Frequently Asked Questions

Here are our most commonly asked questions. Please reach out to the Club if you are still seeking information not found here.

DRIVING

Can anyone drive on the sand dunes?

It is illegal to drive any vehicle on the Designated Dune Buggy Area unless you are a financial member or hold a valid 4 day permit with the Portland Dune Buggy Club.

Do I have to have a flag?

ALL vehicles must display a red flag of not less than 600 square cm (ie. a 30cm x 20cm) at the top of an aerial not less than 4m from the ground. The aerial must be of a material that does not lay horizontal at speed. Please note that the aerial sand flags typically purchased from 4WD accessory stores do not comply in height or they lay flat at speed.

Can I ride my motorbike or quad bike on the

sand dunes?

No. Under Parks Victoria law it is illegal to ride a motorbike or quad bike on the sand dunes, whether they are registered or not.

Can my 4WD club or group drive on the dunes?

Clubs and groups need to book in advance and secure 4 day permits for a particular weekend. Limited group bookings are available and they fill up fast.

Can I hire a dune buggy?

No. There are no buggies or UTV’s available for hire at all. Can I drive my UTV? (ie. Can-Am or Polaris) Selected models that have a MA/AASA vehicle logbook may be driven on the sand dunes. Please make contact with the Club to discuss. Any approved UTV must then also have Club specified NRV (Non Registered Vehicle) Insurance and be registered with the Portland Dune Buggy Club Inc. A CanAm or Polaris that was logbooked and raced in off road races is typically the only type of UTV that complies with our rules. Can I drive my home built buggy on the dunes? Your buggy must have a MA/AASA vehicle logbook or meet our minimum safety standards to be driven on the sand dunes. Please make contact with the Club to discuss. Any approved buggy must then also have Club specified NRV (Non Registered Vehicle) Insurance and be registered with the Portland Dune Buggy Club Inc. Can I drive my 4WD on the sand dunes? Only road registered 4WD’s may be driven on the sand dunes as long as the driver is a financial member or holds a valid 4 day permit with the PDBC. How do I get a 4 day permit? Please contact the club via the details on the Contact Us page for a 4 day permit. Please note that no 4 day permits are available through December or January. Nor are they available on any long weekend (Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Labour Day, Easter, ANZAC) apart from the King’s birthday. You must give us 4 weeks notice. Can I drive my Sidewinder / Edge kit buggy on the dunes? No, as they don’t meet our buggy safety regulations.

CAMPGROUND

Can I camp in the PDBC camping area?

Only financial members and those holding a valid 4 day permit may camp in the PDBC camping area without any fees due to Parks Victoria. There is a fee paying Parks Victoria campground ‘Swan Lake’ nearby for non PDBC members.

What facilities are in the PDBC camping area?

There are two flushing toilets in the campground. No shower. There are many grassed areas suitable for tents, caravans, camper trailers etc. There are numerous bore water taps around the campground. (Not suitable for drinking). Rubbish bins are usually only provided at Christmas and Easter. If there are no bins available you must take your rubbish home with you. There are numerous fire rings around the campground. Fires must always be contained in these rings. Firewood must be brought with you as collecting firewood in the area is not allowed.

Can I bring my pet?

No dogs, cats or other pets are allowed within the Discovery Bay Coastal Park under Parks Victoria law.

Can I bring my kids motorbikes for the campground?

No. In order to keep everyone safe in the campground these are not allowed.

OTHER

Can I sand board on the dunes?

Definitely! Please choose a safe spot away from vehicles. Depending where you are you may need a spotter on top of the dune.

Is there phone reception?

There is pretty much no phone reception in the campground, although occasionally you may get one or two bars if you position your phone just right! There is often reception up on top of the dunes otherwise you can drive your car back the way you came in until you get some reception.

Can I fish at the beach?

There's good winter fishing for Salmon, Mulloway and Gummy shark so you'll often see surf rods bending to the ebb and flow of the huge surf which pounds this section of coast.

Can I swim at the beach?

No, it is far too treacherous for swimming.

Can I walk up onto the dunes?

Yes. There is a visitor car park at the base of the entrance to the dunes from where you can commence walking. Please be VERY cautious of vehicles coming up and down the track and stick to the sides of the track. It is recommended to follow the ‘Hikers Trail’ up on to the dunes from the Public Carpark so you are not mixing with vehicles on the walk up. Please be very cautious of vehicles at all times wherever you are. It's a spectacular place to visit even if you don’t go driving on the dunes.

