Little Desert NP is Victoria’s own ‘outback’; located around four hours’ drive west of Melbourne, not far from the township of Dimboola.

The 1326km² park is bordered by the Wimmera River (great for fishing) and the SA/Vic border on the western side, near Naracoorte, and has a fantastic mix of sandy desert terrain and huge river red gums beside the Wimmera.

The landscape offers an incredible mix of vegetation, too – mallee country vegetation, such as heath, is dominant in the eastern section due it receiving less rainfall than the western section. The west plays host to casuarina woodlands and some sections of swamp (after rain), with the ubiquitous river red gums bordering some of the park’s waterways.

The park includes several campgrounds, ranging from the easily accessed (via bitumen roads) to the more remote desert sites. There are numerous sandy 4×4 tracks to drive as you explore the park, plus two sealed ‘main’ roads that you can hop on and off as you link these tracks. The tracks here are sandy and very soft – a dual-range rig is essential – but they offer the chance to escape the crowds and really immerse yourself in this park.

For us, a great adventure is to tackle an east-west traverse of the park’s three ‘sections’ via the McDonald Highway, which starts at the eastern end of the ‘centre’ section of Little Desert NP, via Nhill Road to the east. Don’t let the moniker fool you, as this ‘highway’ is actually a sandy track.

However, if you link it with the Eastern section tracks and then, once you’re through the centre, drop south along Kaniya-Edenhope Road (just outside the centre section’s park boundary) to re-enter the park via the East-West Track, then you’ve got at least a rough plan for a weekend.

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If you start in the east you can spend the first day exploring the eastern section of the park and its numerous tracks, before camping that first night at Kiata Campground, or Ackle Bend and Horseshoe Bend campgrounds (these three campgrounds are also ideal for caravan/camper trailers).

The park’s six campgrounds (including a couple of walk-in ones such as Mallee Walkers Camp and Yellow Gum Walkers Camp) offer excellent camping; plus, you can also bush camp in the central and western sections of the park, allowing you to find that perfect desert solitude along one of the side-tracks. Camp fees apply at Ackle Bend and Horseshoe Bend, so you need to book ahead.

It’s also worth noting that you will need to bring your own water, as potable water (or any water) is a scarcity in the park and not always guaranteed. It’s also worth packing a powerful torch for some night-time wildlife viewing at the campgrounds; possums and nocturnal birds are aplenty in this national park and spotting them makes for a memorable experience for young’uns (okay, okay – all of us, really) in your company.

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With roughly 600km of tracks in the park, there are some crackers including Dahlenburgs Mill, Jungkum, Salt Lake, Mallee and McCabes Hut (in the eastern section), as well as Broughtons-Sambells (this takes you to Broughtons Waterhole campground), Lawloit (for views of and from Sister Hills), Jacobs and Mt Moffat, this one found in the far western section of the park and leading to its namesake peak (worth a visit).

The tracks in the park’s western section are generally rated as more difficult, but experienced drivers should have little trouble negotiating them. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast when planning your trip out here as the tracks can become seriously boggy after precipitation. Be aware that the tracks in the western and central sections are subject to seasonal closure (June 1 to October 31) and weather conditions.

As well as plenty of off-roading, Little Desert NP is a great destination for bushwalkers; numerous short walks averaging a couple of hours include the Pomponderoo Hill Nature Walk in the park’s north near Dimboola, a pretty stroll beside the Wimmera River between Ackle Bend and Horseshoe campgrounds, and the 74km Little Desert Walk, which can be broken into shorter sections if you wish.

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This walk also brings you in closer contact with the park’s 220 bird species (including emus, wedge-tailed eagles and the rare malleefowl), plus you’ll spot plenty of kangaroos, reptiles (look out for snakes) and, if you’re there in spring, a landscape dotted with wildflowers. If you decide to make your Little Desert Walk an overnighter (or longer) you’ll gain access to walk-in-only campgrounds and true remoteness – just don’t forget to register online with Parks Victoria.

For those after that outback adventure but don’t have the time to travel into SA or the NT, Little Desert National Park offers a brilliant desert driving experience, combined with prolific wildlife to view and sublime campgrounds to enjoy.

Road to Ruin documents a fantastic trip along the Canning Stock Route in a Series Land Rover.

First constructed as an alternative to take on the established Kimberley cattle monopoly controlling the supply of beef from the east Kimberley to the Perth market, the Canning Stock Route (CSR) surprisingly saw barely 20 droves between 1931 and 1959.

