Emu to Cook
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 at 18:04
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Happy Frank
I may have an opportunity to travel, in August, from
Maralinga to Emu, then to Vokes
Hill, and south to
Cook then the Eyre Hwy. Any comments on general road conditions (I am aware they can change with rain etc.) or general advice. We are reasonably experienced, at least 2 vehicles, maybe more,
HF radio etc.
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 07:35
Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 07:35
That country is my favourite neck of the woods.
The road north from the Eyre Highway at Colona through to the Iluka Zircon
Mine is a highway at present, with a new mining access road being pushed through because mineral sand is being carted out by semitrailers. The turnoff is about 1 km west of Colona station. The road is is good nick north of the
mine - it has been upgraded recently to take an oil drilling rig further north.
The
Maralinga to
Emu road is a nice drive through stands of Black Oak, Eucalypts and Mulga. The track was in very good condition last year.
The Emu to
Voakes Hill section is corrugated and overgrown in
places but nothing that should bother you (but it bothers others). Nice country with track running parallel with the dunes.
The
Voakes Hill Rd is a bit overgrown at the top end, but by August a few vehicles will have gone through so should be OK. We were out there last week. The country south of the Mamungari boundary is subject to a lot of oil exploration work at present, so there may be a bit of mining traffic around. There are a lot of new seismic lines that have appeared in the last two years, and some new access tracks look like outback highways, so stick to the skinny overgrown track and you'll be fine!
South of the Aboriginal Business Rd is a good drive - gets a bit slow when you leave the dunes and come down to the Nullabor - we were averaging about 30kph because of bits of
limestone sticking out.
The GVD has received a great dose of rain in the past year and is looking ergrown and lush. Many of the eucalypts are in flower at present and likely to be moreso in August - particularly the Youngiana (
Ooldea Mallee).
Cheers
Phil
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Happy Frank - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:29
Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:29
Thanks Phil. useful info I appreciate it. We have been to
Maralinga before and not concerned about Mara to Emu. and there is plenty of info about the ABH. But your info about Vokes
Hill to the south is what I wanted. Thanks again.
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