I took a new Defender properly off-road… here’s how it went

The Defender nameplate is a hallowed one – inextricably linked with adventure and exploration over decades.

While classic Defenders are undeniably rugged and bare bones in their design, the modern interpretation of the iconic car has more creature comforts than its predecessors. As such, the Defender has become a more common sight around town – with its decidedly luxury bent attracting an entirely new buyer set to the brand.

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We know it's comfortable and perfect for growing families and weekend cruising, but can the new Defender still go off-roading like nothing else?

As a long-time Defender lover and Land Rover enthusiast, I was surprised to realise I hadn't taken one off a paved road in quite some time. Obviously, I had to fix that. And what better way to fix it than on a certified Defender Experience in South Australia's Flinders Ranges?

For three nights, our small group of adventurers headed into the mobile-reception-free Australian Outback to see how the luxury SUV lived up to the reputation carved out (literally) by its predecessors.

The Defender Experience is open to anyone, even those who don't own a Defender, and all you have to do is get yourself to Adelaide. For $5500 per couple, the team will transport you through the picturesque South Australian countryside to the Flinders Ranges and provide accommodation, chef-prepared meals and enthralling entertainment, oh, and your very own Defender.

My ride for the journey was a Defender D300 X-Dynamic HSE – the reigning Best Luxury Off-Road SUV at the 2024 Drive Car of the Year awards.

It's powered by a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo diesel engine outputting a peak of 221kW and 650Nm, with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

And because we were doing this off-roading thing for real, my car was also kitted out with adventure-ready options like an A-frame nudge bar, 20-inch wheels with Goodyear Wrangler tyres, a snorkel, an expedition rack with a rooftop tent and an access ladder.

Thankfully, all Defenders have a recovery hook as standard in case you need rescuing at any point, although that wasn't in my plans.

The Defender Experience is based at the Arkaba Homestead – a 63,500-acre former sheep station that has been turned into a private wildlife conservancy. The land is one-and-a-half times the size of Washington DC and crawling with kangaroos, emus, native birds and the kind of wildlife you usually only get to see on a postage stamp.

It's also home to a seriously rugged landscape, with sharp inclines, deep ravines, uneven tracks and occasionally unforgiving weather conditions.

The entire area is characterised by the fine, talcum-powder-like red dust that completely coats anything it comes into contact with and creates stunning rooster tails behind the cars. I just don't recommend driving headfirst into the dust trail behind the vehicle in front, because you might momentarily lose your bearings. I spent my entire trip using the climate-control system's air-recirculation function to avoid adding a custom red interior to my Defender.

What this kind of terrain highlights is just how capable the Defender is straight out of the factory. It delivers approachable adventure, simplifying the 4x4 experience for novice off-roaders and reducing complicated processes down to just the push of a button.

For example, when tackling a 15-degree slope, I simply had to pop the car in neutral, press a button to engage low-range drive mode, and the car did the rest. It automatically engaged hill descent control and strolled down the hill without complaint.

The PiviPro infotainment screen also features an in-built inclinometer, as well as an under-bonnet camera that allows you to negotiate parts of the track you can't see.

The Defender's standard air suspension is a gift in uncertain terrain – able to raise and lower itself as needed to improve ground clearance and avoid scratching the body of the vehicle. In one instance, I tackled a track with deep grooves and rocky, jagged surrounds. I didn't want to be the guy who returned my car covered with scratches, so I relied heavily upon air suspension to lift the Defender above anything that could cause damage to its handsome exterior.

My car was also fitted with a wade-sensing function as an option, in case you encounter a surprise creek in your travels.

While tyre pressure can be crucial when off-roading, I was surprised none of us needed to air down the tyres on our Defenders. In fact, we did the entire trip running highway pressures because the car was so capable.

But perhaps the most memorable aspect of my trip was sleeping on the roof of my car.

While the first night is spent in the homestead and the second is spent sleeping in a swag under the stars, your third and final night sees you getting properly acquainted with your car and slumbering in a rooftop tent at 'Camp Defender'.

I was more worried about getting into the tent than I was about sleeping in it. I'm not particularly nimble, but the ladder on the side of the car was impressively robust. Once inside, the tent was comfy – although at one point I rolled over and the car wobbled slightly, reminding me of my surroundings.

Helpfully, you can adjust the air suspension and choose the access mode setting, so the car feels more anchored. My hot tip? Go to the bathroom before you get into the tent so you don't have to bother getting back out.

Sleeping under the stars was also unforgettable. It's not five-star accommodation – it's billion-star accommodation.

During the night I would hear the wind blowing and immediately assume it was traffic because that's what I'm used to. It was pretty incredible to realise you're the only people for kilometres.

My one complaint? The moon was almost too bright, when trying to take in some stargazing but I'll forgive it this once. It was tremendously spectacular.

After three days tackling the Outback, I'm happy to report we didn't need a winch once, but we did have a couple of close calls with kangaroos – an important reminder that you're sharing this spectacular landscape with its locals, and need to be on guard.

It might not be luxury in the way we're accustomed – five-star resorts and pina coladas – but the Defender Experience felt properly luxurious.

No phones, no people, no crowds... just wildlife and stars as far as the eye can see. And a car that, I can now attest, is just as bloody good off-road as it's ever been. Better, in fact.

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