

TJM XGS GVM+ upgrade kits

Specifications:

• Upgraded GVM: 3500kg (approx.)
• Increase: Varies based on model

Buy now

• Upgraded GVM: 3500kg (approx.)
• Increase: Varies based on model

How we review products

4X4 Australia has been reviewing four-wheel drive vehicles and aftermarket products for more than 40 years.

When looking for the best accessories for your make and model of 4WD, there are some things essential to making sure you have the best off-roading experience. When we compare products, here are some of the things we consider:

• Warranty
• Build quality
• Value for money
• Time and ease to set-up/install
• Weight
• Fit and finish
• How well it gets the job done
• What materials they’re made from
• Corrosion/UV resistance
• Coatings
• Compatibility with other accessories
• Compliance with ADRs and vehicle safety systems
• Country of manufacture
• Load ratings, to determine what’s the best product across each price point.

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As we enter the last quarter of 2024 the Ford Ranger has built an unassailable lead on the 4×4 sales charts, ending September with a total of 44,559 year-to-date sales.

That’s 8058 more sales than Toyota has been able to muster for its – admittedly, much older – HiLux, which so far has delivered a total of 36,501 4×4 units to customers. Expect this gap to close when the next-gen HiLux arrives. The next best ute is the D-MAX, which has accumulated 18,349 sales so far this year. The monthly 4×4 sales chart for September reveals an identical order, with the Ranger (4187 sales) out-selling the HiLux (3545) and D-MAX (2108).

However, the Ford Ranger (4×4 and 4×2 combined) was pipped by the Toyota RAV4 on the overall sales charts, with the RAV4 selling 5182 units in September compared to 4485 Rangers. In fact, RAV4 numbers continue to surge, with sales up 85.2 per cent in September 2024 compared to September 2023 (and a whopping +93.1 per cent YTD).

It’s an opposite trend for both the Ranger and HiLux 4×4 variants, despite showing improvements on the year-to-date charts (+14.4 per cent and +4.7 per cent respectively). Both vehicles are down in sales compared to the same month last year – the Ranger -18.3 per cent and the HiLux -25.1 per cent.

Reflective of this is the decline in sales last month compared to September 2023 for both the large SUV and PU/CC 4×4 segments, down 16.7 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively.

However, FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber, said that SUVs and utes still account for a large chunk of the sales. “SUVs and utes remain the vehicle of choice for around 80 per cent of new car buyers. Nine of the top ten vehicles sold during September were in the Medium or Large SUV or Light Commercial segments. By contrast the passenger segment was less than 15 per cent of the market,” he said.

The Ford Everest remains the best-selling SUV in Australia (2902 sales in September, and 18,613 sales YTD), ahead of the MU-X (1317 sales in September and 14,228 sales YTD) and LandCruiser 300 Series (1093 sales in September and 12,274 sales YTD).

The GWM Ute was the best-selling budget option in September, with 696 sales registered, placing it ahead of both the LDV T60 (407) and SsangYong Musso (251). The opposite end of the market saw the Silverado (334 sales) outsell the RAM 1500 (241) and Ford F-150 (191).

Best-selling 4x4s in September 2024

Best-selling 4x4s YTD

Our recent drive of the Lexus GX550 Overtrail revealed this new 4×4 wagon will be well-suited to off-road touring duties.

However, for many Australian adventurers, a petrol engine isn’t what they want. The preferred option is diesel fuel and the benefits it brings. While the Lexus GX is petrol-fuelled only, the upcoming 2025 Prado on which it is based will only be offered with a diesel engine.

Toyota Australia has confirmed the 250 Series Prado will be available in five specification grades when it lands late in 2024, including an Altitude that will get multi-terrain modes, a disconnecting sway bar, a rear locker, and the same Toyo Open Country tyres as fitted to the GX550 Overtrail. The top-spec Kakadu model will be fitted with a heap of luxury additions, but none to match the GX’s levels of trims, features and performance.

Pricing aside, it will be chalk and cheese in terms of the drivetrains, but something else that off-roaders would need to consider is that the Prado will be heavily supported by the aftermarket for accessories like bull bars, sliders, and everything else you could want to fit for off road touring. And not all of these products will transfer across to the Lexus, especially full-loop bull bars.

Ironman 4×4 has let on that it is working on a ‘Raid’ loopless bar with winch cradle for the GX due to the popularity of the model in the USA, and this will be available in Australia. Plus, a lot of general accessories such as roof racks and suspension upgrades should be able to fit both vehicles, but we’ll have to wait to see just what works for both.

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We look forward to seeing what the major 4×4 accessory brands and many smaller bespoke brands come up and with for the 250 Series-based models.

When it comes down to the crunch, though, we’re willing to wait for the Prado. Let us know what you’d prefer in the comments section below ?