Nullarbor Roadhouse to Vokes Hill Cnr then ABH west

[mrs quilty]

Hi, anyone have any info to share re this route.....one vehicle Tvan with LC200 and the other Mazda BT with Topaz? Also any advice re maps...Westprint or Hema
Thank you in advance for your info and stories.

[Phil G]

Its the best way into the GVD.  We like the scenic route so most often go to Cook via Murrawijinie Caves and Knowles Cave and Kudna Rockhole then on to Cook.  Need the Raster 250k maps to find those tracks.  Cook is used for the railway change of crews - no facilities there apart from a toilet at the station but its good to have a walk around to see what life might have been like before the town shut down over 20 years ago.  After crossing the railway line there are tracks heading in all directions, so digital maps come in handy.  Take it easy as its bumpy on the Nullarbor Limestone.  The camping is pretty poor until you reach the sand dunes at NME 183  - lovely spot there amongst the black oaks.  Then its pretty much north past Muckera Rockhole, past a rainwater tank, cross the business road and another rainwater tank and eventually reach an intersection where you turn right and later on left to head to Voakes Hill.  Beautiful desert - fantastic camping and take your time.  Heading west along the ABH is slow going - about 13k west of Voakes Hill theres a side track that takes you north to Voakes Hill itself.  Cross Serpentine Lakes and into WA, there's a nice rockhole just off to the south about 10k west of the border.  There are 4 camps, Ilkurlka roadhouse, the off lake, a crashed plane then Neale Junction, Yeo Lake and then into teh gold mining areas where the road actually becomes a highway about 100k from Laverton

As far as maps go, I think its best to have both paper and digital and I use them all Hema, Westprint and the Auslig 250k map.  Get different things marked on each.

As far as the vehicles go, its rough country - be especially careful of the Topaz as it may get trashed a bit by overhanging trees.  Tvan is fine.

Cheers

[Wildmax]

We've done that trip in the reverse direction, and it's a great drive.
I agree with comments above about track obstacles: you need to be prepared for some pinstriping on the vehicles, and especially the Topaz because its height will bring you into contact with overhanging trees. Be especially careful if you have an awning that protrudes when it's rolled up (as most of them do). Some sort of protection for the awning itself and the legs is essential.
We chose not to take our Eclipse for that reason, and were glad that we did - though agree it's absolutely no problem for the TVan.