Esperance to Balladonia

Hi D,

Haven't done it but intend on doing it in July, so will be interested in the answers you get and any feed back from you if you do it before then

D,

Did the trip from Balladonia through Isralite Bay to Esperance last July as part of a longer trip .
Trip report here page 8: WA Trip

Filled up at Balladonia and again at Esperance.
Distance 495KM. Used 67.97L @ 12.4L/100KM

Mornin' fellas


Look here


Cheers

did it last October, V6 petrol and towing, but did not record fuel figures sorry mate. You can fuel up at Condingup though, Esperence is not your last bowser.

always contact the Ranger for up to date information on the tracks in Cape Arid. The boards at the park entrance may not be up to date.

Call him when you are approaching the district. You can get his mobile number off the DEC Office in Esperence. His name is Jeremy and he is a good bloke.

one of my favourite drives indeed.

Hi Dunworkin,
The above references are great.
Just a few suggestions;
Mt Ragged has a reasonable camping spot at the SW end of the razorback (no water), and the climb to the summit is well worth the effort. Spring time is fantastic through this area.
Rather than camp at Israelite Bay (do drop in and see the ruins), travel another 20km south to Pt Malcolm, where there is a more sheltered and shaded camping spot. If it's been wet, take the more western track to Pt Mal, which avoids the salt lake.
There is good camping at Thomas River, and also at Thomas Fishery, right out at Cape Arid (enter from east of the cape), but this was burnt out about 3 years ago, and I'm not sure if it has re-opened. A check with CALM office at Esperance or Thomas River would confirm.
It is possible to drive the old telegraph track from Cape Arid around the coast to Pt Malcolm and Israelite, and there is really only one sticky spot towards Pt Mal where you have to traverse a salt lake.
And north of Mt Ragged and Pine Hill, there is an old historic abandoned station, Balbinya, which has been partly restored and is a good camping spot, either in the house or outside. There is water in a dam, and if you're lucky there may be some fruit on offer on some old fig and mulberry trees there. 33d 04.494'S, 123d 26.844'E is the turn, the station is about 12k east of the Balladonia Israelite track. You can see it on the 250k Natmap.
Gerry

I usually take about 190L into the area because ofall the beach driving and track oportunities. Only fuel in the region is Balladonia, Condingup,Duke of Orleans and Esperance

Heres the trip notes of that trek
Balladonia to Cape Ard NP

and some more that may be of useToolina cove to Thomas river coastal run
Esperance and Cape Le Grande

We travelled it last September, not long after rain. The track had water in places, with diversions around the bad bits. A lot of the track had rocky bits - take it easy if your pressures are lowish. And the campsite at Mt Ragged was good.

This gate north of Mt Ragged was priceless:
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