4WD Tracks near Sydney

Sydney has a wider spread of accessible 4WD terrain than Melbourne, but it's more spread out across the compass. To the north: the Hunter Valley forests and the Watagans, about 90 minutes from the CBD. To the west: the Blue Mountains backcountry and the Wollemi/Putty network, 90 minutes to 2 hours. To the south: the Royal National Park fringe, 45 minutes, and the Illawarra escarpment, 90 minutes. To the south-west: the Shoalhaven and Budawangs, 2–3 hours.

The Watagans (Watagan State Forest near Cessnock) are the closest genuine 4WD destination for most Sydney drivers wanting variety. The Blue Mountains network requires an NPWS vehicle permit and delivers the most dramatic scenery. The Putty Road firetrails and the Wollemi National Park fringe give more free-access options.