The drive distance could be 3400km each way but with a Disco that would be a shame. First deviation was from Norsman WA to Wave rock Hyden. Car map and online takes you to Kalgoorlie or Esperance to Perth or Hyden. I took the direct route on the Hyden road directly from Norsman. Link

Great drive and shorter than Kalgoorlie or Esperance! Loads of things to see. One was Disappointment Rocks. It was well named as when I stopped the hissing sound of a puncture had be unloading the back to get to the spare tire 😊 That joke will work for ever- priceless! The dirt road was mostly 110kph and passed 12 or more spots well worth slowing up for! There is a few mines along the way which may be the reason the road is so good. If you try this during the week I assume a few road trains would be on it.

Rabbit proof fence just before the amazing Wave Rock was other highlights.

Stayed in Perth for a few days. Mate tried braking my back when fishing of the back of Rottnest Island as I hooked up on two Unstoppables but stayed connected for over 30 minutes both times. I did land a 49cm snapper which was on a second hook with one of the unstoppables. It was 1 cm to small in WA


Off down south after than. Windy Harbour beach shack was off grid and cheap! Most south easterly point of Australia is 3km walk from there! Pemberton Gloucester tree with one of my crew climbing and two watching. Marron and trout for lunch! Great wines from Margert river and loads of fun in some Sand Dunes made 3 days there more than just a little fun

On to Albany after the tree top walk Valley of the Giants which was a little lower than the top of the Gloucester tree
Princess Royal Fortress Albany and dozens of other highlights the Gap and Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park. (Not my video)

The whaling museum guide and I got to be good mates as I was able to give her some info on fuel oil and two other items she was possibly going to update the tour with. Granite sky walk Castle Rock and a little more dirt road fun. (Not my video)



Field of lights was amazing Link

I had added a small kayak to the 4 swags, table, chairs and fishing rods on my roof racks by that point. 4 bikes out the back as well did have me looking fully loaded.

Esperance then the next short cut. Car map and online maps take you North to Norseman then East. I took Fisheries Road east then Balladonia track which is 170km northly to Balladonia road house, 30ish sand pit then rocks and fun. It is clearly marked 4wd only and no caravans. I would add it is fun but needing 4wd experience. Mt Ragged and Cape Arid national park are noted highlights.
At 6pm and under 60km from Balladonia road house two worried looking ladies waved me to a stop. They were heading south. They advised of a bush fire to the north west heading east, South of Balladonia road house. They also looked lost and wanted advice about the track we had just come up which was the only track except a turn off to Mt Ragged. Discussed this with them then got on top and found a light southerly wind which I liked!! Kept driving north. A tire started delaminating on an edge. I cut a strip which was whipping the car off and it helpfully held together ( More on tires later) A second tire was showing a bulging sidewall! I had pumped up all tires which had been down at 20psi for the sand pit section to 25psi and increased the pressures in the tire with a bulge to 30psi. 10km later it had a puncture so on with the spare. It was getting dark with under 25km to the Balladonia road house. Wind check had a very light southerly still thankfully. I noted a glow on the horizon to the north and wondered if it was Balladonia road house or the other option. 5 more kilometres travelled and found another glow more to the west on the horizon to assumed it was the other option. 5 more kilometres on we arrived that the back of the fire. Track was totally clear with small fires smouldering in hundreds of small trees five or so kilometres to the east and west and also to the north where the track went.

I wanted to stop in the safety of the already burnt ground, but my wife was having anxiety issues and waned out fast. A slow but amazingly beautiful drive on to the north continued. When 13 km from the highway and Balladonia I found the fire front west and east but a long way from the track. It was almost stationary with almost no wind at all. Not realy happy with the tires but so close the bikes on the back would be a option to get people to Balladonia I moved on and arrived at Balladonia 15 minutes later at 19:30ish refueled thinking of driving west to Norseman to get new tires. Paying for fuel to the sole staff member left at Balladonia was interesting. He knew his boss had taken all the other staff to Norseman and was not sure if he could get back to evacuate him the next morning which was the ‘Plan’. I guess I did not help when I showed him our very good video of the fire and could show him exactly how close it was.

The wife wanted to stay. I found two wind sites one of which was reporting current southerly winds of 22kph. Zero traffic or trucks had me and others thinking the road to/from Norsemen was closed at least at the Norsemen end of it. Checking all the tires was not pretty. The one which had a de-laminated strip was holding but I could see just a bit of the steel belt, another tire had a small bulge. Spare puncture was in the sidewall and it had two bulges on it. Replacement Tires Norseman 200km west or Ceduana 1000km east. Bush fires to the south and west.

I took a slow night drive east as the wind forecast for the morning looked less than favourable with strong southerly’s!

80kph with hundreds of roos, three dingos and a bandicoot I think. Just touched the tail of one roo luckily. I pulled up at 2 am when the ocean was my close to the south of me and fires were on risk to the crew or me. Rang Ceduna when they opened and was given the option of Maxxis road or ATs which they could get the following day. Ordered 5 Maxxis AT-980 Bravo ( I did not know they had a 18 inch suitable for a D3 till then) They may not have been my first choice if I had options. The current two impaired tires and a roughly patched spare which was happily not needed, got me another 800km to Ceduna that day.

I meet Rich2000 from the UK but is really a cool Kiwi and a member of our site here at times he mentioned He was found chatting to my wife about my dodgy tires when I returned from paying for fuel at the Nullarbor roadhouse. His cool looking baby D3 Orange G4 Challenge edition only had 80,000 km on it. He was happy to point out to Jo his wife, my 2005 had 370,000 plus before the rotten hail storm and my now 2009 was about to hit 280,000. Rich was heading to Darwin. We chatted about the tracks he might take to a short cut to Coober Pedy I wish I had tires and time to join him and Jo.


Photos | KIWIS IN AFRICA... went to Asia!

The new shoes in Ceduna were appreciated.
Before you all laugh to much, I did get wheel alignment and wheels balanced and tire report prior to taking my new replacement Disco. I did not like the road tires on my replacement D3 but took the advice they would be fine for the trip. Laugh now as I possibly did not mention my love of putting my D3 on all dirt, sand and fun stuff possible. I was kicking myself I promise, and the tire guys are not the fault – It was me of course always the weakest link. About 8500km travelled and the D3 was flawless of course. Flying misses so much, My kids and wife fly to Perth so only got the trip back poor sods. I heard the fires did not burn Balladonia very happily.


Loved the trip. I could add a lot more about other places in WA, SA and even Vic but you have to go for yourself to enjoy our magnificent country.


Hope you all had a great time and an adventure or two. Happy New year all.