Diesel fuel (I did not bother jotting down the point of a cent per liter)

Bunbury 126 cpl
Tammin 125 cpl
Coolgardie 126 cpl

The following is the Nullarbor section

Norseman 141 cpl
Balladonia 165 cpl
****lebiddy 174 cpl
Madura 165 cpl
Eucla 155 cpl
Nullarbor 175 cpl
Nullaroo 133 cpl
Penong 131 cpl
Ceduna 131 cpl (cheaper in the town) but I used the BP where the dump point is situated
I always use this BP fuel outlet, as I always use this dump point

For those worrying about the extra cost of fuel on the Nullarbor (I noticed more than one traveller carrying jerry cans of fuel)

In my situation full tank at Norseman, then full tank at Ceduna, I jotted down the kilometres travelled, the fuel used, and the price paid, as the cpl will always change

It was very windy, with tail winds most of the way, and kept my speed at 87 KPH, (true GPS speed)

Norseman full tank
Balladonia 183 Kilometres, 16.83 litres = $27.87
****lebiddy 239 Kilometres, 23.28 litres = $40.51
Eucla 263 Kilometres, 20.79 litres = $32.52
Nullarbor 191 Kilometres, 21.71 litres = $37.76
Ceduna 306 Kilometres, 33.50 litres = $43.88

Total kilometres from my speedo Norseman to Ceduna, was 1,182
Total fuel used was 118.11 litres
Total price of fuel was $182.54

Using a normal (none Nullarbor) price of approximately 126 cpl my 118.11 litres of diesel used would have cost me $148.82
Therefore it cost me an extra $33.72, and I did not seek out the cheapest fuel outlets

Kimba 131 cpl, I always purchase fuel here, as I always use the free camp facility that this town provides

Nuriootpa, I will fuel up as I leave, and will always fuel up here, as this is my home base in SA

Camps I stayed at using Camps Australia Wide (CAW) book 8, as the reference numbers
Plus places that I can recommend

26/12/2016
WA camp Meckering
I stopped at the servo for a hamburger, as there is a free camp in this town
The camp was spotless with no rubbish
Some trees for shade, flushing toilets, and dump point
Unfortunately I can not recommend the hamburgers due to the price, perhaps it was boxing day)
The wife swiped my plastic card, so I asked for the receipt
Hamburger 2 x $8.50, extra salad 2 x $2.50, (they were normal hamburgers)
If this is a normal price then the hamburgers were nice

26/12/2016 overnight
WA camp 229, Koorarawalyee (Boorabin) rest area
Nice overnight site trees for shade, fireplace, 2 x drop toilets, dump point, bins, but no water
The camp area was mainly free of rubbish, but there was rubbish near the toilet area
I cleaned up around the front of the toilet area, three woollies size bags, and was called in for tea
I had intended to finish off the clean up the next morning, but it was just too windy
There was perhaps another three bags full of rubbish to be picked up

27/12/2016
Norseman BP (the servo on the road heading across the Nullarbor)
The truckies breakfast is now called the Norseman Big Breakfast or similar words
$20 for chop, sausage, bacon, fried tomato, 2x eggs, 2 x hash browns, and 2 x toast
Tea or coffee $2.50 (make it yourself) or free if you are a truckie
There seems to be no limit on tea or coffee consumed,  and many were filling up their travelling mugs, to take one for the road
$10 for Savoury Mince On Toast (when available), I can also recommend this, as I swapped half a piece of toast for a forkful of Savoury Mince

27/12/2016 overnight
Baxter rest area,  SA camp 15
I was disappointed with this site
It is large enough to accommodate at least 30 caravans, as well as passing traffic, plenty of trees for shade
There were only 4 bins, completely overflowing, and rubbish everywhere
There was only 1 drop toilet
I was going to start cleaning the rubbish and filling some large garbage bags I carry.
The wife said that the birds would rip the garbage bags, and that I would just be adding to the rubbish
As a side note, a couple (grey nomad age), pulled in near me. I introduced myself, and the first words the man said was. "It is sad to see that the people who come to these sites, leave their rubbish behind."

28/12/2016
Madura, I can recommend the hamburgers, $10.50 each, (they were nice, and I thought that this was a reasonable price for the Nullarbor)

28/12/2016 overnight
Scenic Lookout 13 Kilometre Peg, SA camp 611
No facilities except bins, but a view of the Ocean
It was very windy, and I came up with the idea of carrying the woolies type bag, in a 9 litre bucket, to clean up, this was not very satisfactory.
I got plenty of exercise just taking the rubbish to the bins, one piece at a time.
Unfortunately I ran out of time, and only cleaned up about one third of the rubbish.

