Consumers will get their first hands-on impressions of the incoming JAC T9 Ute, with test drives of the Chinese ute commencing in August.
An immediate rival to the LDV T60, GWM Ute and SsangYong Musso, the value-focused JAC T9 will be available for test drives at more than 50 dealerships throughout Australia.
“We’re committed to Australian JAC owners. We’ve invested a considerable amount in developing both our product and our aftersales service. Our goal is to ensure that choosing a JAC remains a decision our customers feel good about long after their purchase,” said Danny Lenartic, Director of Sales and Distribution at JAC Motors Australia.
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The JAC T9 will be available in two variants when it lobs locally later this year, a base-spec Oasis ($42,662 before on-road costs) and a top-of-the-range Haven ($45,630). The T9 will be powered by a 125kW/410Nm 2.0-litre single-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine matched to an eight-speed automatic and part-time four-wheel-drive system.
The JAC T9 will come with a 3000kg towing capacity; a 76-litre fuel tank; a suite of active safety technology; and plenty more listed here ?
Exterior inclusions
Sports bar
Rock rails; side steps
Spray-on protective tub liner
Full LED headlights and tail-lights
4×4 with rear diff lock
18-inch Titanium sports rims
Tailgate lock with fob
A full-sized spare tyre with steel rim
Interior inclusions
10.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
Accented leather-quilted seats
Front heated seats
Wireless charging
USB-C and USB-A charging
Rear 220V power socket
Rear air vents
JAC has also confirmed that an all-electric T9 will arrive in Australia in the future, and all JAC models will be covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Mitsubishi has expanded its Triton range to include two new payload options for its GLS and GSR variants.
Buyers now have the option to purchase a Triton GLS or top-spec GSR with payload capacities of less than 1000kg. Previously, the payload capacities of both variants were in excess of 1000kg – 1075kg for the GLS and 1030kg for the GSR.
Despite the payload discrepancies, prices across the model line-up remain unchanged, with the GLS and GSR – both under or over one-tonne options – priced at $59,090 and $63,840 respectively.
“We have taken on feedback from dealers, media and most importantly our customer base,” said MMAL CEO, Shaun Westcott. “The result is the introduction of an enhanced model range with the addition of variants that offer payloads of under 1000kg.”
The addition of these new variants is important, as vehicles with payload capacities above 1000kg do not qualify for novated leases. Mitsubishi has confirmed that all other specifications remain unchanged.
The sixth-gen Triton is powered by a 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel, with a six-speed automatic transmission standard across the range.
2024 Mitsubishi Triton GLS features
In addition to GLX+
18-inch alloy wheels
Wireless phone charger
Super Select II 4WD system with 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLC
Tray bed liner
Standard-duty rear suspension
Heated, electrically-adjusted side mirrors with LED indicators
LED exterior lighting
Mitsubishi-embossed gloss black grille
Dual-zone climate control
Terrain control
Keyless entry and push-button start
Hill descent control
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Soft-padded interior surfaces with silver accented stitching
INEOS has slashed the prices across its 2025 Grenadier range.
The Grenadier line-up now starts from $104,000 for the two-seat Utility wagon, topping out from $123,600 for the Greandier 1924 edition. Both the Station wagon and Quartermaster models start from $105,000. All prices are before on-road costs are added.
The Utility wagon previously started at $109,000; and both the Station wagon and Quartermaster at $110,000. This represents entry-level savings across the board of $5000.
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“These prices have reduced from MY24 thanks to INEOS being granted a Tariff Concession Order (TCO) in the Australian market,” INEOS said in a statement.
“INEOS Automotive ANZ will be passing this saving on to prospective customers, allowing a notable price reduction for the new model year for Grenadier Station Wagon and Quartermaster pickup models,” it said.
INEOS added that it is conscious of the higher prices paid by customers for the MY24 variants, claiming, “In a show of goodwill, INEOS’ agents will engage those customers to provide an accessories package of equivalent value”.
The Grenadier is available with either a 3.0-litre petrol or diesel straight-six from BMW, which is mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Quartermaster is slated for release in Australia toward the end of 2024, with a chassis-cab version arriving soon after. Much like the wagon, the Quartermaster gets heavy-duty solid beam axles, two-speed transfer case and up to three locking differentials.
The Ford Ranger V6 Sport we’ve been customising for the best part of two years has officially been sold.
The Grays.com auction ended on Tuesday, August 6, with the winning bid coming from a punter in Liberty Grove, NSW. However, another of our project vehicles is currently under the hammer: Our Tradie Triton ute build!
