Ballandonia roadhouse to Esperance via Cape Arid

If you're looking for an adventure over there- try following the track of the Old Telegraph in the Nuytsland N/P....

I was there in 2004 and more recently in May 2007 to Condingup. Road is ok - just take it easy and you should have no problems. Enjoy the country.

We travelled Esperance to Cape Arid and up to Balladonia in early September. No problems but there was a fair bit of water lying around then.

Hi Claudie,
Rather than take the diagonal road to Condingup, (assuming you have a 4wd) take the track south from Balladonia to Israelite Bay, passing more interesting country; Mt Ragged, Balbinya station, and of course the historic Israelite Bay telegraph station. Good camping at Mt Ragged and Point Malcom (sth of Israelite) . West of Pt Malcolm is Cape Arid NP, there is excellent official camping at Thomas River. Even better, if the track is open, is the eastern side of Cape Arid (Thomas Fishery) for a good campsite or some good camping near Poison Creek, but you'll need to check with the Cape Arid office of Environment and Conservation Dept (08) 9075 0055, who will tell you what tracks are open. This changes during the year coz of dieback quarantine. Check with the above department re a monthly NP pass, which can save you quite a bit. The telegraph track (sandy) is a good drive from Pt Malcolm thru to Cape Arid NP, but rains may make the salt lake a bit sticky on the eastern end.
Working back eastwards, if you're really keen, and don't mind a few scratches, head south from Caiguna and join the old telegraph track, driving west to Pt Culver on the cliffs, then take the beach run (about 80km) thru to Israelite Bay.
And east of Caiguna, at Madura, suggest taking the old telegraph track south of the escarpment thru to Eyre telegraph station (Eyre Bird Observatory), then rejoin the highway near Cocklebiddy. Quite a bit of history, and not difficult.
I have lots of notes, and OziExplorer waypoints and plots of the area - drop me a line on gezza90 at amnet dot net dot au.

Gerry

As said dont take the parmango road straight to Condingup.
You can either got to israilite bay or if in a bit of a hurry it comes out on fisheries road near poison creek. A trip to this area wouldnt be complete without a look see at Poison Creek and thomas river

trip report from balladonia to cape arid
http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=48220

Information about poison creek and trip report of the thomas River beach run (you dont have to go as far east as ptculver if taking the balladonia road)
http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=28875

We went to Cape Arid park from Esperance approx.6 weeks ago with the intention of heading for Balladonia but gave up as it was difficult to ascertain road conditions on a weekend.

Police in Esperance only open their desk to the public weekdays 8-30am-5.00pm, a telephone call to them resulted in "try the Ranger at the Park" when we reached Cape Arid no Ranger to be seen, the information hut had road conditions posted but were weeks old and the most recent updates ten days old.

To add to the confusion the telephone numbers varied on info from Esperance to those listed at the park info hut,an answering machine suggesting we leave name and number. In the end we decided to abort that part and head back to Esperance.

Rather unhappy but at least the wildflowers were a sight and allowed us to salvage something from the time and wasted klms.

Hope you have better luck!

Leigh.

Claudia,

We did the Balladonia to Isralite Bay track via Mt Ragged in July 2007. Although there was a lot of water around it was not much of a drama just slow going. Isralite Bay was well worth the visit.

G'day,

assuming you have a fourby and are not towing anything large and precious.....

went through there a couple of weeks ago. yes, if you can, skip parmango road (although) check out Deralinya at the northern end then drive over to Balbinya. We came up from Thomas River off Fisheries Rd and picked up the Gora track. Firstly, if it has been raining, best to avoid those tracks and stick to Parmango which I believe a 2wd could get through after rain.

Eyre Hwy to Parmango intersection - easy through station land, new (?) signs limiting traffic to 4wd and under 3T seemed a bit ridiculous but I believe there is an issue with potholes and bulldust from heavier vehicles.

Parmango intersection to Mt Ragged - a bit slower, stony but very interesting places to visit like Balbinya and Pine Hill plus a few others.

Mt Ragged to Fisheries Rd (western juntion) - closed at present, has not recovered from rain and has very large bogholes.

Mt Ragged to Fisheries Rd (Pt Malcolm/Israelite Bay junction) is very slow but easy. This track is very overgrown and tight at the southern end and care must be taken to avoid stakes present as a result of the fires last November. BEWARE the end of this section at the junction. There is a HUGE drop off hole which will swallow you if you are not prepared to take the left or right diversion around it.

Fisheries Rd (Pt Malcolm/Israelite Bay junction) to Fisheries Rd tar and onto Condingup - again, a very slow section but you are out of the woodlands and in sandy, boggy land. Most of the bogholes have diversion tracks around them though in parts we needed to take the diversion diversion tracks.

This is all beautiful country and there are many places along the way to camp. You can do the route above in a day but a week or more would be great.

The new Ranger at Cape Arid is a good bloke and a bit of preparation re weather and tracks is a good idea, don't trust the boards at the park entry. Ring well ahead and be prepared for weather changes.

cheers.