10 Easy 4WD Tracks in Western Australia

A lot of people assume that since most of Western Australia’s tracks are found on the desert, it’s a lot harder for newbies to hone their skills. But most 4WD enthusiasts from WA know that’s not true!

So, where can you drive with relative ease on a 4WD track in Western Australia? If you want to encounter almost no challenge while driving, you can head to Hyden Norseman Rd, Stockyard Gully, Great Central Rd, Agnew Loop, and Quobba Coast, to name a few. But if you want to have a slightly more challenging drive, some entries in this list have an easy to moderate difficulty.

Do you want to test your off-road driving skills for the first time? Here are the most accessible 4WD tracks in Western Australia:

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East Pilbara Diversion

Location: 1868 km northeast of Perth
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Track Length: 793.87 km
Track Time: 3 days
Terrain: Sand
The Pilbara region is among the oldest landscapes on earth. It covers a vast area of great ranges, towering gorges and remote deserts. The Pilbara is generally accessed by two main roads – the North West Coastal Highway, which is ideal for accessing the western side of the region and the surrounding coastline of the Gascoyne or the Great Northern Highway, which will take you through Newman in the eastern side of the
area.
This track, however, explores the eastern side of the Pilbara through the Shay Gap 4WD track leaving the North West Coastal Highway near Eighty Mile Beach (east of Port Hedland). The route then cuts through abandoned mining settlements, remote gorges, and isolated tracks to the east of Marble Bar, Nullagine and Newman. It has long been an area with idyllic campsites. However, intense cyclones in the past have made devastating effects on Eel Pool (Running Waters) and the campsites at Carrawine Gorge, however, these do regenerate.

Hyden-Norseman Road

Location: 382 km east of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 312.31 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and sealed road
The Hyden-Norseman road is an excellent alternate route to travelling the Great Eastern Highway if you wish to go between Norseman & Perth because you’ll get off the tar and away from the trucks. You may not encounter any traffic, making this a relaxing drive. Along this track, there are plenty of sights to please the senses, and it is a tourist route in its own right, being marketed as “The Granite & Woodlands Discovery Trail”.
The route is mostly gravel, extensive and easy driving at close to highway speeds so generally, it is accessible for all vehicles, including caravans and camper trailers. But wet weather can cause the road to be impassable or closed.
You will also find interpretive “sites” and resting places along the way, and these are part of the Granite & Woodlands Discovery Trail. These sites are signposted in numerical order from 1 to 16 from the Hyden end of the track.

Holland Track

Location: 389 km east of Perth
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Track Length: 730.88 km
Track Time: 3 days
Terrain: Sand and rock
The Holland Track is the longest cart road ever made in one stretch in Western Australia. It is a different route that was created by pioneers in 1893 to enable prospectors arriving at the port of Albany to shorten their trip to the Goldfields by more than a fortnight. But the route was soon forgotten as prospectors used the newly built railway line to travel to the Coolgardie Goldfields and John Holland was never given any recognition or payment for “services rendered” to his country for his efforts. The northeast portion was slowly reclaimed by the bush, while pastoralists and their farmlands overtook the southwestern section for nearly 100 years.
Then in 1992, a small batch of enthusiasts realised the importance of the Holland Track and planned to rebuild the track so that it won’t be forgotten forever. By doing so, they have allowed us to follow the footsteps of the famous pioneer John Holland and Co. and to be amazed by his incredible feat. At the entrance of the track, you’ll now see a unique 4WD track that will let you experience the beauty of remote camping in this long-forgotten area that still contains beautiful relics of the pioneering day of the past.
The Holland Track starts in the centre of the Southern Wheatbelt region and heads in a generally north-easterly direction into remote bushland and eventually joins the Great Eastern Highway at Coolgardie near the Goldfields. Although most of the southern half is now part of the present road system around pastoral lands, you can still locate several points of interest related to Holland and his party with numerous commemorative plaques to see. There are also heritage signs to follow, and many beautiful campsites to enjoy.

