On Sunday 15 March eight people in six Subarus headed off from Alkimos to Guilderton. We made our way through this seaside holiday-home, hamlet/resort to the beach. At the beach access area we met Paul and Denise, in their new Outback..

The carpark adjacent to the beach was the ideal spot to air down. The benefit of a single marque convoy became immediately obvious with the pronouncement of the target tyre pressure of 10psi. It is so much more difficult to be able to give such cogent advice when there is a mixture of vehicle types, sizes and weights in a convoy.

Most people understand that the key for all beach driving, dune climbing and coastal work generally is suitable tyre pressure It is paramount to success. We aired down to 10 psi and the Forester loved it. As I motored through soft sand and deep wheel ruts the vehicle seemed to float – although it bottomed out numerous times – and I knew that I (well, the Forester) would get through, no problem. And so it was! Tyre pressure, tyre pressure, tyre pressure.

The beach run wasn’t difficult. Deep ruts created by high clearance, big tyred, full size 4WDs were my first unknown. The two Subaru vehicles in front of me made it through so clearly it was ‘doable’.  Time to relax and just drive.

After about 1.5 km the beach  opened out. The ever-busy Adrian had gone ahead to check out points further north but reported back over the radio that there was no way through ahead.

The convoy stopped at this wide stretch of sand, parked up and spent the next thirty minutes or so swimming, fishing and relaxing. It was a great beach day – offshore winds, high 20s, reaching into the low 30s, and calm waters.

 

Immediately behind where we had randomly chosen to stop was a track off the beach. It was surmised that it would lead to the ‘inland’ track to Seabird. David in his highly modded Forester took a look. Up and back down. Too easy – for a lifted Foz with extra grunt.

 

As I had a totally stock Forester that had never been off road, and having used it for only a week, I volunteered to be next to tackle the track. On reaching the top I moved to the start of Stage 2 of the Day Trip.

Hugh and Doreen hit the slope hard in their Forester but washed off all speed as they turned uphill. Surely their attempt was over. But somehow, miraculously, their Forester maintained forward momentum and crawled its way to the top. Two up!

Daniel hit the slope and had issues (read bogged) numerous times at the point where the track turned to the higher ground. After a bit more familiarity with the track and a bit more right foot he, too, guided his Forester to the top.

Four more to go but in reality only two as the highly modded Foresters would have no issues.

Tail End Tony made his way to the top and parked.

I really felt for Paul and Denise in their 2023 Outback. They were the last ‘standard’ vehicle to attempt the beach outlet track. It was chopped up. There was no way they were going to get to the top. And so it was. The ever-busy Adrian was on hand to winch the vehicle to the top of the rise.

Meanwhile David had made his way back to the beach. He was driving his heavily modded Forester backwards and forwards creating a smooth track to enable a deliberately shortened runup.

After I filled in a few of the holes created by the wheel spin of previous vehicles’ attempts I called him up on the radio to start his run. He didn’t even get off the beach!!  Not to be thwarted he backed towards the water and had another attempt. Effortless! No doubt the hard work by toiling participants smoothing out the track helped his ascent but I have a sneaky suspicion that he would have piloted his Foz to the top even if the offset moguls had been left un-filled. Great to watch.

The track away from the beach winds its way  through various different types of country to the small hamlet of Seabird. The main challenges are numerous limestone ‘rock gardens’. Three in particular caused some angst – particularly for a non-lifted Forester without bash plates.

Wheel placement is critical, particularly with tyres deflated to 10psi. The other challenge of the track (for a stock Subi) was the numerous offset moguls. They are created by unthinking, selfish four wheel drivers driving full size, overpowered vehicles with tyres that have not been deflated sufficiently to protect the track.

The offset moguls present more of a challenge to smaller vehicles with less suspension travel, however, our convoy was able to successfully negotiate them. At one point near a beautiful grove of large eucalypts the moguls were particularly accentuated and the uphill section of track in the darkened shade of the trees hid a few nasties. The third vehicle in the convoy experienced a few delaying issues at this point but eventually prevailed.

Sections of the track were lightly corrugated – further evidence of it being used  by vehicles with incorrectly inflated tyres.

We arrived in Seabird in time for lunch at the tavern for those who wished. Or return south to the metro area.

A 250km round trip – door to door – to do a ~2 km beach run followed by a 9 km drive along a coastal track!! But it was a great morning of four wheel driving, interacting with friendly people while learning how to take my virgin Subi off road.

 

© Kim Epton 2026
1040 words,  12 photographs, two images.

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