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Post Info TOPIC: Crossing the Nullarbor
Pam


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Crossing the Nullarbor


We are heading across to WA in March /April.

Is there much difference between the various caravan parks across the Nullarbor? Just wondering if all are OK.

Also wondering how strict the WA quarantine inspection is. I have read on the web that you must get  all grass seeds out of your radiator etc.

What are the best roads to venture down to see the Bight?

Any info from those who have already been across there would be appreciated.

We have a camper trailer pulled by a captiva and stay in powered caravan sites .
I know Dave, but it would be very crowded at your free camps if we all gave up the caravan parks.

-- Edited by Pam at 16:29, 2009-01-10

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From  NSW



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Didnt say anything, dont have to, I see my message is penetrating. there is no escape!!!!

any little road that points south will get you down to the cliffs, watch for the ones with signs at the start or have your wallett ready

you will have to get the nits out of your hair as well, dont want them messing with the w.a. nits

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I'd like to know too as I was planning a WA adventure....
Grass seeds, I have a solution.... I have a piece of fly mesh in front of the radiator, you do not want it tight but rather hang it from the top as it shakes around the dead insects fall off and the grass seeds can easily be cleaned off. If it is tight then the deceased insects seem to form a layer and have to be scraped away.
WA Nits????? Holmes A'Court you mean....
Don't forget to remove all sparrow nests as well....

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JRH


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G'day,

I came through the WA quarantine check at Border Village in Dec '08 and whilst they are pretty thorough they did not check my radiator for grass seeds, so I don't think grass seeds in the rad. is a problem, I mean after all they blow over the border on the wind anyway.

All the roadhouses are much of a muchness, some a bit more than others, you either use them or free camp, thems the only alternatives. Nullabor Roadhouse can be a little expensive but they all have you by the short and curlies.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.

John

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How strict are the quarantine inspections on WA/SA border?? BLOODY strict!!!  We are West Australian and returning to WA in 1997 we of coursed stopped at the checkpoint and they went through our car like a fine tooth comb, the way they spoke to us was very degrading, our daughter was sitting in the back of the car her arm on the doors arm rest when suddenly one of the inpsectors, aka Mrs Hitler,  opened her door causing her to nearly fall out, no apology just "what's in that bag"?no please, thank yous, just very abrupt. They confiscated a jar of Wescobee honey, which is a west Australian brand, and was purchased in WA. The whole experience left us feeling so shocked and humiliated that we arrived home and wrote a letter to the Agricultural Minister expressing our disgust at the way they spoke and treated us.
If this is the first 'greeting' tourists get of WA it's enough to want to make you turn around and go back!!  we told them this in our letter.  We agree they need to do checks but don't employ people with 'attitude'. 

We have actually been through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin before they took down the Berlin wall and trust me, it was a sheer delight compared to WA border!!

From what I hear it appears it has not improved much since 1997 and they are still pretty strict, however let me assure you that once you have got through the gestapo, West Australians really are a nice bunch of poeple!


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Hi  pam not long now till you go. I think if you don't take anything you cant bring into australia you should be right. The gestapo asked us about wood, shells, food and bridgee I think the same woman must be there from 97 scary. And the roadhouse factor Pam the ground is rock hard at nullabor roadhouse and you may have issues with pegs getting them in the ground I would say no to Caiguna and ****lebiddy and yes to Madura Balladonia and Eucla. And dont forget do a left at poochera and go to streaky bay thats a definite yes there is grass. Or if you are coming from Port Lincoln the caravan park there is very scenic. I will be over there Mid March so we may pass each other on the road. Im in berry and so far have washed dried and folded over 100 towells fixed 2 computers and just got asked to cook breakfast for the 60 guests in the morning I only got here yesterday its going to be busy. cheryl

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I just got edited by the powers that be but its starts with c**** its not my fault I dont think it spelt differently and it automatically cuts out the spelling and ends in iddy cheryl

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chezgo wrote:

I just got edited by the powers that be but its starts with c**** its not my fault I dont think it spelt differently and it automatically cuts out the spelling and ends in iddy cheryl



 Maybe you should have called it penislebiddy?



