Creek crossings — Where water meets willpower and wisdom
Words Robert Crack Pics Supplied
Water crossings are one of four-wheel driving’s purest thrills — and one of its quickest ways into a recovery job if you get complacent. Depth, flow, hidden holes and cranky electrics all wait beneath that glitter; preparation and patience keep your rig (and your ego) intact.
Crossing the Wonnangatta River, Eaglevale, Victoria
Love to make a splash through a water crossing?
I do.
Few offroaders don’t.
Watercourse traverses can be thrilling. Downright invigorating, even.
I remember fondly my first water crossing as though it were yesterday. It was Eli Creek on K’gari (Fraser Island) in 1987. My vehicle was a 1964 CJ5 Jeep with no roof, no doors and the windscreen folded down, powered by a 186S Holden red motor straight out of an HK GTS Monaro. The distributor leads were held together with fencing wire. The fuel filler neck was immediately under my driver’s seat so, without doors, as long as I parked close enough, I could fill up at the petrol bowser without even needing to get out of my seat.
Those were the days…
And, back in those days, fewer than 29,000 vehicle permits for K’gari (Fraser Island) were issued per year. Nowadays, almost double that number of vehicle permits are issued annually. It was fabulous not having to queue to cross Eli Creek. Looking at photos and videos online tells me that those days are long gone.
Only three years later I was doing high-speed water entries at Puckapunyal Military Area in central Victoria, only this time it was not behind the wheel of a CJ5 Jeep, but behind the steering control lever of a Leopard AS1 Main Battle Tank (the Aussie variant of the German Leopard 1A3).
The Leopard AS1 could traverse a trench 3m wide, scale a gradient of 60 per cent, climb a 1m vertical wall and wade 2.25m through water without preparation (and 4m prepared fording depth with snorkel).
Once you’ve driven a tracked armoured vehicle into the water at speed, you wonder why any offroad driver would ever attempt to do an unprepared high-speed water entry with their (non-tracked!) 4WD vehicle.
And yet, the internet is a veritable log jam of videos of some people who have done just that and, by-and-large, they’ve come a cropper. Especially when there have been onlookers to witness the damaged vehicle and the even more damaged ego of the driver.
Don’t be one of those high-speed water entry offroaders. Chances are, you’ll regret it.
Here at Hema Maps, we are not only all about being Prepared to Explore and Creating Forever Memories. Most importantly, we are all about safety.
Accordingly, we strongly caution against unprepared high-speed water crossings in your vehicle. Unless, that is, you own a main battle tank …
Preparation and patience
There’s a moment every offroader knows (or, if they don’t know it yet, they should make sure that one day they do!) — when the track suddenly disappears into a shimmer of water. The bonnet glints, the radio crackles and you can almost hear the outback or the bush holding its breath. Creek crossings look easy from the bank. But get it wrong, and a trip of a lifetime can turn into a recovery mission you’ll never forget.
Australia’s backroads aren’t short on watery surprises. Of the country’s 875,000+ kilometres of roads, more than 400,000 of those kilometres are unsealed — a labyrinth of dirt, sand, gravel, mud, clay and gibber. And those tracks are cross-stitched with fast-flowing creeks and rivers, washaways, sandy floodways, hidden causeways and puddles seemingly so deep that you’ll expect whoever is sitting in your passenger seat to turn submariner and say, “All stations conn, proceeding to periscope depth … prepare to dive.”
Water crossing Dargo River, Mayford (Credit: Tim van Duyl)
And somewhere in that maze, there’s a creek waiting to test your judgement.
So, what’s the secret? Preparation, patience — and a healthy dose of humility.
What to do before you leave home
In the inimitable words of French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, “Le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.”
English translation? “Chance favours the prepared mind.”
Water crossings start long before you reach the water. Your first preparation happens in the driveway. Check your rig’s wading depth in the manual — it’s the factory’s best guess at how deep you can go before things get wet where they shouldn’t. In other words, the manufacturer’s rated unprepared fording/wading depth tells you water won’t lap at your door seals. That’s pretty much it.
Modern 4WD vehicles can wade up to 700mm or 800mm, but that’s only if everything’s sealed and you haven’t messed with your underbody setup. A tarp/radiator blind or water bra over the bullbar helps keep water out of the engine bay and should prevent your fan rotors being bent by the pressure of the water, thus mitigating the risk of finding out that a fan blade has struck the radiator. Fitting a snorkel, diff breathers and suspension lift will all add some margin for error. Think of it as waterproofing your adventure.
A snorkel is a good addition for water crossings (Credit: Tim van Duyl)
If you’re towing, check your caravan’s or camper trailer’s fording height with the manufacturer. Most are fine to axle level — beyond that, you’re risking water ingress through the seams, vents, exhausts and floor. Tape over any vents or door seals before you roll in and make sure camlocks are tight.
It also pays to look beneath the surface — literally. Creek crossings can pull at your 4WD’s weakest points. Unsealed electrical systems don’t mix well with creeks. A bit of preventive thinking goes a long way. Pack a can of WD-40 to spray around electrics and if you’ve fitted a snorkel, check that it’s properly sealed — you’d be surprised how many factory snorkels leak straight from the dealer.
Know your limits (and those of the watercourse)
Assess the crossing
Every creek, river, washaway or causeway is different. Depth, flow, base — they all change daily. Even hourly. Yesterday’s puddle could be today’s torrent. That’s why every good crossing begins on foot.
Whether it’s your feet getting wet or someone else’s depends on who is with you. If you’ve someone riding shotgun, lucky you. You’re going to stay dry.
