Yalata South Australia(Sand Driving)

[harryoner]

Hello all, my friend and i have planned a trip to South Oz later this year and we plan to go fishing and sand driving. If you don't know where this remote location is, it's situated on the south west coast of SA a couple of hours past Ceduna. So what i'am wondering is has anyone on this site been there before? Also a more general question would be if you were to go sand driving and your life depended on it what gear would you bring?

Here is a list of things we have got for our trip please add anthing you feel is necessary:
- Waeco 50lt compressor fridge
- Bushranger Air Max II compressor
- Bushranger puncture repair kit
- Bushranger X-Jack/ air Jack
- we have mad some max tracks out of old milk crates
- Dual battery system, hence why i was asking questions in relating to Amp ratings of alternators

What elso do we need?

[Bomber]

Most of this area is Aboriginal land, so the first thing you'll need is a map that says where you are & ain't allowed!


Yalata (http://www.yalata.org/#)

[Tonto]

Can't comment on that location exactly.
Probably too obvious, but:
- shovel
- gauge
- Monopoly (something to do while you contemplate the long walk home)
- water (something for the long walk home)
You haven't said what you're travelling in. Some of the SA beaches can get pretty gnarly. A TJ at 10 psi will generally eat them up (most of the locals down SE never run at more than 12 psi), but watch out for the steep, coarse sand beaches.
Puncture may be less of an issue than knocking beads off and filling the tyre with sand if it gets too soft. I fitted beadlocks, but that's a bit of an expensive precaution.

[harryoner]

Bomber i' am aware that this is all aborigional lands thus my friend and i have already obtained a permit, and are aware on where we can and can't go. Tonto beer is a bit of a no go on these beaches as it's not permited into the aborigional lands, so unfortuantely we must respect that. Shovels and water are as you said obvious anything else you may be able to think off.

I didn't want to mention it but seeing as you're so insistent we're travelling in a Toyota 4Runner, don't worry when i get my car i will fly the jeep flag.

[Tonto]

OK, if you're in a 4Runner, your best accessory is a mate in a Jeep ;)

Just kidding - my old 4Runner rocked on sand (although it did have a Buick V6 to help). And, no beer means more room for water and an extra shovel, so you'll be right.

[wallaby]

Hi Harryoner: About Yalata, are you going there in the hottest part of the year (Dec - Jan) when temp can be 40+ Celsius? I was raised in Ceduna and i would not do what you are doing. Also, there are plenty of other sand driving spots you could visit. Why Yalata? Beer is not a good idea in the heat of the summer.This is really remote country if you do break down. You should visit Fowler's Bay and Cactuis Beach on the way. I passed through Yalata about 8 weeks ago. The old service station was in ruin (no petrol or other services there by the way).

Cheers

[harryoner]

Wallaby i guess the remotness adds to Yalata's appeal for us! I'm not really going their specifically to sand drive but i know it will be required to get around there! So why Yalata? Well i don't know if you have heard or seen but Yalata is renound as probably the countries premier fishing location to target gigantic Mulloway of the surf. Not only is the mulloway fishing exceptional but the fishing for sharks, snapper, big salmon and many other species is supposed to be phenomenal!

As for the time of year we will be going in the blistering hot month of December, i'm aware of the uncomfortable heat but i'm willing to endure it to catch a giant mulloway, also December is prime big mulloway time!

I' am also aware that there is no petrol after Ceduna so we will prepare for that. May i ask Wallaby, why you don't reccomend going to Yalata at that time of year, other than the heat?

[wallaby]

Harryoner: my family are all professional fishermen who work out of Ceduna and Port Lincoln. The fishing is good in the Bight for the fish that you are seeking. I suggest Fowler's Bay, is about as far as you need to go. I have not heard of anyone fishing at Yalata for what you want - my brothers and I certainly don't. Please make sure that you are well tethered if you are wanting to rock/cliff fish. There is good whiting fishing along all of the Eyre Peninsula coast and if you have time you might like to try for them at places like Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Smokey Bay. Smoked Tommy Ruffs (if you can buy them locally) are to die for. The winds in December along the Bight in December can be bite-ingly cold (pardon the pun) some days because the winds at this time of the year are often southerly or sou-westerlies and can be quite strong. The nights, even with high day temperatures, can be freezing. Enjoy the Nullarbor. Iit's looking really healthy at the moment with quite dense vegetation. Don't forget to watch for 'roos etc. If you hit one or see one left on the road, can you pull the carcase off the road 10 - 20 metres so that the Wedge-tails that feed on them won't be chomped by another passing vehicle. Saw about 20 of these when on the Nullarbor about 8 weeks ago.Best of luck.

Cheers.

[harryoner]

Thank you Wallaby for your reccomendations, with all due respect mate i'm quite educated within the realms of sport fishing and i know just how good a spot Yalata is for big mulloway! I find it quite suprising that living in Ceduna and your family being profesional fishers that you have heard nothing of mulloway being caught at Yalata. If you doubt the quality of this location then please do a search, I reckon you will find that these fish are the star attraction of Yalata.

Also there will be no rock/cliff fishing, all the fishing we will do will be off the surf beach. Wallaby i was wondering if you know any good spots in and around Ceduna to catch squid, perhaps way back further towards Port Augusta? I ask this as i would love to bring in a few fresh frozen squid baits to use on the mulloway, they can't resist a fresh squid!

[Bomber]

Harry fuel is available at Penong, Nundroo (generally the cheapest in the region) and Nullabor Motel, all west of Ceduna.

[Mr_Willy]

@ harry - I have done 3 trips to Yalata and are in planning for our fourth in the first week of January. I have an 8 page planning document which may be of interest to you - a lot of my mates have used it since I have developed it and found it very useful.

Send me an email to nathan.williams@appleyard.net.au and I will email it to you.

It really is one of the best places i have EVER fished. Out of our group, only one is left to catch a big Mulloway, and everyone else has PB"s well over 50lbs, all from Yalata.

[roscoea26]

I'd be taking a HF radio and joining VKS 4wd radio network