Led by Ron Dhu founder of Eastern Suburbs 4×4 Camping and Touring club. Convoy of 8 vehicles consisting of 5 experienced drivers and 3 nervous newbies: Ron Pajero/Jayco Penguin Ooutback. Vince/Peta Terrican/Avan. Rob/Robyn Toyota 200 series/ Complete Campsite Exodus 16. Graham/Di 200 series. /Vanguard Rustler. Mike/Nuala Ford Ranger/AOR. Russ/Sandy Follow Me Camper trailer. Bea Prado/Jayco penguin on Rd. Pamela Pajero/Jayco penguin outback.
Mike had good maps and radio, Vince mechanic come panel beater, Rob who carried most extra things you may need, Russ who was good at fixing most things. This trip was on Rons bucket list and as it was to be his last trip we decided to go for it.
Met at Bakers hill for a 10am start. Not a good start as Bea put the route into her Sat Nav it took her the longest way, so she was very late. Rob and Russ waited for her so the others could go on, we met up for lunch. Our first camp was at Mt. Palmer, out from Yellowdine. Pamela got the first flat, no fix no return tyre and we hadn’t even got onto the rough roads yet. Vince and Russ came to the rescue and changed it for her. This campsite was a great area, but you need to take in your own wood. As we will be mostly bush camping Graham decided to practice cooking on his drum cooker, worked out well.
Had a boring trip up tip Kalgoorlie where Pam tried to get a new tyre, but it was Sunday so luck getting one. We camped at Station Creek north of town. This site is popular with big caravans parking using the Jack system (bugger anyone else I’m alright).
Into Laverton to do some shopping and fuel up as we had 700ks of bush traveling with no fuel stops. Just out of town we aired down as now we had only bush roads and tracks. (Pamela managed to buy a new tyre). Had fun trying to find the correct road to the main track after we left Burtville cemetery. At one stage we lost Pamela as she was sitting at the corner waiting for Ron to call her up, to say we were on the correct track but she had turned her car off so she had no radio so she couldn’t hear us calling her up. (must keep radio on at all times out here). This area has many tracks made by the miners and they don’t show up on any of our maps.
Had morning tea at Malley Hen Rock, Ron did his 2nd shockie on his van, after traveling through interesting countryside we camped by the camel shooters shack on Lake Ranson, the campsite overlooked the lake and had an area that you could play golf , the only problem with this is that you had to retrieve your balls when finished playing and it was all up hill. Tea that tonight was dampers and we had some very tasty and interesting ones. Driving the length of the lake trying to find Spackman Rd, with many turnarounds with tail end Charlie becoming the leader. This is where Mike came into play, eventually we found Spackman Rd. On this road we found Frank Hann Rock which Pamela climbed to find the plaque. As it was Vinces’s birthday, we camped up early so Pete could make him a cake, alas it didn’t work so he had a biscuit with a candle in it. Spackman Rd meets Anne Beadell, had morning tea at Bishop Riley Pulpit. This was a dusty and very corrugated road and as we were all so shook up; we welcomed an early camp at Yeo Ruins. As it was windy we delayed lighting the fire till evening and an advance crew for a motorbike tour turned up. They told us that the David Carnegie track had severe wash outs, they suggested that we didn’t take it.
Next morning the Parks and wildlife rangers arrived to do some maintenance work on the buildings. Turned off the main track onto Point Sunday Rd. This was a non-eventful drive until we decided to take a short cut to Great Central Rd. We came out just short of Minnie Creek rest area, had morning tea on the Gun Barrel and 5ks short of Tjkayiria roadhouse Vince needed fuel so Russ gave him 10ltrs to get there. At the caravan park we enjoyed hot showers and did some washing. Had a rest day with some of us visiting the caves, had to get fuel as on Sundays they are only open for a short time. Decided that we would do the David Carnegie track as it was one of the main tracks that we wanted to do. We thought we would go as far as Empress Spring and if too rough we would turn around. The turn off is 16ks back down GCR, did a detour into Breaden Bluff to see the caves, found an old car that Graham got some aluminum strips to fix his draws, this track was very rocky but worth the trip in.
