TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe

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On the ANZAC long weekend 2010, our family headed down to Robe for a break to explore the beaches there. We stayed at Aliyah Central in Robe for 3 nights.
We headed out of Adelaide straight after picking up the boys from school. With plenty of soccer mums on the road, it was hard trying to get out of Adelaide quickly. We spent the last hour of the journey driving in the dark. The kids did well while dad drove non-stop.

For the trip prep I had the following essentials:
- Shovel
- Maxtrax
- Staun tyre deflators
- Air compressor
- Tripod head mounted on roof rack
- Makeshift sandflag made from a fishing rod
- Some maps of the area
Beachport to Nora creina
Nora Creina to Robe

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TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe Day 1

DAY 1 - Nora Creina to Robe

I decided that after the long drive the night before, we should take it easy with the 4WD activities. So I decided to split the Beachport to Robe journey into 2. First up was a quick drive down to Nora Creina (about 22km on a dirt road). We went through the private property and passed all the shacks. Found the beach and expected a track heading north but there was no way out of the beach.

Here is Nora Creina beach


I then worked out that the upper half of the Beachport to Robe track starts a couple of kms north of Nora Creina. So we backtracked towards Robe and found the correct starting point. Here are several photos of what we saw on day 1.

Driving along the beach


Stopped at a place with moon like surface


Smiley face


Sculptured by nature


I was expecting sand dunes but we didn't find any. Due to the late morning start and hungry kids (at one stage they actually fell asleep), we didn't complete the entire track. At about the halfway point, we turned inland and headed back to our "home" for lunch.

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TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe Day 2

DAY 2 - Beachport to Nora Creina

We were a bit more organised today and got off to a better start. Drove from Robe to Beachport via the highway to have an early lunch at Beachport.
Here are some photos of the town.

Beachport cinema


A historical church


Managed to find the start of the track as the map showed directions from the information centre.
One of the many entries onto the beach


More scenic views


It wasn't long before we found our first dune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeAoXLriiZw

We found more dunes as we went along


We got stuck at the crest of this dune as the belly of the Prado bottomed out.


We all got out to have a look around to assess the situation. The kids decided to walk down the other side of the dune, expecting me to drive over. The steepness of the dune was a little scary for a first timer like me. So I decided to reverse back down the dune and find another way around.


There are a couple more videos but I will upload them to youtube slowly.

We finished off the day with a sunset near Nora Creina

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TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe Day 3

DAY 3 - Sightseeing around Robe

After checking out of our accommodation, we had a couple of hours to burn before having lunch at Robe and then starting the drive back home.
So we took in the sights of the harbour


The Obelisk



The coastal views




Found a blowhole that was fenced up to prevent you know who from doing you know what


Also found some great looking flowers on the side of the road

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Re: TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe

Overall, we had a great time. Couldn't wipe the smile off the kids' faces.
We didn't get bog, didn't have to use the Maxtrax or the shovel. Tyre pressures were at 12psi all the way and there was no sign of getting bogged, even though I had mud terrains on.

Although the track from Beachport to Robe is 2 ways, it appears to be easier to start from Beachport as I noticed that the up hill runs are smooth and the downhill sections have alternating moguls to slow you down. I figured that to go up hill, you need momentum and the last thing you need is a set of moguls in the middle of the hill to slow you down. Many of the tracks are wavy, as in the car pitches up and down. Other sections have alternating moguls. I assume that this is to slow people down.

Some sections can be quite narrow and luckily, the plants still had a good coverage of leaves on them. I didn't notice any new scratches on the side panels. If you do go on a busy holiday period, be prepared to meet other 4WDrivers coming from the opposite direction. Sad to say, I did not see anyone else with a sand flag on.

I did see a rather brave RAV4 on the beach though. I didn't stop him to ask which way he took to get onto the beach as the inland tracks should pose no problems to light SUVs but the main track definitely requires a proper 4WD.

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Re: TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe

Looks good there Andrew. Beachport/Robe is a real hoot. been down there a couple of times now and always had a lot of fun and learnt a lot about sand.

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Re: TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe

Thanks Nick. Wouldn't mind going again as we haven't completed the whole run yet.

Here are some videos I finally got to upload to youtube. It shows some of the tracks we went through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKwPvD1phDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xtazh1Z6vI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoQJ-q2dn68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mhCLzZ2l2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9RGTxNIY7E

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Re: TRIP REPORT : Beachport to Robe

Here's more footage from the 2nd day (Beachport to Nora creina)

Playing in the sand dunes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44BltwYPPGE

We bottomed out on the crest of this dune which was at the rim of a rather deep 'bowl'. Reversed out and then went to the other side and entered the bowl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OgZ62G2TWg

Steep descent punctuated with alternating moguls followed by a drive through the shrub covered dunes, then onto a sunset beach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HssbHhZ3C6I