Long abandoned for cattle work since, the track has gone through multiple stages of repair and disrepair, but due to the availability of water from the multiple wells located approximately a day’s drive apart, and later the implementation of fuel sites (Parnngurr Community near Well 22, Kunawarritji Community near Well 33, and a drop point near Well 23), it has thrived as a badge of achievement for 4X4 owners seeking non-homogenised off-roading adventure.

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Stretching south-west from Halls Creek in the Kimberley, through to the goldfields near Wiluna, there are no towns along the CSR’s entire length for support. It was this kind of open country, offering such distance, history, isolation and challenge, that saw the team at Seriously Series wanting to take it on using the most basic off-road vehicle and tools. The idea was to follow Alfred Canning’s route, starting in Wiluna and travelling north-east towards the Tanami Desert and the route’s original start point at Halls Creek, all the while documenting the landscape and journey on video.

The trip centred around Geoff Lewis and Damon Heather travelling in Geoff’s 1975 Land Rover Series 3, fresh from a two-year rebuild completed the same day the journey began. A much younger 2010 Land Rover Defender piloted by Claire Lewis and Stevie Tuchowski served as camera car, while also providing a safety net should things go wrong.

With all the hallmarks of previous Australian explorers like Malcolm Douglas and Mike and Mal Leyland, Road to Ruin strips the usual Youtube-esque gloss and replaces it with the gritty outback travel reminiscent of those pioneers of early 4×4 television shows.

Dealing with setbacks and multiple failures any way they can in a dauntingly remote part of Australia, however stunning the scenery may be, the Seriously Series team dig deep through the stress and frustration when things go awry. Stick around for the rundown figures at the end, as it gives a brilliant insight into what the team went through to achieve what they did.

To give perspective of the scope of challenge the team faced, the usual 4×4 travel time of the CSR clocks between 10 to 14 days, but by the end of their journey, that counter had pushed past 22.

Since being released, Road to Ruin has now been accepted to stream in 25 countries on several platforms including Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Apple TV. It is well worth the watch for any 4×4 traveller looking for inspiration and adventure.

1975 Series 3

Geoff Lewis, a dyed-in-the-wool Landy enthusiast, made a number of modifications to his 1975 Series 3 to tackle the CSR.

The factory 2.25 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine was left mainly stock with its 8:1 compression ratio allowing ultra-low octane fuel to be run with just a timing adjustment should it need to. Rover differentials were used with 4.7:1 ratios, as well as ARB air lockers, along with Powerlock free wheeling hubs, while the suspension was heavy-duty Land Rover leaf springs and fresh Old Man Emu nitrocharger shock absorbers.

Two 72-litre fuel tanks were topped-up by six 20-litre roof-rack mounted jerry cans. An Aero parts Capstan winch was fitted, running a dog clutch from the engine’s crankshaft.

Grampians NP, three hours’ drive northwest of Melbourne, has something for any adventurer, whether you’re a keen four-wheel driver, rock-climber, hiker, cyclist (both road and MTB routes are found inside the park), birdwatcher, or just want to sit back with a coldie at camp and watch the sun set over some of this country’s most dramatic mountain ranges.

Known as Gariwerd to the local indigenous people, the park’s landscape is dominated by sandstone rock formations interspersed with lakes, waterfalls and a number of rock-art sites, five of which are open to public viewing. The park has some 80 per cent of Victoria’s aboriginal rock art.

From Melbourne, Grampians NP is best accessed from Halls Gap on the park’s eastern boundary, off Grampians Tourist Road reached via the Western Highway, through Dunkeld to the south. Halls Gap is a great place to check out and/or grab some supplies, and it’s also home to the excellent Brambuk, the National Park and Cultural Centre which contains loads of maps, walk guides and park info; plus, it’s the place to grab any relevant permits. It also houses a ‘Dreaming Theatre’ and interpretive displays, and, most importantly, a café.

To explore the park the best bet is to tackle it in sections, with the southern, central and northern Grampians all offering a unique experience. The park is popular, and Parks Victoria (unlike its neighbouring state directly north) understands the appeal of camping in national parks and offers 10 vehicle-based campgrounds.

We reckon going west is the best way to quickly immerse yourself in the park’s speccy natural attractions. Following the Northern Grampians Road west leads to Boroka Lookout side-trip, which is a cracker; with the peaks of the Mount William and Wonderland ranges, as well as Halls Gap itself, all visible from this lofty viewpoint.

From here you return to what becomes Rocks Road when you turn (and continue) west, passing Reeds Lookout and then – just nearby – a turn-off to Bluff Lookout and a grand sight: MacKenzie Falls. Here, you can check out this wild waterfall’s cascading descent into the river of the same name, or you can head to Broken Falls Lookout (from the same carpark) for similar views.

