Best 4x4 day trips: Australia Day

KEEP the coldies stored in the fridge this Australia Day and instead pack the 4x4 with the essentials and hit the dusty trails. To celebrate the great country we live in, why not indulge in some of the finest tracks available to us? Here are some of the best 4x4 day trips you can do this Australia Day.

MORETON ISLAND
IT’S possible to experience Moreton Island in a day. However, we recommend turning your day trip into a four-day sojourn by getting more time off – hopefully your boss is kind to you. Nonetheless, the island is 38km from north to south, and 8km across at its widest, so you’ll be able to get around and see plenty of its tracks in a day. There are also plenty of scenic spots to drop in a line or to stop for lunch. Depart for the island early to give yourself plenty of time.

TOOLANGI STATE FOREST
VICTORIA’S Toolangi State Forest is located 70-odd kilometres from the CBD and is only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. There are a number of roads leading into the park as you head north from Healesville. The tracks vary in their degrees of difficulty, so there’ll always be a track to pique the interest of all who tackle it. It can get busy during holiday periods, so expect to encounter a few likeminded individuals this Australia Day.

SAPPHIRE COAST
NSW’s Sapphire Coast is home to the Bournda National Park, an ideal place for the adults to lock the hubs and for the kids to run amok. The park is home to some of the best fishing and off-roading spots within Australia. If coming from the major cities you’re better off turning the public holiday into a four-day break, as it’s a bit of a drive.

THE TOP END
THE Top End in the Northern Territory includes the popular Kakadu National Park. The drive to reach the park from Darwin takes less than two hours, so Darwinians are spoilt for off-road choice in the region. The fishing is also top notch in the Top End and is often referred to as the best in Australia.

TASMANIA
ANYWHERE can essentially be a day-trip when you live in Tasmania, and there are quite a few 4WD tracks that’ll take you there and back again within a day. Try your luck at the Apple Isle’s Cradle Mountain, or the moderately difficult Brushy Lagoon, or, if you’re up for the challenge, the tricky Arthur Beach Track. Better still, head to the tracks of Bruny Island.