Murray Mouth Drive

what mouth I heard they have to dredge it open these days

Good Point! I guess it's a "figure of speech" these days until the Federal Govt uses their power to impose rules that the other states must follow to get the flow back.

Hey gossy

A few years back we tried to from salt creek on a motor bike and in 4wd, crossing the coorong at tea tree. Being inexperienced and new to the 4wd world we only took 60 lts of disel thinking that we be enough to do 220kms on sand. We got 40kms up the beach using 20lts of disel, trhen decieding to turn around.
The sand is quite soft and the tide comes right upoto the dunes, so you don't want to get stuck.
It is a beautiful area though with good fishing, swimming( surf can get really big )and 4wding.

Well worth the trip.

Patrick

Sitting here at work in Victor Harbor, I can nearly see the Murray mouth on a clear day.
I haven't driven to the mouth from the south, (some say I am the mouth from the south) but understand it can be like any beach drive. Needs to be treated with respect, and take in to account the conditions on the day.

This is my first post on this site, and would like to thank everyone for the volumes of relevant information that is read every day.

thanks for that. I will be taking one semi experienced driver and a friend in a soft off roader, that's why I wanted to know how hard it was. Good advice on the fuel. Will have my GQ, a Landcruiser and an Mitsubishi Outlander. Will check the tides for sure. Hopefully it's low tide in the morning (day after xmas) so we don't have to sit around for a while.
Having already done the main treck (up to the Granites) then Robe to Beachport track, I thought it would be good to put a tick in the box for the other end.
I have only been to the Coorong once when my mate was leading the way so I'm no expert in the area but I was hooked so would like to make it a regular trip from Adelaide for long weekends etc.
I still have to get my fishing rod fixed though. Doesn't seem to catch any fish!!

The sand conditions often change on the drive up to the Murray mouth. I last went a few years ago & storms had eroded the beachs making the going quite tough in places. We found it impossible to get a local tide chart & even the fisherman couldn't tell us, which makes it hard to time your run. The beach was washed out in places & as we came back on a high tide we had to dodge a few waves.
In previous years others have averaged 90 KPH with no such hassels.
Most 4x4s with some air let out of the tyres will make it, but try and get some local knowledge on the tides & sand conditions immediatly before you go.
Cheers Craig........

Correct me if i am wrong but i thought the exclusion zone was 5km's both side of the mouth. Can't drive all the way there i thought.

Cross over at 42 mile crossing and deflate your tyres to 15/16psi before attempting the first dune. I have only been about 20km up the beach from there. What I do know is that you must not deviate from the track as patches of the beach are made up of shell grit and if you go there then it is bye bye. Take recovery equipment with you!

Pleae check with National Parks before you go as there are exclusion zones along the beach to protect the breeding sites of endangered sea birds.

Gossy,
Try if you like, but a local 4wd club tried earlier this year with lots of experience and local knowledge, but only made it 1/2 way because sand and seaweed was just too soft, and high clearence and plenty of grunt was the order of the day for the ones that made it to the further most point. When and if you make it you have to walk the last 5 ks as it has been fenced off for the drewdging project, think this would take shine of a very slim chance of victory.
Best of luck, wont to do it myself, but i will wait till it gets better and at least can make it to the mouth, no point otherwise.
Be well prepared, a rescue could be expensive ??

G'day All,

I actually worked on the Dredging project for a while. I have also been going to the mouth on a weekly basis (fishing).

I would check with SA NPWSA (Goolwa office) regarding the access, as they close this stretch of beach at certain times for the breeding season of the hooded plover. And yes the beach is exluded 5km either side of the murray mouth for vehicluar access. The dredge outfalls are located either side of the mouth. One vehicle came to grief by ignoring the exclusion zone and driving through. (bogged up to eyeballs).

Thats not to say that if the beach is open, you can drive down to the 5km mark and walk the rest of the way.

Cheers

Jono

thanks everyone. Been away for a few days which is why I have not replied. sounds a bit too risky I think. The other two are not too experienced so best to just head south along the "common" route thru the dunes and beach.
thanks all.