Noresman via Hyden Rd

[08D4DPRADO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 08D4DPRADO]

Hi all.

I thought this would be a good spot to ask, please re-direct if not.

Im driving to Tassy over the Xmas break and want to know if the Hyden road to Norseman is worth the 100km saving?

Im gunning it across the country so I dont have time to stop to take in the scenery or anything similar.

I will be leaving from Rockingham and will make it to Norseman on the first night with no issues, Basically time is of the essance this trip, so with the best route being the quickest route, is it worth going via Hyden?

Cheers.
Brom

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

G'day Brom

I've traveled both the Hyden - Norseman road and the Norseman - Lake King road -- more out of interest rather than speed ... and found both to be quite sound, relatively fast dirt roads .... until they get wet.

If there's any water around there's every chance one or both of the roads will be closed.
I've also got a mate who used the roads regularly doing a truck run ... who once spent 3 days getting from Hyden to Norseman after he got caught in a storm and had to follow a couple of semi's through.

Don't get me wrong ... I loved both runs .. but probably wouldn't use them as a time saver unless it was dry.

Heading across at Xmas time you should be fine ... unless there is a summer storm.

Cheers
Chippy

[08D4DPRADO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 08D4DPRADO]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

Chippy,

Thanks for the info, dont know if I want to risk a possible delay as I have a boat to catch in Melbourne... Maybe on the way back as I will have 2-3 days spare.

Cheers.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

We have been travelling through the Yilgarn/Goldfields area over the past week, and stayed a couple of nights in Hyden.

I didnt take this road, but the reports from local Servo and the Visitors centre is the road is nearly always in VGC. We saw 2wd small cars that had towed caravans over it ok.
Apparenly a small section near the Mine can become rough, but it gets regular maintenance. You should be ok in a Prado

I found all the gravel roads in Hyden area in VGC. I took Emu Fence road as a short cut to Kalgoorlie, and sat on 100 kmh easily

I would ring Wave Rock visitors centre just prior to your trip for an update.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

The road is generally in good condition but there are a couple of things to watch out for:
1. Road trains don't slow down or pull over for anything slower than them. Trying to pass them is a challenge. A road train was clocked at 118 on the road during the Boorabbin fires when the GE Hwy was closed and everyone had to go the gravel route.
2. There are some deadly bends towards the Norseman end. You can get some serious speed up on the road and many have come unstuck on these bends.

There really isn't much to see out there. The Cave Hills and Victoria Rock region south of Coolgardie on the Holland Track are much nicer. I'd be inclined to go via that way on the way home if you want to do some sightseeing.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

I concur with all of the above... I have traversed it a number of times but never to use it as a short cut. However during the fires I did travel it throught to Noresman to get to Kal. The road is always well maintained due to the Mine activity out there so I wouldn't be worried about that. It could become an issue in the wet though and plenty of people have come unstuck on it due to over confidence because it is a good gravel road which is high speed and can become very loose after a fresh grade...

Mitch

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Re: Noresman via Hyden Rd

I will be travelling the Hyden Road this weekend...
and its the one weekend forecast for rain. yay.
bro-in-law is a noresman local though, so he knows it well.