Be heading to Western Australia next month and would apreciate any thoughts on crossing the Nullarbor and were to stay. Plan to leave from Ceduna first thing in the morning and usually do around 500 Km a day, any advice on were to aim for day one, two and so on would be a great help along with were to fuel up ( Diesel ) and were to avoid.
But unless you are on a strict time frame, why not take your time and enjoy the many interesting things on the way over.
There are roadhouses from Ceduna to Norseman about every 100 or so Km ... availability of fuel is usually not a problem. Price per litre can vary but will be between $1.89/ltr to $2.00+/ltr.
Cheapest fuel is usually at the Penong Roadhouse and then at Norseman - however Eucla is usually the cheapest of the roadhouses, and worth the diversion for more than just the fuel.
Each roadhouse provides facilities for caravans - power and toilets and usually free showers, although some charge a small fee for shower.
Water is the scarcest commodity - so carry full tanks and be frugal. I took three weeks to cross from Ceduna to Norseman - my van has two 90ltr tanks and I did not need to refill them - using showers at the roadhouses. I think it was C_o_c_ k_lebiddy Roadhouse that has desalinated water which was no charge ... but not to fill your van tanks, however a 20ltr container seemed acceptable.
Others will give you more information I am sure ... but attached is my ramble about my first trip over the Nullarbor.
Hi, We went West to East a few years ago with 2 o'nite stops as people had said how long and boring it was. At the second night Lynne said that next time we do it we will spend a week or more as there was so much to see. Plenty of places to camp. I suppose it's what you like but don't hurry, and have fun.
Delta18 said
08:29 PM Jul 16, 2015
Play the golf course, there is a hole at every stop between Ceduna & Kalgoorlie.
Woody n Sue said
09:06 PM Jul 16, 2015
Rocky lizard loved your Nullarbor Experiance wonderfull read
Well done
Bruce and Bev said
09:09 PM Jul 16, 2015
Eucla is the best camp ground (caravan park not quite), but not as dusty as the roadhouse ones and well back from the road so you wont suffer from road noise like the roadhouse areas.
If its hot, there is a fantastic swimming pool you can use behind the motel and there is a café as well as takeaway food.
Toilets and showers great - but $1 for about 3 mins of hot water, so make sure you have some coins from the servo there.
The roadhouses along the 'Boor are much of a muchness. Similar food and reasonably expensive and most licensed (good for road safety I guess !!)
Eucla and a few other places have a few entrances onto the beach. Don't bother trying to walk down to the waters edge. No shells and you will need to take 5 lt of water and a packed meal because the hike is so long
Travelling east to west is safest in terms of getting onto the cliff edges to look down onto the sea. Be careful of the big drop-off from the tar seal onto the metal tracks (especially when youre in S.A) - they are axle breaking sometimes due to poor maintenance. Many people overnight camp in these parking areas - if you do, don't park side on to the ocean or you will have a rocking night. Park nose or tail onto the sea.
It can be very dangerous pulling across the road when travelling from the west - earlier this year we saw a late model written off car which a truck had presumably run into the back off (judging by the fact it was half the length it should have been). And this was near to a rest area track leading down to the sea (the car had WA rego plates so possibly turning across the road)
Tamey said
11:18 PM Jul 16, 2015
If you want fuel in Norseman, drive past the first one and go to the second one - about 10cents a litre cheaper
Woody n Sue said
09:23 AM Jul 17, 2015
Tamey is that trick advise or is there three servo's in town so it's the second one from both sides :)
villatranquilla said
10:36 AM Jul 17, 2015
check out Koonalda Homestead - you'll need to check GPS or speedo readings as there are no signs from the highway - worth the 16k detour providing weather is fine and a great stop-over
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 17th of July 2015 10:39:10 AM
Weevil said
12:50 PM Jul 17, 2015
Tamey wrote:
If you want fuel in Norseman, drive past the first one and go to the second one - about 10cents a litre cheaper
There is or was three in Norseman, the cheapest used to be in a back street, the same street the local Tourist Bureau is in.
In the main street, turn east at the metal figure roundabout, should be the next street up on the corner. Not always the cheapest so need to compare the three in town for prices on the day.
Mez said
02:11 PM Jul 17, 2015
Thank you Rockylizard for your great " Nullarbor Experience" , give us some idea as what to look for when we finally hit the road -
As I am quite new to the site, I wonder if other members do similar writing of their experience or is there somewhere on the forum I could look for it?
And to 19bruce54 have a great time and be safe
jules47 said
04:56 PM Jul 17, 2015
Mez wrote:
Thank you Rockylizard for your great " Nullarbor Experience" , give us some idea as what to look for when we finally hit the road - As I am quite new to the site, I wonder if other members do similar writing of their experience or is there somewhere on the forum I could look for it?
And to 19bruce54 have a great time and be safe
A lo of members have blogs - if they do, they usually put a link to them - look on the Solo's section for Yeoeleven, he updates his blog weekly, usually, interesting reading and great photos.
