MaralingaTours. Not Kazakhstan, not Nevada... but South Australia s Maralinga.

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1 MaralingaTours Not Kazakhstan, not Nevada... but South Australia s Maralinga. Learn about a very, very dark chapter in Australia s history. One Tree, Marcoo, Kite, Breakaway, Tadje, Biak and Taranaki: innocuous sounding names that in the 1950's provided headlines in the British and Australian press that heralded a growing capacity for Britain to offer a nuclear deterrent to the perceived threat of the Cold War. Entry to the Maralinga Atomic Test site is restricted and the area has a chained gate and hundreds of kilometres of secure perimeter fencing. Tourist Permits are now available for a limited number of visitors at any one time - from late March to mid-october. The 2 night/3 day permits includes Maralinga entry, a full day tour of the Forward Area - where the atom bombs were exploded and 2 nights camping at the Village campground. Access to the Maralinga Village is via the Eyre Hwy. Near Nundroo, about 145 kms west of Ceduna there is a sealed road heading north. Note: You need to arrive the day before the tour date. Directional signage first appears 78 kilometres north along the Iluka Mine Road. Other white on brown reassurance signs are placed at the Watson/Maralinga intersection and again at the Oak Valley/Maralinga intersection, 8 kilometres south of the barrier gate. To minimise non-permitted entry, please note that there are no directional signposts on the Eyre Highway pointing to Maralinga. The map on the following page has the significant junctions along the route numbered with a red and white circle. The following points correspond to these and have images and directions to make the journey to Maralinga as easy as possible.

2 Maralinga Tours to atomic bomb test sites how to get there (map based on work by bob sims) telephone to oak valley (no access) there is telstra mobile coverage as you cross the tran-australian railway line at ooldea siding and at the watson siding. contact numbers maralinga village 13 maralinga village oak valley turnoff maralinga barrier gate (no entry, permit required) maralinga airport n (approx) tour guide & gate (08) village manager (08) yalata police (08) cook perth watson railway siding (abandoned) legend all distances are "flexible" map is not drawn to scale use it at your own risk emergency rfds airstrip trans-australian railway blowhole 3 railway monuments to east west joining and longest straight section in world sharp corner shed tank ooldea telstra tower red lake tank roughest section of journey many limestone ridges barton adelaide to perth 78 distances are in kilometres 2 junction reference points route to maralinga major sealed roads minor sealed roads dirt roads locations airstrips towns last stops for fuel (none at maralinga) nullarbor roadhouse 118km to turnoff old yalata roadhouse causeway to iluka borefield (no access) yalata community yalata police lake ifould many road trains use this section please take care. uhf ch iluka (you missed the turnoff & need to go back) turn left to oak valley *small sign* colona shearing shed nundroo ceduna 177km to turnoff to adelaide

3 1 The Eyre Highway - Iluka Road turn off on the Eyre Highway is not signposted at all, though it is a significant intersection. Iluka Resources operate a fleet of road trains that carry ore from the Iluka mine to Ceduna for shipping. These trucks are frequently seen on this stretch and need to be respected. UHF channel 40 is a good way to communicate if necessary. When coming from Ceduna the turnoff is 27 km West of Nundroo, and the unique Colona Station woolshed on the North side of the road is only 1.5 km before the turn. Approaching the Iluka turnoff from the West Approaching the Iluka turnoff from the East Iluka ore road train, please respect, there are lots The beginning of the Iluka Road Further up the road The Iluka Road is a great bitumen drive taking in a bit of undulating mallee farmland at the South end which then gives way to open myall country then bluebush tableland.

4 2 About Iluka Road - OAK Valley Rd 78 km north of the Eyre Highway is the turnoff to Maralinga. True to form, Maralinga is not signposted but for now you follow the signs to Oak Valley. Turn left to Oak Valley and Maralinga Approaching Intersecton Approaching Intersecton and Iluka sign Oak Valley/Maralinga tunoff sign This is where the gravel starts

5 3 The Trans-Australian Railway Trans-Australian Railway is supported by Telstra mobile phone coverage, this extends to approximately 20 km either side although this distance may vary. From Ooldea it takes about 45 minutes to drive to the barrier gate at Maralinga, so this is a good place to call the Maralinga village to arrange access. (08) Ooldea is at the Eastern end of the worlds longest straight section of railway line at 478km. At the Western end is Loongana in Western Australia. Approaching Ooldea and the Telstra phone tower Calling Maralinga The place to call Maralinga to confirm ETA Trans-Australian railway crossing Ribbons of steel, dead straight from here for 478 km Road heading North from Ooldea

6 4 When Watson-Maralinga Road you hit the Watson-Maralinga Road turn right onto the bitumen, remember this intersection so you don t miss it on your return trip. The sign says Yalata for the Ooldea Road and Oak Valley for the Maralinga Road. From here you re on bitumen all the way to Maralinga. Turn right to Oak Valley and Maralinga. Approaching the Watson-Maralinga Road Turn right when you get to the Watson-Maralinga Road Heading towards Maralinga When returning, don t miss the turn to Ooldea, posted Yalata Into the sandhill country, on the way to Maralinga

7 5 The Oak Valley Turnoff Oak Valley sign at point 5 is the one you DON T follow. Stick to the bitumen. Straight ahead to Maralinga This is the Oak Valley turnoff, stick to the bitumen 6 Once Barrier Gate you you reach the barrier gate someone will meet you by prior arrangement. Maralinga is a secure area and the gate is locked at all times. Pre-arranged gate-opening Rendezvous at the barrier gate

8 7 Between Village-Airport Road the barrier gate and village is a T junction which bears a welcome sign. Turn left to the village where you will be staying. This T intersection is the road between the village and airport Welcome to Maralinga, turn left to the village 8 The Maralinga Village campground is positioned at the edge of the Maralinga Village, with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. While there are no powered sites, there are ablution facilities, equipped with hot showers, laundry, 240v power outlets and clothes lines. There is a central barbeque area, reticulated water outlets and wi-fi coverage that enable laptops and i-pads to be used. Telstra mobile phone coverage is patchy but from the raised area immediately south of the campground that was the old swimming pool, 1 or 2 bars of Telstra service is generally available in the evenings. Small, baffled generators can be used up until 9pm, with the agreement of fellow campground users. A central fire pit is available in the campground and there is sustainable amounts of free firewood available for campers use. A central barbeque hot plate and prep area is also provided. Please note: There isn t any fuel facilities available at Maralinga, you must make sure you have enough for the return trip. You can top up at Nundroo or Nullabor (see map). Enjoy your stay! Campground established at Maralinga Village Village site with backfilled pool and fountain in foreground