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The park is full of bushwalks such as these, but for the really keen/experienced walkers, there is the new Grampians Peaks Trail that, when finished, will comprise a 12-day trek from one end of the park to the other. At the moment, only the first stage is open.

From Buandik Campground, loop south on Harrop Track and tackle a steep ascent (on foot) to another natural feature: the Chimney Pots, a collection of eroded rock turrets that are a steep scramble to reach but offer epic views north across the park.

Leaving these age-old sentinels you can either keep following what is now Glenelg River Road or take the ‘high way’ along Victoria Range Road, backtracking north until you eventually reach Boreang Campground. This popular campground (bookings are essential all year ’round) offers a dozen tent sites (with vehicle parking) and 11 caravan/camper-trailer sites.

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All sites are unpowered but there are toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables. If you had to break down a Grampians trip(s) into a couple, then this campground makes a top spot from which to explore the vast central Grampians, or – as with this route we are describing – it provides a nice final night in this park.

The great thing with the Grampians is that it’s close to Melbourne and you can always return to tackle more tracks or other sections. There’s no need to rush the experience this natural spectacle provides.

One of the last big items to be fitted to our Ford Everest Ambiente build was its suspension kit and again we’ve teamed up with the great blokes at Tough Dog to supply the hardware.

Knowing the limited carrying capacity of Ford’s T6 platform that underpins the Everest, and with front and rear steel bars going on this vehicle as well as a rear drawer system, we thought it prudent to lock in a GVM upgrade with the new suspension package.

In stock trim our Everest Ambiente 4×4 tips the scales at 2369kg, it has a GVM of 3000kg and a payload of 731kg. The axles are rated to carry 1470kg at the front and 1770kg maximum under the rear end.

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With its Yakima roof rack and awning, Maxxis RAZR A/T tyres on Fuel wheels, AFN front bar and underbody protection, and Kaymar rear bar fitted, the Everest crossed the scales at 2760kg, with 1340kg of that on the front axle and 1420kg on the rear.

That left us with only 240kg grace on our GVM for gear and passengers; 130kg on the front axle and 350kg on the back, so any plans for loading it up with more gear and a cabin full of luggage and passengers would be at risk. Even if we fitted a winch to the AFN bull bar, and lights, scrub rails and side steps to the vehicle, it would be getting close to maximum when you add passengers and load.

Tough Dog’s GVM upgrade suspension kit for the Everest raises the GVM to 3750kg and includes replacement coil springs, shock absorbers, and air assist rear air bags plus all the details you need for GVM upgrade certification including the CAT-6 indicators that must be fitted to the front guards, and appropriate upgraded specification labels.

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The Tough Dog GVM upgrade kit is available with three choices of coils depending on the weight on the front end and in our case we chose the coils to carry a steel bull bar. The other options are for no front-end accessories, or with a steel bar and winch fitted.

Tough Dog’s adjustable shocks are the next key part of the kit and the shocks offer nine-stages of adjustment depending on what you need for the terrain, load and your driving preferences. Adjustment is via an easy to reach dial on the bottom of the shock and the internals include a 40mm bore with an 18mm rod and a 60mm outside diameter.

An inclusion on the Everest GVM kit is a pair of helper air bags that sit in the rear coils when fitted. Tough Dog has found that on the Everest, and some other vehicles with rear coil springs including the LandCruiser 300 and Ram 1500 kits, the airbag can be lightly inflated to help the coils manage the weight without sacrificing the ride quality as would be the case if they fitted stiffer coils. An added bonus is that the airbags act as bump stops, adding an extra layer of damping when bumps compress the coils to near maximum.

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Tough Dog’s replacement upper control arms can also be optioned into the kit but we’ve chosen not to include them this time around. Most importantly for us, the Tough Dog kit brings our GVM up to 3750kg giving us more room to play with when loading the vehicle.

The suspension was capably installed by the team at Statewide 4×4 in Melbourne where the Everest has previously spent time having the AFN bullbar fitted and getting the MSA fridge barrier and false floor sorted out in the back. It was a relatively straightforward install of the shocks and coils with the helper air bags sitting inside the rear coils. The airlines for the bags were carefully routed under the vehicle and to a bracket at the back to where the fittings are, and we can adjust the pressure in the bags to what’s needed to support any load onboard or when towing.

Other details of the install included fitting the CAT-6 indicators using the template supplied by Tough Dog in the kit and then once the vehicle was on the ground, giving it a fresh wheel alignment to bring everything back into spec. Finally, photos were taken for the engineering approval and height measurements to make sure it was all level.