Happy Wanderer also does a blog - check out one of her posts.
Others do as well - read their profiles, usually there is a reference or link to blogs on there, if they have one.
Good luck, and enjoy the forum.
Felicia said
07:37 PM Jul 17, 2015
Went across May 2014. On the way back stayed at the road house at Madura overnight, very noisy generator. Called into Mandrabilla their generator was much quieter and would stay there rather than Madura. Was going to stop at Nundroo, stopped for diesel and definitely changed our minds. There was a farm stay at Coorabie, Coorabie Farms Accommodation on the road to Fowler's Bay, all weather road, not too far off the highway. Ended up staying 2 nights not 1. $20 a night and they thought we might run out of food so the second night they cooked us a roast lamb dinner for free with dessert. Great people, enjoyed driving around the area, worth seeing. There are 2 roads into Fowler's Bay don't take the one on the west side as you have to go over water, we did do it with just the tug not a problem, would not do it with the caravan. We did free camp on the way across, at Mudinni Bluff which a lot of people were telling it was great, it wasn't most disgusting place.
Hi All
Be heading to Western Australia next month and would apreciate any thoughts on crossing the Nullarbor and were to stay. Plan to leave from Ceduna first thing in the morning and usually do around 500 Km a day, any advice on were to aim for day one, two and so on would be a great help along with were to fuel up ( Diesel ) and were to avoid.
Thank You All.
Gday...
This site will give some indication of the wonderful journey - http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/
But unless you are on a strict time frame, why not take your time and enjoy the many interesting things on the way over.
There are roadhouses from Ceduna to Norseman about every 100 or so Km ... availability of fuel is usually not a problem. Price per litre can vary but will be between $1.89/ltr to $2.00+/ltr.
Cheapest fuel is usually at the Penong Roadhouse and then at Norseman - however Eucla is usually the cheapest of the roadhouses, and worth the diversion for more than just the fuel.
Each roadhouse provides facilities for caravans - power and toilets and usually free showers, although some charge a small fee for shower.
Water is the scarcest commodity - so carry full tanks and be frugal. I took three weeks to cross from Ceduna to Norseman - my van has two 90ltr tanks and I did not need to refill them - using showers at the roadhouses. I think it was C_o_c_ k_lebiddy Roadhouse that has desalinated water which was no charge ... but not to fill your van tanks, however a 20ltr container seemed acceptable.
Others will give you more information I am sure ... but attached is my ramble about my first trip over the Nullarbor.
Cheers - John
Hi, We went West to East a few years ago with 2 o'nite stops as people had said how long and boring it was. At the second night Lynne said that next time we do it we will spend a week or more as there was so much to see. Plenty of places to camp. I suppose it's what you like but don't hurry, and have fun.
Play the golf course, there is a hole at every stop between Ceduna & Kalgoorlie.
Well done
If its hot, there is a fantastic swimming pool you can use behind the motel and there is a café as well as takeaway food.
Toilets and showers great - but $1 for about 3 mins of hot water, so make sure you have some coins from the servo there.
The roadhouses along the 'Boor are much of a muchness. Similar food and reasonably expensive and most licensed (good for road safety I guess !!)
Eucla and a few other places have a few entrances onto the beach. Don't bother trying to walk down to the waters edge. No shells and you will need to take 5 lt of water and a packed meal because the hike is so long
Travelling east to west is safest in terms of getting onto the cliff edges to look down onto the sea. Be careful of the big drop-off from the tar seal onto the metal tracks (especially when youre in S.A) - they are axle breaking sometimes due to poor maintenance. Many people overnight camp in these parking areas - if you do, don't park side on to the ocean or you will have a rocking night. Park nose or tail onto the sea.
It can be very dangerous pulling across the road when travelling from the west - earlier this year we saw a late model written off car which a truck had presumably run into the back off (judging by the fact it was half the length it should have been). And this was near to a rest area track leading down to the sea (the car had WA rego plates so possibly turning across the road)
check out Koonalda Homestead - you'll need to check GPS or speedo readings as there are no signs from the highway - worth the 16k detour providing weather is fine and a great stop-over
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 17th of July 2015 10:39:10 AM
There is or was three in Norseman, the cheapest used to be in a back street, the same street the local Tourist Bureau is in.
In the main street, turn east at the metal figure roundabout, should be the next street up on the corner. Not always the cheapest so need to compare the three in town for prices on the day.
As I am quite new to the site, I wonder if other members do similar writing of their experience or is there somewhere on the forum I could look for it?
And to 19bruce54 have a great time and be safe
A lo of members have blogs - if they do, they usually put a link to them - look on the Solo's section for Yeoeleven, he updates his blog weekly, usually, interesting reading and great photos.
Happy Wanderer also does a blog - check out one of her posts.
Others do as well - read their profiles, usually there is a reference or link to blogs on there, if they have one.
Good luck, and enjoy the forum.
Lynda