BMWMCCWA

A small group of us are going for a ride... with an open invite for any like-minded Adventure Riders to meet up there.
As per previous Desert Raid gatherings, you need to be self sufficient as nothing is provided. Do your own research on track conditions and make your own decision if you have the skills/preparation to undertake the ride.

At this stage, we're going to camp at the Shooter's Shack off Rason Lake Road. DMS: 28º 45' 28.23" S 124º 02' 29.25" E

Fuel will be the biggest issue for this Desert Raid with only the brave approaching from the South at Rawlinna on the Trans Australian Railway Line (no infrastructure at Rawlinna)

The nearest fuel is available at Laverton (24/7 using debit card) 190km to the West of the Shooters Shack.

The Border Run is on Sat 2 Aug 2025.

Some information about the Shooters Shack can be found here;

https://youtu.be/aDPgZAF8Dm4?si=60hmC4qsO3hGvldw (around 22.40)

Other information can be found here;
https://www.exploroz.com/places/78732/w ... ason-shack

See you on the other side!

G'Day Slackers...after some Intel.
I'm looking at options for getting to/from Desert Raid 2025 at the Shooters Shack in August next year. Has anyone done Balladonia to Zanthus recently??? What are the conditions like? Don't tell me its a walk in the park! I'm getting mixed signals on line. I'll be on a DR650.
Thanks in advance.

I know this doesn't help with info on road conditions, but as it happens, I rode past Balladonia Roadhouse yesterday and noticed that the entry to the Balladonia - Zanthus road was barricaded with drums, obviously there to discourage people from driving on it.

For the well prepared off road motorcyclist, I don't think it matters much.

pete

Digger wrote: ↑Wed 21 Aug, 2024 9:53 pm A small group of us are going for a ride... with an open invite for any like-minded Adventure Riders to meet up there.
As per previous Desert Raid gatherings, you need to be self sufficient as nothing is provided. Do your own research on track conditions and make your own decision if you have the skills/preparation to undertake the ride.

At this stage, we're going to camp at the Shooter's Shack off Rason Lake Road. DMS: 28º 45' 28.23" S 124º 02' 29.25" E

Fuel will be the biggest issue for this Desert Raid with only the brave approaching from the South at Rawlinna on the Trans Australian Railway Line (no infrastructure at Rawlinna)

The nearest fuel is available at Laverton (24/7 using debit card) 190km to the West of the Shooters Shack.

The Border Run is on Sat 2 Aug 2025.

Some information about the Shooters Shack can be found here;

https://youtu.be/aDPgZAF8Dm4?si=60hmC4qsO3hGvldw (around 22.40)

Other information can be found here;
https://www.exploroz.com/places/78732/w ... ason-shack

See you on the other side!

Bump…

G’day Slackers,

Myself and a small group are headed for the Nullarbor Muster, an Outback Rodeo held annually at Rawlinna on the Trans Australian Railway line. I’m not really big on Rodeos but this one has some importance and I do have an alternative motive for attending. Rawlinna, like most of the Railway Stations and Siding on the Trans Con has been long since abandoned but once a year the place comes alive for the Rodeo. Pastoralist and Land Owners come from miles around to attend the Event. It is also the only weekend of the year when unleaded fuel is available.

Hence the reason I’m attending.

My plan is to attend the Muster and refuel but at the same time, fill a 10 litre Jerry and cache it in the bush somewhere along the Trans Con. The reason for that is when I attend Desert Raid later this year, it will give me more options to travel on different roads and tracks where fuel supply will be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

We depart on Wednesday morning (23rd) and should be away for about 8 days.

See you on the other side.

http://www.nullarbormuster.org/

Track Intel - Zanthus to Balladonia Track

G'day Slackers,

Myself and a small group have just returned from the Nullarbor Muster. We used the Zanthus to Balladonia Track on our return journey. Some Riders attending Desert Raid 2025 may have been considering using this Track on their forward or return journey.

Here is what I know.

The three bikes in the group were two DR650's and one R1200GSA.

