4WDriving near Sydney

[Patrolos]

I've had my Patrol a few months now but I don't have time to get out of town and play.
Can anybody recomend somewhere near Sydney where I can play (Legaly) and get back the same day. I live in the southern side of Sydney if that helps (Sutherland Shire).

BTW. I bumped into some guy at the booza. He said there's plenty of places up in the northern parts of Sydney but I was too p!ssed to remember where he said.
Please help. I need some action.

 

[Patriot]

Hey Patrolos,

If I were you I would head out to Anna Bay. The sand there is awesome. It is rated as very difficult but there are a lot of portions that are easy if you deflate your tires.

If you are trying to find somewhere near home, you can type your suburb and state in the box below the map and specify a radius and the map will redraw with a circle showing that distance from your suburb. It looks like there aren't too many tracks in that area yet, but hopefully some more will be added soon.

Hope this helps,

James

 

[cmrnbrks]

G-Day Patrolos

There are so many 4WDing tracks within a 1 - 2 hour drive north of where you live! this is a list of hose places!

1. Ourimbah State Forest
2. Barrington Tops National Park
3. Stockton Beach

Enjoy the tracks!

Brooksy

 

[millsmob]

Sydney South 4wding

Why dont you check out boat harbour 4wd park. Located at near kurnell. It is private property but approx $16 gets you in to a fairly firm beach and access to some sand hills, this is just north of cronnulla beach and if you were allowed you could actually drive there to cronulla beach its self.

Not hard 4wding but I've been stuck twice on the sand hills (for showing off) and have pulled several other show offs of them as well. Great family outing we take the 7x4 trailor BBQ esky dog and all the trimmings for BBQ on the Beach for the day. The kids can have a swim, fish great spot. And sheltered from the westerlies. I think it is still open its been 6months or more since we have been there.

As soon as I get time i will share all the tracks I know, some of the national parks have a bit to offer.

 

[Tats]

Try a bit o' snoopin'

Yeah Patrolos, there's plenty of 4wding within 1 to 2 hours of Sydney, the Watagans west of Wyong, there's a couple of places off the old Pacific Highway that could be investigated, and have a look around Yalwall down south. most of these can be reached in a couple of hours and a days fun had. If you're not in a club then join one, and you'll discover heaps. Good luck

Tats

 

[grit]

So as not to be too confusing;

the Watagans and Ourimbah are one & the same
Anna Bay is the northern exit from Stockton Beach

You do need to travel out of Sydney to reach the remaining decent 4wd trails.
So long as you are prepared to start early in the day and travel a couple of hours, you will get to a few decent tracks (including those mentioned above. You need a permit for Stockton Beach.

The best advice you're gonna get is to join a club like 'Sydney 4wd club' (example only) I can assure you it will be well worth the tiny annual fee they charge.

 

[zoom]

Yep I can vouch for Watagans it's a gem. I've got about 8 maps ( 25000:1) from basically wyong to Hunter Valley . During my trips I'd mark all sorts of road & camp ground conditions . It's one of the things I've missed about moving to Qld ,
Stockton is great if want to try your luck with sand , watch out for the sand at the southern end , known to be very soft . as a consequence watch your temp gauge .
Watagans are best for being close,
Hope that helps

 

[Darrenmidd]

We're doing Ben Bullen - Baal bone gap - Blackfellows - Lost city etc this Sat, just 3-4 of from the Delica club, should be fun, not sure of the track conditions but with a bit of rain I'm sure it will be interesting in parts.

 

[Blue Dog]

Darrenmidd

I went the same way a couple of weeks ago, the tracks are ok a bit of water about on blackfellows side, a couple of the water holes are a bit deeper than you think with the ruts so take it easy so not to break anything or get stuck I had to pull a patrol out of a hole on the power line track on the way in.
Not alot of dust thanks to the rains the lost city is a bit loose but was easy done.
I went early morning and all the water holes had 2 inches of ice on them.
A run out to sunnyside is worth it if you have the time while you are there.
I maybe going back on saturday for a bit more looking around on the side trails and see if the hut run is still open so if you see a red H3 around say hi i usually scan all channels in the bush.
are you doing a one way or two way run.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Paul100]

We're doing Ben Bullen - Baal bone gap - Blackfellows - Lost city etc this Sat, just 3-4 of from the Delica club, should be fun, not sure of the track conditions but with a bit of rain I'm sure it will be interesting in parts.

