Did I miss something?

[vnx205]

Has anyone else been to Balfour on the west coast of the south island?

I have just returned from a very enjoyable two weeks in Tas and am a bit mystified by Balfour.
I had read about the Balfour Track and drove a few km along the coastal track leading to the western end of the Balfour Track. As I was travelling alone and am not yet as well equipped with recovery gear as I would like to be, I thought it would be irresponsible to go further. Actually it probably would have been a fairly easy trip since it had been so dry for a while.
Most of my maps showed a short road (not a track) heading west from the road down to Corinna and leading to Balfour.
When I came back up from Corinna on the way home, I noticed that the distance to Balfour was recorded on the road sign, so I thought there must be something there.
So when I got to the turn-off, even though there was no road sign, I headed in towards Balfour. The road started OK, but after a few kms, there were tracks everywhere and it became less obvious which was the main track, so I gave up.

All I had found was a lot of evidence of abandoned mines and an airstrip a bit further north.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/9641/balfourbf5.th.jpg (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=balfourbf5.jpg)
Did I miss something important?
Some research revealed that it had been an important mining area, But I really don't know whether I found the real Balfour.

Obviously I was not the first person to travel the track to Couta Rocks on the coast near the start of the Balfour Track. The sand had eroded so much that the top of the mudguards on the Defender were at about the original ground level and the vegetation was well above the top of the camper.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7215/couttarockskl9.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=couttarockskl9.jpg)

[Phoenix]

From memory (I haven't travelled it, and I don't havt my book with the track notes on me) the balfour track goes south from temma. It can be extremely difficult to negotiate because of some big bogs, but it has also been very, very dry of late. I'll check my book and maps on hte weekend though.

[Phoenix]

found a description online

9. Balfour Track - Hard
Tasmap: 1:100000 - Nelson Bay, Arthur River
Grid Refs: See Below
Contact: Parks and Wildlife Service, Arthur River (03) 6457 1225
The Balfour Track/Greenes Creek Road junction (Grid Ref 094288) is about 5 km south of Temma (Grid Ref 065329) and Balfour is 16 kms in an easterly direction from the junction. The Balfour Track is rated ‘hard’ because of a 70 metre long canal-like stretch of water along one section; otherwise the track is rated medium 4WD standard. Under the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area Management Plan 2002, all vehicles using the Balfour Track require a written authority from the Parks and Wildlife Service. Visitors are strongly advised to report to the PWS office at Arthur River to obtain advice on local conditions before starting their trip. Interesting features at Balfour are the unique settlement, historic cemetery and old mine sites.
Rather than exiting the area by the same route, there are two easy grade alternatives. Return along the Balfour Track to the Western Explorer Road junction and proceed north approximately 9 kms to the junction with Blackwater Rd (Grid Ref 206375). Take the left route to return to Arthur River via Temma Road (16 kms to Temma Road junction). Alternatively, turn right and travel 17 kms along Blackwater Road to Kanunnah Bridge. From here return up the sealed road to Smithton or take the alternate Forest Drive (track 20) to Roger River.

also in the same area

18. Arthur River to Sandy Cape - Hard
Tasmap 1: 100000 - Nelson Bay
Grid Ref: 038528 - Arthur R Bridge, 065329 - Temma, 114219 - Greenes Creek, 115118 - Sandy Cape
Contact: Parks and Wildlife Service, Arthur River (03) 6457 1225
Forestry Tasmania, Smithton (03) 6452 4905
This drive provides fantastic coastal scenery and beautiful camping spots. Arthur River is 16 kms south of Marrawah via the Arthur River Road. Temma is a further 22 kms south along the Temma Road, which is easy 4WD standard. From Temma to Greenes Creek (12 km) the track is medium 4WD standard, however it can increase in difficulty after rainfall with deep-water sections. Offroad authorities (permits) are required from PWS for any off-road driving/riding in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area (http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/reserves/arthpiem/index.html). The beach drive from Greenes Creek to Sandy Cape (12 km) is rated hard 4WD standard and multiple vehicle groups are recommended because of the frequent occurrence of quicksand. Under the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area Management Plan 2002, travel south of Greenes Creek is restricted to group travel with a minimum of two vehicles. An alternative to the Sandy Cape beach run is to stop at Greenes Creek and return to the Balfour / Greenes Creek Road junction (Grid Ref 094288) and take the Balfour Track (see below). Access and authority details may change as a result of the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area Management Plan 2002. Therefore you should check with the local ranger for up-to-date information on available tracks and their current condition. Vehicles with restricted registration and all off-road vehicles must get a written authority from the Parks and Wildlife Service. Driving in areas other than those shown on authorities is not permitted.
The whole Arthur River - Sandy Cape area is an Aboriginal landscape with heritage places found throughout the area, and we’re all responsible for helping to protect these places. If you think you recognise Aboriginal heritage leave it alone. Walking on shell middens can cause their erosion. Leave all stone, bone, shell and plants where they are and admire them where they belong.




from here http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/4wd/4wdtour.html

[vnx205]

Thanks Phoenix. In an attempt to be brief, I have not made it clear what I was curious about. I had read the information about those two tracks before I left home and travelled some of the track south of Temma. It was as you said, very dry and probably would have been the ideal time to tackle it solo, but there was so much else to see so I satisfied myself with just a taste of what the track had to offer.
What I was really curious about was the town/site/locality of Balfour itself.
Some of my maps showed the Balfour Track crossing the Western Explorer Road to Balfour. Others that showed only roads but not tracks had a road going east from the intersection with the Western Explorer Road and leading to Balfour.
My question is, "What was I supposed to find at Balfour?"

[Phoenix]

I think there is a small town at balfour (hamlet ?) which was a mining village from memory. that's about it really ;)