Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

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Anyone been up there? A guick Google shows that it takes roughly half an hour to complete the track. Apparently easy when dry but difficult when wet.
http://www.4x4earth.com.au/tracks.html? ... -Lobethal-

Well it's pretty wet now. Maybe time to put the muddies on. Anyone with more info would be greatly appreciated.

I'm booked to stay at Mannum over the coming Christmas holidays and my family is coming down from Sydney. They don't mind a 4WD adventure or two. We are planning on renting a 4WD from Avis and exploring the nearby areas. Will be going to Saunders Gorge as well. Any other suggestions?

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

I would strongly recommend the Bendleby Ranges but that is a big commitement as it takes about three and half hours to get there. Great driving for all skill levels. Prettty much a stock standard vehicle could do all of the tracks but would require more care as less ground clearance. Just pick your tracks to suit the level of your self and relatives but it is a great place.

Border Track isn't too bad either. Nothing difficult about it except possibly the bog holes can be a little tricky but you can drive around the deeper ones. Starts at Pinaroo and head south along the Border. You can go through to Bordertown or shoot out to Keith. Only about 2.5 hours to get there from Adelaiade.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

Hi nick,

Thanks for the suggestions. Bendleby ranges is probably too far with us being at Mannum as a base.
According to this the Border Track is closed between 1/11 and 31/3 of each year. So it looks like we can't go.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

I didn't notice the Mannum reference there Andrew. you could head out to Bammera and do a run through Loveday, but take an amount of care as you can do damage.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

Might head out that way to go on the big playground at Monash. There's supposed to be easy to extreme tracks at Loveday.

Bro-in-law drives a Subaru Outback and has followed Landcruisers into areas like Newnes in NSW. We'd probably prefer to go somewhere moderate so as not to damage the rental car. Some bumps and scratches on mine is fine as I already bought the car with a custom pinstripe. We won't go anywhere extreme where the car would decide to lay over and have a rest.

There will be 5 young kids ranging from 9 months to 8 years. So will try and do short trips and not too long spent sitting in the car 4wdriving.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

Monash is alwsy good. My kids love it when we head through that we but the last time was about 2006. Might need to go through the Riverland for our next trip across to see my sister in Canberra.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

The first time we went to Monash was after we bought our brand spanking new Tarago in 2007 and thought that it was a good idea to take it for a drive. However, when we got there, the place was closed for maintenance. So it's another 3 hr drive back. We did go back again in Christmas of the same year on the way up to Sydney and it was worth it.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

We went for an investigative trip to check things out. Decided to put the muddies on just in case. The following youtube tells the story....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSVKlS169tE

In brief, the road is about 2.5km long with one hill somewhere in the middle. From Lobethal, you would be going down this hill. From Woodside, you will be going up the hill (obviously). The video shows the hill climb.

The hill has 4 deep ruts and the ground consists of a slippery clay base. It was fine driving on the crest until the ruts criss-crossed and the car ended up pointing nearly sideways. Seeing as there was no point going up, it was better to go down and turn around and take the kids for the bike ride I promised.

Going down the hill at 45 degrees was a slow process. It got up to a point where there was simply no further movement up or down probably due to the belly bottoming out.

So out came the Maxtrax (yay! first time using it) and silly me placed it on the rear wheels which got us nowhere. Then I got my head together and put it on the front. The Prado straightened up and at this point the video ran out and the calvary arrived (at the top of the hill) in the form of 3 utes we met earlier on the same road who told us about the hill and will come and snatch us out if we got into trouble.

Seeing as the Maxtrax straightened us out, I was relieved as I didn't have front recovery points and I wasn't about to have my car snatched fearing that the hook will probably dislodge. So we reversed down the hill and as we packed up, we watched the others come down but didn't stay long enough for their climb up.

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

With our intended border track trip postponed this weekend been, I decided to hit up some summer only tracks in the hills. We visited golf links again and did it from the lobethal direction. Crunched a side step pretty badly... and nearly wiped out on a large gum tree. The ruts are real deep and the mud is very gooey and slippery at the moment. Definitely worth a visit soon if you're keen ;-)

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Re: Golf Links Rd, Lobethal SA

Might have to have a look at this track next weekend... something to do with the kids!!!