Gippsland is home to some of Australia’s finest four-wheel driving, offering everything from technical, steep Victorian High Country climbs to coastal sand tracks and dense temperate rainforest trails.
VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY & ALPINE REGION
– Billy Goats Bluff Track (Wonnangatta Valley): Widely considered one of the most iconic and demanding 4WD tracks in Australia. Located in the Alpine National Park near Licola, this steep, rocky ridge track features massive drop-offs, loose gravel, and relentless ascents, rewarding drivers with sweeping views over the High Country.
– Blue Rag Range Track: Situated near Mount Hotham and Dargo, this famous ridge-top drive sits high above the treeline. The track follows a narrow razorback ridge offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the Victorian Alps,
ending at a trig point over 1700 metres above sea level.
– Wonnangatta Track & Valley: A bucket-list remote touring destination deep within the Alpine National Park. Accessed via steep surrounding tracks (such as Zeka Spur or Cynthia Range), the valley offers historic homestead ruins, lush river flats, and multiple river crossings along the Wonnangatta River.
– Zeka Spur Track: A primary descent route into the Wonnangatta Valley from the Howitt High Plains. It features a continuous, winding descent through dense alpine ash forest, requiring low-range gearing and careful speed management.
CENTRAL & FOOTHILLS REGION
– Haunted Stream Track (Tambo Upper to Ensay): Running through the rugged mountain bushland between the Tambo Valley and Swifts Creek, this historic gold-mining trail is famous for its non-stop river crossings — featuring over 50 wet crossings across Haunted Stream.
– Aberfeldy Track and Donkey Hill: Located in the historic goldfields near Walhalla and the Thomson Dam. This network offers a mix of historic touring and challenging steep climbs, taking drivers past old ghost towns, mining heritage sites, and rugged river valleys.
COASTAL
– Cape Conran and Sydenham Inlet Tracks (Far East Gippsland): Located near Marlo and Bemm River, these coastal sand and bush tracks offer access to remote beaches, coastal wilderness camping and estuary fishing spots away from the main highway routes.
– Loch Sport and Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park Tracks: Low-range sand driving tracks surrounding Lake Victoria and the Ninety Mile Beach coastal strip, providing access to secluded lake shorelines, bush campsites and coastal tracks through banksia woodlands.
Note on Seasonal Closures: Most high-altitude 4WD tracks across the Alpine National Park and surrounding State Forests (including Billy Goats Bluff and Blue Rag Range) are subject to mandatory seasonal closures implemented by Parks Victoria and DEECA between early June and late October/early November each year to protect track surfaces and maintain safety.
Always verify current track openings, fire danger ratings, and river levels via the Parks Victoria website before setting out.