The 2022 Ford Ranger landed at 4X4 Australia HQ at the beginning of 2023, and since then we’ve collaborated with some of the best aftermarket companies in Australia to build – what we reckon – one of the best Ford Rangers in the country.
The objective at the beginning of the process was to transform the vehicle into a remote-area tourer, something you could take away for months on end or even a lap of the map. And hopefully the new owner has grand plans for it.
The immaculate Trig Point full service body canopy was next on the list, and the mighty impressive unit instantly took the vehicle to the next level. The colour-matched canopy is loaded with features including a water tank with electric pump, a rear trundle drawer, black-chrome LED tail-lights, spare wheel mount and a rear ladder.
Just recently, to finalise the build, the Ranger received a GVM upgrade. And to prepare it for sale, we removed the 4X4 Australia wrap. It really is the perfect set-up to instantly take touring!
The rapid increase in the popularity of 4×4 and SUV vehicles on the market and on the roads has seen a new generation of drivers taking to the tracks to explore the capability of their vehicles.
While we generally recommend upgrading the highway tyres that come on your new 4×4 with a set of Light Truck (LT) construction tyres for durable dependability on harsh outback roads and terrain, LT tyres do come with some compromises that might not be for everyone.
While the heavier duty construction of an LT tyre, be it a mud-terrain (M/T) or an all-terrain (A/T) design, makes it stronger and less susceptible to damage and punctures, it also makes the tyre heavier, and that has a negative effect on the ride and handling of the vehicle. As LT construction tyres are heavier and stiffer in the sidewalls, this results in a firmer ride, more road noise and increased fuel consumption.
Bridgestone has recognised a gap in the 4×4 tyre market for an all-terrain tyre that offers a more rugged tread than OE highway tyres but retains passenger car (P) tyre construction to maintain lighter weight and OE levels of ride quality. As a result Bridgestone has introduced the A/T 002 tyre to its iconic Dueler range.
The Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002 is a tyre for users who want to upgrade to a more aggressive tread pattern for occasional off-road use but don’t want to sacrifice the ride and handling qualities of their vehicle. Bridgestone says it is designed for vehicles that see 80 per cent use on the road and 20 per cent use off road.
While it is a mild design in terms of off-road tyres, the A/T 002 features hexagonal tread blocks with an design that is optimised for good traction and braking performance on a range of surfaces, including on road, gravel, sand, and light to medium mud applications. Bridgestone says that the staggered shoulder tread design extends to the sidewall of the A/T 002, creating a seamless integration between the face of the tyre and sidewall to deliver better traction in sandy, snowy and muddy conditions.
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To put the Dueler A/T 002 to the test, Bridgestone equipped a fleet of Isuzu D-MAX and MU-X 4x4s with the new rubber and let us drive them through the streets and highways of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, including a run along the spectacular Teewah Beach and back into town.
Around the suburbs any difference between the Dueler A/T 002 and the D-MAX’s OE tyres was impossible to pick; they were quiet and responsive, doing everything you would expect of a tyre around town. After dropping air pressures down to 22psi, we engaged 4×4 and hit the sand. The Dueler A/T 002-clad Isuzus made light work of the run, both on the hardpack sand and the softer sand further up the beach.
The drive back into town included some 100km/h highway driving and, just as it had performed when driving around the suburbs, the A/T 002 felt quiet and stable at higher speeds. For those who expect to do more than 20 per cent off-road driving, Bridgestone still offers its LT construction mud-terrain and all-terrain tyres, and the popular Dueler A/T 697 is now exclusively available in LT construction, with the passenger-spec version of this tyre now replaced by the new A/T 002.
Where so-called Rugged Terrain tyres have bridged the gap between all-terrain and mud-terrain tyres, Bridgestone’s new Dueler A/T 002 fills the space between the highway tyres that come on most new 4x4s and heavier duty LT all-terrain tyres.
Pricing
The Dueler A/T 002 is available in a wide range of sizes to suit most popular 4x4s and SUVs, initially in 19 sizes but growing to a range of 30 sizes in 2025.
The A/T 002 is priced between $270-$480 depending on size. For comparative purposes, a 265/65R17 A/T 002 is listed at $342 on the Bridgestone website, while the same size A/T 697 is $345 (fitted, balanced and including scrap fees).
The thing about 4×4 builds is that we all start with different budgets.
If money wasn’t a concern most of us would be rocking around in the latest and greatest with big engines, bigger tyres and a couple hundred thousand bucks worth of accessories bolted up.
