Mad Max fan Oliver Pfeiffer looks at the memorable filming locations in the original trilogy of iconic Aussie movies and discovers some nearby caravan friendly camping options at each destination.
Mad Max is the quintessential Aussie movie saga — putting the pedal to the metal in four adrenaline-induced fantasy road adventures. The first three films showcased our wonderfully raw, rugged land to the wider world. And while the fourth adventure, Mad Max: Fury Road, diverted to Namibia, southern Africa, the fifth film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, returns the mayhem to Aussie soil. (Please note, this film had not been released at time of writing.)
Yet the seemingly brutal wastelands that serve as the progressively desolate environments for Max Rockatansky’s exploits are, in fact, remarkably habitable, picturesque destinations for travellers.
From endless rural backroads among the Melbourne hinterlands to the eternal expanses of the iconic Mundi Mundi Plains in Silverton, NSW, and the underground otherworldliness of South Australia's Coober Pedy and beyond — we’ve selected the most memorable destinations across the original trilogy and chosen conveniently close caravan-friendly camping spots that’ll help put you in the shoes of the iconic road warrior.
So, get ready to rev up the proverbial V8 Interceptor to commence the ultimate Mad Max camping adventure that’ll immerse you within that wild world so vividly brought to life on the silver screen.
Mundi Mundi Bash founder Greg Donovan (centre) joins participants in the annual Mad Max costume world record attempt (Image Matt Williams)
Mad Max (1979): Melbourne, Vic
At the very beginning of the original Mad Max movie, there was Max Rockatansky, a young cop trying to uphold the law in a brutal, angst-ridden world who turns vigilante after an aggressive motorbike gang endangers his family.
Medical doctor-turned-filmmaker George Miller envisioned the main character as a mythical gunslinger from Western mythology. The ramifications of the 1973 Australian oil crisis fuelled the filmmaker’s imagination in depicting a post-industrial society.
On a shoestring budget, Miller and his guerrilla film crew commenced a 12-week shoot upon the backroads of Melbourne that ignored laws prohibiting filming and performing stunts at such hazardous velocities.
Little River Road, Little River, Vic
Onscreen, the Mad Max mayhem began 50km southwest of Melbourne, on Little River Road — fictionally signposted in the movie as the high fatality ‘Highway 9’. Here, we observe the frenetic opening 10-minute police pursuit of unruly gang member The Nightrider, who gleefully burns rubber before succumbing to a fateful demise.
Southwest of Little River on Old Melbourne Road is where notorious gang leader Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne) also meets his maker — coming into fatal contact with a semi-trailer during the explosive climax. Conveniently, the spot of the eye-opening stunt is approximately 30-minute drive from the easily accessible Geelong Showground Camp Area.
Fraser Street, Clunes, Vic
All the town scenes featured in the movie were shot about 20 minutes north of Ballarat (via the C287) at the once-gold rush township of Clunes. It’s where we encounter antagonist Toecutter and his band of biker delinquents who arrive intending to rendezvous with The Nightrider at the town’s railway station.
Much more welcoming than ramshackle, Clunes maintains its recognisable film façade, including its vintage working railway station. However, with its abundance of bookstores, the township is now known more as a book town than a location featured in the first Mad Max instalment.
Avalon Beach, Avalon, Vic
Among the anarchy, it’s easy to forget there are some tranquil scenes in Mad Max, too. One is where Max’s beau Jesse goes to the waterside to buy an ice cream that appears to be a stone’s throw from the scrapyard they pop into for a spare tyre (located in the northern Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn). However, the store Jesse visits is situated toward the eastern end of Avalon Beach.
While the shop is now a private property (turned residence), the surrounding area remains unchanged and pleasingly identifiable, including the noticeable narrow strip of land that can be reached by a causeway on the coast, west of Melbourne between Werribee and Geelong.
Port Phillip Bay, Vic
Taking refuge from Toecutter’s gang, Jesse dips with her dog in the seemingly secluded shores of a scenic alcove. This rocky (but not so private) beach is on the east side of Port Phillip Bay, north of Half Moon Beach in Black Rock.
It’s an ideal camping haven with several pitching options, including the Capel Sound Foreshores campground and Point Leo Foreshore Reserve — both of which afford pleasing sightseeing opportunities of the beach location.
Mad Max 2 (1981): Broken Hill, NSW
Essentially, one long road movie, Mad Max 2 (released as The Road Warrior in the US), finds our reluctant hero in a now barren world environment where fearsome bandits rule the roads.
