Travel: The ultimate 4WD adventure in Victoria's picturesque alpine region

In an era of perpetual outrage and tired eyes adhered to phone screens, there can be few more soothing scenarios than getting back to nature.

However, if chirping birds and rustling leaves are just not enough to force out the stress of nine-to-five, then you need more grunt.

Try a 4WD adventure.

Off-road driving through challenging terrain is unexpectedly meditative. The concentration required to navigate gnarly country will zone out the antagonism of the life left behind in Melbourne, and the pillowy rocking and bouncing puts the driver at one with the land.

Victoria’s alpine region in the state’s north-east, five hours from the city, is a heartland for four-wheel touring, and the new Nissan N-Trek Warrior is the beast to tackle it in.

Venturing out on a famous track through here is a journey novice drivers will enjoy, and the thickets of snow gums bristling across hills and down valleys of the enormous Alpine National Park set a scene that experienced drivers will also appreciate.

If arriving by car, take the Hume Highway, exiting at Wangaratta to connect to the Great Alpine Road. The quickest route from Melbourne, and to remain fresh to later unleash behind the wheel, is to fly to Hotham Airport via charter from Essendon Airport. With the picture-book Dinner Plain Alpine village as a base (in winter it could be a set for a Christmas movie), head out on the well-known Blue Rag Range Track, a favourite of 4WD enthusiasts.

This coarse, remote route through sometimes very steep high-country, at about 1600 metres above sea level, is given a “three out of 10” for difficulty by the hosts of this Nissan expedition. The summit is Blue Rag Trig Point, where a demanding upwards scramble is rewarded with a 360-degree view.

Take your heart rate down with a restful night in Dinner Plain; lodging options include apartments, cabins or chalets, available to book year-round, suiting couples to parties of 20-plus.

The car …

NISSAN NAVARA N-TREK WARRIOR

The pitch: A durable and handsome off-road truck for the discerning tradie or all-terrain adventurer.

Base price: $62,990 for a 2.3 litre, twin-turbo diesel.

Performance: New springs and dampers give the car its off-road chops, with raised suspension for ground clearance and underbody plates for protection.

Looks: A bullish, wide-stance, coloured bumper bar, 17-inch alloy wheels, 32.2-inch all terrain tyres, pops of bright orange decal. Choose from a Slate Grey, White Diamond or Cosmic Black exterior finish.

Luxuries: Partial leather seats with stitching details, orange inserts to match the exterior decal, an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Fast fact: Its electronically-controlled 4WD system means beginners can handle this car with confidence.

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