Unfortunately, when suggesting such a course of action, our bank managers politely yet firmly ask us to leave their office and never return. So unless you’re Elon Musk, having a dollar-figure and sticking to it is pretty much a necessity.
Regardless, having an economic ceiling is not a bad thing; it just necessitates that you think outside the box and get a little creative with how you go about modifying your fourby. Take Joe’s BT-50, for example. It’s been built to the highest possible standard, facilitating his and his wife Bianca’s trips away while keeping to strict fiduciary limits.
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While it may seem impossible to blend a top-quality build with a sensible financial plan, seeing where Joe and Bianca have laid down their hard-earned and where they’ve tightened the drawstrings on the money bag is nothing short of inspirational.
Sure, they could have broken out the credit card and gone to town, but that’s not what this rig is for. With only a front bar left to add, their Mazda really is ready and able to handle any trip on the continent in comfort and style, with plenty left over for fuel and food. If that’s not what this lifestyle is all about, we don’t know what is.
Want to see how they did it? Yeah, you do. Let’s jump in.
The BeeTee is the culmination of a solid 18 months of planning and preparation. After getting around in a modded NP300 for a few years, Joe and Bianca started thinking about a newer dual-cab and how’d they go about improving it for their regular adventures.
When the time came, they signed on the dotted line for their brand-spanking MY23 BT-50… which then took another six months to be delivered.
“We opted for the BT for the reliability of the 4J engine but with the refinement of the Mazda,” Joe tells us. “Subjectively, I also think they look better than the D-Max (even with the CX-5 front end), and are not as common as HiLuxes and Rangers, so it was an opportunity to do something a little different.”
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With the plan in place and the blacked-out (powder coated from the dealer) Mazda in the driveway, Joe and Bianca (along with a few enlisted mates) hooked in and started the modifications, with that new car smell providing the ambience.
PSR struts and Blackhawk upper control arms sent the front-end three-inches skywards, while Dobinsons 500kg-static rated leaf springs were slotted in above the rear diff.
A set of 17×9 Fuel Covert rims increased track width with their zero offset, and Maxxis RAZR AT811 295/70R17 rubber walks the fine line between blacktop manners and off-road grip.
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While the 3.0L turbo-diesel remains stock for now (at least until the warranty runs out) Joe did invest in a Fabulous Fabrications 4-inch short-entry snorkel, which he reckons is “the cleanest snorkel available – it follows the lines of the car perfectly.
A detail overlooked by most.” Given the touring nature of this vehicle, we don’t need to tell you why a snorkel makes sense, do we?
Until the colour-coded front bar goes on, forward lighting consists of a Roadvision Stealth light bar, which supplies plenty of lumens when the closest streetlight is several hundred kays behind you.
“The rooftop tent is a Motop MT-120,” Joe points out. “We opted for this because it was the thinnest available at the time.
The tent has 12v power and has a 120W solar panel flush-mounted on top.” Just the thing for when it’s electric blanky weather, eh mate?
The panel keeps the 120Ah lithium battery, stored in a Kickass battery box, topped up when they’ve put down roots for a day or three. There’s also a 1200W inverter for the coffee machine and induction cooker, so the essentials are well and truly taken care of.
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A 70L water tank, accessible via the rear wheel arch, runs to a Joolca hot water system for a shower after a long dusty day in the saddle. You may have already noticed the twin awnings hung off the Rhino-Rack.
A Bushwakka shower tent prevents Joe from sharing more with his fellow campers than he intended to, while the Bushwakka Extreme Square awning keeps the rain and UV rays at bay. “These don’t offer as much shade as the 270s,” Joe says, “but they weigh a heap less and are a good freestanding option.
We initially tried something even more basic but couldn’t stand the poles when camping with dogs, one more thing for their leashes to get tangled around. This has been really good and has some basic lights built into the arms too.”
Now we’re saying this is a budget build, but you’re probably wondering how a rig with a custom canopy is “budget.” Well, that’s because the canopy isn’t a canopy, or at least not an expensive custom job.
“It’s a standard flatbed tray from Duratray that they do off the shelf,” Joe explains. “We worked with MW Toolboxes to procure a canopy, toolboxes, flares and rear panel – we had it powder coated to satin black for a more stealth look and bolted everything to the tray ourselves to save budget on labour.”
Seems like a great way to save a fair chunk of change, we reckon. Inside the “canopy” MW Toolboxes also supplied a drawer system, slide-out pantry and hanging shelf to keep everything organised when touring for weeks at a time.
