Holland Track

The Holland Track is a slice of goldfields history turned into one of Western Australia's best-loved bush drives. John Holland cut the original route in 1893 to get diggers from the farming south up to the Coolgardie fields, and the modern track between Broomehill and Coolgardie still threads the same narrow scrub. It is tight, sandy and a genuine test for a camper-based setup. ## What the track is really like Do not picture a graded road. The Holland Track is a single-vehicle bush corridor of soft sand, clay pans, rock steps and mud holes that can bog you to the axles after rain. Salmon gum and mallee crowd the sides and pinstripe your paintwork. This is why we call it camper country and rate it a four out of five for rig demand. A short off-road camper trailer will follow you through, but a full caravan has no place on the track itself. ## Camper trailers, not caravans Length and overhang are the enemies here. The ruts, tight turns and sandy climbs reward a compact, well-built camper and punish anything long or low. If you are matching a rig to terrain like this, our [rig rating explainer](/articles/can-my-van-do-this-rig-rating-explained) and [how to choose an off-road caravan](/articles/how-to-choose-an-off-road-caravan) are the place to start. Lower your pressures for the sand, fold the mirrors in through the tight scrub, and expect a slow average speed all day. A short wheelbase and good departure angle matter more than raw power on the rock steps and sandy climbs. ## History along the way Part of the appeal is the story underfoot. The track passes old wells, named landmarks like Thursday Rock, Cave Rock and Emu Rock, and reminders of the teamsters who hauled through this country in the 1890s. Take your time, read the interpretive markers, and camp bush-style along the way, as there are no facilities on the track and you carry out everything you bring in. ## Self-reliance is everything There is no fuel, water or reception between the ends, so fill up at Hyden or Coolgardie and carry everything for the crossing. Pack full recovery gear including boards and a shovel for the sand and mud, a tyre repair kit, plenty of water and a satellite communicator. Travelling with a second vehicle is sensible, because a bogging or breakdown out here is your own problem to solve, and the scrub can hide a wrong turn easily. ## Season and conditions The track has no formal seasonal closure, but timing matters. The clay turns to a vehicle-swallowing bog after heavy rain and the summer heat is brutal and fire-prone, so the cooler, drier months from about April to October are the sweet spot. Check conditions locally before you head in, as the surface changes fast with the weather and sections can be washed out or overgrown. Many people run Wave Rock at Hyden on the way in, so string it into a wider loop with our [Big Lap itinerary](/itineraries/the-big-lap) and browse [national parks](/parks) for camps near Hyden before you drop the pressures and disappear into the scrub.