Itinerary from NSW Sth Coast to Exmouth WA

werritravellers · Member

Itinerary from NSW Sth Coast to Exmouth WA

Big Gorilla · Guru

Have a read of one of my first Posts. You'll find some information that will be relevant to you from Mildura down to Adelaide, although I realize you wont go to Adelaide but down to Ceduna and cross the Nullabor.

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t50188714/victoria-south-australia-over-3-months/

Lots of free camping across the Nullabor but I travel in a Motorhome only 6 meters long, getting into some of the places with a caravan might be tricky. Watch out for the Quarantine into S. A. and W.A. No fruit and veges and into W. A., no honey !! Just on your right as you hit the Border stop at W.A., there is a big truck stop, ideal for overnight if you are free camping.

aussietraveller · Guru

Take your time crossing the Nullarbor and make sure you talk to the people at the tourist information office they are very helpful they have a very good strip map for the Nullarbor which lists all the good things to see, they also put a sheet in the window detailing weather conditions and prevailing wind direction and this can save considerable amount of fuel if you wait for tail wind in each direction.

Make sure you pick up a quarantine booklet at tourist info office as there are major restrictions and we got caught as we had stocked up on fresh fruit and veg at Ceduna and had to dump the lot.

Its a great trip so take your time and fuel prices were best at Eucla and in Norseman NOT at the BP but head into Norsman to the Caltex near the tourist info centre when we were there 12 cents per litre cheaper.

Have a great trip

Patto44 · Senior Member

Check out www.goseeaustralia.com.au

go to crossing the nullabor

cheers

Patto

Pam · Guru

What sort of things interest you? And do you have a mudmap to follow yet?
We spent 6 weeks across WA from Riverina NSW. It took us a week to get there another week to get home. That gave us 4 weeks over there . We turned left at Norseman and sort of followed the coast around. We got as far as Mandurah before our time was up.
Some places of interest were Iron Knob just out of Port Augusta SA.Burra SA is an interesting town too. Mildura Vic has the locks on the river. At Wentworth you can see the Darling meet the mighty Murray. The Porungorup Ranges WA are fantastic if you like bush walking. Saracen brewery and winery was interesting in the Margaret river area WA

If you tell us more of your interests then people may be able to tell you more. There is much to see and we all like and do different things out there.

jimricho · Guru

By the time this thread has "run its race" you'll probably have a full itinerary as there's much to see and do along the way. Renmark is nice town and has an excellent caravan park, http://www.big4renmark.com.au/ http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t42900082/big4-renmark-riverfront/ (click on these links for more info)

Between Geraldton and Carnarvon, a detour into Shark Bay is well worthwhile. A "must see" on the way in is Hamelin Pool where you'll get to see the stromatolytes http://www.sharkbay.org/stromatolites.aspx. Continue on to Denham and Monkey Mia. Caravan Parks at each, my preference would be Denham. Check the Camps Australia Wide book (aka "Camps 6") for free camsites if this is your preference.

I agree with the comments above about taking your time crossing the Nullarbor. Folks who say the Nullarbor crossing is boring are the ones that rush it although I will say that the scrubby country at either end has parts that are a bit boring. Google "Nullarbor" for more info.

I'll be crossing the Nullarbor in February but doing it a bit differently as I'm going over on the Indian Pacific train. My first trip across the Nullabor was flying a light aircraft in 1969.

Jim

PS: Welcome to the forum.

wendyv · Guru

You will not be able to take fruit and veg into the quarantine zone well before you get to Mildura, and will be checked at the Vic/SA border. We have gone that way a number of times. After the border check, we stock up at the supermarket in Renmark - usually quite easy to park the rig in its big carpark. We find that is better than trying to restock in Port Augusta, where manoevering around in the town is a bit tricky.
If you have some surplus vegies when getting near the SA/WA border, you can cook them and that is ok. I make soup!
If you do not want to go via Perth, you can go north from Kalgoorlie to Leinster, then west through Sandstone to Mt Magnet and Geraldton. Good sealed roads all the way.

