Beach Driving from the Gold Coast
How to set up your 4WD for Straddie, Moreton, Bribie and Teewah, from the team at Opposite Lock Gold Coast.
South East Queensland has some of the best beach driving in Australia, and most of it is within a day's drive of Miami. Here's how we set vehicles up for it, and what to check before you go.
Where to drive
Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
Main Beach and Flinders Beach, reached by vehicle barge from Cleveland. Permits are required for beach driving.
Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)
A sand island with no sealed roads, reached by vehicle barge from Brisbane. Expect soft inland tracks as well as beach runs.
Bribie Island
The ocean beach and northern tracks, the closest island beach driving to Brisbane.
Teewah and Noosa North Shore
Long beach runs to Double Island Point and the coloured sands. Popular for weekend camping.
K'gari
The bucket-list run up the eastern beach, with inland tracks to the lakes.
Set up your vehicle
- Tyres. All-terrain tyres in good condition make the biggest difference. The Garage Miami fits them next door.
- Pressure. Carry an accurate gauge and a reliable compressor.
- Recovery gear. Boards, a rated snatch strap, soft shackles and rated recovery points. See winches and recovery.
- Communication. A UHF radio is how beach drivers warn each other of oncoming traffic.
- Corrosion. Salt is hard on chassis and electrics. Wash the underbody after every trip and consider electronic rust protection.
- Suspension. A loaded vehicle on soft sand works its suspension hard. Load-rated suspension helps.
Drive the tide
Check the tide chart and plan to drive around low tide. Stay on firm sand below the high-water mark, keep left of oncoming traffic and watch for washouts at creek mouths.
Questions
What tyre pressure should I run on sand?
Many drivers start around 16 to 20 psi on soft sand, then adjust for load, tyre size and conditions. Always reinflate before driving on bitumen.
Do I need a permit to drive on Queensland beaches?
Most beach driving areas in South East Queensland need a vehicle access permit bought before you arrive, including Bribie Island, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Teewah and K'gari. Minjerribah (North Stradbroke) has its own permit.
What recovery gear should I carry?
A tyre gauge and compressor, recovery boards, a rated snatch strap, soft shackles, a shovel and rated recovery points on the vehicle.
Rules and permit systems change. Check the current requirements with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the island operators before you go.