If you live in suburban Sydney and own a four-wheel drive, you've probably been on the receiving end of the occasional sarcastic comment which goes something like this: "Doesn't look like its seen too many bush tracks, mate."
There are two ways to avoid such remarks.
One is to get some dirt from the garden (or dig up the nature strip if you live in a unit) and trowel it all over the car. This will work, but you'll also have to carefully study several of the 4WD trips described on our site so that you can convincingly lie when you're asked where you went to get such an authentic off the beaten track look.
The other is to actually head out of town and get some genuine dirt on your tyres. We're not talking about fording mighty rivers and climbing sheer cliffs; near Sydney there are several reasonably well-maintained dirt roads, which require no special equipment or off-road driving skills beyond engaging four-wheel drive (high range) and taking a cautious approach.
North of the city, there are several routes with dirt road sections, which can be linked with main roads to form a day trip.
Wiseman's Ferry
At Wiseman's Ferry, north west of Sydney on the Old Northern Road, take the Webbs Creek punt across the river. Then follow the road, which is initially sealed but then becomes dirt, along the beautiful McDonald River Valley to St Albans. This is a good spot to have lunch, either a picnic by the river, or a counter job at the Settlers Arms.
After St Albans, the road becomes rougher and is quite narrow in places. It passes through some beautiful river flat country beside Mogo Creek, where it's not a bad idea to keep any eye out for stock. 25 km north of St Albans is a camping area at Mogo Creek.
The road then twists and turns as it climbs up the rugged edge of the Hawkesbury plateau to join up with the sealed Central Mangrove-Wollemi Road at Bucketty. Stop at the intersection and have a look at a section of the old convict built Great North Road, on the left.
Alternatively, you can take a left turn just before Fernaces (about 15 km north of St Albans) and follow the Boree and Yengo tracks to join up with the Putty Road, at Howes Valley in the lower Hunter. This is a much longer drive through seriously wild, remote country, but you end up right at the entrance to the Hunter Valley vineyards. You might just have to stay for the night. Oh well! West of town, there are several opportunities for four-wheel driving in the Blue Mountains National Park, but these are generally restricted to tag-along tours run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service or private operators. Our story on four-wheel driving in the Blue Mountains has details.
You can camp by the beautiful Turon River, or stay in an old pub at Hill End or Sofala.
The Bridle Track is reached via the Great Western Highway from Sydney. Turn right into Gilmore Street at Kelso, (signposted Sofala) then follow the Bridle Track signs out of town.
The track was originally the route which the gold miners from Hill End, in the early 1870s, took to Bathurst to pick up supplies.
It becomes dirt 32 km from the Kelso turnoff, and stays that way for the next 40 km to Hill End. You'll need to cross a couple of concrete causeways en route.
Return to Sydney via another dirt road, which runs east for 35 km to Sofala, then get back on the bitumen for the 70 km drive back to Bathurst.
The Southern Highlands has plenty of rugged wild country to explore.
Wombeyan Caves
You can drive to the Wombeyan Caves and back in day, but a better bet is to make it an overnight trip and have a good look around the caves. This is a pretty adventurous drive in places, and by the time you get home you'll feel like you've well and truly been bush.
Head south on the Hume freeway and take the Mittagong exit. Drive through town, staying on the old highway (veer right at the clock tower) then take the right turn, just south of town, to the Wombeyan Caves.
The road becomes dirt after about 15 km and starts to wind through the hills. It then narrows for the steep descent to the Wollondilly River, which it follows for a short while before the equally rugged climb, through the Pass of Killiecrankie, to the caves.
The drive will take you about two and a half to three hours.
At Wombeyan, you can take guided tours through the caves and there's a kiosk. The campground has pretty sites beside Wombeyan Creek. Toilets, hot showers and electric barbecues are provided. You can choose from on-site vans, units or a cottage if you want to stay at Wombeyan in style.
If you would prefer to return to Sydney on a different route, you can stay on the dirt, heading west from the caves for 20 km to Richlands, where you turn right on to the Goulburn-Oberon Road. It's about 90 km to Oberon, then it's back to the big smoke via Hampton on the Jenolan Caves Road and Hartley, where you join the Great Western Highway.
On any of these drives, you're guaranteed to get a coating of fair dinkum bush dirt on your 4WD, sufficient to stop the embarrassing jibes of the neighbours. Mail order a couple of stickers - Kimberley, Uluru, the Cape - for the back window and you'll also get plenty of envious looks in the traffic, without having to explain a thing.
NSW National Parks can be closed at times of bushfire and bushfire danger. It is advisable to check with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you set off. Either phone 1300 361 967 (within NSW) or (02) 9253 4600.
Ever been tempted to take those short cuts while on holiday? Maybe a quick call to someone who knows the roads - the NRMA or local authorities could save an unexpected overnight stay in the beautiful Australian bush. A recent short cut of ours in the lush Tasmanian wilderness nearly found ourselves literally in the creek on a wet dirt road behind large fallen tree blocking our shortcut. So please fellow travellers, check those roads out before checking in on extra time in the bush.
Phil, Clovelly.
4WD