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Straight out of the workshop the Tough Dog suspension has given the Everest a lift in ride height but we expect that to settle a bit once we put some kilometres on it. As it was, the Everest had to go straight to the showgrounds for the National 4×4 Show and after that we’ll need to get it inspected and signed off by the engineer for state approval and have the details updated with VicRoads, and we’ll get it out on the tracks to let you know how it all performs.

Of course, the Tough Dog GVM upgrade kit is nationally pre-approved and can be fitted either pre or post vehicle registration. Having it fitted pre-registration avoids state level certification, but we couldn’t avoid this as our Everest was already registered.

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This last point is why it pays to plan your build as soon as you order your new vehicle, and find out what weight you will be adding with your accessories and cargo, and knowing if you will need a GVM upgrade. Getting that done pre-rego saves some hassle and gives you that national approval, no matter what state you are travelling in.

As we’ve been fitting more gear to the Everest over the past few months, the standard suspension has started straining under the load, but even after a short on-road drive with the Tough Dog kit fitted we can already tell it carries its weight much better, with improved body control and stability.

We’ll know more when we get it approved and up to speed on the tracks, and when we can play with the damper settings and air bag pressures. Stay tuned for more on this soon!

This national park in the NSW central tablelands was gazetted in 1995 and features some of the steepest 4×4 tracks in the state.

It also has three rivers (keep an eye out for platypus), a mix of mountain gum forests and more open timber, gold rush relics, and fantastic camping options.

The park is about 40km southwest of Oberon, itself around 2.5 hours from Sydney, and the steep tracks and more remote (and scenic) attractions are only accessible via 4×4 vehicles with low-range gearing. The park’s renowned steep tracks can be a bit confronting for some, so if you’re keen to ease your way into it then the western access point on Arkstone Road gives access to the lower sections of the park.

If you want to get straight into it, the eastern entry via Felled Timber Road is the go. We’d opt for the easier loop, which starts low in altitude and, over the course of two days, finishes at the highest point of the park at more than 1000 metres. Not only does it give you a chance to ease into it, but you get to spend the first night at what we reckon is the park’s best campsite: The Beach.

Yep, as the name suggests, you can camp right near the Abercrombie River on a cleared sandy section that’s reached after a steep descent from the Abercrombie Fire Trail. There are five unmarked sites at the nice, compact campground, and it provides a perfect introduction to the park’s attractions. The campground is basic with drop toilets and fire rings, and you must bring your own water or boil any taken from the river.

However, it’s also comfortable and shady, with plenty to keep you occupied. The water below the campground is usually shallow, but if you walk upstream for 10 minutes you’ll find a deeper waterhole for swimming or fishing, with trout found in this waterway. Exploring the waterway for elusive specks of gold is another way to keep the young’uns busy.

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The next day is a big one in regards to the mountainous landscape and the steep tracks you’ll traverse as you loop around the park’s southern border and then start driving north. Rejoining Abercrombie Fire Trail, your first stop is Silent Creek Campground.

With eight sites and with its larger expanse of grassy flat areas and plenty of shade-giving trees, it’s the better option for those travelling in a multi-vehicle group. It’s also ideal for tourers with camper trailers.

Silent Creek Campground is the perfect place to be based for the two days in the park. Leave the trailer behind to explore some of the steeper sections of the park and, after a big day out and about, the only thing you have to worry about when you return to your already-set-up camp that evening is whether to have a beer first or start cooking dinner. Tough choices, we know.

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From Silent Creek, follow Silent Creek Fire Trail. This track is steep, however, and don’t get too distracted by the blue views as your 4×4 aims skyward; if you’re lucky, you may spot some of the park’s resident emus who often use the fire trails to get around the park.

Another reason to keep an eye out is so you don’t miss a great side-trip that follows Middle Fire Trail and then Licking Hole Fire Trail. The oddly named Licking Hole is a flat creek area that contains an old goldminer’s hut and other mining detritus, so it offers a great excuse to get the family out of the 4×4 for a bit of exploring on foot (or for a nice lunch stop).

From this site you can continue north and rejoin Silent Creek Fire Trail, before arriving at the junction of this fire trail and the park’s eastern access point on Felled Timber Road.

It’s high in these sections of the park where you get a true picture of how rugged this country is and gain a new appreciation of the fortune-focused prospectors who lived and dug for the precious yellow metal here.

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Continuing north on Little Bald Hill Fire Trail, turn northwest (left) onto another steep track – Brass Walls Fire Trail – and follow this north as it winds in and out of the national park before joining Felled Timber Road near the park’s eastern entrance.

With its mix of pretty riverside campgrounds, incredibly steep tracks, remote location and the fact it’s close to Sydney (and Oberon, a major centre), Abercrombie NP is a near-perfect two-day getaway from the bright lights of the NSW capital.

