Turn off the eyre highway approx. 90k east of Border Village (wa/sa border) GPS for the turnoff are; 13 27 347S 129 51 293E The homestead is about 15k in off the highway, shortly before you reach the homestead you cross the remains of the old eyre highway, this dirt track was only crossing until the new bitumen road was finally finished.
Koonalda is an old pastoral lease, which was handed back to national parks in the 1980s. the homestead building is still standing, there is an info board at the front door with a bit of a history of the place. Last time we passed thru the managers hut had been cleaned up and relined, the old shearing shed is partly in tact. About another 15k down the track is Koonalda Caves, it has been fenced off and no access to the cave. the site is ideally situated to facilitate eating of any fruit & vegs before you hit the quarantine check points at Border Village or Ceduna if you are heading east. There is a long drop toilet and rain water tank near the managers hut. each time we have stayed there we have been only ones there so being naked was not a problem, but, this may take a bit of strategic placement if others are there. There is a fire place in the managers hut, but, you are in national park so collection of firewood is not permitted, this is not a free camp, despite popular myth. camp fees are payable at NPWS at Ceduna, from memory last time we stayed it was $6 per person per night, if travelling east you call in and pay fees when you hit Ceduna.
entrance gate to the old homestead.
fireplace in the managers hut, this visit was in july and it was BLOODY cold!
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