Koonalda Homestead - Old Eyre Highway

cjt55 · Senior Member

Koonalda Homestead - Old Eyre Highway

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Col,

Mate don't waist ya time as the Nymphs have long gone from there. Probably since 1973 actually cry smile

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

cjt55 · Senior Member

Hey Dougwe,

Ya never know mate .... there maybe some new ones out there now. I heard someone has restored the roof (seriously) so ya never know. If I do the trip in I will let you know.

Safe travels.

Possum3 · Guru

At waypoint on the Eyre Highway 87.6 km east of Border Village, turn north for 13.5 km. Cross Old Eyre Highway and continue north for 1 km. Road is not marked but is in-between two "wildlife" signs.

Extremely rough access road suitable only for dry weather.

Found this on the web. ontheroadphotos.com.au/tag/koonalda-homestead/

yobarr · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
G'day Col,

Mate don't waist ya time as the Nymphs have long gone from there. Probably since 1973 actually Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Hi Doug...just wondering if you have visited the place recently? It is a place that interests me,but if it is as you suggest, perhaps I should avoid it? Or should I perhaps wait to hear Cols opinion? Cheers

Traway · Veteran Member

We towed our supreme territory in there mid August. First half of road is very rough limestone. We crawled over it very slowly. The second half is dirt which can be muddy but there were bypasses around the bad areas. It took us about an hour to go the 14ks. Camped the night and it was really interesting. We would do it again.

JeffRae · Guru

We towed an Expanda Outback in, it was rough and it took us ages but at least we could then stay longer

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Chris (Yobarr) I was speaking to the 'twins' while in Byron Bay last week and they mentioned they had no idea where their cousin's the 'Nymphs' were as they don't have mobile phones anymore.

Chris, I don't think you have been around here long enough to know who the 'twins' are mate. It's a case of "Just trust me" biggrin biggrin

Keep Safe on the roads and out there. (especially around the Nulla Nymphs) biggrin

yobarr · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Chris (Yobarr) I was speaking to the 'twins' while in Byron Bay last week and they mentioned they had no idea where their cousin's the 'Nymphs' were as they don't have mobile phones anymore.

Chris, I don't think you have been around here long enough to know who the 'twins' are mate. It's a case of "Just trust me"
Keep Safe on the roads and out there. (especially around the Nulla Nymphs)

All good....I have been reading about it,and Im going in regardless,van and all! Cheers

Whenarewethere · Guru

We drove up this road a few km last year. The first couple of km are fine & there is a gravel pit on the left where we slept. Then the road turns into a shocker with stones all over it.

Not to far along the stone covered gravel road there is a track to the left & collapsed ground/cave (photo attached) if you drive around the west side of this there is a track heading north which is far better than the road.

We did a bout 5km but turned around as at the time we didn't quite know where it was going & also a thunderstorm was starting drop rain.

If you get some aerial photos & measurements before you go you should be able to drive on the track which was perfectly good to drive on & will avoid the road.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Aerial view, gravel pit about 300 metres from the Eyre HWY & turn off to the cave roughly a bit over a km.

Second aerial view, of the cave & the track heading north. Leave the caravan at the gravel pit or tow it the short distance to the cave over a bit of short length of stone covered gravel road.

cjt55 · Senior Member

Hi whenarewethere,

Thanks for you contribution. I am a little confused. All comments and my research is that from the new highway up the track to the homestead is that the first part from the new road is rough then it gets better. But you say the first few kms are fine.
I am asking what the road into the homestead from the new highway is like. I am lead to believe it is about 17km.
I wonder if you are referring from a different direction.
Great photo of the sink hole mate.

Whenarewethere · Guru

We turned off the highway looking for somewhere for the night & found the gravel pit. We were a bit early in the evening so drove up the gravel road. Very soon it was worse than the Gibb River Road, so we turned into a track on the left to simply look around. We found the cave, & also saw the track turn north. But as we were driving north on the track a storm came rolling in & we didn't want to get stuck so turned around. My guess is that we got about 6 km from the highway. Beyond that I have no idea what the track is like other than to say that it was better than the beginning on the road. It may join back up with the road so you can avoid the first few km.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I can't remember the precise point the road turns rough but it is after the gravel pit & before the turnoff to the cave which is roughly 1.5 km along the road.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I just looked at the aerial view & the track does meat up with the road. Hopefully by then the road is good again.

villatranquilla · Guru

we took our van in - slowly - and it was worth it - but left a day early as rain threatened and the track in has a few clay pans that would be impassable with minimal rain

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Col,
Koonalda used to be worth going into before the new highway went in as their fuel was the cheapest & old Cyril Gurney was always ready to have a "mag". I believe their homestead is National Trust listed (is made from railway sleepers).

The cave out the back was "hands off" in my days (1973-1982) of travelling the highway in various degrees of roughness, then bitumen - maintaining the microwave system (you can still see the towers - the tower close to Koonalda is Yangooabie). There were important fossils found & the Adelaide Museum/Uni were doing a lot of work in the cave. The Gurneys grew their fruit trees in it.

If you're a history buff, go in but take it easy.

HandyWalter · Senior Member

I must be on the wrong road. I drove the whole length of the old Eyre Highway and then did the Old Coach Road coming out just past Eucla. I was towing my NA van and OK it was not the roads you mention here, but the old Eyre Highway is quite drivable and certainly not a road that is as slow as 14kph. Ok I have an "off road" van whatever that means, but still I think it would be a better experience to drive the whole old Eyre Highway where you can, rather than just do a divert off the main highway.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Be aware that Koonalda and the Old Eyre Highway between Border Village and Nullarbor are within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area. Entry is free, but camping fees apply and must be pre booked on line.
East of Nullarbor, the Old Eyre Highway transits Yalata Aboriginal Land and a permit is required. The last time we requested one it was readily forthcoming and free.
Cheers,
Peter

cjt55 · Senior Member

I forgot to advise that I did go to visit and it was extremely interesting and would definitely recommend the visit. Th first few kms were very drought but I aired down and took it easy. No problems at all. I decided to book into Nullabor Road house for 2 nights so I could back track to the turnoff and spend the whole day looking around. Proved to be a good decision.