The Wanderer
Sand first, mud last!" If you ask any off-road enthusiast for their favourite driving terrain, that’s the answer you get. So what’s so special about beach driving?
Beauty is part of it; everyone loves an ocean view. Just last weekend, my partner and I cruised up a beach to find our own private spot for morning coffee. And you don’t necessarily need an expedition-grade four-wheel drive (4WD) to find yours. Some people relish the challenge of sand driving, but for many people it’s more about the reward at the end. The thrill of setting up at a remote beach camp, waking to the sound of waves and having dinner barefoot in the sand. We’re looking at you, Ningaloo.
Any 4WD with low range will be fine on sand, with the right technique. All-wheel drive (AWD) SUVs, like X-Trails, can handle beach driving; but not on tracks with deep ruts or soft sand. You can also tow a caravan or camper trailer on sand, but it can be very difficult, so you need to be a competent four-wheel driver and well versed in towing. Alternatively, stick to very flat hard-sand beaches. Standard motorhomes are far from ideal sand machines, but 4WD or AWD models, like Explorer Motorhomes, will get you to beach destinations others can’t.
Any off-road terrain should be approached with caution, especially sand. Start by reducing your tyre pressures. For this, check your vehicle’s tyre placard near the inside front door, and halve the indicated pressures. For example, if the placard reads 32 psi, drop your tyre pressure to 16 psi (ensuring you keep your speed under 50 km/h). You also need to set the vehicle up for sand driving; there is so much vehicle specific advice, so consult your manual. In general, you will need to engage any off-road modes such as 4WD, and disable stability control.
You’ll need a tyre pressure gauge to check pressures, an air compressor to re-inflate tyres back to highway pressure, and – for worst-case scenarios – a shovel for digging. These tools are sound investments for any Aussie traveller, even if you don’t plan to attempt any off-road driving. Also consider investing in two (or ideally four) traction ramps like MAXTRAX, which can be invaluable for extracting your vehicle from sand, wet grass, snow, mud or even just for levelling your RV at a campsite.
Slow and steady is the key to safe sand driving because your tyre pressures will be reduced. Try to drive in straight lines so you make two not four tyre ruts; this reduces drag. Use low gears as the vehicle works harder in soft sand. Expect higher fuel consumption. To stop, ease off the accelerator and let the vehicle roll to a halt, then slowly reverse back – so that when you take off again, you will have a little compressed-sand runway for traction. If the wheels start to spin, ease off the accelerator and reverse. Try again with more momentum, or drop your tyre pressures, even by as little as 2 psi. Never just apply the throttle and hope – you will get bogged.
Turn your headlights on, and remember beaches are public roads and standard road rules apply. Take care of the environment by never driving over vegetation, try to stick below the high-tide mark, and respect official guidance and rules. Many beaches require a permit, so do your homework before you set off.
Beach driving can be daunting; but if you have the right vehicle, gear and expertise, the rewards are worth the effort.
Beaches can be easy to drive on, or impossible. The two deciding factors are slope and softness. The easiest beaches are wide, flat and hard-packed with shallow access roads. The toughest are soft, narrow and steeply sloped. To decide if a beach is suitable for you, go for a walk. If the beach access is a well-used ramp, there are other cars present that aren’t serious 4WDs, and there are plenty of wheel tracks with no obvious ruts, then you’re probably going to be okay. Deep wheel ruts are a red flag. If you can see the tyre tread marks, the sand should be reasonably driveable.
Make sure you check tides, and plan to drive at low or outgoing tides (we’ve all seen the reports of vehicles engulfed by advancing seawater). Also check the rules about beach access. Are vehicles allowed, where and what are the speed and access limits? Importantly, make sure your insurance covers you for beach driving.
The coastline fringing the Ningaloo Reef south of Exmouth is home to six idyllic campgrounds, some with sites right on the beach. To access this holy grail of beach camps within Nyinggulara National Park (formerly Ningaloo Station), you will need a 4WD (and robust caravan) to tackle soft sand and corrugations.
Just north of Newcastle on the western edge of Port Stephens is a sand-driving mecca. Stockton Sand Dunes is home to 19 kilometres of beachfront and 350 hectares of dune driving. What’s more, you can camp here. Ganyamalbaa Beach Camping Area has opened at the western end of the dunes in Worimi Conservation Lands on a trial basis, offering remote beach camping for tents and single-axle trailers.
You don’t need a 4WD to get onto Bribie, but you will need an AWD SUV at a minimum if you want to drive on the beach and camp within Bribie Island National Park and Recreation Area. Drop your tyre pressures in the Ocean Beach carpark and follow the access path to the beach.
One of South Australia’s most sought-after beach camps, Perlubie offers prime waterfront camping just north of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. While getting here is no great journey (it’s bitumen all the way to the carpark), driving the short distance to the beach sites can involve traversing heavy sand – especially when the tide is up. Be careful reversing towards the base of the dunes.
Around 65 kilometres from Esperance is Lucky Bay, reputedly home to Australia’s whitest sand, not to mention beach-dwelling kangaroos.
You can even drive on the beach with a 2WD vehicle. The excellent campground (set back from the beach) is accessible to all RVs.
Category: Advice
Written: Fri 12 Dec 2025
Printed: December, 2025
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