To bring this desolate future world environment to life, Miller and late producing partner Byron Kennedy chose areas in and around the mining town of Broken Hill, including the iconic expanses of the Mundi Mundi Plains.
The unchanged landscape brings a seemingly post-apocalyptic familiarity to the barren environment. And with filming having completed there on Miller’s fifth instalment (spin-off Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which was theatrically released in May 2024), it makes it a timely destination to experience.
Menindee Road, Wilangee Road and the Mundi Mundi Lookout, Silverton, NSW
The isolated extremes of the Mundi Mundi Plains serve as a jaw-dropping backdrop for several celebrated chase scenes in Mad Max 2. The opening chase sequence and climatic truck crash were shot upon Wilangee Road past Silverton, while the 114km Menindee Road (that links Broken Hill to Menindee) was used for that nail-biting climatic 12-minute chase sequence.
As George Miller acknowledges on the DVD director’s commentary, the road was ideal for filming because it was sparsely travelled upon at the time (with one or two cars reportedly passing through daily).
Easily accessible via Wilangee Road behind the small town of Silverton, the Mundi Mundi Lookout is a superb spot to watch the sunset and take in the spectacular vastness of those Plains. Please note that camping is prohibited at the lookout. Fortunately, Penrose Park is a conveniently accessible stay for caravan campers.
Mad Max 2 Museum, Silverton
In Silverton, pay a visit to the superb Mad Max 2 Museum, where owner and self-proclaimed Mad Max 2 fanatic Adrian Bennett will show you around his vast collection of memorabilia, photographs, and props donated from the film (including life-size characters in full costume and original and replica vehicles like the V8 Interceptor!). He’ll also share insights about the many Mad Max stars that have visited him since opening his doors in 2010 — including, most recently, stars from Furiosa.
Max’s V8 interceptor at the Mad Max 2 Museum in Silverton, NSW
“It was a great few months while they were filming here and a real boost to the region,” said Adrian. “Actors Angus Sampson and Lachy Hulme paid us a visit, along with the stand-ins for Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, who were lovely.
“We met some great people from the stunt team too, including stunt coordinator Guy Norris, who [put in a lot of hard work] on Mad Max 2. Even Leslie Vanderwalt, who won the Oscar for best makeup and hair for Fury Road, came to visit us.”
The modified Valiant Regal which performed the moat jump vehicle sequence
The Pinnacles, Broken Hill, NSW
The Pinnacles are a trio of protuberant hills 20km from the predominately flat Broken Hill. The base of the middle hill was where the oil refinery compound settlement was located, which Max and the Gyro Captain (Bruce Spence) stumble upon. In addition, the middle pinnacle was used as the vantage point from where the characters voyeuristically spy upon the compound through binoculars.
The Pinnacles near Broken Hill (Image Tourism Australia)
Unfortunately, The Pinnacles are no longer accessible. Laws regarding native title land have recently tightened, and any possible access must be applied for in advance through the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
“We get a lot of people who want to drive up to The Pinnacles, but you can only drive halfway up Pinnacles Road to a gate which is closed,” continued Adrian.
“I send people out to the Adelaide Road — which is the best place to view The Pinnacles. Up to 20kms out of Broken Hill on Adelaide Road, you’ll be able to view them clearly; and get a much better view of them than you would from the gate at Pinnacles Road.”
Menindee Road and Menindee Lakes, NSW
One of the standout stunts from the sequel was when Max flees the compound in his V8 Interceptor and is taken out by Mohawk bad guy Wez (Vernon Wells). Max’s car repeatedly rolls over, then tumbles down a hill to apparent doom. This was a turning point for the character, as he becomes more heroic due to his debilitation here.
Menindee Lakes (Image Tourism Australia)
Performed by stuntman ‘Mad’ Max Aspin, the area where the car rolled was shot 20km out of Broken Hill on Menindee Road. It’s a relatively easy spot to uncover because the road abruptly becomes flat after a large hill. However, the location shifted when they filmed the car rolling down into a gully.
“The car was brought back to an area known as ‘Red Hill’, 14km out of Broken Hill on the Menindee Road,” explained Adrian. “The car was just tipped over the edge using a dolly system. It’s called ‘The Mad Mile’, and it’s a straight road, but at the end, it dips down steep — back in the day it was so steep people coming from the pubs used to have to reverse backwards to get up the hill.”