Add in the gold-rush history and the chance to spot some of the less common Aussie fauna, such as emus and platypus, and it’s easy to see why this national park is on the bucket list of many NSW off-roaders.

Best time of year: Spring and autumn. Summer can be very hot and winter very cold.

Visitors to Barrington Tops National Park and neighbouring Chichester State Forest will be spoilt for choice with what is on offer here for the off-road tourer.

Fantastic camping (including some of Australia’s highest-altitude campgrounds), bushwalks, mountain biking, fishing, some of the country’s most spectacular rainforest (including Antarctic beech trees), and vistas from myriad lookouts all mean a long weekend will barely do it justice.

Around four hours’ drive north of Sydney, these destinations are best accessed from the south via the township of Dungog. Chichester State Forest’s eastern (Telegherry) section (it is split by a southern section of Barrington Tops NP) is only around 20km north from Dungog (via Chichester Dam Road, then Wangat Road) and offers four riverside campgrounds.

Be aware that there are numerous causeways in both the Telegherry and western Allyn River sections that can be impassable after heavy rain, so check track conditions before your visit. Each of the campgrounds in the Telegherry section offer direct access to the river of the same name, so bring your canoe and swimmers.

Frying Pan Creek and Coachwood campgrounds are close together and reasonably spacious, so they’re great for larger groups, and Coachwood is right next to the start of a short walk to the Problem Creek Falls. For those wishing to escape the crowds we’d recommend Currawong Camping Area, a remote, 4×4-only campground just north of Telegherry campground accessed via a river crossing that needs to be negotiated.

Once here, you’ll find brilliant swimming and canoeing in the Telegherry River. The state forest’s western Allyn River is a 40km drive north from the small village of Gresford, 28km west of Dungog, and you’ll need to follow the Allyn River Road to reach the state forest’s southern gateway.

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Three largish campgrounds are located just inside the state forest – Dobbie Rim, Pademelon and Old Camp – all of which offer spacious sites that are ideal for off-road camper trailers and caravans. Just north of Old Camp is Ladies Well, a beautiful swimming hole on the Allyn River that’s perfect for families.

Continue farther north into the state forest to reach Allyn River Forest Rest Area, a day-use area with direct access to the Allyn River for swimming and canoeing. Farther north along Allyn River Forest Road you’ll find the northernmost campground of White Rock, which also offers direct river access.

It would be easy to spend a few days in Chichester State Forest, but we’d recommend venturing to the lofty mountains above it that comprise Barrington Tops National Park. The World Heritage-listed national park is best accessed via the town of Gloucester. There are campgrounds aplenty throughout the park, but the 4×4-only campgrounds are recommended to avoid the crowds.

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The Barrington Trail is a seasonal 4×4 track (October-May) that runs south along the plateau from the Barrington Trail picnic area off Forest Road. This 15km route provides access to Little Murray and Junction Pools campgrounds, as well as Mt Barrington Picnic area and two of the park’s bushwalk tracks: Aeroplane Hill and Careys Peak.

Little Murray Campground is the launch point for the walk to access Careys Peak Lookout’s epic views, while Junction Pools offers great swimming and trout fishing in the nearby mountain streams. The campground also provides access to the 12km-return Aeroplane Hill Track which passes by Careys Peak Lookout, or you can just sit in camp and watch the local wildlife forage in the sub-alpine grasslands that define this beautiful part of the park.

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The bushwalking in Barrington Tops NP is comprehensive and ranges from short walks to lookouts that take in the views of this World Heritage-listed area, through to day walks such as the excellent Gloucester Tops circuit.

This half-day walk takes in three separate sights – Gloucester Falls, the River Walking Track, and the Antarctic Beech Forest walking track – that combine to showcase the variety of landscape in the park. All of these walks can be done separately if you have little ones in tow, while overnight routes and multi-day epics that traverse the entire mountain range and then drop down to the lowlands are available for serious walkers.

Best time of year: June 1 to September 30.

Oxley Wild Rivers NP lives up to its ‘wild’ title with a mix of high ridgelines, deep gorges, free-flowing rivers, towering waterfalls and an abundance of native fauna and flora.

Add in fishing, bushwalking, photography, swimming and canoeing opportunities and it’s a no-brainer as a destination. The off-roading ain’t bad, either, with steep, technical low-range-only tracks leading to beautiful campgrounds such as Riverside (located right next to the Aspley River) and Youdales Hut (beside the waters of Kunderang Brook).

There are a total of nine campgrounds in the park. Or, for those who don’t want to ‘rough it’ too much for their overnight digs, there is the option to stay at a restored historical homestead inside the park.