29/12/2016
Visited the Head Of The Bight (Whale Watch)
The road in is bitumen, I had never been before, as I thought that the road was a dirt track
You have to pay (even out of whale watching season), to walk along the boardwalk, $5 for pension concession.
We went along the boardwalk, and I can confirm that you can see plenty of Ocean
The people running the place said that the best time to see the Whales, was July and August
There is a café, and toilets near the boardwalk
There is no  caravan park, (as we know it)
Outside the boundary fence, about 8 kilometres away, there is a no facilities free camping area
I saw no rubbish in both areas

29/12/2016
Penong, I can recommend the bread at the only store, as it was fresh
As a side note, two years ago this store was closed up, that is why I used it

29/12/2016 overnight
Watraba Parking Area, SA camp 589
No facilities except a bit of shade in the afternoon, two bins, table with benches, and a home made fireplace
Cleaned up 95% of the rubbish, it was windy so had to leave the bits that crumble as you pick it up

29/12/2016
Quarantine at Ceduna
Wife was the host for the inspector, we were told that onions, carrots, potatoes, and honey, were now allowed into SA, but not the other way
Please look up the quarantine site to double check this info, or like us take no fresh fruit and veg, or honey, as the shops are within a few minute drive

30/12/2016 drove in to check this out
Ceduna Motorhome Park (self contained only) all grey water to go into dump point
If not staying overnight, then a small donation to use the dump point
$7 night, dump point and potable water, toilets only when the club is open, meals 3 nights a week, pokies, TAB, bar, etc

30/12/2016
Wirrulla Caravan park, SA camp 582
Drove in to ensure it is still $7 for power, hot shower was broken, but a plumber was repairing it
Not sure about shade, as the area is a large concrete pad, only saw one toilet, unless there is another one in the shower building
Saw no rubbish, and the only traveller said that there were four other caravans who left that morning

30/12/2016 overnight
Kimba free camp, SA camp 560
Flushing toilets, potable water, some shade, hot shower for $1 each two minutes, also dump point near the oval
Squeaky clean, would have not picked up half a cup of rubbish, they ask for a donation, which we gladly placed in the box
There is a sign on the toilets saying that the power is for the Kimba Grey Nomads, so I made some inquiries
Any Grey Nomads who volunteer at the museum or op shop, can park at the oval and have free power.
There are 12 (15 amp) power points

30/12/2016
Crystal Brook, SA camp
Drove in to see if it was the same as last time
Free camp, flushing toilets, dump point, and a sign saying that the caravan park is $27 powered site
Saw no rubbish
For the train lovers, Crystal Brook is the most used line in the Southern Hemisphere
As a side note, the café nearest the camp has closed down, it was open in 2013

Hope that this info is useful to someone

Edit for typo of Madura

Gday Tony,

Great story mate, thanks for that.

We did a similar trip April 2016. Same experience. So disappointed with Baxter, if you drive another 100 meters away from the highway there is a large gravel area that is perfect for a caravan.

We are great lovers of Crystal Brook, Kimba showground and Penong. Yes the bread is brilliant.

I cant wait to do this drive again. I will most certainly look at the head of the bight (I thought it was a dirt track as well).

Cheers mate, safe travels

EDIT: Dont drink the coffee at Balledonia.... YUK!

EDIT: Dont drink the coffee at Balledonia.... YUK!

The wife has a Cappuccino everywhere we stop, she says that any coffee after hours of travelling, is better than no coffee, LOL

A very useful & informative post.  It's one that I will flag for future use.

Great for first timers & 'done it years ago' nomads like us.

Good on you for the clean up routine.

Thanks for the effort

Bill B wrote:

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Hey Tony when did they relocate Mildura to the Nullarbor ?

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Err egg on face, foot in mouth, again

Still it is only the first time this year, so it is a new record for me, no mistakes for nearly four full days, this means that I am improving

Thanks for that Bill, I shall go back and edit the typo, otherwise the Victorians will think that I am trying to steal by stealth

LOL

Thank you very much for all of that information - have never been over the Nullarbor, so now know what to expect.

Hopefully go when the Whales are around.

Helen

newhorizons wrote:

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Thanks, Tony. Great info as I'll be doing the crossing in early April.
Did you notice if most of the servos (in WA) take our fuel cards?

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I have no idea about fuel cards

I did not notice any signs saying that they did not take fuel cards

All the servos I used accepted my bank debit card, (I do not have a credit card, as the banks do not trust me with their money)

jrg wrote:

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Good post Tony
We,re leaving Perth 20th Feb with Boorabin 1st stop just short of Balladonia ,Jillah Rocks ,Cohens rest area then in for 2 nights in Ceduna Shelley Beach ,Nutt bush retreat, Clare for few days Mannum and a Murray river houseboat for a week.
Worked out you did 570 odd first day to far for this woodduck I,m doing between 400 max 470 bit more than usual .We went into Head of the Bight in late May 2016 saw 7 Whales then but still a bit early they get upwards of 30 later sure was a surprise what they have there makes a good break .
Hope we get the tail wind you had ,had serveral friend who fought the Oct Nov head winds very scary fuel figures and one stayed at Ceduna for 3 night waiting luck of the draw. This is our 3rd Jan/Feb crossing each time had no more than 32degs hope for same but if it,s 40 plus that 470 might go to 570 as it will be cooler in the car.

