Aspley Mazda – The Top 4WD Spots in South East Queensland

April 13, 2023

If you’ve been to Aspley Mazda before, you’re probably familiar with our Mazda Ute Centre. Maybe you’ve even bought a Mazda BT-50 Ute from there, customised with the right accessories to suit your needs and tastes. One of the joys of owning a 4WD is being able to escape the busy traffic and packed carparks of the city for the many kilometres of land that most people never get to see: the rugged bushlands, the pristine beaches, the tranquil wide open spaces. Whether you just have a day trip in mind or you’re planning to set up a tent and stay the night, South East Queensland has countless off-road destinations all over areas like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay.

When you’ve just bought your new Mazda BT-50 Ute and you’re ready to explore the 4WD trails of South East Queensland, which ones should you head to first? Here are a few of the most beautiful and popular spots in the area, but remember, this is only a small snippet. There are still so many more out there to find.

D’Aguilar National Park

Just on the outskirts of Brisbane (and less than a 30-minute drive away from Aspley Mazda), D’Aguilar boasts about 40,000ha of unspoilt national park complete with rainforest walks, a eucalypt forest drive, breathtaking views, picnic areas and swimming holes. Mount Mee Forest Drive provides 16kms of driving through this stunning scenery with the chance to admire views across the D’Aguilar Range and cool off in Rocky Hole. While its proximity makes it a great day trip destination, D’Aguilar also has overnight camping locations like Neurum Creek.

K’Gari / Fraser Island

With a name that means “paradise” in the language of traditional owners the Butchulla people, K’Gari is certainly a special place. It’s the largest sand island in the world, was World Heritage listed in 1992, is accessible only by barge or ferry and can only be explored by 4WD. While not technically in SEQ, it’s only slightly outside the boundaries – many visitors get there by ferry from Rainbow Beach on the Sunshine Coast. And it deserves to be included for its sheer splendour, including its 75 Mile Beach and ancient rainforests.

North Stradbroke Island

Taking off for a weekend at “Straddie”, as the locals call North Stradbroke Island, is a Brisbane tradition. Known as being one of the country’s best dive sites and a place to dive with majestic manta rays, Straddie offers both beach and inland 4WD trekking and plenty of peaceful spots to swim, surf, fish or whale watch.

Bribie Island

Taking your Ute down to Bribie Island’s Northern Access Track lets you see the vast bulk of the island that most tourists and even locals never lay eyes upon. Travel through 16.5kms of eucalypt and melaleuca forest and you’ll find a number of secluded treasures. Explore the remnants of World War Two forts, picnic at Lighthouse Reach and fall asleep at Ocean Beach Camping Area with just the sound of the sea for company.

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains are those mountains that cast dramatic shapes into the sky when you’re on the road to the Sunshine Coast, and they harbour their own often intense 4WD trails. The Power Line Track is one for the experienced off-road travellers, with its rough ground and sharp inclines. Other tracks like Big Red, Little Red and the Canyon can be equally hair-raising, but there are easy trails too, as well as some stunning lookouts and mountain views.

Rainbow Beach

Famous for its coloured sands and dramatic cliffs, Rainbow Beach’s 4WD trails offer tranquil beach campsites and fishing locations. Take off on the Freshwater Road Track bound for Teewah Beach and you’ll encounter lush forest and peaceful stretches of sand.

Visit Aspley Mazda’s Ute Centre

Don’t let its glossy sheen fool you. Although it’s slick enough to turn heads on city streets, the Mazda BT-50 Ute is built for the toughest terrain. It packs 3.5 tonnes of braked towing power. It’s also highly fuel efficient, with 7.7L/100km combined fuel consumption, making long stretches of track with no petrol station nearby less daunting. When you buy one from Aspley Mazda Ute Centre, you can customise it the way you like before you even drive off by choosing from our wide range of accessories.

Have you been looking for new cars in Brisbane? Located on the northside of Brisbane, Aspley Mazda sells not only Mazda BT-50 Utes but the entirety of Mazda’s new range plus used cars from Mazda and other brands. A family-owned business dedicated to providing a first-class customer service experience, we’ve been serving the people of our local community for over 50 years. In 2020, Mazda awarded us their prestigious ‘Master Dealer’ award.

If you’d like to see if we meet your expectations, visit 1441-1461 Gympie Rd., Aspley QLD, call (07) 3263 5333 or book a test drive through our website. It might be your first step to spending time taking the road less travelled and connecting more with nature.