Here are some tracks to add to your itinerary. Note that each of these quite literally qualifies as a “road less travelled,” so you will not find a lot of information about any of them online. Call the local ranger for detailed directions.

1. Mt. Victoria Link Road

You may only travel on this road if you are in a small campervan; caravans and trailers are prohibited since there is a five-ton weight limit. To find it, leave Ringarooma heading east and drive along the New River Road instead of turning onto the highway. You will see signs for Mt. Victoria Forest. The road is narrow and winding and takes you to lookouts for Cashs Gorge Circuit and Ralphs Falls. Both Ralphs Falls and the nearby St. Columbia Falls drop 90 metres, making them two of the tallest waterfalls in Tasmania.

2. Waterhouse Road

Travelling between Bridport and Gladstone, you have the opportunity to take an alternative scenic route called Waterhouse Road. This gives you access to explore the Waterhouse Conservation Area and even drive off-road on West Tomahawk Beach. You will find bush camping along Homestead Road and a caravan park at Tomahawk.

3. Old Port Road

This road is also located near Gladstone and takes you past old mine workings as well as water catchment dams. While there used to be bridges at Boser Creek and South Mount Cameron, one has collapsed and the others have burned, so you cannot currently use the Old Port Road as a through road. It makes a wonderful day trip and takes you through some gorgeous countryside!

4. St. Alban’s Bay

For a challenging driving along the coastline, take a trip along St. Alban’s Bay 4WD track. You can get there from Bridport by taking Sandy Points Road to Lades Beach. The track will take you through 22 kilometres of sand dunes and beaches until you reach Bellingham. This can make for an excellent overnight trip as there are a number of campsites along the way. While there are no amenities, these sites are sheltered and private and will get you away from the crowds. Opportunities abound for bird watching and fishing.

Launceston is a lovely and unique city to visit in Tasmania. While there is plenty to do in town, you would be remiss not to jump in your campervan and tour some of these 4WD tracks. These roads through Tasmania’s sand dunes and forests take you deep into the heart of the Tasmanian backcountry where others cannot venture. So take advantage of everything your 4WD camper has to offer—and remember to check track conditions and weather before you head out!

1. Cascade Dam Road – Easy

If you are visiting Derby in the northeastern corner of Tasmania, the Cascade Dam Road is an easy and rewarding 4WD adventure which is also accessible to some 2WD vehicles. Splitting off from the Tasman Highway at Derby Town Hall, it will take you on a climb up into the hills where you can see an irrigation dam which famously burst in 1929. The highlight of this trip is a scenic suspension bridge.

2. Mount William National Park – Easy

Another destination in the northeastern part of Tasmania is the 4WD track which is located in Mount William National Park. This is one of the best opportunities to see wildlife in Tasmania. Plan for an overnight trip if you can; that way you can see some of the nocturnal species like Tasmanian devils and brush-tailed possums.

3. South Arthur Forest Drive – Easy

This drive takes you from Kunnannah Bridge to Roger River. Along the way, you will journey through beautiful woodlands and will have the chance to picnic, hike, fish, or canoe. Highlights include Sumac Lookout and Lake Chisholm.

4. Peron Dunes (St. Helens Point Road) – Hard

While most of the tracks featured on this list are easy enough that even all-weather 2WD vehicles can handle them, Peron Dunes is challenging and you should only attempt it in a proper 4WD vehicle. Steep, loose sand can pose a hazard for 2WD vehicles, and you will need to deflate your tires to travel across the dunes. You will find campgrounds at Dianas Basin and Humbug Point.

5. Arthur River to Sandy Cape – Hard

Finally, if you are up for another challenge, one more 4WD adventure you won’t want to miss is the coastal drive from Arthur River to Sandy Cape, which you will find around 16 kilometres south of Marrawah. Because this is not an easy track, it is always wise to call ahead and ask the ranger about the track conditions.

This Aboriginal region features a number of protected heritage sites, often marked by archaeological shell middens. While you cannot take anything with you from these sites, they provide a wonderful educational insight into ancient life in the Sandy Cape region.

Any one of these 4WD tracks in Tasmania provides an abundance of opportunities to explore rugged coastal and inland parks off the beaten track. You will find there is so much to see and do in Tasmania that you will likely be planning your next visit before this one even ends!

1. Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park

This is without a doubt the most iconic park in Tasmania. Here the rugged peak of Cradle Mountain soars over the tranquil mirror of Dove Lake below. Climb to the top of the mountain or take a two-hour hike around the lake’s perimeter, exploring the lush old-growth rainforest. Be on the lookout for Tasmanian devils, platypus, echidna, and quolls.

If you are up for a lengthy hike, the six-day Overland Track is a world-class trek into a mountain wilderness which culminates at Lake St. Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. If you are visiting in the spring or summer months, you will behold a spectacular display of wildflowers here, including orchids, leatherwoods, hakeas, and waratahs.

2. Southwest National Park

This is the largest national park in Tasmania, spanning 600,000 hectares of rugged mountain ranges, old-growth rainforest and button grass plains. While much of the park is extremely remote, a 4WD campervan can penetrate deep into the wilderness. The most breathtaking scenery anywhere on the planet can be found here.

3. Hartz Mountains National Park

Hartz Mountains National Park is one of the oldest bushwalking destinations in Tasmania, popularised clear back in the 1840s when the Geeves family founded the nearby township of Geeveston. Numerous short hikes weave through the eucalypt forest, taking you to waterfalls, glacial lakes, and panoramic lookouts.

4. Savage River Regional Reserve

If you really want to venture off the beaten track, the Savage River Regional Reserve makes for an exciting trek into one of the only temperate wilderness areas left on the entire planet. While most Tasmanian national parks have roads for 2WD vehicles and facilities and amenities for campers, Savage River Regional Reserve does not. The only way to access this unique conservation zone is through a set of rough 4WD tracks. There are no camping facilities in the reserve, but there are a number of State Forest Reserves to the north which provide more in the way of roads and amenities.

As you can see, Tasmania showcases incredible geological and biological diversity. Because so much of the parkland is remote, it is really only accessible in full to the traveller who rents a 4WD campervan and is willing to venture away from the main roads. Spend some extra time planning your itinerary and researching remote tracks, and you will be ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through a far-flung land of unparalleled beauty.