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The whole tray needed to be raised on blocks by an inch for the RTT to clear the cab-roof, but other than that the whole rear end went on with a minimum of fuss.
A Kings upright fridge was added as a budget-conscious addition, but (touch wood) it hasn’t missed a beat so far.
“The whole build had to be something that we could comfortably live out of for weeks at a time for remote touring with our two French bulldogs,” Joe mentions. “But not be too heavy or tall for everyday use, as it’s my main vehicle for daily driving too.”
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As for future plans, other than the bar work, Joe reckons they just want to enjoy their hard work.
“One of the first trips will be Fraser/K’gari,” he tells us. “We got engaged at Lake McKenzie, it’s a special place for me and my family as we’ve been going there for generations.
My grandad actually has photos there with his four-wheel drive from when they first started barging over cars to the island, and my dad took us camping there as kids. It’s something we aspire to do with our future kids hopefully one day too.”
Ford’s stranglehold as the best-selling car in Australia was weakened in July, with the Toyota RAV4 replacing it atop the monthly sales charts.
A total of 4915 Ford Rangers were sold, 1018 sales short of Toyota’s RAV4, which ended the month with 5933 new vehicles in customer hands. Interestingly, most RAV4 sales were hybrid variants, indicating a consumer shift from combustion to hybrid power.
“Consistent with trends in many overseas markets, sales of hybrid vehicles are up 88.4 per cent and plug-in hybrid vehicles are up 128.9 per cent compared with July 2023,” said FCAI Chief Executive, Tony Weber.
“The hybrid performance is highlighted by the fact that the Toyota RAV4 was the top-selling vehicle for the month ahead of Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. Most RAV4 sales are hybrids,” Weber added.
The Toyota HiLux (4747 sales), Corolla (2688) and LandCruiser (2464) rounded out the five best-selling individual models in July, highlighting a dominant month for the Japanese marque. In fact, Toyota ended with 22,705 overall sales in July, well ahead of Mazda (8476), Ford (7749,) Kia (6620) and Hyundai (6021).
Eliminate two-wheel drive variants from the mix, though, and the Ford Ranger remains the best-selling vehicle in Australia. With an accumulated total of 4610 sales in July, the Ranger 4×4 pipped its closest competitor, the Toyota HiLux, by 485 sales. The Ranger and HiLux were then trailed by the Everest (2162), Isuzu D-MAX (1859) and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (1540).
In a one-two punch for Ford, the Everest led the 300 Series and MU-X to be the most sought-after SUV wagon in Australia in July. The Nissan Patrol is also having a nice, little purple patch at the moment, sneaking into the top ten by registering 664 sales in July. That is an increase of 42.5 per cent compared to July 2023, and 37.9 per cent year-to-date compared to 2023.
Jeep slashed the price of its Gladiator in July, but it still could only muster 21 sales during the month – however, we might not see the result of the price deduction until the August results are in. Plus, Volkswagen’s Amarok once again resides behind the ten best-selling vehicles, with only 480 sales registered for the month.
The battle for best budget brawler was tight in July, with GWM’s Ute slipping ahead of LDV’s T60 by just 42 sales (596 versus 554) – SsangYong ended the month with 222 deliveries. At the opposite end of the price sheet, the Chevrolet Silverado (317) outsold both the RAM 1500 (249) and Ford F-150 (192).
Overall, sales in the LCV segment are up from 19,244 (July 2023) to 21,707 (July 2024). In particular, the PU/CC 4×4 segment has lifted from 15,079 to 16,193 sales.
In this remote part of Western Australia the skies appear an iridescent blue for most of the year and the landscape shimmers through the warm daylight hours.
However, as the sun drops towards the horizon, this rugged, ancient place comes alive with a golden hue that hangs around until the sun disappears.
The landscape here dates back 4.5 billion years, making it one of the oldest on earth, where unique and ancient formations have created massive geological displays across the Murchison region. Combine this with meteorite strikes, thousands of years of human history and more than 20 culturally significant sites, I just had to head check it out for myself.
My trip started at the sleepy town of Mount Magnet, 350km east of Geraldton, which is the oldest continuous gold mining town in WA.
The town was named in 1854 by surveyor Robert Austin when ground rocks played around with his compass as he was passing through the area. Not knowing the wealth that the place had to offer, it wasn’t until 1891 when a bushy lost his swag that gold was discovered here… a lot of gold. There was so much found on the first day that it was said they were digging nuggets up like potatoes.
