Just joined the forum and hoping for some feedback from any WA experts.
Travelling from Canberra to Karratha next month. We have done the usual coast road before so am considering the trip via the Goldfields hway (49) and then Hway 95 to just south of Port Hedland then south to Karratha. Seems to be a few options that different GPS systems suggest.
1. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Mount Magnet then north on 95 to Port Hedland
2. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Wiluna then west to Meekatharra then north on 95....
3. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Wiluna then north-west to meet 95 south of Kumarina
Option 3 looks the more direct and there appears to be reasonable access to fuel on all three options (we are in a Ford Everest towing a self contained off road van).
I was hoping anyone with knowledge of the roads could offer me some advice on what might be best as opposed to quickest?
Any thoughts very welcome
Thanks in advance
PeterD said
04:21 PM Jun 17, 2019
Your first route is an excellent road. It's all bitumen.
The second route has gravel road sections between Wiluna and Meeka. I'm not sure how much is gravel.
The third route I am not sure about. The Google map I am looking at does not show any roads NW of Wiluna.
There is a fourth route you may consider is to use the Meekatharra to Sandstone Road. The locals were using that as the quick route. It is all gravel.
Meredith said
05:01 PM Jun 17, 2019
We have taken the first route, good sealed road with some really interesting places like Sandstone. The 2nd route I know is mostly gravel from Wiluna to Meekatharra but should be ok as long as there hasn't been any recent rain. The 3rd route is marked on my Hema detailed WA maps as a 'track', not even a decent unsealed road, and I wouldn't be taking any van down it without getting some very reliable local knowledge about the road, certainly not an Everest and a semi off road van.
wendyv said
09:48 PM Jun 17, 2019
Your third option is called the Neds Corner road.
Photo above shows a typical section as we found it. Have not travelled it in recent years, but a few years ago did it a couple of times, towing our off road van. It was a pretty good gravel road. When we were working on mining village construction camps out of Port Hedland, subbies etc coming up from Kalgoorlie would always use that route.
Hi
Just joined the forum and hoping for some feedback from any WA experts.
Travelling from Canberra to Karratha next month. We have done the usual coast road before so am considering the trip via the Goldfields hway (49) and then Hway 95 to just south of Port Hedland then south to Karratha. Seems to be a few options that different GPS systems suggest.
1. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Mount Magnet then north on 95 to Port Hedland
2. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Wiluna then west to Meekatharra then north on 95....
3. Kalgoorlie to Leinster to Wiluna then north-west to meet 95 south of Kumarina
Option 3 looks the more direct and there appears to be reasonable access to fuel on all three options (we are in a Ford Everest towing a self contained off road van).
I was hoping anyone with knowledge of the roads could offer me some advice on what might be best as opposed to quickest?
Any thoughts very welcome
Thanks in advance
Your first route is an excellent road. It's all bitumen.
The second route has gravel road sections between Wiluna and Meeka. I'm not sure how much is gravel.
The third route I am not sure about. The Google map I am looking at does not show any roads NW of Wiluna.
There is a fourth route you may consider is to use the Meekatharra to Sandstone Road. The locals were using that as the quick route. It is all gravel.
Your third option is called the Neds Corner road.
Photo above shows a typical section as we found it.
Have not travelled it in recent years, but a few years ago did it a couple of times, towing our off road van. It was a pretty good gravel road.
When we were working on mining village construction camps out of Port Hedland, subbies etc coming up from Kalgoorlie would always use that route.