Stockyard Gully

Location: 281 km northwest of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 303.55 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and beach
The Stockyard Gully Caves are among Western Australia’s best-kept secrets. The main cave has a sandy floor and is around 300 m long from both entrances. Two shorter caves are accessible for the more adventurous before arriving at the “final” cave, which has no exit.
The caves can be reached from the northern section through the Lake Indoon or the southern part from Cockleshell Gully Road. Also, 4WD vehicles are only required for the sandy tracks and are perfect for towing off-road trailers/vans. Any 4WD is appropriate, as the more massive rocky limestone outcrops on the trail have been flattened off by CALM.
Although this trek can be finished in a day (mostly driving), it is a great weekend away with an overnight campground at nearby Lake Indoon.
Lake Indoon is a big, freshwater lake, which spans around 130 hectares, with a depth varying from approximately 1.5 m – 5 m depending on the seasons and rainfall. It is about 4.5 km surrounding the lake. The Lake Indoon facilities include camping spots around the lake, an ablution block with hot water showers, and a rainwater tank for drinking water. The Carnamah Shire is in-charge of the campground at Lake Indoon with campsites available on a first-in first-served basis. A gas BBQ and picnic area are available near the boat ramp on the northern section of the Lake and a toilet block (although it has cold showers only). The camping area spreads out around a part of the lake with each site casually clustered under a large canopy of trees and native bush attracting several species of birds especially the Carnabys Cockatoo who loves the flowering banksias that are plentiful in the area. It is also a dog-friendly campsite.

Great Central Road

Location: 1247 km northeast of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 1147.05 km
Track Time: 2 days
Terrain: Sand and rock
The Great Central Road is the easiest route linking the Red Centre to Western Australia and is travelled by many tourists throughout most of the year.
The area, however, is remote and the road weaves through an extremely remote desert scrub country with minimal facilities and attractions for travellers. It is predominantly land occupied by aboriginal communities. It is better to drive a 4WD vehicle, although a 2WD car will make the trip. The track section in WA has been dramatically upgraded right through to the border and is now good gravel with no sand or bulldust. However, the NT section is considerably worse and although generally ok for trailers including caravans the corrugations are unpleasant.
The route also passes directly into Aboriginal communities in the Central Reserves, and it is a requirement for travellers to have a valid Transit Permit before driving through it.

Powerline Track

Location: 32.6 km east of Perth
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Track Length: 58.66 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and dirt
The Powerline trek follows along a service track for the powerlines between the valleys from Mundaring to York. It is a popular trek with local driver training operators as it houses several obstacles of varying difficulties and is not covered by a National Park area. So, no permits are required. If you’re looking for a remote bush drive, this one might not be for you. Of course, this is also an excellent trek to tackle on your own to challenge your skill and 4WD setup.
The route has a lot of steep valleys, and the scenic views at the top of each crest are beyond amazing. The flora changes wildly from the winter season, when things are slippery, wet, muddy and extremely boggy, to the summer season when the track is nearly bone dry and rutted due to severe erosion caused by the previous winter. The vegetation includes lush eucalypt forests, cycads and various heath scrubs, and the soils transform from sand to clay with the colours changing simultaneously from white to red. Local wallabies are often spotted, particularly during cool and overcast days.
Each year, this trek changes considerably due to the effects of weather and the fact that the council put a fair bit of maintenance work into this track. None of this affects the trek, but affects the degree of difficulty, or eases, that you will experience in the trip.

