Travel a few kilometres inland from the holiday resort towns of Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, and you'll find plenty of roads to test your four-wheel-driving skills - particularly if you're a first-timer.
Pigeon House Mountain is one of the most popular destinations, although it is one where the 4WD is used as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Indeed, the really spectacular views afforded by the high points of this country behind Ulladulla can only be experienced by bushwalkers, and fairly fit ones at that!
Until the 1950s, there were no roads in this area. While cedar-getters had been raiding the bush since the 1800s, it took the transport needs of modern forestry to really open everything up.
If you want to experience the best views in the district, you'll need to extend this day trip into an overnighter. Pigeon House Mountain takes four hours to climb and return, and the nearest camping spot is at Yadboro River. The usual amenities are provided there.
How did Pigeon House Mountain receive its distinctive name?
Sailing past in 1770, Captain James Cook was reminded of pigeon cotes back in England. And while on trivial matters, one of the first white men to climb Pigeon House was explorer Hamilton Hume, back in 1822.
To reach this very distinctive landmark, turn right from the Princes Highway just over two kilometres after the bridge at Burrill Lake. The gravel road is signposted. Using Wheelbarrow Road and the sealed Woodburn road, it's just under 30 km to Pigeon House.
From the Pigeon House Tea House on through Flat Rock State Forest to the Yadboro Road, exercise caution on the narrow one-lane bridges. Following the signs, eventually you'll come to the Pigeon House Mountain car park, which boasts picnic tables and loos, but camping is prohibited.
Local tourist maps will get you into Pigeon House and beyond, but those who want to do any off-the-beaten-track work will require specialist maps such as those published by State Forests of NSW (call (02) 4472 6211 for the Batemans Bay office). Only on these will you find the positions of logging tracks and firetrails. (Some of the major dirt roads in the area can be very heavily corrugated - enough to shake an entire headlight assembly out of a Range Rover - so true four-wheelers may consider them adventurous enough!)
Local 4WD tracks range from easy to medium. Those gradings transform into medium to difficult if it's wet. One of the easiest, where only high-range should be necessary, is the track that runs to the summit of Mares Hill. It is reached on the main drag from Blue Gum Flat, further inland from Pigeon House towards the Yadboro River.
Cattleman's Trail is a little more adventurous. In the dry, all but the least capable 4WDs should get by in high-range, though the track can be extremely treacherous if wet.
Running off Cattleman's Trail is Pender's Firetrail, which has mud, a creek crossing and a definitely low-range climb out the other side. It's best to tackle this one with at least two vehicles.
And these are just a few examples. Escapist adventure is there for the taking.
Though it's anything but hardcore four-wheeling, once you've returned to the main highway, a sidetrip to Pebbly Beach is a must, particularly for families. Pebbly Beach is in Murramarang National Park. Here kangaroos and wallabies mingle completely unconcerned with visitors, and as the access is 2WD, there are always plenty of human tourists. Pebbly Beach has all amenities, including a camping area and cabins for hire. Prospective guests need to book early, particularly for school holiday periods.
On a longer stay, you may be better off camping back inland towards Pigeon House, reserving Pebbly Beach for a day visit.
Good camp sites exist at Long Gully Road, Shallow Crossing (which often isn't), and the more secluded Blue Gum Flat. Facilities vary incredibly between them, with Blue Gum Flat offering only flat ground and creek water.
Incidentally, the Clyde River south of Pigeon Mountain, offers some of the best freshwater fishing in Australia. Bass is the prime catch, and the best area is between Shallow Crossing and Yadboro. Prime time is from late November to April.
Below Shallow Crossing, anglers will get saltwater fish including bream, flathead and mullet, while even further down, whiting, garfish, leatherjacket and luderick are the predominant catches.
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 or visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.
If you're fit and looking for a day trip, you can even leave the 4WD trails behind and climb to the summit of the mountain. With commanding views of the area from the top, it's well worth the climb. Jai, Broome.
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