Hyden to Yellowdine

Haven't used that particular track Crooksie, but if it ends up not an option the road off the highway west of Yellowdine that passes through Marvel Loch to Hyden is excellent. All sand but like a highway.

cheers

Hi Crooksie

Not sure if it is the road you mean, but in 2007 we took a short cut leaving the highway just east of Yellowdine which then just bypassed Marvel Loch to join the Forrestania Road south. We didn't know it was closed (more like well used but unmaintained) until we got there.

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Goldfields WA September 2007

Motherhen

Crooksie
We went up the Emu fence road from Hyden to Yellowdine if that is the one you mean last July and it was avery good gravel road. It was pouring with rain at the time and we got through with our Cruiser and campertrailer no worries. If you go that way call in and see the crash site of the Vultee Vengance about half way up. It's only about 4 ks off the main road and is signposted and has a cairn.

Cheers Nick T

Hi Alan, I presume you mean the Lovering-Woolocutty Soak-Emu Fence Roads north from Hyden (Wave Rock actually) to the Great Eastern Hwy about 15km west of Yellowdine.

If so, this is in no sense a track. The first 20-odd k's is bitumen and the rest a fully formed and well maintained dirt road, much better than those existing all over Australia 20-30+ years ago and quite happily traversed by Holdens and Falcons in profusion.

You certainly don't need either a 4WD or an off-road caravan for it. Much of the northern end is built over Tamar scrub country that forms its own road & virtually never needs grading. Like most WA gravel roads, the rest has varying levels of clay content which can make them a tad slippery, but certainly nothing like the city hotmix after the first rainstorm after a bit of a dry spell!

It's a good road through some rather pleasant country, and the little diversion to the Vultee plane crash site is worth a stop.

There is a track south from Yellowdine that leads to mines east of Marvel Loch but I wouldn't recommend it because it is essentially for mine traffic, including huge trucks and other machinery which would be inconvenienced by tourists when a perfectly good alternative exists just to the west.

Cheers Paul, Kalgoorlie

We have just returned to Vic. 2 hours ago.
recommended by staff at Hyden (Wave Rock C/V park to not go to Yellowdine and head for Southern Cross (T/D Hilux & Offroad Camper) which we did. very good road minimal corrigations, some sandy sections (no probs)watch for sign posts facing in wrong directions at Southerncross end(trust your maps).Had alot of traffic last w/end with Hyden OffRoad racing at Smithy's.