The Track is typical of Station Tracks in and around that area. It is primarily twin track and not maintained. We travelled at between 35-50 kph and took about 5 hours to complete the 190km trip. There had been some rain in the area 2 weeks before our journey but that did not impact our trip. If the track is dry, it should be trafficable. There is a small risk of rim damage or pinch flats due to exposed tree roots across the Track in many places so correct tyre pressures should be considered. I did have one low speed óff' as a result of riding in a V shaped washout covered in marbles and that caused the front wheel to wash out from under me. There were two small sections of Bulldust but by the time you realized you were in them, you were out of them. We did see a group of 5 four wheel drives who were heading in the opposite direction to us, that is, south to north. There were a couple of other óh shit' moments but that was probably due to not riding to the conditions. I would compare it to the Telegraph Track from Norseman to Balladonia for those who have used that Track before.

Hope you find this helpful.

See you on the other side!

Howdy,

In the week including ANZAC Day 2025 I visited Lake Rason. If you are interested in what the western part of the Great Victoria Desert looks like at this time of year or if you are contemplating Desert Raid 2025 check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMtCth4QZgc

The video is all about the track in to the western shores of Lake Rason. The 7MM's shack is a highlight...

Cheers,

Raider

PSA - Read the Narrative before clicking on the Link.

ASMR Desert Raid 2025 - Zanthus to Balladonia Track - Outback Wesern Australia

I have recently returned from an 8-day Adv Ride to Rawlinna and return using different roads and tracks. This footage is on the Zanthus to Balladonia Track in an area not often used by travellers. I was obtaining footage of our journey and forgot to turn the camera off. Rather than waste the footage and leave it on the cutting room floor, I thought I would upload it in the hope that those attending Desert Raid 2025 in August who may be considering using this track, might find it helpful. For others who may be watching, it may help you fall asleep.

The footage commences from the junction 27km south of the Zanthus Track and Trans Cont Railway Access Road.



See you on the other side!

Howdy,

Access to the 7MM’s shack on Lake Rason…

Desert Raid 2025 is the sixteenth year since the first at Carnegie Station. Crickey! Did you know that the word “RAID” in Desert Raid was borrowed from a “RAID” of Citroën 2CV’s seen on the Nippon Highway (AKA the ToJo Highway) northeast of Kalgoorlie in the early 1990’s? Check out “raidaustralia.com" for their adventures in the tiny 2CV's.

Access to the 7MM’s shack on the western shore of Lake Rason includes travel along remote desert tracks that are not serviced or maintained. Fuel and water are most certainly a key consideration, right up there with the state of the tracks and everything else that needs consideration…

Access from Laverton provides the shortest distances to travel between fuel and water points - both in Laverton. Nominally 400km Laverton to the 7MM’s shack and back to Laverton. Hence the video posted above showing track conditions.

A more direct access from Perth is to go through Kalgoorlie (last fuel and water!) and northeastward to the Tropicana Mine. Take the minor track due east where the mine access road turns northward, about 12km south of the mine site. From there, 27km eastward to the track that runs south-southeast to the Plumridge Lakes and north-northwest to the eastern end of Lake Rason. Roughly 130km to the 7MM’s shack from the intersection southeast of the airstrip. Map showing access around the southern side of the Tropicana Mine is appended. The Tropicana Mine is just left of centre at the top of the map. The abandoned exploration airstrip is east-northeast of Blue Robin Hill. Channel 79 is manned by Macmahon. This route option covers roughly 540 kms from Kalgoorlie - one way!

Another route option is east from Kalgoorlie to Rawlinna along the Trans Australia rail line, then north on the Connie Sue Highway to the Plumridge Lakes track etc, or north onto Neale Junction and then west on the Anne Beadell Highway and southwest to the eastern end of Lake Rason. These options require creative fuel and water scenarios… These assume no fuel at either Tropicana or Rawlinna. Refer, also, to the posts by Digger.

