Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 11:57
Hi All,
Just thought i might followup for those interested in doing the
Holland Track.
I wouldn't bother starting at
Broomehill as we wasted about 400km worth of fuel and daylight by going down to
Broomehill. When we got there, the Museum wasn't open (i wasn't expecting it to be), but i dont like bothering people to come and open a museum on their day off for us to wander around for maybe 2 mins (it was only a tiny building).
I was however expecting some sort of outdoor display/history pannel in the town (so that you dont have to go into the museum which is only open by appointment) - which there was not.
So we travelled up the highway to
Pingrup (as we had no info on where the
Holland Track even starts). We passed a
old sign that needed some TLC that said "Holland Track" but with a truck behind us, we weren't prepared to pull up to
check it out.
Annoyed, we continued on through to
Pingrup, then
Lake Grace, then onto Newdgate where we stayed at the caravan park there as it was getting late in the day. The drive is not that interesting with just Farmland and dry Salt Lakes.
The owners of the Newdgate Caravan Park were more than helpful and gave us heaps of info, and told us
where to start back on the
Holland Track in the morning.
The section from
Broomehill to Newdgate is very poorly signed, and by the time you pass the street sign saying "Holland Track", you're still doing 100km and go "oh crap was that the turn?".
However, I do recommend starting from Newdgate rather than
Hyden, as you actually miss part of the track if you only start from
Hyden.
From Newdgate - follow the "Dragon Rocks" sign (as there is not "Holland Track" sign until you reach a private property.
The rest of the track is a good drive but does get really skinny just on the northern side of the
Hyden-
Lake King road entry point.
I will say a huge Thankyou to the WA Toyota 4WD club who re-cut the track and maintain it.
Also, thanks to the 5 or 6 cars we passed along the track for making it a plesant encounter (and chat whilst
clearing the track). We did however encounter 1 rude lady driving an F Truck with Quads in front who just hurled abuse at us and the other 3 cars that backed up the track (as she in no uncertain terms told us to go bush and stake our tyres because she didnt want to get of the track and it was our problem cause she's bigger than everyone else) whilst she was less than helpful and refused to help the situation of vehicles needing to pass each other on a single lane track. It really wasn't that hard to work out, that 5 mins of everyone
clearing stumps and trees either side would make it so that no one would have to stake a tyre and scratch their car.
This hag of a human being, stood there in with beer in hand and abused my partner and myself whilst we cleared areas on either side of the cars so we can all pass without damaging cars and tyres, and not once even attempted to be helpful. Mate, shut up if you're not going to help! By the way - ITS A SINGLE LANE TRACK! you have to expect oncoming traffic!
Other than this little hick up it was an enjoyable track to drive and would recommend it for something different.
Thanks all
AnswerID:
452338
Follow Up By: Willy05 - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 16:26
Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 16:26
Hi Rusty
We did the track at
Easter as
well, although we started at
Hyden, went south at the start and camped at Emu Rocks the first night and went north east after that which put us a day behind the crowd.
Pretty sure we heard the hicks you referrred to over the 2 way around Krakouer Rocks, nice bunch. Giving out to someone who commented on their language.
We had our 18 month old daughter with us and had a great time and so did she.
I was impressed by the lack of rubbish around, we camped on the way back to
Perth and after the
Holland Track, the rubbish around really stood out. Although a lot of it looked pretty old, maybe from a time before 'Keep Australia Beautiful' kicked off.
I agree, the Toyota Club deserve a pat on the back for their good work.
Cheers
FollowupID:
725434