Israelite to Bilbunya lately?

Do NOT be tempted away from as close as possible to the dunes as you travel towards Bilbunya else the sand-seaweed-sand-seaweed-sand-seaweed "sandwich" (you've got the picture) will trap you forever.

We camped at a very messy camp, just under Wylie Scarp, back in early June this year. Next day drove onto the beach & headed for Israelite Bay. Tide was well down, but beach sand was heavy going, at least compared to Simpson red sand, which we were all used too.

There's small dunes all the way along the beach, with few places to exit. You'd be in deep shite in a rapidly rising king tide, I'd suggest! We travelled for almost 40kms, on the beach, stopping at the Bilbunya Dunes for a look. Then continued on, before exiting the beach, to travel into the remains of an old hut, complete with below ground water tank.

There were 4 vehicles in our party, a well modified 105 wagon, upgraded PK Ranger, 120 Prado & my 79 series V8 ute, and recall that we all let more air out of our tyres, part way on the beach run. Bit of rubbish along this pristine stretch, and we even saw a pod of dolphins not far off shore.

Once we were off the beach, the track wasn't too bad, with odd wash out or dip, and a few spots I'd be VERY wary of, after heavy rain. Interesting variety of shrubs, wildflowers & trees made the journey very worthwhile.



Finally, if you're going, probably wise to take another vehicle, or at least have maxtrax, or maybe a winch. None of us got bogged that day, but did have some incidents, 2 days prior around Twilight Cove.

Am keen to go back, for at least a week this time!

Bob

Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated. I also rang DPAW at Esperance but although the guy was very helpful. he hadn't been out that way for two years or so.

We are two vehicles, one winch, lots of max tracks and a heavy dose of common sense. If it looks ugly, turning around is better than ruining a holiday. Lots of other places around that neck of the woods.

Thanks again.

Hi RP5, back in October we turned off the Eyre Hwy 60 km east of Balladonia and went along a track with our van. This was following the advice in Ron Moon's book " Across the Bight and the Nullarbor". Left van to camp overnight after 30 km of the 60 km till you hit the rubber mats which allow you an easy descent to the beach. Next day was even scratchier on the duco and also some bumpy rocky sections.
Then down the rubber and along the beach 15 km or so until access track to dunes. Beach was soft but our 150 series Prado with 20 psi managed OK. Met some campers at dunes and had a cuppa with water from a small well they had dug which was only 40 cm deep.
Reversed the journey to be back at van 4pmish. It was a big 7 hour day and next time we will spend more time at the dunes. You could go on our route to exit the dunes to save doubling back............... W