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park can be accessed at various points running south from Walcha along the Oxley Highway. Access is a bit tricky, owing to the park being part of the Kunderang Wilderness Area and thus having no real ‘through’ track.

The park comprises two separate sections, which means that, if you’re keen on camping at Riverside (and we’d highly recommend that), you have to do a bit of out-and-back driving on what is one of the park’s steepest tracks – Moona Plains Road.

This road tracks east from Walcha and takes you past the Budds Mare campground via a gated access road that crosses private property (hence the gate). Budds Mare is a great campground, but we recommend dropping into low range to tackle the super-steep 700m descent to Riverside campground. It’s so nice there you won’t want to drive back up the hill.

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It may seem a bit rich for National Parks to charge a considerable fee for camping at this site, but when you consider that camping numbers are controlled, there’s a river right beside you that offers fishing, swimming and canoeing, and there are plenty of amenities (toilets, tables, gas and barbecue facilities), it’s a small price to pay.

Yep, a full day and night here is a must, with the return up the steep access road the perfect farewell to Riverside and an exhilarating start to your second day in this immense park.

If you didn’t check out the amazing Apsley Falls on the way in, definitely take the short detour on your way out along Moona Road, before cutting through from the falls to the Oxley Highway for a quicker way to the park’s southern access point of Kangaroo Flat Road.

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The Tia Falls side-trip walk is a must along the way, offering sweeping views across the falls and the numerous deep gorges. From the Kangaroo Flat Road turn-off, follow this northeast for around 20km before it becomes Mooraback Road and diverts briefly into neighbouring Werrikimbe NP, passing the camping area of the same name.

The track soon re-enters Oxley Wild Rivers NP, dropping into another steep descent that takes you way down to the historic site of Youdales Hut and Stockyards.

The access track is steep and low-range-only, and there’s a creek crossing (do yourself a favour, check for water levels before tackling this track) before you reach the open areas surrounding the hut. The slab-side hut showcases the perseverance of early settlers as they chased their dreams in this rugged mountainous area. The hut is well-preserved and it’s worth spending a bit of time checking it out, as well as the nearby stockyards.

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Youdales Campground (permit and access key is required – you can only camp in the campground, not in the hut) is near the historic site and, nestled beside the bubbling waters of Kunderang Brook, is another brilliant place to doss down for the night.

The campground is located between Kunderang and Werrikimbe wilderness areas, so there’s plenty of wildlife here – keep an eye out for birds, goannas, wallabies and dingoes. The following morning, it’s worth taking a wander on foot (or on bikes) along the Bicentennial National Trail before driving back up and out of the valley.

Accommodation at Oxley Wild Rivers NP isn’t limited to its nine excellent campgrounds; for larger groups of tourers, the fully restored historic East Kunderang Homestead provides a unique doss-down option. It’s accessible from the park’s eastern side via Kempsey – follow the road all the way to Georges Junction on the border of Cunnawarra NP, and then track south to the locked access gate.

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The cedar-slab homestead was restored in 1992 and has five bedrooms (a maximum of 14 guests), lounge and dining room, two bathrooms, kitchen, toilets, barbecue facilities, picnic tables and an awesome large verandah. It’s the perfect weekend escape for extended families, but it ain’t cheap.

Rates start at $1200 for a three-night weekend, while a four-night stay during the week is the same price. However, if you can get the numbers and split costs, it makes for damn cool digs.

Plus, the location is sublime. The Macleay River runs right by, so there’s ample opportunity for fishing, swimming and canoeing, and there are a few walking tracks nearby. Of course, nothing would beat sitting on that huge verandah with a coldie watching the sun go down.

Oxley Wild Rivers NP is probably at the limit of a three-day escape from the city, however, when it offers big mountain scenery, 14 waterfalls, great camping, canoeing, fishing and swimming in the wild rivers, and the chance to check out some Aussie pioneering history, we reckon it’s time well spent.

Grade: Moderately challenging. Best time of year: All year, but winter can be chilly.

Deua National Park is one of NSW’s most popular national parks for good reason.

The park is nestled in a rugged, mountainous part of the Great Dividing Range that’s crisscrossed by beautiful mountain rivers, creeks and a network of caves, and it sits midway between the coastal town of Moruya and Canberra. For Canberra residents, the park is a couple of hours’ drive (it’s even closer for those living on the coast). From Sydney, it’s roughly four hours’ drive to the park’s northern boundary via the historic town of Braidwood.

The popularity of the park is due in part to great off-roading, especially the drive to the most popular camping area of the Bendethera Valley. Whether you come in from the coast or the north-western route, the tracks wind up, down and over seriously rugged mountain terrain, with immense trees (and huge tree ferns) towering above.