Lunch at Empress Springs and two vehicles stopped to talk and took one look at our convoy and said that if we needed any parts for our vans, we could get them further up the track (haa haa). At the spring Vince climbed down the well and said that there was no water no snakes. We passed the van that the guys told us about, had a good look over it, the guys couldn’t find anything that they needed, the flowers were great as there were many different types and colors. The terrane here is very flat with scrub that has spikes that would puncture a tyre and the wind extremely strong so it was very hard to find a campsite as you couldn’t get off the track. Took a chance at one spot and hoped that no one got a flat. Yes, you guessed it next morning Russ had a flat. The wind was so strong that it took all hands to get Russandy’s camper down. As the track went on it got very rocky and at one stage, we were doing 11.67 ks per hour. The track had deep washouts and at one stage a van had its back wheel in it, the girls did well as it was quite challenging at times also, we had to do a bit of pruning so the bigger vans could negotiate the bends and over hanging branches. Rons Jayco van collapsed, and the guys had to lift it up so we could jack it up for him to sleep in. At one camp we had a full moon, so the girls decided to have a party so after many wines and loud music they did the moon dance. Next morning with sore heads they cleaned the site up so you wouldn’t know we had been there. Into Carnegie Station, the kitchen was a dream, but the showers were basic. Here Ron and Russ fixed Rons Jayco the cable had broken. Bea made friends with the resident donkey by feeding it carrots. Had a great night around the campfire.
On the way home Ron tried to find a campsite for us by going down a fence line, but as it was not looking good said to turn around. Whoo this is next to an electric fence not happy Ron; Bea did a 25-point turn without hitting the wire. Russ found a Pigmy spikey tail lizard in one of the logs we were going to burn, the log with lizard was returned to where he got it from. Along this road we came across a footy field, so the guys had a kick of the footy that Mike had on board, Into Wiluna as this was the end of Rons trip as he had to be home. The rest of us headed for Sandstone with Russ now the leader, he missed the turn off to the Magnet/Sandstone rd. and did an extra 54ks this road was better than the bitumen. Called into the Gidgee mine (Russ did a stint up there) they were good enough to show us around. Camped at Lake Mason lit the donkey and had hot showers still cold and windy. As some of the group hadn’t seen London Bridge, at Sandstone Russ took them there. On the way home the wildflowers were brilliant, the best we have ever seen.
This was a challenging trip with all sorts of tracks from rocky/sandy/rutted/spinifex grass and over hanging shrubs/trees. No damage to cars only several tires, 2 shockies on vans, one side step on a penguin (Vince fixed) and Rons van. Beas on road penguin passed with flying colors.
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Last Updated: 2 April 2024 by wp_admin
Eastern Suburbs – Hann Track (September 2021)
Led by Ron Dhu founder of Eastern Suburbs 4×4 Camping and Touring club.
Convoy of 8 vehicles consisting of 5 experienced drivers and 3 nervous newbies:
Ron Pajero/Jayco Penguin Ooutback. Vince/Peta Terrican/Avan. Rob/Robyn Toyota 200 series/ Complete Campsite Exodus 16. Graham/Di 200 series. /Vanguard Rustler. Mike/Nuala Ford Ranger/AOR. Russ/Sandy Follow Me Camper trailer. Bea Prado/Jayco penguin on Rd. Pamela Pajero/Jayco penguin outback.
Mike had good maps and radio, Vince mechanic come panel beater, Rob who carried most extra things you may need, Russ who was good at fixing most things.
This trip was on Rons bucket list and as it was to be his last trip we decided to go for it.
Met at Bakers hill for a 10am start. Not a good start as Bea put the route into her Sat Nav it took her the longest way, so she was very late. Rob and Russ waited for her so the others could go on, we met up for lunch. Our first camp was at Mt. Palmer, out from Yellowdine. Pamela got the first flat, no fix no return tyre and we hadn’t even got onto the rough roads yet. Vince and Russ came to the rescue and changed it for her. This campsite was a great area, but you need to take in your own wood. As we will be mostly
bush camping Graham decided to practice cooking on his drum cooker, worked out well.
Had a boring trip up tip Kalgoorlie where Pam tried to get a new tyre, but it was Sunday so luck getting one. We camped at Station Creek north of town. This site is popular with big caravans parking using the Jack system (bugger anyone else I’m alright).
Into Laverton to do some shopping and fuel up as we had 700ks of bush traveling with no fuel stops. Just out of town we aired down as now we had only bush roads and tracks. (Pamela managed to buy a new tyre). Had fun trying to find the correct road to the main track after we left Burtville cemetery. At one stage we lost Pamela as she was sitting at the corner waiting for Ron to call her up, to say we were on the correct track but she had turned her car off so she had no radio so she couldn’t hear us calling her up. (must keep radio on at all times out here). This area has many tracks made by the miners and they don’t show up on any of our maps.