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                 G,DAY
      Hey Pam i just had a great thought Wendy and I are heading west march/april, just maybe u could leave signs on the off shoot roads, yep worth the trip or no dont go there.
      bugger just had another thought what if im in front of u, naw u live closer to the border   ummm i think
 look for a little white headed fat bloke with one long ear    happy traverling

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demon dave


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Hi Pam!
I am heading that way in the next month or so (I think). Depends what I find between here and there. Whoever is first will need to post on here what they find I reckon!
I'm heading to the Grampians on Wed. Then?
Cheers,
Dianne

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Pam


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Sounds like it could be busy crossing Aus.

And yes Demon Dave we do live closer to WA than you. We are on the Edward River.

-- Edited by Pam at 11:57, 2009-01-11

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From  NSW



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g,day again Pam [we must keep meeting this way]  just wondering if u are on the Echuca end as we will be there on the 4th of the 4th going on a river dinner cruise on the Mary Ann.
    see ya out there

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demon dave


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One unusual item is HONEY.
Total prohibition to WA.
And walnuts too.

Cheers,
Peter

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honeys a bad one, fruit is a no no, vegies are also frowned on, seeds should be frowned on also but they are not particularly searched out, it depends on who you get when you cross, we caught a monster on the last trip over, turned us inside out, but the one before that barely glanced in

lot of places you cant take honey, kangaroo island for example, they got these you beut ligerian bees, no spuds either

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 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

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Pam


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drongo & wendy wrote:

g,day again Pam [we must keep meeting this way]  just wondering if u are on the Echuca end as we will be there on the 4th of the 4th going on a river dinner cruise on the Mary Ann.
    see ya out there



Echuca is a lovely place. The boats and river cruises are great. we always think it is a pity that the houseboats are allowed in the historic part permanently though. It spoils the  ambience.
We live 75 Km from there.
On 4/4 we will be over West Aus.



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G'day all. Crossed the NT/WA border a few years ago and met (for the lack of a nasty word) the nice persons at the inspection station. They went through the car ard camper i was towing at the time like storm troopers. Knew about the honey so didn't have any. A bloke at a roadhouse on our side of the border told us if we had any tomatoes onions etc to cook them so we made a huge lot of trainsmash and put it in the fridge. We also gave away our fruit as we were told they would take it as well. Arter the search they conficated several packets processed raw peanuts. They let the trainsmash. Comming home no inspections or ckecks so they must be the only place in aust. that has not any transmittable problems. Have not been to WA since and don't know if i will. Pity though as it has some beautufil sights to behold.

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ballast2 wrote:

G'day all. Crossed the NT/WA border a few years ago and met (for the lack of a nasty word) the nice persons at the inspection station. They went through the car ard camper i was towing at the time like storm troopers. Knew about the honey so didn't have any. A bloke at a roadhouse on our side of the border told us if we had any tomatoes onions etc to cook them so we made a huge lot of trainsmash and put it in the fridge. We also gave away our fruit as we were told they would take it as well. Arter the search they conficated several packets processed raw peanuts. They let the trainsmash. Comming home no inspections or ckecks so they must be the only place in aust. that has not any transmittable problems. Have not been to WA since and don't know if i will. Pity though as it has some beautufil sights to behold.



The trick with fruit at all these inspection stations is to make it into fruit salad......



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chezgo wrote:

Im in berry and so far have washed dried and folded over 100 towells fixed 2 computers and just got asked to cook breakfast for the 60 guests in the morning I only got here yesterday its going to be busy. cheryl



Hey Cheryl, have you ever thought of getting a job at a nursing home?



