Surf and Turf: Exploring Australia's Best Beach Drives

For a summer adventure that combines sun, sand and surf with a bit of adrenaline, you can’t look past a coastal 4WD road trip. Whether it’s exploring epic dunes or seeking out remote beaches, these destinations combine all the fun of an off-road odyssey with unforgettable surf breaks.

Surf and 4WD on Stockton Beach, NSW

Stretching between Newcastle and Anna Bay, the 32-kilometre-long Stockton

is the longest beach in the state, and you can find it only a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Stockton is known for fairly consistent surf, with its beach break offering powerful left- and right-hand waves.

Behind the stunning beach lies an expansive sand dune system – which you can explore via 4WD with a Worimi Conservation Lands Beach Vehicle Permit

. With 350 hectares to traverse, this is an off-roaders’ wonderland.

If you’re not a well-seasoned dune driver, it’s crucial to take extra safety precautions. Make sure to have some traction aids on hand to wedge under your wheel if you find yourself stuck and fit some high-vis sand flags to your bulbar. Also, remember to travel straight up and down on dunes and maintain a steady momentum – never attempt to turn around or drive side-on.

Back on the foreshore, you can see the remains of 19th-century shipwrecks along the breakwall and admire views all the way to Port Stephens.

Drive-on surf beaches in QLD

Queensland’s Great Beach Drive

links the Sunshine Coast with K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), starting in the surf town of Noosa

(a two-hour drive north of Brisbane). Crowned the 10^th World Surfing Reserve, Noosa offers five first-class point breaks and three reliable beach breaks, but there are other beautiful beaches to explore along this unique 4WD route.

Two hours’ drive from Noosa will deliver you to Double Island Point

, a hidden surfing paradise that promises one of the country’s longest waves. Double Island Point is just south of Rainbow Beach

, where you can drive directly on the famous multi-hued sand. Keep in mind that the beach access points have deep, soft sand and you will need to drop your tyre pressure before you enter the beach, as well as check to make sure you’re within the low tide window.

Stop for a surf on Rainbow Beach (wave height averages 1.5m in the north), then catch the Inskip Point Ferry barge over to K’gari to continue your 4WD adventure. Make sure to check which vehicle permits

you need before you set off.

The best surf beaches with car access in WA

With over 10,000 kilometres of coastline, Western Australia isn’t short of surf. But some of the best waves can be found off the beaten track in the rugged South West region, with many beaches only accessible with a 4WD.

Three and a half hours south of Perth, towards the top of Cape Naturaliste, lie the Three Bears

– a set of three separate reef breaks (Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear) reached via the 4WD-only Sugar Loaf Road. Another hour south, Margaret River’s Kilcarnup Beach offers a locals’ surf spot known as Joey’s Nose, found at the end of an off-road track.

This is a popular destination for beginner surfers, but the scenery is so spectacular that even advanced surfers won’t regret the visit. The route to Boranup Beach

(another 45 minutes further south) features a drive through a karri forest and some soft-sand manoeuvring to reach the expert-level beach break. But you’ll be rewarded with a pristine view!

Drive SA’s Long Beach in Robe

Three and a half hours’ drive from Adelaide (or a six-hour road trip from Melbourne), Robe’s Long Beach

beckons with over 10 kilometres of vehicle-accessible shoreline on the gorgeous Limestone Coast. The wide, well-packed terrain is perfect for beginner 4WDers - and you don’t need to arrange a permit (just be sure to watch the tides). Long Beach is a popular spot for families in summer and also Robe’s main surf beach, with consistent moderately-sized breakers. The area from Third Ramp onwards is great for beach fishing, too – so you’ll have no trouble spending an entire day on this iconic stretch of sand.

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Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}