Frequently Asked

Questions

Here are our most commonly asked questions. Please reach out to the Club if you are still seeking information not found here.

DRIVING

Can anyone drive on the sand dunes?

It is illegal to drive any vehicle on the Designated Dune Buggy Area unless you are a financial member or hold a valid 4 day permit with the Portland Dune Buggy Club.

Do I have to have a flag?

ALL vehicles must display a red flag of not less than 600 square cm (ie. a 30cm x 20cm) at the top of an aerial not less than 4m from the ground. The aerial must be of a material that does not lay horizontal at speed. Please note that the aerial sand flags typically purchased from 4WD accessory stores do not comply in height or they lay flat at speed.

Can I ride my motorbike or quad bike on the sand dunes?

No. Under Parks Victoria law it is illegal to ride a motorbike or quad bike on the sand dunes, whether they are registered or not.

Can my 4WD club or group drive on the dunes?

Clubs and groups need to book in advance and secure 4 day permits for a particular weekend. Limited group bookings are available and they fill up fast.

Can I hire a dune buggy?

No. There are no buggies or UTV’s available for hire at all. Can I drive my UTV? (ie. Can-Am or Polaris) Selected models that have a MA/AASA vehicle logbook may be driven on the sand dunes. Please make contact with the Club to discuss. Any approved UTV must then also have Club specified NRV (Non Registered Vehicle) Insurance and be registered with the Portland Dune Buggy Club Inc. A CanAm or Polaris that was logbooked and raced in off road races is typically the only type of UTV that complies with our rules. Can I drive my home built buggy on the dunes? Your buggy must have a MA/AASA vehicle logbook or meet our minimum safety standards to be driven on the sand dunes. Please make contact with the Club to discuss. Any approved buggy must then also have Club specified NRV (Non Registered Vehicle) Insurance and be registered with the Portland Dune Buggy Club Inc. Can I drive my 4WD on the sand dunes? Only road registered 4WD’s may be driven on the sand dunes as long as the driver is a financial member or holds a valid 4 day permit with the PDBC. How do I get a 4 day permit? Please contact the club via the details on the Contact Us page for a 4 day permit. Please note that no 4 day permits are available through December or January. Nor are they available on any long weekend (Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Labour Day, Easter, ANZAC) apart from the King’s birthday. You must give us 4 weeks notice. Can I drive my Sidewinder / Edge kit buggy on the dunes? No, as they don’t meet our buggy safety regulations.

CAMPGROUND

Can I camp in the PDBC camping area?

Only financial members and those holding a valid 4 day permit may camp in the PDBC camping area without any fees due to Parks Victoria. There is a fee paying Parks Victoria campground ‘Swan Lake’ nearby for non PDBC members.

What facilities are in the PDBC camping area?

There are two flushing toilets in the campground. No shower. There are many grassed areas suitable for tents, caravans, camper trailers etc. There are numerous bore water taps around the campground. (Not suitable for drinking). Rubbish bins are usually only provided at Christmas and Easter. If there are no bins available you must take your rubbish home with you. There are numerous fire rings around the campground. Fires must always be contained in these rings. Firewood must be brought with you as collecting firewood in the area is not allowed.

Can I bring my pet?

No dogs, cats or other pets are allowed within the Discovery Bay Coastal Park under Parks Victoria law.

Can I bring my kids motorbikes for the campground?

No. In order to keep everyone safe in the campground these are not allowed.

OTHER

Can I sand board on the dunes?

Definitely! Please choose a safe spot away from vehicles. Depending where you are you may need a spotter on top of the dune.

Is there phone reception?

There is pretty much no phone reception in the campground, although occasionally you may get one or two bars if you position your phone just right! There is often reception up on top of the dunes otherwise you can drive your car back the way you came in until you get some reception.

Can I fish at the beach?

There's good winter fishing for Salmon, Mulloway and Gummy shark so you'll often see surf rods bending to the ebb and flow of the huge surf which pounds this section of coast.

Can I swim at the beach?

No, it is far too treacherous for swimming.

Can I walk up onto the dunes?

Yes. There is a visitor car park at the base of the entrance to the dunes from where you can commence walking. Please be VERY cautious of vehicles coming up and down the track and stick to the sides of the track. It is recommended to follow the ‘Hikers Trail’ up on to the dunes from the Public Carpark so you are not mixing with vehicles on the walk up. Please be very cautious of vehicles at all times wherever you are. It's a spectacular place to visit even if you don’t go driving on the dunes.