Dear ARMA Members,
As we move further into the first half of 2026, ARMA-affiliated clubs around the country continue to demonstrate the value of organised recreation through steady, consistent activity. While not every period produces headline events, clubs continue to deliver what matters most to members: safe trips, practical training, conservation involvement, and opportunities to connect.
Club & Association Highlights
All Wheel Drive Club of Sydney (NSW)
The latest edition of Beyond the Bitumen deserves a special mention. It strikes an excellent balance between trip reporting, member voices, and wider issues that matter to recreational motorists. It stands comfortably alongside the best club newsletters in the country and is well worth reading cover to cover.
All Wheel Drive Club of Sydney has continued to run a strong and well-balanced program spanning conservation, touring, charity engagement, and training.
Club Activity
The club reports solid participation across driver training and induction activities, alongside social and charitable events. Early-autumn engagement remains strong, reflecting an active and well-supported membership.
Trip & Activity Summaries
- Clean Up Australia – Gardens of Stone
Members participated in an organised Clean Up Australia activity alongside land managers, focusing on informal campsites and access corridors. The activity reinforced the role of structured clubs as reliable partners in land stewardship.
- Barrington Ramblers – Touring Trip
A small, mid-week multi-day touring trip through forest and highland regions, combining sealed and unsealed roads with relaxed, adaptable travel. The emphasis was on scenery and member connection rather than technical track challenges.
- Spoke to a Bloke Charity Weekend
A well-attended charity-focused and social camping weekend incorporating light four-wheel driving, shared meals, music, and informal activities. The event highlighted the importance of inclusive, low-pressure trips in building club culture.
Recent Articles
During this reporting period, I published two articles examining broader issues affecting recreational motorists, and the role registered clubs play in supporting safe, structured, and sustainable recreation.
- More Than a Convoy: The Quiet Value of a Registered 4WD Club
This article explored the often-unseen benefits of registered four-wheel-drive clubs, including leadership, training pathways, convoy procedures, and insurance protections. It contrasted organised club activity with informal trips, highlighting how structure and preparation support safer outcomes and protect both participants and access.
Link: https://www.arma.net.au/ - Fuel Feels Like the Biggest Issue — But It Isn’t
This article examined why fuel prices currently dominate conversation, while longer-term pressures — particularly public land access, closures, and regulation — remain the most significant issues facing recreational motorists nationwide. It highlighted how fuel costs amplify existing challenges rather than replacing them.
Link: https://www.arma.net.au/
Clubs with No New Reported Activity
For the following ARMA-affiliated clubs and associations, no new publicly available event summaries, trip reports, or post-March 2026 activity updates were identified during this reporting period. Many clubs operate both public and member-only platforms, and it is important that public-facing sites are kept reasonably current to support broader visibility of club activity.
- Four Wheel Drive Queensland — Public updates focused on forward planning
- ACT 4WD Club — No recent public activity updates identified
- AJS MotoTrials Club of WA — Public calendar available; no recent event summaries identified
- All Tracks 4WD Club — Public information present; recent updates not clearly dated
- Isuzu 4×4 Club of Western Australia — Public site maintained; updates relate primarily to upcoming events
- Mitsubishi 4WD Owners Club — No recent publicly dated activity reports identified
- Newcastle & Hunter Valley Land Rover Owners Club — No recent public activity summaries identified
- Oakleigh Motorcycle Club — Public information available; recent updates not clearly dated
- Red Dog 4WD Club — No recent publicly visible trip reports identified
- South West 4WD Club — No recent public activity updates identified
- Sydney Districts 4X4 Club — Public newsletter issued earlier in 2026; no post-report updates identified
- TANK 4WD Club — Limited public updates identified
- Toyota Land Cruiser Club of WA — Public site active; no recent dated updates identified
📬 Send Us Your Club’s Stories!
This update is only possible thanks to clubs who maintain public websites, newsletters, and regularly share news of their activities.
If you would like greater coverage of your club, please ensure you email your club’s newsletter or short event summaries through. Receiving your newsletter allows ARMA to accurately represent your activities and showcase the excellent work being done across all affiliated clubs.
📬 Send event write-ups, photos (with permission), and newsletters to:
📧 me***@******et.au
A short What / Where / When summary is perfect.
