Summer Beach Driving Havens

This summer, leave the carpark behind and get some sand under your tyres with our list of the best four-wheel drive beaches in Australia.

Thomas River, WA

Western Australia has some of the most jaw-dropping beaches in Australia, and better yet many of them are accessible by 4WD. The region east of Esperance is an especially rich vein, and probably the most scenic of all the beach drives is the Thomas River section. Leisurely bending around the western side of Cape Arid National Park, this 29km beach drive pulls out all the stops with its blinding white sand and electric blue water.

75 Mile Beach, QLD

The world’s three largest sand islands can be found off South East Queensland’s coastline, so it makes sense that one of the world’s best beach drives can be found on the largest of them all. Fraser Island’s 75 Mile Beach runs the length of the eastern side of the island and presents travellers with a blissfully long stint behind the wheel. The trip from Hook Point in the south to Sandy Cape in the north is punctuated by plenty of highlights along the way, including Eli Creek, Poyungan Valley, Indian Head and so much more.

Ocean Beach, TAS

Australia’s southernmost state is home to one of its wildest beach drives. Ocean Beach, which is accessible from the town of Strahan, is a 30km drive that’s wedged between rugged inland terrain and relentless waves that batter the shoreline year-round. Sitting on the same latitude as southern Patagonia, Ocean Beach has a remote, uniquely Tasmanian quality to it that’s reinforced by the seals and sea lions that can be seen lazing on the sand as you pass by.

Stockton Dunes, NSW

Stockton Dunes extend for 32km from Stockton to Anna Bay, but it’s their depth that makes them such an otherworldly sight. Continuing for up to a kilometre inland at points, Stockton Dunes give travellers the option to drive along the beach or head past the foreshore to crest some truly epic dunes (some are taller than 30m ). Explore the dunes enough and you’ll find Tin City, a collection of clustered shacks that stand alone in a sea of sand that’s slowly wearing them away.

Robe, SA

A simple but scenic drive that weaves from the beach to inland heath and back again, the trip from Robe to Beachport is a true adventure along South Australia’s windswept coastline. The drive presents plenty of route options depending on your mood and the prevailing conditions, but there are some non-negotiable detours that will take you off the beach to continue the journey to Beachport.