The trees are sparingly interspersed with clearings that provide views of even more rugged mountains in the distance and – occasionally – glimpses of the valleys below. Then there are the creek crossings, but be aware of impending bad weather as these waterways rise very quickly after rainfall. The spacious camping area at ‘Benny’ (as it’s colloquially known) offers a mix of open sites, those closer to the trees, or spots next to a tranquil tributary of the Deua River.

For a three-day adventure driving from Sydney, the quickest way into Deua NP is via a blast down the Hume, then via Goulburn on to the Kings Highway to the village of Braidwood. The park’s north-west boundary is around 30 minutes’ drive south of here, via Cooma Road.

Entering the park here means you can spend the first night at Berlang Campground, which has 10 sites, barbecue facilities and toilets positioned alongside Shoalhaven River. From here, one of the park’s famous attractions, the aptly named Big Hole, can be reached via a left turn (sign-posted Berlang/Big Hole) off Cooma Road.

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Big Hole is a massive, roofless limestone cave measuring more than 50 metres wide and an estimated 95-100 metres deep. The roughly 3.5km (return) bushwalk from Berlang Campground to Big Hole entails a crossing of the Shoalhaven River (there are stepping stones if the water level is low, but you’ll have to wade through if the water level is high).

Marble Arch, a nearby rock formation accessed via a loosely defined track, is different but just as spectacular as the Big Hole, with an open cavern to explore and a slot canyon nearby. Allow four to five hours (return) for these two attractions, before kicking back on your return to camp by enjoying a few coldies around the campfire as you plan the next day’s drive to the Bendethera Valley campground.

The descent into Bendethera Valley is preceded by an easy drive from Berlang Campground along Snowball Road, with a short detour to check out Wyanbene Caves before turning on to the Minuma Range Fire Trail. This rugged track leads to the Dampier Fire Trail, the steepest track of the day with a mix of tight hairpins, steep, rocky surfaces and incredible views across the ranges.

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This descent takes time and caution, before finishing on the doorstep of the grassy Bendethera Valley campground. Originally Bendethera was a cattle property, often used by stockmen to rest cattle after they’d come down the mountains from Cooma and surrounding townships, before they were moved on to the coastal towns.

Incorporated into the national park, Bendethera is now a massive camping area with no actual sites, so you can camp anywhere from close to the Deua River to beneath the trees bordering the cleared valley. It’s a remote campground with limited facilities (a couple of toilets and barbecues/fire pits are dotted around the valley), so you’ll need to ensure you’re self-sufficient.

It’s less crowded during autumn, spring and winter, and it can be packed on summer weekends and during the Easter break. For the return to Sydney you can leave Bendethera and travel northwest via the same fire trail you came down, or you can opt to experience more of the park’s famously steep fire trails.

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By choosing the latter, you’ll climb the Bendethera Fire Trail up to the junction with Mericumbene Fire Trail, before continuing on this undulating route and (eventually) dropping down 700m, joining the Dry Creek Fire Trail along the way. You’ll then tackle the final crossing of the Deua River, before reaching the comparative smoothness of Araluen Road.

From here you can opt to wind back up the mountains to Braidwood (via the awesome Araluen pub), or turn east and head to Moruya and the coast. A quicker and easier way to reach Moruya is following the Bendethera Fire Trail up out of the valley, and then turning right at the Mericumbene/Bendethera junction and joining Little Sugarloaf Road.

If you’ve got the time, head home via the south coast; if pressed for time, the return up Dampier Fire Trail and then back via Braidwood and Goulburn to the Hume is the go. No matter which way you return home, you’ll be travelling with some cracking memories of this iconic 4×4 destination.

Grade: Moderately challenging

Best time to visit: Spring and autumn. Summer can be busy and hot, with high bushfire danger. Winter is bloody cold, but far less crowded.

One of NSW’s lesser-known national parks, Coolah Tops, offers a brilliant long-weekend escape for families.

About five hours’ drive from Sydney via the town of Coolah, the park is relatively small at slightly more than 12,000 hectares, but it packs in a tonne of attractions for visitors including some of the country’s biggest timber (what’s claimed to be the world’s tallest snow gums), massive grass trees, the largest population of Australia’s biggest possum (the greater glider), beautiful waterfalls, and a number of bushwalking and cycling opportunities.

Coolah Tops NP is a semi-oasis of wild Australia, with the rugged plateau smack-bang between the Great Dividing and Warrumbungle ranges and surrounded by grazing country. The park is reached by taking Vinegaroy Road from Coolah, then left onto Coolah Creek Road before a final right onto State Forest Road, which takes you to the park’s main entrance.