Poverty Flats was soon covered with prospectors who had heard of the new strike and from this the town grew rapidly with 14 hotels, two newspapers and more than 30 registered mines. The town quietened down during WWI when miners left for the war but soon raised its head when more gold was found some 20 years later.
In town you will find plenty of heritage buildings, a visitor information centre and a heritage walk that helps you get a feel for the place before heading out. Around town there’s a 40km self-drive tourist trail where outback travellers can explore the history and natural attractions of the area.
North of the town there is plenty to explore including The Amphitheatre, a cave where Archean Rocks have been weathered over 3 million years, and The Granites, where striking Aboriginal art has been found and where Aboriginal women should not view the rock paintings – this is of significant importance to the Badimaya People.
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Up the road a sign displays where Lennonville once was, a rich gold area from 1897 to 1905 with a population of over 3000, but now consists of nothing more than a rail siding, scattered iron on the ground and bushes where buildings once stood.
Leaving the Mount Magnet area, I headed nearly 200km north towards the isolated and historical town of Meekatharra. Along the way I was surprised to see a sign pointing towards a meteorite strike.
The Dalgaranga Crater is Australia’s smallest impact, where at 24m across and 3m deep it looks just like a divot in the ground. This was one of the first such strikes ever recorded in Australia when a stockman found it in 1921, and estimates suggest it is about 3000 years old.
I stopped in at Cue, which is known as the Queen of the Murchison and where more than 10,000 people once lived.
The town now is little more than a quiet reminder of the past. Beautiful old buildings are empty, the streets are quiet yet there’s a sense of pride where people have made their fortunes in the rich reefs that are now abandoned.
Around town there’s plenty to see and do, especially some stunning rock art that depicts white, square rigging sailing ships all with masts, portholes and men. Bear in mind, this art is more than 300km from the coast. This is also the location of the massive Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre Mine, which has been used for over 1000 years and from which an estimated 40,000 tonnes of ochre has been mined.
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Lake Nallan nature reserve is a desert lake that dries up each year but if you’re lucky enough to see it full, it will be thriving with birdlife.
Beyond Cue is the Big Bell mine site; the original town is now deserted and along its old streets rubble and relics lay strewn on the ground. A major attraction here is the derelict Big Bell mine hotel, with its multi-floor skeleton still standing today. A sign displays the old town’s street, shops and activities.
My next appointment was at Afghan Rock, which is a huge granite outcrop that rises 450m above sea level and I’d estimate to be more than 100m wide. The waterholes around the rock here were used by cameleers from 1894 to water their beasts.
My next stop was at Meekatharra. A small amount of gold was found here in 1854 but it wasn’t until the 1890s that richer goldfields were discovered.
New settlements popped up in the surrounding area and huge stampers were set up to crush the hard rock, while pastoral stations were established.
A rail line was laid to town which helped to bring in supplies and passengers, and was used to ship wool and manganese out.
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Meekatharra offers plenty to see and do with a heritage trail, old ghost towns to explore in the hills, a lookout where you can view the vast landscape towards the central desert, a gold stamper and a visit to the RFDS School of the Air.
A popular camping spot is 7km out of town at Peaceful Gorge that is situated between mountains of granite rocks. It’s here in the afternoon sun that these rocks glow a vibrant red.
Meekatharra is a dry town in a semi-desert area and it’s known as ‘the place of little water’. It’s also where a route was opened up in 1906 towards the East Kimberly, now known as the Canning Stock Route.
Leaving Meekatharra, travelled a further 200km down to Sandstone to explore the rich mining and natural history of this region.
The first known European to pass through the area was John Forrest in 1869 when he was out searching for explorer Ludwig Leichhardt’s remains, who was presumed dead somewhere in the area. In 1894 gold was discovered here, opening the area to other prospectors until commercial operations started just after the town was gazetted in 1906.
But when war broke out, many miners left and never came back, while others saw the town declining and simply just walked away. The town’s population quickly diminished to less than 200, and today it’s a service town for the huge stations that surround the area.
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Called the Sandstone Heritage Trail, there is a self-guided drive around the town that takes in the amazing geological wonders and heritage sites to be found here.
From London Bridge and its weathering archway, where views across the vast desolate plains shimmer all year round, to the old Sandstone Brewery, which was carved into the hard rock back in 1907.
The brewery was constructed by cutting a huge hole in the rock, which created a natural cellar, and another hole in the roof of the cave allowing for easy access to the hotel up the top.
This enabled the beer to be kept cool for the miners in even the hottest of summers.