Agnew Loop

Location: 13.6 km north of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 299.14 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and sealed road
The discovery of gold during the 1890s sparked a rush to this area – but the country the settlers came to was hot, severe, and unforgiving. This trail holds stories of what was once a struggle for survival as Europeans made their way in a land that was both harsh and foreign.
From coach roads and stock routes to staging posts and wayside hotels, and from expansive pastoral stations to historic mines and the shooting-star communities that they built – the social history of this effort for survival is strung out on this loop for your enjoyment. Drive the full 300 km trail in a clockwise direction – it is a comfortable day’s trip, but do see if the road conditions allow easy access as around half the route has a gravel surface.
The Agnew Loop trail has 15 interpretive sites, spaced roughly 15 – 30kms apart. At the sites, you will find an information panel and, somewhere nearby, waiting to share a story with you. Let these rusty, old steel storytellers introduce you to the people and the places – but you’ll need to go out and find each one of them first! At each stopping place along with both loops, someone (or something!) is waiting to reveal their stories to you. So, go and explore, see who and what you can discover, and learn about the lives and landscapes of this remarkable region.

Quobba Coast

Location: 893 km northwest of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 162.03 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and beach
The Quobba Coast is a fantastic bit of beach just north of Carnarvon in Western Australia. This coastline, from Carnarvon to Red Bluff provides rugged, cliffs to tranquil, pristine white sandy beaches. With fishing being one of the main draws for heading this way, some other activities include whale spotting at Red Bluff, surfing at ‘Bluff Barrel’, exploring the blowholes near Quobba Point, heading to Quobba Station, and visiting the HMAS Sydney Memorial in Cairn. Other attractions along the route are the Gascoyne River crossing and Dampier Salt, which runs from Lake McLeod and loads at Cape Cuvier. A few minutes away from Quobba Station is Gnarloo Station, which also has a camping area near the beach.
Red Bluff is very famous for its surf break, but it’s also appealing for many other reasons. Fishing in the area is widespread and often fruitful, and fish feeding frenzies can be seen right from the shore. Marine life like turtles, dolphins, manta rays and whale sharks can be spotted along the coast. A headland and a shallow reef protect the bay, and on calm days, snorkelling and swimming can be enjoyed. The Red Bluff is a private camping area located on Quobba Station approximately 45kms north of the homestead. The station runs under a pastoral lease hosting sheep and goats, in addition to providing tourist accommodation at the Homestead and Red Bluff. The road into Red Bluff can be rocky and a bit corrugated, but generally, a 4WD vehicle is not needed. Once you reach the area, a couple of days are recommended to relax and enjoy the Red Bluff experience thoroughly. You should remember that ‘through access’ to the north doesn’t exist and the route leading to the highway is only via the Blowholes Road (the way you came in).

Toolinna Cove

Location: 1073 km east of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 158.12 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and beach
The majestic views of Toolinna Cove from the spectacular 75 metre high Baxter Cliffs on the Great Australian Bight make this trek a must-do. Toolinna Cove must be among the most remote coves on the southern coast of Western Australia, and it’s one of the few breaks in the vast cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. Nature lovers will also find a wide range of birdlife, concentrated in the woodland forest that extends in a narrow belt along with the extensive cliff system.

Minilya Exmouth Road

Location: 1050 km north of Perth
Difficulty: Easy
Track Length: 152.01 km
Track Time: 1 day
Terrain: Sand and sealed roads
Exmouth is a town found near the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia. It lies on the northern tip of the Ningaloo Reef and has very accessible sealed roads to the tip of the cape and the western side of the Cape Range National Park. Exmouth is well known for its excellent fishing, where big game fish like marlin and Spanish mackerel can be caught from around 2 km offshore. Exmouth Gulf features a productive environment for marine life and nursery for humpback whales, dugongs and turtles.
Exmouth has gone through some substantial weather extremes. Tropical in location, summer average maximum temperatures reach a staggering 37 degrees Celsius; while maximum winter averages is a balmy 24 degrees Celsius.
The town of Exmouth, with a population of over 2060 people relies heavily on tourism. At the tourist season’s peak, the people in this coastal town can reach over 6000 people. Some of the popular things to do in and around Exmouth include tours to view or swim with whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whale watching from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse (July – November) and seeing the colourful rock layers at Shothole Canyon and Charles Knife Gorge.