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Two years ago, I did this trip in four days, (the boss does not like traveling)

This year five days

Next time (fingers crossed) six days

I could have easily increased my speed, but was concerned that if the wind changed, it may have caught my roof solar panel

Prior to fitting my roof solar panel, if I had met a head wind, I would have kept the same speed, and used more fuel

If I meet a head wind returning to home base, I shall drop down to about 80 or lower KPH

This was my ninth trip over the Nullarbor in fifty odd years, (sixth in the last ten years), and it was the windiest I have known it

I thought that I was lucky that I only went through one willy willy
It came from the passenger side rear, and after shaking the campervan, I saw the trees bending erratically
Funny enough, I did not see any dust, but there was plenty of green vegetation, on that section of road

jrg wrote:

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Good post Tony
We,re leaving Perth 20th Feb with Boorabin 1st stop just short of Balladonia ,Jillah Rocks ,Cohens rest area then in for 2 nights in Ceduna Shelley Beach ,Nutt bush retreat, Clare for few days Mannum and a Murray river houseboat for a week.
Worked out you did 570 odd first day to far for this woodduck I,m doing between 400 max 470 bit more than usual .We went into Head of the Bight in late May 2016 saw 7 Whales then but still a bit early they get upwards of 30 later sure was a surprise what they have there makes a good break .
Hope we get the tail wind you had ,had serveral friend who fought the Oct Nov head winds very scary fuel figures and one stayed at Ceduna for 3 night waiting luck of the draw. This is our 3rd Jan/Feb crossing each time had no more than 32degs hope for same but if it,s 40 plus that 470 might go to 570 as it will be cooler in the car.

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 Maybe just short of Coolgardie???  Between Coolgardie & Southern Cross.  

Balladonia is 900km from Perth.

Tony Bev wrote:

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EDIT: Dont drink the coffee at Balledonia.... YUK!

The wife has a Cappuccino everywhere we stop, she says that any coffee after hours of travelling, is better than no coffee, LOL

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 I did that once when on an American flag cruise ship. Never again, I would rather drink International Roast... No not the either, the filtered coffee in the Promenade cafe was nearly as bad as balledonia (that crap tasted like kero, it was real undrinkable).

I can agree with any coffee is better than none... but  hhhmmmmm

Cheere

I'm at Baxter ATM. Loving it. I cannot for the life of me understand why all the sheeples are stuck out the front though...amongst the rubbish, dunnies, dump, hwy noise and everyone (trucks and cars) coming and going??? This site goes for more than a klm down the back away from the road with no rubbish, no humans, great birds and beautiful flora.
Got me beat!!!

Grubbygypsy wrote:

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I'm at Baxter ATM. Loving it. I cannot for the life of me understand why all the sheeples are stuck out the front though...amongst the rubbish, dunnies, dump, hwy noise, rubbish and everyone (trucks and cars) coming and going??? This site goes for more than a klm down the back away from the road with no rubbish, no humans, great birds and beautiful flora.
Got me beat!!!

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Hello Grubbygypsey

Can you please confirm if there are/not any more rubbish bins, apart from the four near the Highway

Edit to say that I stayed out the front near the Highway, as it was very windy, with storms in the area, and with a front wheel drive vehicle, I try to stay away from the softer ground

Grubbygypsy wrote:

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I'm at Baxter ATM. Loving it. I cannot for the life of me understand why all the sheeples are stuck out the front though...amongst the rubbish, dunnies, dump, hwy noise, rubbish and everyone (trucks and cars) coming and going??? This site goes for more than a klm down the back away from the road with no rubbish, no humans, great birds and beautiful flora.
Got me beat!!!

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 Yeah we drove further back at Baxter as well. Seems the road gangs had a gravel dump and left a nice layer on the red soil. Perfect for a van. Baxter is a magnificent site if looked after. Its part of the huge Dundas council area (I think based in Esperance). I wonder if we wrote to the council requesting more bins etc may be worth our time and effort. Comments would be appreciated.

Its my opinion that if we dont act in a positive manner and get stuck into the litterers and the councils nothing will change.

Cheers

I'm pretty sure there are only the four and one at the truck bit. Nothing further back. My point was just I couldn't understand everyone congregating around the stinky, feral looking bits, when there's so much gorgeous country out the back.
I was thinking......I wonder why they don't design and implement some form of incinerator out in remote areas. Like the old days when people had one in their backyard for burnable rubbish. They would obviously need to be designed so vandals couldn't set them off (although there's nothing to stop normal fires anyways). Maybe because most rubbish is plastic now. I don't know....just thinking out loud really, because I hate litter so much.
I'd write. But.....I just think we're losing a battle because of softness. There's more young people to us old and in my opinion it's usually them that are tossing rubbish wherever they feel like it. And of course we can't upset the precious things by dealing with them appropriately. I'm a litter dobberer, but I wonder how many of them pay the fines when they cop them anyway, then nothing's done to force them to....so it's a waste of time really. I'll be dead soon....and they'll have to live in their squalor. Hehe, watch a movie called 'idiocracy' - its about how it is lol. 

Grubster