Sunday, Sep 16, 2012 at 16:39
Been about 4 years since I've done this one. As always, the seaweed at the western end of
the beach run Israelite - Pt Culver is a problem. On the last trip, there was impassible seaweed from Israelite to Wattle
Camp, but I was travelling from the east when there was a neap tide. Best to pick your time when you have the highest/lowest tides, and travel at low tide.
Failing that, you could take the old telegraph track from Israelite to Wattle
Camp, then move onto
the beach via an access track, but expect lots of scratches on your vehicles. But that track will be impassible if there has been rain, as there are salt lakes. This stopped us doing Wattle
Camp - Israelite, as there was 100mm deep water on the salt lakes.
Also, this time of year can present a quite short beach with soft sand following winter, and November onwards is a better time. As you're probably aware, you have to follow the telegraph track past Pt Lorenzen before tackling
the beach. You follow the coast track as marked on the 250k topo map as far as you can then find a safe track thru the weed to the shore.
In good times, we've hit 90km/h on this beach, but in bad times, it's been 10km/h in low range.
At the Pt Culver end, there should be rubber belt matting to help you get up the dunes, but last time, there was a sharp drop at the bottom end due to washout. Clear sailing after that along the top on both smooth and rough rocky
limestone. I'm not sure, but I think one can drive right thru on the telegraph track thru Thundlda dunes to the track down to Twighlight Cove, but I've never done it. Otherwise, you turn north to
Caiguna near Baxter memorial, then head south at Cocklebiddy or the Eyre turnoff. If taking
the beach from Twighlight Cove to Eyre, there is a tricky track through the dunes as rocks block the way on
the beach. Contact me on
gezza90 at amnet dot net dot au
if you want waypoints and track files and lots of track notes for the area.
Cheers,
Gerry
AnswerID:
495028