Balladonia road

Not exactly recently, so perhaps of no value, however we drove the Balladonia road from Balladonia to Condingup (so not the first part of your route from Cape Arid) in 2019. Easy travel, and I don't think you'd have any trouble. There was a lot of logging at the southern end of the road, so if wet it could get muddy, but the road in this part was wide and in fair shape. The northern 3/4 was narrower but straightforward. We saw no other vehicles at all until we reached the agricultural area in the last 10% (saw camels though).

We went from Esperance, Condingup to Balladonia in June, 2018. As mentioned the road was good north of Condingup, but once we reached the junction with Cape Arid track, it deteriorated somewhat. Maybe something to do with a change in Councils?

Still a good run up there, and we had a good camp at a deserted homestead, camping under a lean-to at the old shed when it rained through the night.



Bob

Go to the Shire of Dundas road condition pages. You will see the following:

"Balladonia Track
Between Eyre highway and Shire of Dundas boundary with Shire of Esperance
CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS."

You can't blame a shire for closing roads that bypass their only town.
They have a responsibility to their ratepayers who have businesses in Norseman.
That road was initially cleared to give the cockies from South Australia easier access to their new land properties East of Esperance back in the late 50's.

Here is a great link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty8SMcbYzD4&ab_channel=Fourby4Adventures

I will look into it next time , looks a great trip
Bob