Old Tharwa Road – Namadgi National Park
Real dirt an hour from Canberra.
Most people don’t picture the ACT when they think off-road Australia, but Namadgi National Park covers over half the territory and holds some genuinely decent dirt. The Old Tharwa Road and surrounding 4WD tracks around Honeysuckle Creek and the Gudgenby area give you rocky creek crossings, loose shale climbs, and dense subalpine bush within an hour of Canberra’s CBD. The route through to Boboyan and beyond connects with high country tracks into Kosciuszko — useful if you’re heading south and want to avoid blacktop.
This is a moderate run that rewards preparation over machinery — a standard 4WD with decent all-terrain tyres handles it fine, but ground clearance matters on the rocky creek sections. Namadgi requires a park entry and has strict fire regulations; check conditions with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service before heading in. Snow is possible June through August on higher sections. Water is available at Honeysuckle Creek camping area. It won’t blow your mind, but it’s real bush, it’s managed well, and it punches above its weight for proximity to a capital city.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 37 mi / 60 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4800 ft |
| Best season | September-May |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high clearance, all-terrain tyres |
| Nearest town | Tharwa, ACT |
| Land manager | ACT Parks and Conservation Service – Namadgi National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | ACT Parks – Namadgi NP |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Prado or 4Runner handle Old Tharwa Road, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with all-terrain tyres is the minimum — a Prado 150 or GU Patrol in factory trim will get through in dry conditions. A 2-inch lift gives you more margin on the rockier sections, but it's not a dealbreaker. Mud tyres aren't required, but worn highway rubber will cause grief.
Is Old Tharwa Road open in winter?
The trail is best run September through May. Winter access is limited and the alpine sections can take frost, ice, and snow that makes the crossings and loose rock sections genuinely sketchy. Check with ACT Parks before any winter attempt — sections of Namadgi close without much notice after bad weather.
Do you need a permit to drive Old Tharwa Road?
Yes, a permit is required to access Namadgi National Park backcountry routes. Contact ACT Parks and Conservation Service before you go — some areas require a vehicle access permit and self-registration at park entry points. No fee is currently charged for standard access, but confirm current conditions at the official ACT Parks site before heading out.
What's the hardest section of Old Tharwa Road and what should I expect?
The technical bite comes from loose rock shelves and the water crossings after any rainfall — nothing extreme, but enough to punish inattention or undertyred rigs. Approach angles matter more than power here; take the rock sections slow and pick your line. It's a moderate trail, not a gnarly one, but complacency on wet rock is how you end up on your side.
How deep are the water crossings and are they passable after rain?
Crossing depth varies significantly with rainfall — in dry conditions they're shallow and manageable, but after heavy rain they can rise fast and become impassable. There's no current real-time gauge, so check recent trip reports and ACT Parks alerts before you leave. If Canberra has had serious rain in the 48 hours prior, delay the run or have a bail-out plan ready.
Trail track
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