If you enjoy 4WD touring and exploring Australia’s natural wonders, the Northern Rivers is a fantastic place to do it. The Northern Rivers region stretches from just south of Port Macquarie all the way up towards the Queensland border at Byron Bay.
4WD Tracks In The Northern Rivers
If you are looking for a place to head out on your next four wheel drive adventure, these are three great places where you can test out your skills and experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the area…
1. Tabulka
Tabulka is probably one of the best 4wd tracks in northern NSW, if not Australia! While it’s only an hour’s drive away from Byron bay (where I used to live, before moving to the Sunshine Coast), it feels like you’re traveling to another country (on my way there today it took me 2 hours due to roadworks).
Located in the Nightcap National Park, Tabulka is a 4wd track with various obstacles to tackle. It’s a fairly difficult track but I have seen some pretty experienced drivers complete it before, so you shouldn’t be discouraged if you think your skills aren’t that refined just yet.
The first day of Tabulka I went there, I had never driven in mud before, or attempted to go up a steep hill. The track is very well marked out with bright pink/red markers on the trees so it’s pretty hard to miss! There are also “points of interest” along the way with interesting facts about the surrounding rainforest and mountains.
If you do visit Tabulka you should definitely try to go to the “Captain’s lookout” it is located about halfway through the track and offers amazing views of Byron Bay!
2. Byng
Byng is another difficult 4wd track, but if you are experienced enough with driving in mud/on slippery surfaces I would highly recommend visiting this spot.
Byng is located near Evans Head and it is a pretty good example of the landscape in the Northern Rivers. There are many different terrains to challenge any experienced driver. You can see beautiful ocean views through this track as well as amazing trees, mountain ranges and wildlife.
At Byng there are 3 different points of interest which I think are really worth checking out. Firstly, there is a beautiful beach which you can drive down and stop at to take some amazing photos on the sand! Be careful though as the tides do come in so don’t be caught unawares!
Secondly, I would suggest going to the “Clam hole” this is a large deep pool of water surrounded by rocks. It looks amazing when the sun is setting!
Finally, I think it’s worth making the effort to get to Bridge point which is about halfway through the track. This lookout has an incredible view of Evans Head and you can see all of its fishing boats and houses down below!
3. Red Range
The final 4wd track I would like to recommend is called Red Range and it is located near Woodburn (about an hour away from Lismore). This region of the Northern Rivers also has spectacular views with amazing flora and fauna.
Red range is definitely a more difficult track than Byng or Tabulka so it’s important to know what you are doing! I have heard from many people that there is at least 1 difficult hill climb throughout this track so it’s important to be prepared.
There are a few different points of interest along the way as well as some cool things you can look out for such as abandoned mineshafts and large boulders. If you have an experienced driver in your car definitely go to the waterfall! Although it’s a long way away from where you start, I think it’s worth the walk in order to get a better view of this stunning natural phenomenon.
In Summary
I would recommend going in a convoy when doing 4wd tracks in northern NSW as there is so much nature and wildlife around which can be dangerous. I would also recommend taking a first-aid kit and some water.