A gold Battery that was dragged for hundreds of miles to the goldfields by donkeys and bullocks was set up nearby at Paynesville. It worked hard producing 115,800 ounces of gold right up until 1982.
The Murchison district is a vast area holding onto secrets from the past and with its natural history dating back 4.5 billion years I reckon there’s still plenty more to be discovered.
Fast facts
Where
The Golden Outback that includes Meekatharra, Sandstone and Cue is located nearly 800km northeast of Perth and 535km east of Geraldton in WA’s mid-west. It is the largest centre in the Murchison area.
What to see and do
This is a hot, dry and barren place where gold was discovered in 1896. Today, the area is still mined for gold, while large livestock properties cover the vast landscape. There are heritage walks, a discovery trail, cultural history, peaceful campsites to enjoy and prospecting for gold is permitted… with a permit.
Other information
Meekatharra, Cue and Sandstone are part of WA’s Golden Outback Road Trip where you can experience the unique and ancient landscape dating back some 4.5 billion years. All three towns have information centres where you can learn about the history of the area and explore relics from the past.
Winter is the best time to visit thanks to cool nights and sunny days. During summer, daytime temperatures can become extremely hot and with that comes hordes of flies.
Bendleby Station is a 15,000ha property adjacent to South Australia’s magnificent Flinders Ranges, about 50km north of Orroroo, and it has been owned by the Luckcraft family for more than 50 years.
In that time they have turned what was originally a sheep-grazing operation into a mecca for 4×4 enthusiasts.
After taking over the running of the business five years ago, fourth-generation owners of the station, husband and wife team Charlie and Kylie, have expanded and enhanced this award-winning destination. The main attraction of Bendleby Station is the challenge and satisfaction of driving the property’s some 200km of tracks, most of which can be enjoyed by novice 4×4 drivers through to those with plenty of experience.
As well as the tracks themselves, there are breathtaking panoramic views from the top of the ranges.
When you arrive at Bendleby, you will be welcomed by Charlie or Kylie and provided with maps of the tracks, a brief description of the drives and, importantly, a difficulty rating for each. Your vehicle will also be given a once-over and depending on your 4X4 experience, they will advise what tracks you can tackle as well as those you should probably give a miss.
Don’t think the difficulty ratings are understated; if a track has a difficulty rating of 10 out of 10 expect it to be exactly that, and with a number of the drives being one-way only, once committed there’s no going back.
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According to Charlie, not many visitors have mechanical issues on the tracks, but for those who do the station provides an emergency service via UHF.
Problems that do arise are usually due to improperly maintained vehicles… and perhaps confidence exceeding ability when driving in what is very unforgiving terrain. Call out and recovery services come at a cost – $600 for a half day with a minimum of $300 – so a full mechanical check beforehand is a good idea.
While the campsites have easy access, four-wheel drive is mandatory if you want to explore Bendleby. Possibly the most attractive camps are clustered around Hidden Valley in the north of the property. Set along the course of a dry creekbed flanked by ancient red gums, it is an idyllic location.
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Over eons, water has carved this passage through the range leaving high ridges with ochre coloured rock outcrops fringing the valley.
Ringneck parrots display flashes of iridescent blues and greens as they swoop and dive amongst the stately old gums that bear the scars of centuries of flash flooding. Set well apart from each other the campsites offer a good level of seclusion and come with complimentary firewood.
After a long and dusty drive, Bendleby is a fantastic place to just sit down with a drink or two and soak up the beauty and serenity around you. With its rolling foothills and steeper main range punctuated with stands of native cypress pine, the northern section of Bendleby is perhaps best described as being much like the area around Wilpena… but without all the tourists.
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On our visit here, camper-trailers appeared to be the weapon of choice for most station guests, but there were a few caravans too.
We requested a remote site, which came with a few minor access-related issues for our van, but there are plenty of easy to access sites that can cater for any model of van or motorhome. Armed with the comforting words of “we’ve had a couple of vans in there previously, so you should be okay”, we towed our 19-foot van into Hidden Valley.
The track showed evidence of water damage in places with ruts and potholes which we needed to ease the van through. Once in the valley, we needed to monitor clearance from trees, but we ultimately reached our destination intact and the attractive campsite made the effort worthwhile.
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In fact, the only real issue we had was positioning our van in the relatively small campsite clearing, bearing in mind that we would need to turn it around for departure.
For those with four-legged friends, Bendleby allows dogs on leads and caters for the non four-wheel drive activities such as mountain biking, bushwalking and horse riding. In a younger life I spent many enjoyable weeks riding and camping out in the nearby Flinders Ranges and I’d recommend Bendleby as a first-class destination for anyone into trail riding.
