If you've just bought one of the new compact 4WD 'soft roaders', like Honda's CR-V, Toyota's RAV4, Subaru's Forester or the Nissan X-Trail, chances are it's your first four-wheel drive.
So where can you go for that long awaited adventure weekend in the bush?
Although the salesperson probably told you that your new toy will climb any mountain and ford any stream, the fact is that most small four-wheel drives won't. That said, they can still take you to many great places off the bitumen.
You can now, for example, leave the highway and explore some of NSW's wonderful dirt roads.
This where compact four-wheel drives really come into their own. Their higher ground clearance, more robust tyre design and longer suspension travel than conventional sedans means that they are less vulnerable to damage and have superior grip and stability in the dirt. You still need to be careful, of course, and keep your tyre pressures correctly maintained.
North of Sydney, there are some beautiful scenic dirt road drives. In the BarringtonTops area, near Gloucester, you can head for the Gloucester Tops camping area or take the longer trip over the top of the mountains, from Gloucester to Scone, camping at Polblue. This is a great drive, with expansive views over the upper Hunter on the western side.
The drive from Wingham or Taree to Nowendoc via Mt George is worth trying. From Nowendoc it's a short trip through the bush to Nundle, where you can camp at Sheba Dams, then return to Sydney via another dirt road which heads south past Timor Caves and hooks up with the New England Highway at Scone.
The long journey from Kempsey to Armidale is mostly dirt, and one of the best in NSW. You follow the Macleay River valley for much of the way, and as you approach the eastern edge of the Great Dividing Range the road tightens and hugs the steep banks. There are several spots to camp along the river, and at Bellbrook there's an old pub which you must visit.
The road then climbs steeply to the New England Tableland, where you can take a right at the Styx River Road and go to New England National Park, where cabin accommodation and camping facilities are provided, or join the bitumen at Wollomombi.
West of the big smoke, there's a couple of loop drives which are perfect for a wild weekend. The first runs from Oberon south to Taralga, then east across to Mittagong via Wombeyan Caves, where there is a camping area.
The trip from Bathurst to Hill End via the Bridle Track is a beauty, and on the way are some terrific camping sites by the Turon River. After you have a look around the old gold mining town of Hill End, cut across to Sofala, where the ancient pub has accommodation, then take the bitumen road back to Bathurst.
There's a network of dirt roads around Braidwood. You can get to Braidwood on the bitumen, via Goulburn, or on the dirt via Nowra and Nerriga. There are a couple of enjoyable dirt drives from Braidwood to Cooma, via Captains Flat and Jerangle or the more remote route, skirting the western side of Deua National Park, via Togganoggera.
The roads into most NSW national parks are generally well maintained dirt, which is no problem for these compact wagons, and nearly all parks have campsites. However many 4WD tracks - which usually run off the main access roads in national parks - have been closed in recent years to preserve the environmental values of these areas.
State forests provide more opportunities for serious four-wheel driving, however you need to be aware of the limitations of your soft roader, especially in mountainous country. Only the Forester manual has low range, so steep climbs and descents, especially when it's wet, can be difficult and hazardous in the others. The same goes for rocky, rutted tracks. None of these wagons have good underbody protection, so bashing their bellies on a rock is inviting serious damage, and it is not difficult to get stranded. You also need to be very wary of creek crossings. If the water is any deeper than the axles, you risk drowning the engine. If it's flowing strongly, forget it.
Four-wheel driving is still permitted on some beaches, including some coastal parks, but these can also be a tricky proposition for vehicles such as the CR-V and X-Trail. Sand driving requires full-time four-wheel drive, which these two don't have. They drive the front wheels most of the time, only sending some torque to the rears when the front wheels start to slip. The problem is that, by the time this happens, you're probably going to be stuck in the sand. And if the tide's coming in, you're in a bit of bother.
The RAV4 and Forester have full-time four-wheel drive, so they can be taken on to beaches at places like Bundjalung National Park, south of Ballina, Crowdy Bay National Park near Taree, and around Port Macquarie. You need to deflate your tyres to around 20 psi when driving on sand, stick to the firmer, damp stuff between the low and high tide marks, and keep your speed up. Get hold of a tide times chart from a local tackle shop - head for the beach only at low tide.
The trick to enjoying four-wheel driving is to know your limitations and those of your vehicle. The new breed of soft roaders can take you on some brilliant adventures, but the real rough stuff is still the domain of the heavy duty off-road wagons like the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.
4WD