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No Basil I havn't. I've been in the hospitality industry for 30 years mainly in restaurants and I am having a few years off from all that split shift work apart from this little stint I am doing in Berry for love not for money. Im over the whole towel thing allready there are 100's of them to do daily but thankfully they have one of those great 60second commercial dish washers in the kitchen so cooking is ok because the worst part is usually doing the dishes but not here. Im giving myself the night off tonight for a night out and a few reds you can do that when your not actually employed its great. cheryl

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chezgo wrote:

No Basil I havn't. I've been in the hospitality industry for 30 years mainly in restaurants and I am having a few years off from all that split shift work apart from this little stint I am doing in Berry for love not for money. Im over the whole towel thing allready there are 100's of them to do daily but thankfully they have one of those great 60second commercial dish washers in the kitchen so cooking is ok because the worst part is usually doing the dishes but not here. Im giving myself the night off tonight for a night out and a few reds you can do that when your not actually employed its great. cheryl



So will it be Club 83? The dead duck (or whatever it's called - expensive but nice)? The fishermans club @ Geroa, down market but they do have a "grab a granny" night there if that sort of debauchery appeals.... So if you're over the towel thing I guess you won't be opening a Japanese bath house with Shiatsu massage then in downtown Berry, but I recon it would be a goldmine.....



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Pam wrote:

Echuca is a lovely place. The boats and river cruises are great. we always think it is a pity that the houseboats are allowed in the historic part permanently though. It spoils the  ambience.
We live 75 Km from there.
On 4/4 we will be over West Aus.



Yes it rruins it completley, if it was not for the "modern Technology afloat" you could be in a time warp....

The Mary Ann is a great recreation almost idnetical to the original they claim...



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Don't take life too seriously.... No one gets out alive

KIA Sorento CRDi EX  ( Ebony black) with 5 hex chrome plated tire air valve covers, Coramal Sunsheild, Elcheapo GPS, First Aid Kit, full KIA toolkit & Yellow lenses on the Foglights......


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The border "fruit fly" check is right at the border when entering WA from the east at the SA and the NT borders.
When heading back to SA the check is at Ceduna. 
The NT doesn't have any.
These 2 states are the most cautious about protecting their horticulture industries, while Vic is a little bit cautious in the Riverland.
Take Yalata Roadhouse off all travel itineraries as a fuel, food and overnight stop.  It's been closed down and boarded up for about 4 years or more. 
There is a very neat and clean van park at Penong if you want to rest up in a comfortable and convenient park before heading out across the Nullarbor.   There's a short walk to the pub and a great feed.  It's also a very welcome respite when reaching the eastern end, and you're too tired to get to Ceduna.  In fact it's my preferred option, just because I know too much about Ceduna, having lived there for 4 years, 20 or so years ago.
Safe and happy travels, wherever you go.
Cheers Granny

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Basil Faulty wrote:

chezgo wrote:

No Basil I havn't. I've been in the hospitality industry for 30 years mainly in restaurants and I am having a few years off from all that split shift work apart from this little stint I am doing in Berry for love not for money. Im over the whole towel thing allready there are 100's of them to do daily but thankfully they have one of those great 60second commercial dish washers in the kitchen so cooking is ok because the worst part is usually doing the dishes but not here. Im giving myself the night off tonight for a night out and a few reds you can do that when your not actually employed its great. cheryl



So will it be Club 83? The dead duck (or whatever it's called - expensive but nice)? The fishermans club @ Geroa, down market but they do have a "grab a granny" night there if that sort of debauchery appeals.... So if you're over the towel thing I guess you won't be opening a Japanese bath house with Shiatsu massage then in downtown Berry, but I recon it would be a goldmine.....



No Basil neither of those I went to the Bomaderry Bowling Club they have the best chicken kievs in Aus. Havnt been to the hungry duck I hear the food is excellent but the owner/chef is not a happy type of guy. And the fisho's at gerroa is a no go for me in holiday time its more like family day care centre if you go there to eat kids running around everywhere. cheryl



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well after reading this i guess i won't get into wa with my driftwood, feathers and shells, iv'e collected them for years and there's nothing on or in them. i knew about honey although the mind boggles at the thought of someone opening a jar and little microbes running off the toast (wouldn't their little feet get stuck) and out the window. iv'e often wondered how truckies can do what we can't as all and sundry are carted across country, and there's the ? are we one country or not.

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oh!! jeeezzz!!! talk about a smile, little feet getting caught in the honey.

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 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com

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