Stock routes have long been vital corridors for travel—moving livestock across vast landscapes, and the traditional pathways for First Nations before that, but today, they also offer adventurers a unique way to explore and experience Australia. Depending on the condition of the route, your journey can range from a leisurely ride or hike to a full-blown wilderness expedition. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of stock routes you might encounter—and what to expect from each.
1. Bitumen Roads (Paved Highways & Back Roads)
Access: Good.
Navigation: Simple – easy to follow. In NSW they can be signposted (SR# on road signs).
Enjoyment Factor: Varies – some may find them less adventurous.
Stock route corridors with bitumen roads are the most accessible type of stock routes. These can range from busy regional highways to quiet back roads. While they’re the easiest to follow, they may not offer the same sense of enjoyment to everyone. However, they’re ideal if you’re looking for a straightforward journey with minimal navigational and obstacle challenges. There are some stock route corridors that can be up to a couple kilometres wide, allowing some space to get off the road verge if that’s a concern, but keep in mind unless they’re routinely used for traveling stock permits (primary stock routes) they’ll likely be a bit overgrown. The stock route corridor infrastructure (i.e., water points, yards) may be in better condition and more easily accessible.
2. Dirt Roads (Named Unsealed Roads)
Access: Generally good, especially if the road is named.
Navigation: Easy to follow, minimal GPS reliance. In NSW they are often signposted (SR# on road signs).
Enjoyment Factor: High – a good mix of accessibility and adventure.
This type of stock route are a step up in adventure while still being relatively easy to navigate. If the road has a name (even if it’s unsealed), you can usually expect decent access to travel along it and if they’re a primary stock route corridor, relatively good condition of stock route infrastructure. The lesser used back roads might have cattle grids and gates . These routes are great for those who want to explore without needing advanced navigation
3. Dirt Tracks & Hiking Trails (Visible but Less Maintained)
Access: Usually okay if a track is visible on satellite view and road is still named.
Navigation: Mostly straightforward, occasional GPS checks needed.
Enjoyment Factor: Very high – remote but rewarding.
These stock routes start to feel wilder—narrower, less maintained, and sometimes overgrown. If you can see a clear track on satellite imagery and the road still has a name, access is usually okay. These trails may require some minor clearing, but they’re often enjoyable and relatively easy to follow. These stock route corridors may pass through farms or have a grazing permit and you might encounter curious landholders that come to say G’day. Expect a mix of open tracks, overgrown sections and gates (we have had to make a cocky gate, or untie and rewire a fence to get past a locked gate on the very rare occasion so it pays to bring the tools with you)—perfect for those who love a bit of exploration without extreme bushwhacking.
4. No Tracks/Trails (Bush Navigation Required)
Access: Often difficult – can be blocked, overgrown, or disputed.
Navigation: Land navigation skills essential, GPS critical.
Enjoyment Factor: Extremely rewarding but higher difficulty.
These are the forgotten stock routes—ancient corridors now slowly being reclaimed by nature or surrounding landholders. While these routes remain a public asset, years of disuse have seen some fenced off or blocked by neighboring landholders. Rangers themselves often struggle to maintain these neglected sections and infrastructure deteriorates from lack of use.
Yet in our travels, we’ve found more landholders who light up at seeing the old stock routes being used than those who oppose access. There’s something special about keeping this unique piece of shared cultural heritage active and not a piece of memory long forgotten.
That said, you’ll need to be prepared for:
- Blocked access points with missing or locked gates
- Dense overgrowth requiring serious bushwhacking
- Unmaintained infrastructure
We never travel these routes without the proper tools for creating cocky gates and clearing paths. Precise GPS waypoints are crucial—not just for navigation, but to prove we’re staying strictly within the stock route corridor.
While these routes are the most challenging, they’re also the most rewarding, offering a unique experience.
Overall
Stock routes are a public asset with immense value – cultural, ecological, pastoral and recreational. They come in every condition imaginable, from corridors with smooth bitumen highways to barely-visible tracks where you’ll need full navigation skills to stay on course.
Each type offers its own unique experience. The right one for you depends on your skills and what kind of adventure you’re after. But whichever type of stock route you choose, remember you’re traveling paths steeped in history – routes used by generations of drovers, and First Nations traditional pathways long before that.
That’s the real Australian adventure—keeping this cultural heritage alive and there to experience for generations to come.
Note: Depending on your circumstances and the type of stock route you wish to travel, you may require a permit from the relevant body responsible for managing the stock route corridors (Councils in QLD, Local Land Services in NSW) and public liability insurance. Always reach out to the relevant body responsible for managing the stock routes you wish to travel, especially if you’re traveling with livestock, plan to camp on reserves or use stock route facilities.
Resources:
QLD Stock Routes Map (faster loading than QLD Globe). Imagery Hybrid base map shows satellite and road names.