Goog's Track

If its not recommended it sounds like more fun.

Yes we have done so from North to South and it is our preferred route. The southern faces of he dunes have been very chopped up by many travellers going south to north with high tyre pressures. Going the other way we found it was much easier going up the smooth northern faces and then trundling down the ruts. We probably even helped to bulldoze the ruts on the southern faces smooth again.

We have done this trip twice and even at peak time at Easter we met only 3 other groups heading the other way and it was no problem passing.

Sand Flag essential on lead vehicle and constant chatter on UHF helps to identify oncoming groups. There is a specific recommended channel for this area but I cannot remember what it was just at the moment. It is on the signs at each end of the track.

South to north is only a recommendation and not a hard rule.

Cheers
Muddy

Only done south to north but in saying that nearly collected an elderly couple stuck just under a crest on the northern side of s big dune. No radio, no flag and no one standing guard. A very near thing. Are you towing?

Googs Track 1


Googs Track 2



Cheers Mick

Just did Goog's late April this year.
Compared to some of the stuff in the Simpson and elsewhere we thought it was a bit of a Sunday drive 4wd wise. Hard to imagine anyone getting stuck
Worth doing tho' as you still get that great feeling of isolation and the flora is quite attractive. Enjoyed it and spent 3 nights camping. We spent one day after Googs lake trying to out run big black clouds that were following us but they caught us at Mt Finke and it rained just seconds after we had our tents up and then for most of the night. Its sandy country tho and no problems whatsoever with the track.
Some of the sth faces of the sand hills after Googs lake are quite cut up as mentioned above, but it just means you take it easy ...unless of course you enjoy being shaken apart and possibly breaking springs.
Most people do sth to Nth so you must be very aware of on coming traffic which could present a dangerous situation.

Image Could Not Be Found
Image Could Not Be Found

Hi Wayne
You have some good replies above. Reading some information, it mentions it is a mini Simpson or Canning Trip. Take that with a pinch of salt, as like above it is a very easy drive providing that you know how to drive in sand.

Seeing that it sounds like an adventure, many people new to four wheel driving think this will be a good learning drive, and in the process cut the hell out of the track from no driving skills. The end result is the southern approach to some of the larger dune in the northern part of the track are very badly cut up and it is slow as you go, with no speed what so ever, that is how cut up they are.

Not recommended, but I personally would advise coming from the north and drive south, only for the fact that the northern faces of the dunes are no where as cut cup and is a smoother drive up.

As like any sand driving, drop your tyre pressure right down, and start at 18 psi and you should not have any problems. A sand flag and UHF radio are a must have safety item and enjoy the trip.


Cheers

StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

Thank you everyone for your great replies.

This is such a good site. Much appreciated.

Wayne.

Probably should have included this question with my first.

The main reason we wish to travel this track from north to south is so that we can then spend some time exploring the Eyre Peninsula.

We have visited neither Goog's Track or the E.Peninsula before so seeing that most of you boys who responded are South Aussies who better to ask about what we should not miss on the peninsula.

Any response would be most welcome.

In any case, thanks to you all again and happy travels.

Wayne

yes have done Googs from the top down , no big deal . sand flag and let your tyres down . and be aware that its very chopped up from vehicles running to high tyre pressure and towing trailers ,so its a bit slow .
you will be ok
mechpete

Wayne,
We spent 2 weeks on Googs Track Last year doing some volunteer work. Its really interesting watching what other people do - we watched (and heard!) a lot of other vehicles travelling the track.

I'd say 80% of vehicles had no idea of the best way to drive the dunes. Most considered a runup and momentum were necessary, and bounced and chopped their way over the dunes.

No one in our group had significant problems although one or two had to have a second go occasionally because of clearance issues. But we all let our tyres down to low pressures (mine were around 15/18psi) and walked over the dunes in first gear high range. It also irons out the corrugations a bit.

Most people travel from the south as per the request from the DEH. But if you travel from the north you are unlikely to have problems with oncoming traffic unless travelling in school holidays.

As all others have said, north to south is good, but unfortunately this will also become chopped up eventually as the unskilled drivers begin to use this direction of travel.

We have done it twice from the north, once towing a camper trailer without too much difficulty. Low tyre pressures and correct gear selection make it a good drive.

Have fun,

Geoff.

Also there is a fruit fly inspection checkpoint just out of Ceduna