Western Australia’s Holland Track is a local classic. Famed for twisting and slippery tracks, stunning camping and it’s ability to squeeze in to a weekend (with a sick day or two).

Built to connect Albany with the goldfields during the Gold Rush, these days the section of the Holland Track between Hyden and Coolgardie is the one that is most popular with four wheel drivers.

Wave Rock is a absolutely worth the stop, and is just near Hyden and the start of the track.

Camping along this track is spectacular. Surrounded by woodlands, it’s a place of sunsets and campfires – and the journey is worth it simply to spend some nights relaxing far from everywhere. 

Malleefowl nests, crossing lizards, birds, roos – these woodlands are teeming with life. 

For us this trip was a mapping assignment for HEMA and we recorded our digital tracks for their database on a Hema HX-1 and the Hema Explorer App. We were also capturing fresh imagery for their printed guide books.

Whilst the Holland Track is known to turn to mud after heavy rain, we were lucky that after recent rains it had mostly dried out prior to our trip. Left behind are a number of mud filled holes – slippery but passable.

Outside winter and wet periods this long, twisty single track is a relatively easy, but great fun drive.

Mount Holland is a short, steep climb. After travelling within the woodlands it’s a great place to rise above the surrounds and get your bearings.

With winding single track, stunning bush and spectacular camping it’s easy to see why the Holland Track is so popular, and why it makes the list in HEMA’s 4WD Adventures Top 100.

Mike Collister

Founder of Adventure Curated, Mike has spent his life outdoors. He has represented Australia as a slalom kayaker, guided whitewater expeditions in Nepal, and taught outdoor education and wilderness medicine. He’s paddled the Kimberley’s Fitzroy River in the wet season, across the Bass Strait and has explored many of Australia’s remote areas by 4x4.