Beach driving and coastal camping bring a special kind of magic… and a special kind of mess. Salt, sand, moisture, and mud can wreak havoc on everything from your underbody to your camp chairs if you don’t give things a proper clean-up and check-over post-trip.

A solid second-hand 4X4 will take you to places most people only ever dream of and with the right checks, it won’t leave you stranded halfway up a track with a detonated diff and an empty wallet.

Before you get too excited about Eli Creek or Champagne Pools, there are a few must-knows for a safe and successful K’gari camping trip:

When done correctly and sensibly, there really is no reason to have the fear of God surging through your veins when tackling a water crossing.

Supporting the K’gari Clean Up is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back to the community that built and drives us, while helping to preserve the landscape that makes Aussie 4WDing unlike anywhere else in the world.

So which pubs are worth calling into on your adventure around Australia? Here are 5 of the classics you must add to your bucket list.