The original reconnaissance route planned for the 7MM’s shack was Perth to Laverton, the 7MM’s shack, the eastern side of Lake Rason, the Anne Beadell Highway, Neal Junction and then south along the Connie Sue Highway to Rawlinna and back to Kalgoorlie. This changed after an easy run from the 7MM’s shack to the eastern end of Lake Rason. This section of track is like the last few kilometres into the 7MM’s shack from the west. I decided to head southeast past the Tropicana Mine and through the Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve before intercepting the Connie Sue and then on to Rawlinna. The track southward passed a number exploration tracks heading westward. When I reached the abandoned exploration airstrip and saw the condition of the track into Plumridge Lakes I decided to check-in with the mine site on Channel 40. After switching to Channel 79 I was told I could make my way to the Tropicana / Kalgoorlie mine access road by heading 3km southeast past the airstrip and picking up a westward track to the main access road. As I had never been on this road I decided to check it out. A well-maintained haulage and access road back to Kalgoorlie.

A preparation session, or three, pouring over maps and considering alternatives and what-if’s would be time well-spent for this Desert Raid. Check and calculate all your own track intervals and cumulative distances.

Regards,

Raider

Great Intel...could you Post on the Thread in AdvRider as well for those lurking on that site?

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/dese ... 5.1753573/

Digger, Just posted to AdvRider. Thanks, Raider

Refer to the 3rd July post under the Border Run 2025...

https://www.bmwmccwa.asn.au/resources/D ... eRally.pdf

Howdy riders,

I plan to head off on Wednesday 6th August for the 7MM’s shack on Lake Rason.

With a bit of luck I will be in reasonable shape after returning from the Border Run and will swap out the BMW R1250GSA and all its creature comforts for the old Suzuki DR650.

The outbound trip will take me through Bruce Rock, Southern Cross (fuel at the BP) Bullfinch, then north across Lake Deborah, on to the Diemals T-intersection, Menzies, Kookynie and Laverton (fuel at the BP). Then proceeding through Burtville and on to Lake Rason and the 7MM’s shack.

On the outbound leg I will likely camp north of Lake Deborah on Wednesday night and then east of Laverton on Thursday night?

I plan to return to Laverton from the 7MM's shack and then homeward… The round trip Laverton to Lake Rason and back to Laverton is approximately 400 km. This means I don’t need to carry extra fuel and can focus on adequate water for the round trip. The condition of the track and how much it will challenge me will depend on how much rain has affected the route. We shall see…

I am not as young as I used to be - it is a struggle getting off a 10mm thick mat after a night sleeping on the dirt. I intend taking it easy - especially once I hit the sand and clay sections on the Rason track. I will have to see how I fare and intend riding accordingly...

One of the plans, since abandoned, was to take the UNIMOG to the 7MM’s shack and continue across to Neale Junction, the Eyre Basin and then on to Brisbane etc… The latest plan is to head off in the UNIMOG across the Great Central Road and on to the Eyre Basin once I get back from Desert Raid.

If anyone is heading off on Wednesday 6 August from the Perth area for Desert Raid and would like some company, let me know… We could arrange to meet up somewhere along the route.

Cheers,

Raider

Raider wrote: ↑Tue 22 Jul, 2025 3:38 pm Howdy riders,
I plan to head off on Wednesday 6th August for the 7MM’s shack on Lake Rason.
The outbound trip will take me through Bruce Rock, Southern Cross (fuel at the BP) Bullfinch, then north across Lake Deborah, on to the Diemals T-intersection, Menzies, Kookynie and Laverton (fuel at the BP). Then proceeding through Burtville and on to Lake Rason and the 7MM’s shack.
On the outbound leg I will likely camp north of Lake Deborah on Wednesday night and then east of Laverton on Thursday night?

The Group I am with will also depart on the 6th but will be camping at the Breakaways and then taking Victoria rocks Road to Coolgardie, onto Kal and then heading toward Tropicana (they dont know that yet).
So, the next time we see you should be at the Shooters Shack.

Make sure you bring the Stickers.

See you on the other side!