Mike C · Senior Member

Some stuff on our blog where we went up the centre to darwin then around the coast to Exmouth down to Geralton across the great central road to Aires Rock then back south that took us 5 months.. then earlier doing the Nullabor (3 month trip)

Exmouth is here http://www.mikenshez.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Exmouth

Then you can follow where we went from there

The Nullabor crossing from a few years prior is here http://www.mikenshez.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Nullarbor

Lots of other places (just click on the menu) hopefully it helps

Have fun

Cheers

Mike

werritravellers · Member

Hey Everybody, Thanks heaps for all the information supplied. Our main aim is to swim with the whale sharks. Our interests are varied, photography, bush walking, swimming, fishing.

Thanks again, you've given us lots to consider.

What a great forum/website!

Big Gorilla · Guru

Good info there from Aussie Traveller. The Information Center referred to is at Ceduna. Yes, the map and Quarantine booklet are a must. Regarding fuel, it is expensive on the Nullabor. If you can take 20 or 2 x 40 liter cans and fill up yourself, you'll save a lot of money. . I can do the crossing on a full tank plus 1 additional 20 liters. Don't travel at night unles you want to pick up a few passengers, Camels, Emus and Kangaroos...

tezza · Senior Member

If you get a chance check out the rock at Wudinna in SA Fuel at liberty at Kyancutta was cheapest till Coolgardie on our way back, and liberty at Nundroo was cheaper than ceduna or Penong.There are some great rocks for bushwalking near Mukinbudin in WA, Elachbutting and Beerinbooding the first I rate as better than wave rock. Also tin Horse highway into Kulin worth a short detour. Some great fishing from beach at Pt. Brown (just south of Smokey Bay) on Eyre Peninsula as well as around esperance. If you are turning north at Norseman only put enough fuel in to get to Coolgardie. 24 hr servo there is as much as 25c/litre cheaper than Norseman and is the cheapest you will get until you are almost in Perth. museum at Cunderdin worth a look and war museum at Merriden if you like that sort of stuff. In Perth King's park is a great place to spend 1/2 a day and take some pics. If you are travelling inland through Wa and interested in history check out photo exhibition in council building at Mt Magnet. Quobba blowholes near Carnarvon worth a look. We just spent 3 years in Wa and saw maybe 1/4 of the place. Niagra dam north of Kalgoorlie is a good free camp place and van park at Lienster was $10 per night with free washing machines and dryers. If you go to lienster the bhp mess is a great place to eat $12 for all you can eat smorgas board with more choices than most reataurants. Also for another small charge they will give you some plastic containers to take tomorrows lunch in, We fitted in enough to last us all the following day. If you are pensoiners caravan park at Goomalling will give you power site for $50 a week if you wish to look around that area. Enjoy your travels and make it home safely.

pambaz · Senior Member

Hi there,

The Nullabor is terrific and lots to see. So check out the information centres.

If you are travelling along the west coast to Exmouth call into Kalbarri it will suit your photography ,fishing and hiking needs. Stunning scenery and a lovely place to spend a week or so. Kalbarri National Park is one of the better ones, beautiful gorges and walks.

We liked Shark Bay better than Exmouth but its still worth the long trek off the highway.

There is such a lot to see on the West coast from Esperance up to Exmouth. We may see you on the Nullabor as we are going back across to Margaret River leaving here (Sydney) in March sometime. Have a wonderful, safe trip.

Pam

Patto44 · Senior Member

An alternative to Renmark is Berri. (about 30 km's further on). We stayed there recently at Riverside van park. Excellent park, quiet, very clean and tidy. Points of interest nearby ---- lots of wineries.

aussietraveller · Guru

In earlier post I forgot to mention that one of the most spectacular places we have visited and have hundreds of photos of is Cape Le Grand National Park which is out of Esperance if you are into free camping this was an option when we were over there, another place of great photographic interest is the Pinnicales at Cervanties especially around sunset.

jimricho · Guru

This thread is giving us all itchy feet! biggrin smile