For the bushwalkers, there are several walking trails scattered over the property, with walking guides available from reception. A couple of the walks at the northern end of the Hidden Valley follow a narrow gorge beneath a leafy canopy created by the red gums lining a dry creek bed.
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Once away from the valley floor I suspect some of the walks could be more challenging as they climb into the surrounding hills.
Near the station’s general campground are some old ruins of the original Gumdale Homestead. Dating from the 1800s the ruins give an inkling into the long and varied history the property has seen over the years. When you look at the dry rocky hills and dusty plains today, it is hard to believe this country was originally used for cereal growing and dairy cattle.
Early settlers were lulled into a false sense of what the land could sustain by a long string of unusually good years. Ultimately, weather patterns returned to normal and with this area 50km outside of Goyder’s Line (a line above which agriculture is now deemed unsustainable) regular drought and hardship became the norm.
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Many properties were abandoned and amalgamated into larger holdings as cropping gave way to grazing.
On the road from Orroroo, just prior to the station turnoff, is Johnberg, another victim of unreliable rainfall. This small cluster of several deserted buildings features a sign declaring the ‘town’ to have a population of just two. While some of the remaining buildings are in disrepair, it is worth pulling over to see a couple of examples of original dwellings that look well maintained.
Like the drive into Hidden Valley most of Bendleby’s tracks showed minor damage from recent heavy rainfall making them a little rougher in places than they might normally be. This was late-Autumn and while there was a hint of green in places, later in the year would be the ideal time to visit.
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After good winter and early spring rains this country comes alive with wildflowers and fresh growth. However, if planning a visit, keep an eye on the forecast as many of the station’s tracks are closed after even modest rain.
Our initial exploratory drive was the medium-rated Gum Creek Drive. With some steep climbs and descents, a large part of this loop follows a creek bed punctuated with a few gnarly rocky bits to keep you focused. With ruts and washaways aplenty, it is relatively slow going, but the scenery makes up for it. From the gum-lined creek in the floor of a narrow valley you eventually tackle a steep climb to a lookout with 360-degree views that seem to go on forever.
At the end of Gum Creek Drive we picked up North South Ridge Track, which starts with an extensive low-range climb up to the station’s Sunset Lookout with its interesting circular stone sculpture, and more stunning views no matter what direction you look.
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At the northern end of the ridge a one-way track down the steep Kokoda Trail takes you back to the entrance to Hidden Valley.
Gum Gorge Road is another leisurely wander that largely follows the bed of a wide gum-lined creek starting to the west of the property’s reception, and meandering north before heading up into the range to the east. Along the way into the hills, you pass Dinnertime Springs, a small natural spring and semi-permanent water source named by 19th century shepherds. This medium-rated track joins Monument Loop which features a number of steep climbs and descents.
The track had just been graded when we visited, which made it an easy task in low range, and it provides some of the best views on the station. Beware of the steep crests on this track as the direction the road takes will be hidden by your bonnet; on a couple of occasions, a bend needed to be negotiated immediately over the rise.
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Monument Loop ultimately meets up with the previously mentioned Kokoda Trail that runs back down to Hidden Valley.
The drier and more rugged Hungry Ranges to the south of the property are where you’ll find Bendleby’s more challenging tracks. We drove south to Lantern Gate and then east to follow Back Track through low rocky foothills with patches of low mallee-like gums. The track had some rough and rocky sections while offering expansive views back towards the homestead.
The northern end of Back Track meets North Fence Track which takes its name from a remnant of the station’s original dog proof fence. This track is quite rocky in places but passes through some great country with more stunning views as it climbs to the top of the range.
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Rated as requiring a high level of off-road driving skill, a few large rocks along the way challenged our clearance, as evidenced by a now slightly modified sidestep.
We suffered a ‘pilot error’ at the top of the range (probably due to the adrenalin rush) and went past the intersection with Quartz Gorge, which had been our intended return. Not realising our mistake we ended up at East Fence Track on the edge of the plains below by way of a very steep descent with a loose rocky surface. Even if the track hadn’t been one way only, I think the climb back up the track would have been beyond my pay grade.
The only other way back from East Fence appeared to be the 10 out of 10 difficulty rated Billy Goat Ridge. Having seen what the station’s lesser rated hard tracks entailed, and driving a stock standard BT-50, it wasn’t something that appealed.
