Outback Off-Roading Oasis
4x4 Magazine Australia|September 2110
Drive the ridges to your heart’s content at the Bendleby Ranges station stay, where all 4x4s are welcome
Scott Mason
Outback Off-Roading Oasis

THERE are some places around Australia that I am very adept at finding excuses to revisit. For some inexplicable reason a detour of a few hundred kays or adding another night here or there just so I can once again enjoy a place, seems perfectly reasonable.

Of all those places, Bendleby Ranges is right up there for me, but why? Well, with more than 220km of awesome tracks, stunning camps, plenty of wildlife and commanding views, it’s a no-brainer for a 4WD tourer. But it’s also more than that, it’s the ‘feel’ you get from a place that can make all the difference, and Bendleby has a fantastic ‘feel’ to it.

Bendleby Ranges is a privately owned station located near the township of Orroroo in South Australia. You could say it is pretty similar to the Flinders Ranges, but farther south. It is a working sheep station, but what dominates the landscape are the two ranges which almost run parallel to each other and in the middle, a small plain that hosts the homestead, and the multitude of private and secluded camps which mostly nestle into the bottom of the ranges.

Pick-a-range

EACH range has a distinctively different feel to it: the Bendleby Range to the west is more gently sloping with a good scattering of native pine; while the Hungry Range to the east is far taller, steep and rugged, with sharp rock, various gums and plenty of native yakkas. What they each share though, is myriad dirt tracks ranging from easy to hard. There is plenty of driving here for everyone, from stock-standard rigs (and no prior off-road experience) right through to well-modified touring rigs (and plenty of offroad experience).

This story is from the September 2110 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2110 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM 4X4 MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAView All
TRAVEL BULLETIN
4x4 Magazine Australia

TRAVEL BULLETIN

ALL THE LATEST 4X4 NEWS AND EVENTS. Now is the time to get out and about to enjoy this great land and support the communities. Experienced adventurer Ron Moon has listed a few upcoming highlights, as well as essential track info. As always, check with event organisers before locking in your plans.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
MICK GRAHAM
4x4 Magazine Australia

MICK GRAHAM

OLD MORISSET MENTAL HOME, NSW CENTRAL COAST

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
REAR VIEW
4x4 Magazine Australia

REAR VIEW

4X4 AUSTRALIA LOOKS BACK AT THE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY, THE RISE IN . OUTBACK TOURING, THE EVOLUTIONARY SOPHISTICATION OF 4X4S, AND MORE

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
READERS RIGS
4x4 Magazine Australia

READERS RIGS

WANT TO SEE YOUR 4x4 PUBLISHED IN THE MAG? SEND US A PIC VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL
4x4 Magazine Australia

FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL

A HOLIDAY TRIP WITH THE FORD RANGER PLATINUM RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS WHEN COMPARING IT TO OUR RANGER SPORT

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
ENGINE CHECK
4x4 Magazine Australia

ENGINE CHECK

THE ULTRAGAUGE PROVIDES YOUR VEHICLE'S VITAL STATS AND WARNINGS IN A TAILORABLE PACKAGE

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
RAZR RUBBER
4x4 Magazine Australia

RAZR RUBBER

AFTER A 50,000KM TRIP THROUGH WESTERN AUSTRALIA, THESE MAXXIS RAZR ATS HAVE PROVIDED RELIABLE PERFORMANCE ON AND OFF THE ROAD

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
PORTABLE POWER
4x4 Magazine Australia

PORTABLE POWER

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO FIT A DEDICATED DUAL-BATTERY SYSTEM TO THEIR VEHICLE, THE PORTABLE BLUETTI AC200L POWER STATION COULD BE JUST THE TICKET

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
A BETTER BRAKE
4x4 Magazine Australia

A BETTER BRAKE

EVERYONE KNOWS HOW DODGY LANDCRUISER HANDBRAKES CAN BE. TERRAIN TAMER HAS THE FIX …

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
GOING FOR GOLD
4x4 Magazine Australia

GOING FOR GOLD

THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVING MIGHT NOT MATCH THE NEARBY HIGH COUNTRY, BUT THANKS TO ITS GOLD MINING HISTORY THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE AND DO AROUND THE WIDER CASTLEMAINE AREA AND YOU MAY EVEN STRIKE IT RICH!

time-read
10 mins  |
March 2024