Road trips
Best 4WD tracks near Melbourne: complete off-road guide
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Want to take your rig out for a bush bash without driving hours from the city? Plan your next adventure with our list of the best 4WD tracks near Melbourne!
All of the 4WD tracks on this list are public and almost all of them are within two hours drive of the Melbourne CBD. To help you choose the option that suits you best, we’ve included information on the location, drive time from Melbourne, track length, difficulty, terrain, popular tracks, campsites and more.
Making our list of the best 4WD tracks around Melbourne are:
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Wombat State Forest
Lerderderg State Park
Mt Disappointment State Forest
Tallarook State Forest
Toolangi State Forest
Great Otway National Park
Bunyip State Forest Park
Already done the best road trips in Victoria? No worries, both beginners and experienced drivers will find their next journey on this list of the best 4WD tracks close to Melbourne!
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The 8 best 4WD tracks near Melbourne
1. Dandenong Ranges National Park
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr | Track length: 90 km | Difficulty: Beginner to hard.
Dandenong Ranges National Park is one of the closest 4WD track to Melbourne. It is suitable for both beginner and experienced drivers. Highlights in the park include Sherbrooke Falls, Olinda Falls and the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk.
You could spend one day driving all the 4WD tracks here. The terrain includes gravel, dirt, rock, mud, sand and river crossings.
One of the best beginner 4WD tracks near Melbourne is the Mt Terrible Track. More advanced 4WD tracks include Trig Track, Frenchmans Spur Track and Ellis Track.
Unfortunately, there are no camping areas within the Dandenong Ranges National Park. The closest campsite is Kurth Kiln Camping Area near Gembrook. There are plenty of sites amongst the trees and facilities include a toilet, fire rings and picnic tables.
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2. Wombat State Forest
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr | Track length: 100km | Difficulty: Beginner to hard.
Wombat State Forest offers long and varied 4WD tracks near Melbourne. It is popular for weekend getaways and meetups. Highlights include Mount Hope, the Werribee River Walk and historic mining sites.
You could spend about 2 days here completing the 4WD tracks. The terrain is muddy and includes river crossings.
To see most of the area, take the Wombat Forest 4WD Touring Route that starts in Gisborne and ends at Ballan (or vice versa). Other popular 4WD tracks that you should check out along the way include Blue Gum Track, O’Briens Crossing and Firth Road.
Be aware that these tracks become more difficult to navigate in the rain. They can also become overgrown, so carry a chainsaw with you.
Stay overnight at Firth Park Campground. It is free to camp here and facilities include toilets, fire pits and picnic tables.
3. Lerderderg State Park
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr | Track length: 90 km | Difficulty: Beginner to hard.
Lerderderg State Park is one of the closest 4WD tracks to Melbourne. It is suitable for beginner and experienced drivers. Highlights in the park include the Lerderderg River.
You could spend 2 days here completing all of the 4WD tracks here. The terrain is muddy and rocky and includes water crossings.
Enter Lerderderg State Park via O’Briens Rd or the Ratcliffe Track. Popular 4WD tracks in this area include the Lerderderg Track, Blue Gum Track, Amber Lane Track, XL Track and Allens Creek Rd.
Note that the Lerderderg State Park connects to the Wombat State Forest (see above), so you could do both areas on the same trip. Be aware, however, that both areas can become busy during weekends and holidays.
Stay overnight at the Lerderderg Campground on the Upper Chadwick Track. It is free to camp here and facilities include toilets, picnic tables and fireplaces.
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4. Toolangi State Forest
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr | Track length: 11 km | Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate.
Toolangi State Forest offers short and relatively easy 4WD drive tracks 1 hr from Melbourne. It is perfect for beginners. Highlights include the scenic views from the ridgeline and the towering Mountain Ash Eucalyptus.
You could spend about one day here completing the various 4WD tracks. The terrain is muddy and rocky and includes river crossings.
Start by taking the Melba Highway or the Marginal Road, both of which lead onto other tracks. Easier 4WD tracks in the area include Lyndalls Track, Martin’s Track and Blowhard Road. More difficult 4WD tracks include Rockey Track and Aeroplane Track.