G'day Darren
I lead a trip for my club to these locations your going [as well as Jenolan S.F, Mt.Walker & Spanish Steps] a few weeks back.
Baal Bone track is still in good shape after being graded last year but bits may still be slippery if it's wet & you'll have no worries with Blackfellows, Lost City tracks [There was good snow around the Bungleborri area a few weeks back ]

Cheers Paul

 

[Darrenmidd]

Thanks Paul and Blue dog - Bluey, we'll be on channel 10 - 4 Delicas, just heading the one way, intending to play a bit around the lost city but will play it by ear. Bluey - as in a red Hummer?

 

[Blue Dog]

Hey darrenmidd

yeah in a hummer

At this stage I am planning to do some wandering around some of the side trails off sunnyside and the trails on the oposite side of the main trail on saturday and may go down to the glowworm tunnel for a walk, nothing to hard as will be running solo at this stage.

Cheers

Mark

 

[Darrenmidd]

Sweet Bluey. Have a good day mate will keep an eye and ear out - if you hear any radio cahtter say G'day, my Delica and club name is BEAR and there will be a few of us.

 

[grit]

Hi Darren,

I was out there last Sunday. Did Farmers Creek Dam, Powerlines, Lost City, The Ruts, Sunnyside Ridge Rd to Bird Rock and Spanish Steps to Blackfellows Hand as well as a couple of secret tracks.

Ruts are deep (at 'The Ruts') especially the one 3 back from Tunnel Rd. Got there early with -1 temps, so lots of ice. Recent rain has helped to keep the dust down and luckily not too much damage has been done since. Did the steps late afternoon with a few of the Lithgow guys so it was dry (you must be with a club to get through). It was a nice day so lots of bikes around.

Didn't cross from Blackfellows Hand to Baal Bone Gap, but did it recently and it was an easy run.

 

[Darrenmidd]

Yeah we started at Ben Bullen and went onto Blackfellas and zig zag. You are right, all very easy, and there was a fair bit of traffic coming the opposite way and lots of bikes. Nissan club and Land Rover club among many were there. Still fun day - had a bit of fun in some water holes at the beginning of Blackfells (travelling from Ben Bullen). Cheers Darren.

 

[millsmob]

Close to Sydney 4WD Trip

A close by QUICK Sydney 4WD trip not terribly serious but good fun anyway.

Today on our own we did an on the spur of the moment trip from our home Western Sydney, Colyton 2760. The return trip took us 3 ½ hours home to home. We ventured to Burralow Creek Camping Ground North West of Sydney in the Blue MountainsNational Park.

Access via Bells Line Road (between Pittmans Rd and Johnsons Rd) Bilpin. This area can be found on the Sydney UBD Map 46 J8. The Patterson Range Fire Trail is designated 4wd Only.

Approx 9.3 kilometres from Bells Line Road to the camping with several interesting tracks off the main track Patterson Range Fire Trail. It was raining and we definitely needed 4wd and reasonable clearance as was quite wet / slippery with some slightly cut up sections, some of the side track had some quite interesting challanges .

We found at the flat camping ground with no flush toilets and wood BBQs you need to take your own water and fire wood. To exit this area can be by and alternative exit via Burralow Rd 6.3 kilometers from the camping groung this way in / out is definitely 4wd Sydney UBD Map 47 D15, KurrajongHeights.

Might be a good spot for a 4 x 4 earth day outing / meet for us sydneyites.

Regards Jamie

 

[Paul100]

G'day

Yeah Burralow Creek Camping Ground is a nice spot.
Our club goes there from time to time for a social bbq-meet-up/quick campout.
The walk to the glowworms is well worth the effot.
Theres also great native bird life in the area.

