Hi every one , We're planning a trip in a couple of weeks to Ceduna from Kyneton Vic. We're planning our return via Wirrulla up to Kingoonya to meet the Stuart Hwy and then travel down via Woomera. Has any body done this road recently? It's also known as the Hiltaba Kokatha track. We will be towing 13ft van and are wondering again has anybody towed a van etc along it, going by my map it's roughly 300 k's so an easy days trip. Any info would be great, we have contacted the SA roads board which at this time have given the road as good condition. Thanks in advance Sue & Steve
Cruising Granny said
05:19 AM Jul 10, 2012
The road is generally rough as most open surface roads are out that way. Stony surface with some corrugations. I'm not sure how well it's maintained these days. If you're going around the lake north of Wirrulla make sure it's fairly dry. It can get pretty sticky out that way. The Gawler Ranges can be quite beautiful, especially around Hiltaba Station. If you get that chance, there is a dam near the homestead, right next to the road. Two waterfalls trickle down the rock face behind the house, and in the damp, rocky crevices there is a beautiful, tiny fern growing. I pinched a piece to try and strike it in a pot, but failed. It seems to be happiest in the rocky crevices with the water. Also, the biggest tadpoles I ever saw were in the dam. I went camping in the shearers quarters years ago. Have a safe trip. It sounds like an interesting odyssy.
abes said
07:10 AM Aug 5, 2012
G'day Sue and Steve Back in about 1992 I bought a T650 Kenworth prime mover in Townsville and drove it back to Perth bobtail via the Hiltaba track (Kingoonya to Ceduna). We started heading south from Kingoonya about 12 am in the morning and assumed that we would be at the other end around 3- 4 am (300 ks there abouts)........ but after staking 2 brand new michy tires and driving thru creek beds and clay pans it was about 8 oclock when we hit the highway. Having said that I believe that in a well prepared 4x4 and van you would have no probs. Next time the wife and I travel this road it will be in our 4x4 and van and not a truck. (Retired 2010, yahoooooo) PS .Happy travels Regards Abes (first post on Gey nomads)
Sue - Steve Gazel said
09:00 AM Dec 10, 2012
Thanks Abes, sorry for the delay in reply. We decided not to do the track as I am towing with an Xtrail and still not convinced that they are bullet proof. I'm upgrading to a Isuzu D Max soon so will put it through it paces as they seem to have a good write up. Congratulation on retirement, I'm semi retired so am still working part time but we take every advantage of hitting the road. Good luck & thanks for you comments.
Regards
Sue & Steve
-- Edited by Sue - Steve Gazel on Monday 10th of December 2012 09:03:55 AM
Hi every one
, We're planning a trip in a couple of weeks to Ceduna from Kyneton Vic. We're planning our return via Wirrulla up to Kingoonya to meet the Stuart Hwy and then travel down via Woomera. Has any body done this road recently? It's also known as the Hiltaba Kokatha track. We will be towing 13ft van and are wondering again has anybody towed a van etc along it, going by my map it's roughly 300 k's so an easy days trip. Any info would be great, we have contacted the SA roads board which at this time have given the road as good condition. 
Thanks in advance
Sue & Steve
I'm not sure how well it's maintained these days.
If you're going around the lake north of Wirrulla make sure it's fairly dry. It can get pretty sticky out that way.
The Gawler Ranges can be quite beautiful, especially around Hiltaba Station. If you get that chance, there is a dam near the homestead, right next to the road. Two waterfalls trickle down the rock face behind the house, and in the damp, rocky crevices there is a beautiful, tiny fern growing. I pinched a piece to try and strike it in a pot, but failed. It seems to be happiest in the rocky crevices with the water.
Also, the biggest tadpoles I ever saw were in the dam.
I went camping in the shearers quarters years ago.
Have a safe trip. It sounds like an interesting odyssy.
Back in about 1992 I bought a T650 Kenworth prime mover in Townsville and drove it back to Perth bobtail via the Hiltaba track (Kingoonya to Ceduna). We started heading south from Kingoonya about 12 am in the morning and assumed that we would be at the other end around 3- 4 am (300 ks there abouts)........ but after staking 2 brand new michy tires and driving thru creek beds and clay pans it was about 8 oclock when we hit the highway. Having said that I believe that in a well prepared 4x4 and van you would have no probs. Next time the wife and I travel this road it will be in our 4x4 and van and not a truck.
(Retired 2010, yahoooooo)
PS .Happy travels
Regards Abes (first post on Gey nomads)
Thanks Abes, sorry for the delay in reply. We decided not to do the track as I am towing with an Xtrail and still not convinced that they are bullet proof. I'm upgrading to a Isuzu D Max soon so will put it through it paces as they seem to have a good write up. Congratulation on retirement, I'm semi retired so am still working part time but we take every advantage of hitting the road. Good luck & thanks for you comments.
Regards
Sue & Steve
-- Edited by Sue - Steve Gazel on Monday 10th of December 2012 09:03:55 AM