The road has since been raised to make it more level (though it remains pretty steep), and there are now crash barriers on the side that make the location easy to identify. Menindee Road eventually leads to the stunning Menindee Lakes, and 20km from there are convenient, free waterfront campsites near Lake Pamamaroo’s shoreline.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985): Coober Pedy, SA and The Blue
Mountains, NSW
In this elaborate big-budget follow-up (set 15 years after the events of the sequel), the world is now a barren desert fought over by tribal groups, where roads no longer exist. Max meets the ruthless ruler of brutal Bartertown (played by late rock sensation Tina Turner) and agrees to a challenge in the titular arena. However, after refusing to kill his opponent, he’s exiled back to the unforgiving, all-encompassing dunes before discovering a colony of lost children.
The Castle, The Breakaways, Coober Pedy
Some 33km north of Coober Pedy, The Breakaways is the vast barren locale to which Max is banished (known in the film as ‘The Gulag’) after his ordeal at Bartertown. Its natural rocky landscape, comprised of flat-topped mesas once covered by an inland sea, makes for a suitably post-apocalyptic setting. The rugged neighbouring Lunar Plains also serve as the expansive backdrop for the thrilling climactic train chase.
Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, Coober Pedy (Image Tourism Australia)
It’s advisable to experience the otherworldly essence of The Breakaways at sunset when the triumphant vista of sandstone colours can truly be appreciated. You should collect a permit from the Coober Pedy Visitor Centre if you plan to drive there.
Mermaid’s Cave, The Blue Mountains
The children’s kingdom (aptly referred to as the ‘crack in the earth’) that Max is taken to after his journey through the dunes was shot at this incredible sandstone cave in the Blue Mountains at Blackheath, 80km northwest of Sydney. The cave is reachable via a short walking trail from the Megalong Valley Road.
The steep natural stony staircase steps (the crack) between rocks that lead to a trickling waterfall make this place the ideal hideout for these ‘lost children’ who have constructed their makeshift camp out of the natural environment. However, it looks like the filmmakers created a temporary dam for the movie, as in reality, the water simply hits the ground with no pool in sight.
There are plenty of free (tent-only) camping sites in the vicinity — the closest is 4.5km south at the small but scenic Blackheath Glen Reserve. This is a good place to camp, but it does get very popular so get in quick!
Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest & Dugout, Coober Pedy, SA
Crocodile Harry’s was used as the home of the aloof character Jedediah (a returning Bruce Spence), one half of the father/son piloting team who hinders, then helps Max in the opening and closing parts of the movie, respectively. This quirky and crude labyrinthine underground dwelling was the real-life residence of the late, incredibly eccentric titular man who claimed he was a Latvian baron in a previous life!
It’s located just 4km south of Coober Pedy off the Stuart Highway and remains an eye-popping tourist attraction in the famous opal-mining settlement thanks to its divisive artwork. It’s open every day between 9am–12pm and 2pm–6pm — simply drop $7 (per person) into an honesty box when entering to do the dugout tour.
Just over 13.5km south of Crocodile Harry’s, you will find Riba’s Underground Camping and Caravan Park. Here, you can camp with your tents or swags inside the unique underground nest or underneath the stars at the neighbouring caravan park. Check out their exceptional evening mine tour, too.
Fast facts
Geelong Showground Camp Area
Breakwater Road
Thomson Vic 3219
P: 03 5221 1707
Capel Sound Foreshores
Point Nepean Road, Foreshore Office
Capel Sound Vic 3940
P: 03 5986 4382
Point Leo Foreshore Reserve
1 Point Leo Ring Road
Point Leo Vic 3916
P: 03 5989 8333
Mad Max 2 Museum
9 Stirling Street
Silverton NSW 2880
P: 08 8088 6128
E: madmaxmuseum@yahoo.com.au
Lake Pamamaroo Freedom Camping
Menindee-Wilcannia Road
P: 08 8091 4274
Penrose Park Recreation and Campground
Penrose Park Road
Silverton NSW 2880
P: 0458 600 891
E: penroseparksilverton@gmail.com
Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest & Dugout
Seventeen Mile Road
Coober Pedy SA 5723
P: 0448 632 583
Riba’s Underground Camping and Caravan Park
LOT 1811 William Creek Road
Coober Pedy SA 5723
P: 08 8672 5614
E: ribas@camp-underground.com.au
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