Off-roading and sustainability. Turns out they’re not as mutually exclusive as once thought. Now you can be reckless and considerate, without losing the adventure or the nature. You just need the right gear and the right approach.
We wrote this guide for all 0ff-roaders, from dirt-encrusted experts to those with a fresh nose for the path less travelled. It’s simple, concise, and well worth your time.
Before your trip
Learn the ropes
Off-roading is not an art form. Nor is it a Sunday drive. If you’ve never tried off-roading before, consider getting some 4WD training. Being confident in your abilities is one thing; being ignorant of your lack of ability is another. And being ignorant won’t fly as an excuse when the SES show up to rescue you.
The great thing? There are countless courses to choose from, Australia-wide. Some accredited, some are not. All are valuable. Traction control, locking differentials, 4WD high vs 4Wd low; if none of this means anything to you, set aside a day or two and you won’t regret it.
Think like a local
Even if you know the trails behind your property better than the veins in your left hand, a day will arrive when you explore somewhere new, somewhere different. When that day comes, nothing beats local knowledge.
Like 4WD training, there’s no set way to gain this knowledge. Once you decide where you want to go, contact the local rescue services base or join the local off-roading community on Facebook. Better yet, stop into that quaint pub on the corner and offer to buy one of the barflies a beer in exchange for advice. At worst, you’ll walk out with a story worth repeating in the car.
Check the forecast
We know, obvious advice. But you’d be surprised how often we overlook obvious advice. Again, forgetting to check the forecast is not on the SES’s list of acceptable excuses for getting into trouble.
It’s natural to want to test yourself in tricky, unfavourable weather; it’s one of off-roading’s biggest drawcards. Just make sure you get as much info as possible before you leave. Meteorology isn’t an exact science, but understanding its basic principles—like Australia’s rainfall patterns—could mean the difference between getting delayed by a downpour and getting swept away by flash flooding.
Choose eco-friendly gear
Nothing sends electricity through the veins like getting your gear sorted. The anticipation alone means you can’t sit still. No doubt you’ve already organised lift kit installation, checked your spare tyre and packed a bag; now it’s time to add the rest.
Everything from using solar power whenever possible (which helps reduce noise pollution) to washing your billy can with biodegradable detergent to using sleeping bags made from recycled materials. Tiny measures, yes, but they all make a difference.
During your trip
Stick to the road
Sounds contradictory, but if there’s one takeaway from this guide, it’s this. Off-road trails exist for the same reason regular roads do; they are the best path through the terrain. Resist the urge to forge a new path through scrub and dune; the local flora and fauna will silently applaud your restraint, and you won’t find yourself cursing aloud while you rummage for the winch.
Beaches don’t offer the same defined path as the bush. Whenever possible, try to drive along the high tide mark. And don’t treat the beach like a desert. A long, unspoilt stretch may seem just that, but beaches teem with life invisible to our poor vision. Crabs, shellfish, and seabird nests are no match for the traction of your tyres.
What you take in, you take out
Again, ignorance won’t save you here. We’ve all grown up knowing what’s at stake if we litter in nature. Waste, no matter what type, must go when you go. A good tip: separate your waste. General waste, compostables, recyclables, that sort of thing. You’ll thank yourself later when you return to accessible facilities.
Of course, you can’t take every bit of waste back with you. When nature calls, take a trowel and bury the evidence. At least 30cm deep and 100m from watercourses. One, you’ll stop your crew from getting gastro, and two, you’ll spare the next off-roaders from discovering a smelly surprise.
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A lot of this is common sense, but that’s often the first thing we forget when struck with the adventure bug. Remember it, and you’ll have one hell of a sensible time exploring this ripper country.
