Why use Hyden Norseman Road?

I have been travelling the Hyden Norseman Road (HNR) since the 80s and have seen it progressively improve. Development of mines in Forrestania and the consequent hauling of ore by road trains to Kambalda for processing has ensured the eastern end of the road is always well-maintained.

The main reasons for using Hyden Norseman Road to get to Norseman and beyond rather than Great Eastern Highway is that:

• it is about 100 km shorter
• there is less traffic
• the road is in better condition than GEH (even the gravel)
• it is quicker because you don’t get held up behind trucks and caravans
• it is an easy, comfortable and non-stressful drive.

The distance from Hyden to Norseman is 302 kilometres.

Joondalup to Norseman
Via Coolgardie – 741 km
Via Hyden – 663 km

Perth to Norseman
Via Coolgardie – 721 km
Via Hyden – 633 km

Cockburn to Norseman
Via Coolgardie – 737 km
Via Hyden – 631 km

At the time the Eyre Highway was completed (1942) it was mooted that the HNR be its western extension.

The Drive

Hyden and Wave Rock
The small wheatbelt town of Hyden is located 330 kilometres south-east of Perth.

Over many years the community and commercial enterprises have been very successful in promoting Hyden Rock (a granite outcrop) as Wave Rock and, more recently, they have marketed an ugly, unprepossessing, barren, unnamed salt lake (rebadged as Magic Lake) as a desirable tourist destination. Geez!

Hippos Yawn
Hippos Yawn is a wonderfully geological oddity, known as a tafone.

Water Harvesting
The are excellent examples of water harvesting at:
The Humps
Wave Rock
King Rocks

State Barrier Fence
The vitally important State Barrier Fence crosses the HNR about 52 kilometres east of Hyden.

Holland Track
The Holland Track crosses HNR about 57 kilometres east of Hyden.

The Breakaways
This is a huge free camping area to the south of the road.

Mines
There are a number of mines around Forrestania, including Flying Fox, Emily Ann, Maggie Hays and Lounge Lizard mines

McDermid Rock
The turnoff to McDermid Rock is three kilometres before Victoria Rock Road and Lake Johnston.

Victoria Rock Road
This good gravel road joins Hyden Norseman Road in the vicinity of Lake Johnston and heads north to the Great Eastern Highway at Coolgardie – a distance of about 140 kilometres. Seven kilometres to the north is the Old HNR. Victoria Rock is about 95 kilometres north of HNR. Gnarlbine Rock is about 17 kilometres further on.

Old HNR
The HNR was realigned on a more southerly route in the 1980s. The old section of the HNR still exists. It leaves Victoria Rock Road about seven kilometres north of the VRR/HNR intersection and meets Coolgardie-Esperance Highway 82 kilometres to the east about 17 kilometres north of Norseman. As it is not being maintained it is getting more challenging over time.

Lake Johnston
Frank Hann (1846-1921), one of Western Australia’s most active explorers, named the Johnston Lakes – a feature of the area – in September 1901 after the Surveyor General of the time, H.F. Johnston (1853-1915).

Circle Drive Campground
This is small camp spot on the northern side of the road 11 kilometres past the Marvel Loch intersection.

Woodlands Campground
A free camp at Bronzite Ridge.

Mort Haslett Drive
Short of Norseman the scenic Mort Haslet Drive diverts from the HNR to cross Lake Cowan.

Lake Cowan Lookout
Worth the drive to the top.

Norseman
The goldmining town of Norseman is situated at the junction of the Eyre Highway and the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, 194 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie and 203 kilometres north of Esperance.