Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 at 17:09
Hi Andrew,
Must be getting senile!!
I read that as "
Caiguna to Cocklebiddy" LOL!!
Sorry!
Start all over again! I read an article last year (can't remember which mag) which basically gave the ok from
Eucla along the old telegraph track to just about south of Madura. The original telegraph track from there thru to Eyre is not passable, as it is blown over with sand dunes.
The following I can confirm: From south of Madura, one can head north to the Madura Motel, then take a track westwards, just below the scarp, right through to Burnabbie Pass, where one then heads to the top of the scarp. Near the bottom of Burnabbie Pass is the track, due south, to
Eyre Bird Observatory, about 10km of sand.
From the top of Burnabbie Pass, one must head north back to the highway (good unsealed track) to get to Cocklebiddy. The remnants of the telegraph track westwards from here to
Caiguna are overgrown.
Alternatively, one can get on
the beach at Eyre, and drive through to Twighlight Cove (where the scarp heads out to sea to become the cliffs), then head north back to Cocklebiddy from there. But the problem with this trek is at the western end of
the beach towards Twighlight, where rocks prevent further beach passage, even at low tide, and one must take a track of about 3 or 4km through the dunes. This is not all that
well defined at
the beach, but once found is
well defined.
The telegraph track above twighlight cove is again blown over by dunes, and does not resume as a driveable track westwards till one gets south of
Caiguna.
This track, right through to the western end of the cliffs is quite a rewarding trek, and if one does not want to do the 90km
beach drive to
Israelite Bay, one can head north again at around Pt Culver and rejoin the highway east of Balladonia station. Either way, there is a good sheltered camping spot in the dunes at the western end of the cliffs.
Sorry to cause the confusion!!
There are lots of interesting tidbits along the way and some waypoints. Drop me an email on
gezza90 at a m n e t dot net dot au
if you want more info.
Gerry
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