Nullabor

jules47 · The Happy Helper

RE: Nullabor

yeoeleven · Guru

Comments about the trip across the Nullabor in relation to the actual driving experience, it is one thing driving a comfortable airconditioned arm chair with power steering and cruise control and another experience in a 1979 Hi Ace.

I was very careful to have extra oil and I also put in some Wynns oil additive and had plenty of all the fluids neccessary. Some previous owner had installed a tachometer and I was pleased to be able to monitor the engine revs.

I spent most of the driving time checking on 3 areas, speed 80 kph is comfortable for the Hi Ace, as is under 3000 revs and the third area to constantly monitor is the temperature.

I suppose that calling into caravan parks overnight and having meals in roadhouses during the day is one comfortable way to travel the Nullabor but my trip was not like that. All in all not the most comfortable experience but one that I wouldn't have missed.

It is all in the preperation for an older vehicle because there are no second chances out there if you get it wrong, as testiment to the abandoned vehicle to be seen enroute.

John

jonathan · Guru

HI John ..

To me the Nullabor has a special attraction .. I've crossed it 3 times in the last 2 years and each time it's like a new adventure ..

Last time, I spent 3 weeks to travel across and spent time in numerous small communities and was taken out to 3 (now defunct) homesteads .. it was a benefit having a metal detector which identified pockets of old currencies which had remained hidden for a long time .. old pottery and photographs were also found and passed on to local authorities too ..

I suppose I'm still living in the past eh ..

Jon

Ma · Guru

I would't say you are living in the past Jon but you are certainly doing your bit to preserve the past. A lot of people would keep what they find and not pass it on to the appropriate authorities.

We too intend to take a good while coming across when we do the West Coast from North to South next year.

It is about 15 years since I went across in the car and I was enthralled then so imagine I will be the same this next time.

I honestly don't know how people can say "it's boring". There is something new and different to see every kilometer you travel, you just have to open your eyes.

snapper49 · Senior Member

When I crossed and went to see the whales a local guide showed us the head of the bight which in fact is a head in the cliffs near the whaling centre pic attached

jonathan · Guru

Snapper, Yes .. Head of the Bight has been visited too .. but each time I was outside their migration season. I've seen the whales at many times on the East Coast, so I wasn't unduly disappointed.

Ma .. It stays there as far as I'm concerned .. now .. if I found a nugget or two, then that might get addressed with a Fossikers Licence ..

A good friend of mine spends 6 months of each year across in the West .. comes back to the East Coast when conditions become unbearable out there .. but he's doing well actually.

Jon

milo · Guru

my little car, mazda 2 should be able to do this trip? only 7 years old, and just gone 60,000ks.. maybe next year, depends on how dad is too...
if i can do a few trips on my own...

yeoeleven · Guru

milo wrote:
my little car, mazda 2 should be able to do this trip? only 7 years old, and just gone 60,000ks.. maybe next year, depends on how dad is too...
if i can do a few trips on my own...

I would think so Milo. my Hi Ace has done 260.000 and is 1979 vintage and it made it at 80 kph.

John

Cruising Granny · Guru

It's a hard road with the head wind. I did it in both directions last week with a cross wind - southerly.
On the way back I checked out the whales - mum and a calf were the last to hang around. The attitude at the whale watching station was less than happy and friendly. They charge like wounded whales and when I commented I was told, "You didn't have to come in!"
I'm not sure the Maralinga Tjarutja Administrators would be happy to hear about that.
It has been set out very well with the walkways and viewing platforms, but the people weren't really very nice.
I travelled west to east in 2006 and 2008 and it was different then as it was this time. The vegetation changes every 100kms. Take notice. The seasons change it all the time. It's a beautiful stretch of Australia.

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hey Milo your car will do it easily with no problems. It's a great trip