The tracks in the park are all pretty tame, with the only caveat being they can become quite slippery after rain. There are also numerous side-tracks to explore, which branch off the main Forest Road that transects the park.

Talbragar River Road is one we’d highly recommend. This loop track is reached approximately 11km from the park entrance and is roughly 3km in length, taking you through dense, lush forest to a small carpark. From here you can walk to a lookout that offers a great view over Talbragar Falls.

This track is pretty steep and gets slippery after rain, but it’s a cracking short drive in good conditions. Other waterfalls found inside the park include Rocky Falls, Bald Hill Creek Falls (both of which drop high over the edge of the park’s northern plateau) and Norfolk Falls – the park’s most well-known and one that, with a bit of balance and nerve, you can access at its bottom pool.

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A definite highlight of the park is its population of snow gums, with a Snow Gum Loop walk in the eastern section of the park taking visitors through a large population of eucalypts. Owing to the fact the park is subalpine, the snow gums thrive here and reach heights unknown to anywhere else in the state.

The theory is that the park is high enough for the snow gums to grow, but not too high – thus not too exposed to the harsh alpine conditions – to impede their growth.

Rather than the stunted, twisted examples synonymous with Australia’s alpine regions, the snow gums here are straight and very tall. Shepherds Peak Trail, a few kilometres further east from the Snow Gum Loop walk, leads to a lofty viewpoint offering more expansive views back over the Liverpool Ranges east toward the town of Merriwa.

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For keen bushwalkers and mountain bikers, there are some great tracks to choose from including Racecourse and Grasstrees Trails (the grass trees are estimated to be more than 400 years old) for walkers, and Mullion and Bundella trails for cyclists. They’re a fantastic way to explore more of the park before heading back to camp, and none of them are particularly arduous, making them ideal for all ages and abilities.

Coolah Tops NP has three campgrounds and one rather unique ‘other’ accommodation option: Brackens Hut. The three campgrounds – Coxs Creek, The Barracks and The Pines – are free. Coxs Creek and The Barracks are both located off Pinnacles Road, while The Pines campground is next to Forest Road and is the largest in the park.

For those keen on reliving a bit of history, there’s the option of staying at the restored Brackens Hut, 2km further along Forest Road. The hut is very basic and you need to bring all bedding including mattresses, as well as cooking facilities.

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Pinnacle, the main lookout, is accessed via the road of the same name (again, off Forest Road) and is a 5km drive, walk or bike ride from The Barracks campground. Once you reach the Pinnacle carpark, it’s another 500m walk along a flat track right out to the edge of the plateau.

The views here are awesome and, on a clear day, you’ll easily see the rugged ramparts of the Warrumbungles to the northwest. If you’re a keen birdwatcher, this is the place where you may spot a wedge-tailed eagle searching for its next meal.

Barring the annual Jazz at the Tops music festival in March, Coolah Tops NP is relatively unknown and quiet. However, it packs in plenty for the touring family looking for a place that will keep the entire family well occupied with heaps of activities and points of interest to check out.

Do yourself a favour on the way home and allow enough time to stop in for a coldie and lunch at one of Coolah’s awesome pubs – you won’t regret it.

Grade: Easy-moderate

Best time of year: All year, although winter is very chilly (temps can reach -10°C)

A differential lock is an essential piece of kit to enhance the Ranger’s off-road prowess.

A diff lock helps to increase control in low-traction conditions, making it a valuable addition to the Ranger’s already impressive off-road capabilities. ARB offers a front diff lock for the next-gen Ranger, but, curiously, Ford Australia doesn’t offer an ARB air locker as a factory option under the Ford/ARB licensing agreement.

What it is: Diff lockers.

Why you need it: The Ranger 4×4 has a standard rear cross-axle differential lock, but as the brake traction control is quite average – even in the next-gen model – a front locker will help those who dabble in hardcore off-roading.

Buying tips: Consider whether you really need this, as the Ranger is a capable off-roader out of the box.

ARB Air Locker

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Manufactured in Australia, the ARB Air Locker is made with quality materials and an uncompromising approach to manufacturing.

With a state-of-the-art two-piece design and forged gears, the Air Locker has increased strength, durability, and resistance to fatigue. It also has a reduced number of moving parts, making it more responsive to activation. ARB has invested heavily in the application of forged gears, commonly used in heavy duty commercial, race and agricultural transmissions.

All Air Lockers come with a five-year warranty and are supported by ARB’s extensive network of stores and distributors worldwide. The product’s superior design, quality and support make it a reliable choice for both 4×4 enthusiasts and professionals.

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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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