Although the tracks are short, there may be large bog holes and the roads are steep. Bring anti-bog equipment as the tracks can get very muddy (particularly during the wetter months). Also, be aware that Toolangi State Forest is popular and you’ll likely meet other drivers on the 4WD tracks.
Stay overnight at the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve Campground on the northern edge of the Toolangi State Forest. It costs $7 per night to camp here and there are 100 sites. Facilities include a toilet, shelter, picnic table, wood BBQ and fireplaces.
5. Mt Disappointment State Forest
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr 15 min | Track length: 40km+ | Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate.
Mount Disappointment is one of the easiest and best short 4WD drive tracks near Melbourne. It is popular for day trips and weekend adventures. Highlights in the park include Strath Creek Falls, the Summit Walk and the Mount Disappointment Forest Drive.
You could spend about 2 days here completing most of the 4WD tracks. The terrain includes dirt, mud, rock and sand.
Some of the best beginner tracks include Hills Road, Bruces Creek Road, Raynors Road, and Watering Creek Road. Alternatively, those wanting a more advanced 4WD challenge can try Quarry Road, Phone Track, Stoney Creek Rd and The Bump.
Be aware that many of the tracks can become overgrown and you may need to carry a chainsaw to clear obstructions. Also, note that Mt Disappointment State Forest is closed between June and October. The tracks become much harder to drive in the wet.
Stay overnight at Anderson’s Garden Campsite, the most popular campsite in the Mt Disappointment State Forest. It is free to camp here and facilities include toilets, picnic tables and fire pits.
6. Tallarook State Forest
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr 30 min | Track length: 100+ km | Difficulty: Beginner to hard.
Tallarook State Forest offers lots of short but varied 4WD tracks near Melbourne. It is suitable for both newcomers and experienced drivers. Highlights in the area include Trawool Reservoir and Mt Hickey.
You could spend up to 3 days here driving all the 4WD tracks. The terrain is rocky and muddy.
Tallarook State Forest is host to many a popular 4WD track in Melbourne, including Horans Track, Stoney Creek Track and the Tehan Tracks.
Be aware that the tracks can get very muddy during the wetter months, so you should carry recovery equipment.
Stay at Freeman’s Camp and Picnic Area within the Tallarook State Forest. It is free to camp here and facilities include toilets, fire pits and tables.
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7. Great Otway National Park
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 3 hr | Track length: 250 km | Difficulty: Easy.
Great Otway National Park offers lots of easy 4WD tracks near Melbourne. It is perfect for beginners and family camping trips. Highlights in the park include Cape Otway Lightstation, the Great Coastal Walk and Erskine Falls.
You could spend up to 3 days here driving all the 4WD tracks. The terrain is sandy and muddy.
Popular 4WD tracks in the Great Otway National Park include Big Hill Track, Cowley Track, Goat Track, Egan Track and Mount McKenzie Road. The most difficult track in the area is Denham’s Track due to its sandy ascent.
Be aware that most of the 4WD tracks close from June to November. The best time to visit is during spring or autumn.
Stay at Hammonds Campground within the Great Otway National Park. Camping overnight in a camper trailer costs $28.40 per night. Facilities include toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables.
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8. Bunyip State Forest Park
Location | Drive time from Melbourne: 1 hr 30 min | Track length: 250 km | Difficulty: Beginner to hard.
Bunyip State Forest Park has long and varied 4WD Melbourne tracks for both beginners and veterans. Highlights within the park include Lawsons Falls.
You could spend up to a week here completing all of the 4WD tracks. The terrain is very muddy and rocky.
Most of the tracks lead off of the main access road into the park. At the start of each track, you will find a symbol marker indicating the difficulty. Popular 4WD tracks in the park include Gentle Annie Track, Blue Range Track, Black Snake Creek Road and Anderson Track.
Be aware that the mud 4WD tracks can get very deep and sticky, so you will need to carry recovery equipment. Also, be aware that some of these tracks are shared with walkers. Finally, note that the park is closed from June to November.
Stay overnight at the Nash Creek Campground. It is free to camp here and facilities include a toilet and picnic tables.
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The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.