Your passenger, however, will not. Their job isn’t confined to cradling the Hema Maps guide on their lap and navigating, opening and closing pastoral gates and unwrapping your meat pie. Their job also includes getting their legs wet to check your crossing is safe.
Thongs are a big no-no. Sandals, reef-walkers or sandshoes are the go.
If it’s safe to walk, send your passenger/navigator out with a handheld UHF radio (or phone, if you’re lucky enough to have reception) to gauge the depth and scout the line. Look for logs, holes, soft spots and underwater scrapes caused by previous four-wheel drivers who might have put a bit too much pedal to the metal. Watch how the water moves — those little ripples can betray hidden boulders. From the driver’s seat, you can judge depth by how far the water reaches up their leg: knees mean manageable; hips mean it might just be high time to rethink.
Having someone test-walk your crossing is always the go-to … unless you’re north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Up there, crocs rule the water, so keep your boots dry, watch other drivers instead and always be croc safe.
And don’t forget the golden rule that state and territory governments have been telling us for years: if it’s flooded, forget it! No photo, shortcut or bragging rights is worth your rig — or your life. Flowing water as shallow as 45 centimetres can sweep a 2.5-tonne 4WD downstream. That’s not myth — it’s physics.
Flooded rivers should never be crossed (Credit: Tim van Duyl)
Tips and tricks for a safe crossing
Before diving in, let your rig cool. Hot hubs and diffs suck water in as they contract, and that’s how you end up with milky oil and fried bearings. While you’re waiting, brew up a cuppa, check your recovery points and plan your exit. The smart driver’s mantra? Slow down before you get wet.
Once you’ve picked your line, it’s time to commit. Engage low range, second gear. Steady throttle, even revs. You’re not trying to make waves — just one: a slow, rolling bow wave in front of the bull bar that keeps water away from the engine bay.
Never rush. Never change gear mid-stream. Keep the windows down (particularly important if they are electric!) so you can escape if things go pear-shaped. If you stall in deep water and suspect that water has reached the cylinders, don’t restart. Get towed or winched out — a flooded motor can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Crossing the Pentecost River, Gibb River Road, WA
One vehicle at a time, always. If the driver ahead stalls, you’ll need room to stop without getting stuck yourself.
If the water’s got real push to it, angle slightly upstream to compensate for current. Keep a light grip on the wheel — unseen rocks can twist the tyres without warning. And keep your eyes fixed on the far bank. That’s your target. Don’t get distracted by the spray.
Aberfeldy River Crossing, Victoria
If things go south and your rig starts to float, don’t panic. Make sure the windows are open, stay calm and be ready to exit quickly if needed.
What to do once you reach the other side
Climb out onto higher ground and pause. Let the water drain back into the watercourse — you’ll protect the track for the next driver. Check your fan, remove the water bra (if you have one) and let the motor idle for ten minutes to dry things out. Then test the brakes. A few gentle pumps will help them grip again.
If you’ve done everything right, you’ll roll away with a grin — and a story worth telling around the next campfire.
But don’t rush. Check under the bonnet for splashes and leaks, make sure your air filter’s dry and inspect the underbody for debris or branches. If you’ve got a trailer, pop the hubs and have a look when you’re stopped for the night — even a little water in the bearings can turn into a big bill later.
And remember that good water-crossing etiquette keeps tracks open. Don’t churn up the exits, don’t spin your tyres and always let the water flow back before you drive off. It’s about respect — for the country and for the next traveller who’ll face the same crossing tomorrow, next week or even next month.
O'Shannessy River Crossing, not far from Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Boodjamulla National Park (Credit: Robert Crack)
Ritual beats recovery or rescue, hands down
If you ever get tired of the pre-crossing preparation ritual, that’s a very good thing.
If the following checklist bores you, that’s also a very good thing:
Do I really, really need to cross this water? If no, don’t. If yes, read on …
Have your snatch strap/s and shackles easily accessible.
Switch off your fridge and inverter to avoid circuit damage. Don’t forget to switch them back on again after the crossing though! You’ll be wanting your beer/s to be cold later.
Unspool your winch rope and wrap it around your bull bar ready for quick release.
Test your winch controller before entering the water.
Pick your exit point and stick with it.
Tape up the neck of your engine oil dipstick.
Turn off your air-conditioning so that water doesn’t get sucked in.
Wind down your windows (especially if they’re electric) to allow for a quick escape.
Select second gear (both manual and automatic) to maintain smooth and sufficient torque. Give strong consideration to low range too, if you have it.
Maintain a constant speed (walking pace is best, and never more than 20km/h) which creates a nice, gentle and even bow wave. Don’t brake, and don’t accelerate (unless you really have to).
Angle into the upstream current gently.
Keep your thumbs on the outside of the steering wheel. This is the only place you’ll want them to be, just in case a hidden obstacle decided to turn your steering wheel into a thumb-breaker.
Final advice on safe water crossings
Creek crossings are one of offroad driving’s purest thrills — equal parts nerves and technique. Preparation is the difference between drama and delight. So, before you nose into that next glinting waterway, stop, breathe and think it through.
Walk it if you can. Watch it if you can’t.
If a person can’t wade it, neither should your 4WD vehicle. If a person is out of their depth, your vehicle will be too. If a person starts to get dragged off the intended line by the current, chances are your 4WD will face a similar fate. Pretty simple, really.
And if it’s flooded — forget it.
Cape York Peninsula (Credit: Matt Williams)
Get it right, and you’ll know the rush — that surge of relief as you climb the opposite bank, sunlight flashing off a bonnet streaked with mud and victory.
Ready to tackle your next crossing? Grab your Hema HX-2 Navigator or Hema Map, plot your course and know exactly what lies beyond the waterline. Adventure waits on the other side — but only if you’ve done your homework.
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