Maralinga confusion

Had a feeling it may have been that. I will email them to check 100% but I will start planning a different route.

Just found this on their website.

"Visitors require an access permit to travel thru the Maralinga Lands. Transit is generally restricted to the Anne Beadell Highway but if you require access to other roads a written letter addressed to the Maralinga Tjarutja Community Council is required and subject to approval"

So I will write the council a letter and ask. They can only say no.

Good luck with that Ivan. While I did get permission in the past I was told by the manager of the lands council that from about late last year, no more permission will be given. I know one or two seasoned travellers of the region had to make other arrangements. The last one was about 2 months ago.

Take a look at the heading on the application form.
Maralinga Application form.

ACCESS IS NOT PERMITTED FROM EMU JUNCTION TO MARALINGA VILLAGE.

I'd would be interesting to see if it is possible again though..

Wanted to do Totem and then duck down to Maralinga but if I cant go down Emu rd then will only be Totem at Emu Flat. Dont have time to drive all the way around to enter Maralinga from the south.

Hi Trouper

Agree with what you say.

My personal thoughts now is that is a money grabbing cow and it is very regimental.

From their web site, they now only do 2 tours per week on specified days. Those of us, like you and many others that went before know that there is no way you can take in all that Maralinga has to offer in just one single day and pay big dollars for going there.

I say one day, as that what it is. Day one does not count, as you are met at the security gate and then escorted to the camping area and that is it for that day.

Day two, or should I say your only real day has you out on the range tour and then back to camp, and then next morning you leave the site and escorted out of the gates that you came in.

As for the Emu Road, it is a very real petty that verbal permission is no given to use it, as from my point of view it was a great drive and you travel through some fantastic country.

I would love to know what has happened, as I would have thought that all of us that travelled this road would have respected the area that were were privileged to do drive.

Some say that some thoughtless people damaged the Stone Hinge site. If this is correct, it would hope that it was not people that were given permission to drive the Emu Road, or is it just talk and an excuse to stop access to this track?

The trouble is that there are far too many conflicting reports and even though they say the road is closed, I know of people that have still been given permission to drive it and at one time when I spoke to Robin, that was the whole reason why the road was going to be graded, to get more people to visit Maralinga from the Anne Beadell Highway end.

Either way, it is disappointing that it could be closed and lets hope that the powers to be re look into the reasons why it is closed.


These are just my personal thoughts.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Stephen...

I have also travelled the Maralinga / Emu road and it is very spectacular, so a pity it can't be done any more.

I wonder if part of the issue is that the Defence Department actually required that someone from Maralinga was "required" to accompany visitors to/from Emu via this route. At least that was my understanding of the approval.

I was thinking of doing another tour of Maralinga in October when I go to Oldea for the Rail Centenary

Cheers, Baz

Baz, I wouldn't bother particularly as you have been there before. You would only be disappointed as I was on my second visit. There was no seeing the old workshops or Hospital or sitting around the BBQ with Robin who, once lubricated, told some amazing stories. That I enjoyed as much as the tours in your own vehicle. I'll be interested to see how long he stays there putting up with all the comparative slickness these days
.Nodoudt if you are a 'first timer' you will still love the experience, its just that prior to 2015 it was all very very personal.

Jeff

Hi Chris

I'm heading to Oldea in October so it will be good to catch up.

Cheers, Baz

Hi Lindsaydi

As per my reply above, I still think it has gone through the roof with the costs.

Previous costs were $100 per person for the range tour and camping was very cheap.

The costs now are $225 per person to stay and camp 2 nights and one day out on the Range.

When we were there, we spent 2 days on the Range each time and you still never saw it all, seeing something different the next time.

It was a far more relaxed atmosphere before and you just took your time and got to see a lot more.....

Do they now see the Riffle Range shooting area?

Do they now go out to Nawa Junction?

Do they get to see the old Cricket pitch and the Oval?

Do they now go out to the old Cement Photo Bunker?

Do they now go out to the end of the XA Road and see what is out there?

The list goes on an there is no way you can see it all in just one single day.


Cheers


Stephen