Had morning tea at Malley Hen Rock, Ron did his 2nd shockie on his van, after traveling through interesting countryside we camped by the camel shooters shack on Lake Ranson, the campsite overlooked the lake and had an area that you could play golf , the only problem with this is that you had
to retrieve your balls when finished playing and it was all up hill. Tea that tonight was dampers and we had some very tasty and interesting ones. Driving the length of the lake trying to find Spackman Rd, with many turnarounds with tail end Charlie becoming the leader. This is where Mike came into play, eventually we found Spackman Rd. On this road we found Frank Hann Rock which Pamela climbed to find the plaque. As it was Vinces’s birthday, we camped up early so Pete could make him a cake, alas it didn’t
work so he had a biscuit with a candle in it. Spackman Rd meets Anne Beadell, had morning tea at Bishop Riley Pulpit. This was a dusty and very corrugated road and as we were all so shook up; we welcomed an early camp at Yeo Ruins. As it was windy we delayed lighting the fire till evening and an advance crew for a motorbike tour turned up. They told us that the David Carnegie track had severe wash outs, they suggested that we didn’t take it.
Next morning the Parks and wildlife rangers arrived to do some maintenance work on the buildings. Turned off the main track onto Point Sunday Rd. This was a non-eventful drive until we decided to take a short cut to Great Central Rd. We came out just short of Minnie Creek rest area, had morning tea on the Gun Barrel and 5ks short of Tjkayiria roadhouse Vince needed fuel so Russ gave him 10ltrs to get there. At the caravan park we enjoyed hot showers and did some washing. Had a rest day with some of us visiting the caves, had to get fuel as on Sundays they are only open for a short time.
Decided that we would do the David Carnegie track as it was one of the main tracks that we wanted to do. We thought we would go as far as Empress Spring and if too rough we would turn around. The turn off is 16ks back down GCR, did a detour into Breaden Bluff to see the caves, found an old car that
Graham got some aluminum strips to fix his draws, this track was very rocky but worth the trip in.
Lunch at Empress Springs and two vehicles stopped to talk and took one look at our convoy and said that if we needed any parts for our vans, we could get them further up the track (haa haa). At the spring Vince climbed down the well and said that there was no water no snakes. We passed the van that the guys told us about, had a good look over it, the guys couldn’t find anything that they needed, the flowers were great as there were many different types and colors. The terrane here is very flat with scrub that has spikes that would puncture a tyre and the wind extremely strong so it was very hard to find a campsite as you couldn’t get off the track. Took a chance at one spot and hoped that no one got a flat. Yes, you
guessed it next morning Russ had a flat. The wind was so strong that it took all hands to get Russandy’s camper down. As the track went on it got very rocky and at one stage, we were doing 11.67 ks per hour. The track had deep washouts and at one stage a van had its back wheel in it, the girls did well
as it was quite challenging at times also, we had to do a bit of pruning so the bigger vans could negotiate the bends and over hanging branches. Rons Jayco van collapsed, and the guys had to lift it up so we could jack it up for him to sleep in. At one camp we had a full moon, so the girls decided to have a party so after many wines and loud music they did the moon dance. Next morning with sore heads they cleaned the site up so you wouldn’t know we had been there. Into Carnegie Station, the kitchen was a dream, but the showers were basic. Here Ron and Russ fixed Rons Jayco the cable had broken. Bea made friends with the resident donkey by feeding it carrots. Had a great night around the campfire.
On the way home Ron tried to find a campsite for us by going down a fence line, but as it was not looking good said to turn around. Whoo this is next to an electric fence not happy Ron; Bea did a 25-point turn without hitting the wire. Russ found a Pigmy spikey tail lizard in one of the logs we were going to burn, the log with lizard was returned to where he got it from. Along this road we came across a footy field, so the guys had a kick of the footy that Mike had on board, Into Wiluna as this was the end of Rons trip as he had to be home. The rest of us headed for Sandstone with Russ now the leader, he missed the turn off
to the Magnet/Sandstone rd. and did an extra 54ks this road was better than the bitumen. Called into the Gidgee mine (Russ did a stint up there) they were good enough to show us around. Camped at Lake Mason lit the donkey and had hot showers still cold and windy. As some of the group hadn’t seen
London Bridge, at Sandstone Russ took them there. On the way home the wildflowers were brilliant, the best we have ever seen.
This was a challenging trip with all sorts of tracks from rocky/sandy/rutted/spinifex grass and over hanging shrubs/trees. No damage to cars only several tires, 2 shockies on vans, one side step on a penguin (Vince fixed) and Rons van. Beas on road penguin passed with flying colors.
Regards
Sandy
Russaany
Category: Eastern Suburbs 4WD, Trip Report Tags: Hann, KalGnet, MagInew
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