Hyden-Norseman Road
Submitted: Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 00:33
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Dolphin38
I'm looking at driving the
Hyden-
Norseman Rd later this year in a Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2ltr diesel. From my general reading of various maps and trek books, the road looks to be suitable for such a car.
Can anyone provide any additional comments/thoughts/tips etc about the road, its conditions,
places to stopover (camp/siteseeing) and the such like.
Are there better times of the year to do this trip?
What "grade/level" of off-roading would it be considered?
Would there be the need to carry extra extra fuel?
Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Member - Dennis P (Scotland) - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 00:49
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 00:49
Hi mate,
Easy drive in a standard 2WD car, road is usually in good condition.
Good camping spot at the 'Breakaways'.
No need to carry extra fuel, just top up at
Hyden or
Norseman.
Any time of the year is good, except after heavy rain.
Keep an eye out for the Semi's between
Norseman and the Emily Anne
mine.
There is a 'gem
fossicking' area just out of
Norseman, worth a look but good luck finding anything, we didn't!
Cheers,
AnswerID:
311725
Reply By: Topcat (WA) - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 00:53
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 00:53
Hi Dolphin38,
The
Hyden Norseman road is now a regularly maintained gravel road suitable for 2WD vehicles. It is regularly used by mining companies & can tend to get a little corrugated at times between grading but otherwise (weather permitting) is in good condition.
It is possible that the road could be closed after heavy rain periods, so you will need to
check with the Department of Main Roads or on this site for the road conditions.
There are a series of points of interest clearly signposted along the way & a very good camping spot at
the Breakaways which has BBQ pits & a drop-pit
toilet approximately 135km from
Hyden. If you have a fuel range exceeding 300km you will not have any problems traveling from
Hyden to
Norseman. Otherwise you will need to carry extra fuel. Cheers
AnswerID:
311726
Reply By: paro - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 08:09
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 08:09
Hi....Agree with the above. We travelled the road last month. It was excellent condition. We also found
the Breakaways to be a good place to overnight.
AnswerID:
311731
Follow Up By: Member - Tony N (WA) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 23:30
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 23:30
came thru tere on 14 june 08 .great drive plenty of spots to
camp .settle back & enjoy the drive .
Norseman shire is substituted by mining co. so road is kept to a good standard
FollowupID:
578221
Reply By: Member - Robert W (SA) - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 08:42
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 08:42
There is a free booklet on the foliage between
Norseman and
Hyden from the
Norseman I centre. It is divided into about 7 sections and we found it added greatly to our appreciation of the drive. We bush camped at lake Johnson, and
the Breakaways are worth seeing. At
wave rock there is a book of walks for $7 which we found very useful.
AnswerID:
311736
Reply By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:13
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:13
Yeah agree with all the above and would urge you spend a bit of time because the
Norseman shire has done a great job with interpretive signage etc on all sorts of great little spots. If only all local authorities cared so much about 4WD'ers!
See Shire of
Dundas website
http://www.dundas.wa.gov.au/tourism/attractions.html for more details.
cheers Paul B Kal
AnswerID:
311750
Reply By: Dolphin38 - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 11:10
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 11:10
Thanks to all who have replied - your information is very useful and most appreciated.
As an occasional user of this
forum, I must say it is tremendous to see how
well it is supported and how helpful people are to readily provide information.
Thanks again.
Guy
AnswerID:
311756
Reply By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 11:14
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 11:14
Tis a good road; you'll have no problems.
Unfortunately, last time I did this road, I got stuck behind an ore truck just out of
Norseman and would have been stuck behind him all the way to the
mine. The driver had no intention of allowing me to pass (he pulled out right in front of me), meaning I would have eaten his dust for about 100km. Decided to stop for lunch at Lake Johnson rather than eat his dust. Nice picnic spot there. Also good camping at the signposted Breakaways.
Not sure when you are going, but the
wildflowers around spring can be brilliant closer to
Hyden.
Just
check with the council at
Hyden or
Norseman whether there has been rain - can get a bit sticky.
Gerry
AnswerID:
311757
Reply By: cityslicker - Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 12:08
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 at 12:08
We used this road a few years back on our return to
Adelaide and at the
Norseman end saw the biggest snake I've ever seen. It was covering the road from one side to the other and had no intention of moving so I had to drive around it. A few minutes later we saw a mining truck coming towards us so I hope the snake made its escape.
I guess it was some kind of python.
AnswerID:
311761