N/Parks will shut the gates if theres been a bit of rain so the place doesn't get cut up by the riff-raff, they actually were doing the rounds to shut them one Sunday morning when we were camped there as it had rained heavy on the Saturday night.
They also shut the gates if they think theres a fire danger in the area.
The Ranger with the pony tail is a cool person to have a chat with.

2WD cars get in here if it's dry & the track from Burralow Road end is in good condition.

Cheers Paul

 

[grit]

I have seen the "4wd vehicles only" sign at the Warks Hill Rd end of Burralow Rd. I never really considered it to be too much but now knowing there is something at the end "glow-worms" I wouldn't mind taking a closer look.

Paul: Any more info you might have would be greatly appreciated. I originally had it confused with the track in from Clarence (before reading this).

James: We head up that way a fair bit (Newnes Plateau), usually taking Bells Line.
...& seeing that you guys live close, I hope to catch up on the trails sometime.

 

[Paul100]

Hi grit & everyone

Burralow is not a place you'll go looking for a 4wd adventure, but it's a good overnight camp with lots of flat ground.

The other tracks close to the campsite off Burralow Road/Trail are locked - these used to go down Bowen Mountain & come out at Grose Vale [near Cabbage Tree Lane/Road] but now been closed for some years.
Coming out on the Paterson Range Trail to Bells Line of Road, if you turn left for a short distance you'll be at the Bilpin Fruit Bowl.

At the campground - walk to the creek - you'll see the name of a waterfall - cross the creek by jumping the rocks if the water is low enough [best to bring a plank of wood to walk across] follow the walking trail to the waterfall - when you get there it's like the 'Grotto' on the Mt.Airly property. Walk this during the day as to know where you are walking during the night - as that's the time to see the glow-worms. It's like being out in the open looking at the stars - that's how good the glow-worms can be !!!
I belive the little waterfall doesn't flow all the time though.
Don't forget to take some torches for the walk. The walk is appox 15/20min one way.
The scrub can be a bit thick so wear good shoes, but it's an easy walk for all ages.
Check for leaches on your return.

There's no info on the N/Parks website or any notice board there with information on the glow-worms or of any of the convict history - they used to grow rice in the area etc.

A good place for a short/quick campout that feels much further away than it is.
B.y.o drinking water & firewood.

Cheers Paul

 

[Stilllookin]

Lithgow, not that far from Sydney

G’day ya all,
We have been watching this thread with interest for a while now and it makes for an interesting read.
Firstly we have to agree with what has been said about the possibilities for exploring to Sydney’s west, up in the Blue Mountains.
Secondly we are not terribly familiar with what is to the north or south of Sydney so we will not comment there.

Now having said all that, has anyone looked at the tracks which are in the database on this very site. The reason we ask this is we have submitted detailed track logs and brief descriptions describing some of these locations in the mountains which have been suggested.

Take for example Burralow, we show the entire track from Bilpin to Kurrajong Heights including the camp ground. As Paul100 said all other tracks in this area are closed, so the track you can see from our submitted track is all that is available, it is a nice place to have a quick over nighter if that’s what you are into but at least you can see for your self.

Another long track which we have submitted is the “Zig Zag to Lithgow the Long Way”. This track is about 170KM and is fairly easy but it is easily customised to make it shorter or harder or what ever takes your imagination. This track shows how to get to the Lost City, the Glow Worm Tunnel, Baal Bone Gap and much more (Fire Trail No.5 which for some strange reason has become known as “the Spanish Steps” is not shown because of the gates and a need for the keys).

Some other close to Lithgow places are Sunny Corner SF -Winburndale - Turon NP, Lidsdale SF – Marrangaroo NP (including Mt Walker/Lake Lyell areas), Jenolan State Forrest and a little further out,Kanangra Boyd NP and even Mt Werong SF. Some of these areas are also marked in the database on this site as well.

Anyhow hopefully we have stuck with the theme of this thread and given over some good ideas.

See ya,
Stilllookin.