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Anyone thinking of visiting Bendleby and tackling the more challenging tracks needs to have a capable vehicle with upgraded suspension and the driving skills to negotiate tricky situations.
We stopped at Aeroplane Gorge to give Bendleby a call on the two-way to confirm that we could follow the East Fence Track out to the south and loop back around the ranges to Bendleby via Johnberg. Aeroplane Gorge is named for a Flying Doctor De Havilland that made a forced landing there in 1927. The pilot and passenger walked out and (this being a time when planes were made of wood and canvas) the aircraft was ultimately patched up on site and flown out.
Even if you’re an occasional four-wheel driver, don’t think Bendleby is too challenging for you. Many of the vehicles we saw on the tracks were newish 4x4s with middle-aged pilots quietly enjoying the scenery and the satisfaction of dusting off their driving skills.
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That said, Bendleby has a reputation as a pre-eminent 4×4 destination, and offers an appealing challenge to younger hairy-chested drivers with tarted-up older vehicles they consider indestructible.
We stopped briefly on one rough and stony track to let a heavily modified V8 Patrol pass; seemingly oblivious of the hiding their suspension was getting, there was barely a lift of the right foot for one of the numerous rocky washaways as it bounced and rumbled into the distance heading for Billy Goat Ridge.
Bendleby is a long drive from the eastern states but with its range of amazing and secluded campsites in attractive bush locations, and its fabulous 4×4 tracks, it is certainly worth the effort.
Charlie and Kylie aim to provide their guests with a memorable and enjoyable visit, and with a range of state and national tourism awards including being inducted into the South Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, they have clearly found a winning formula.
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Fact sheet
WHERE: Bendleby Station is located 350km north of Adelaide just east of the Flinders Ranges. Leaving the bitumen at Orroroo, the last 50km of the drive is on a good gravel road.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: August/September after good winter rains usually sees the station at its best with wildflowers and a carpet of fresh green grass. Expect summer months to be very hot.
SUPPLIES: While some basic supplies can be found at the property’s kiosk, and bore water is available for washing, guests are advised to largely self-cater and bring their own drinking water. Firewood is provided at check-in with more able to be purchased. Collection of firewood is not permitted.
ACCOMMODATION: Apart from the main campground, campsites are unpowered. Other accommodation options include shearers quarters, cottages and the exceptional 1890s Crotta homestead (for those seeking a little more luxury). For those travelling with furry family members Acacia Cottage and all campsites are pet friendly (animals must be kept on leads at all times). Motorbikes are not permitted.
There is no phone coverage, but internet is available near the station’s reception area. There is a UHF channel for use in emergencies and a call-out service is available in the event of mechanical issues.
Order books for the new-gen Toyota LandCruiser Prado will officially open for customers at the end of August, with the hotly anticipated off-roader still slated for a launch in Q4 of this year.
In anticipation of the launch, Toyota has also revealed the new Prado’s combined average fuel consumption is now 7.6L/100km, an improvement on the outgoing model’s 7.9L/100km. This 0.3L/100km change is largely thanks to the addition of V-Active technology – the same found on the 48V HiLux – across the entire new-gen Prado range.
The system – a combination of a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, DC/DC converter and 8.4kW/65Nm motor generator – works in step with the vehicle’s 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine to provide improved driving dynamics and better fuel economy.
In effect, the motor generator will provide a bit more urgency when accelerating from a standing start. When decelerating, it will recoup energy and feed it back into the 48-volt battery. Itu2019s mounted high enough in the engine bay so as to allow for 700mm of wading depth.
Pricing was officially announced earlier this year, with the vehicle markedly more expensive across the range than its predecessor – the cheapest entry point is the GX, at $72,500 (+ $9670), with the line-up topping out with the Kakadu, at $99,990 (+ $12,432).
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New to the line-up is an off-road-focused Altitude variant priced at $92,700 and sitting below the Kakadu on the model hierarchy. As a point of difference, the Altitude gets a stabiliser disconnect mechanism (SDM) function, for greater wheel articulation; a locking rear diff; and it will roll on 265/70R18 Toyo Open Country all-terrain tyres.
“Australian buyers have always appreciated the rugged off-road performance of the LandCruiser Prado, which has proved to be the perfect overlanding platform for customers who want to travel all over the country without breaking the bank,” Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, said.
“The new Altitude grade enhances the performance of the LandCruiser Prado, allowing customers to venture further off-road than ever before.
“Meanwhile, introducing V-Active technology brings welcome on-road improvements, with smoother powertrain operation that may also help reduce fuel bills,” Hanley added.
