Nullabor Water

Ole_Grizzly · Senior Member

RE: Nullabor Water

Oma · Guru

A couple of years ago we were fortunate enough to collect 20 lts 2 nights running as from rain water off the corner of the awning. Started raining & quickly grabbed my big clean bucket to collect the water. Friends we were travelling with could not be bothered. We will be coming back across late Sept so will be checking up on you posts.

Dunmowin · Guru

Thanks all for your replies. All good notes for us to keep, and yes, I will update after we finish the crossing.

On another note, I am sorry that someone has found something negative in this thread. As the original poster, and having read all the replies, I find nothing "untoward", only the usual tongue in cheek replies, which you can expect from almost any post on this forum.

regards

Dunmowin

littledick · Senior Member

I think if anyone is looking for info on the Nullabor as was first asked re water or whatever, it just irritates me when people feel the need to add nothing to the original question. I hope to try the Nullabor this year

and look forwood to any info that can assist me as well. Usefull info has been supplied and to those I thank you.

At least someone got it right. Anyway, others have their opinion, I have mine. wink

Dick.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

There is always bore water at the road-houses, we stayed behind the Nullarbor Roadhouse, also Eucla, used their showers but didnt put any in our tank so dont know if they charge for that. Enjoy, Dunmowin!

Delta18 · Guru

As far as water availability on the nullarbor one thing is for sure, there is NO surity of supply between Ceduna and Norseman. All places between rely on rain tanks or desalination which are unreliable and/or very expensive. Do not expect to fill a tank anywhere. Eucla van park is $15 - 20 per night + $1 per shower (about 4 minutes).

We have done close to 30 return trips since I moved to WA in 1978.Â MY first trip was in '76 from Adelaide when it was dirt road from Penong to the WA border.

We never tire of the scenery, it is different every time due to season or just time of day.

We search out wildlife, eagles, roos, emus & bustards, dingos too. I have yet to see a live (wild) camel though.

Have a look at the deserted old Balladonia Homestead, just east of Balladonia, you will hop a low fence but it is so worth a look. Complete with lake at the back.

There is a massive cave system at Coc klebiddy if that interests you, Madura blowhole. Have a look at the old Eucla jetty just past the old post office almost covered in sand. Look in the museum/info centre at Eucla roadhouse and see how many buildings were in the old township.

If you are into golf then play the Nullarbor Links, there is a hole at every service station, beginning at Ceduna and ending at Kalgoorlie. http://www.nullarborlinks.com/

See here for lots of info. http://www.australia.com/explore/itineraries/crossing-nullarbor.aspx and here, http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/nullarbor-plain/information

If fuel cost is a concern to you (and who is not concerned?) and you have 700km range then fill at Penong, Eucla (not Border Village) top up at Mundrabilla then on to Norseman (the small Shell in town, not the highway mega stops) Avoid Nullarbor Station and Balladonia.

Whatever your time plan is don't fall for the trap of singularly thinking of and looking forward to the end of the desert. Spend your time looking at and enjoying the scenery. I deliberately avoid looking at mileposts. I try to imaging what the early explorers, in this case John Eyre, who walked across, not knowing what was over the next dune, were feeling and how they survived on the water they carried or could find. We have NO problems.

Cheers Neil

Duh · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
As far as water availability on the nullarbor one thing is for sure, there is NO surity of supply between Ceduna and Norseman. All places between rely on rain tanks or desalination which are unreliable and/or very expensive. Do not expect to fill a tank anywhere. Eucla van park is $15 - 20 per night + $1 per shower (about 4 minutes).
We have done close to 30 return trips since I moved to WA in 1978.Â MY first trip was in '76 from Adelaide when it was dirt road from Penong to the WA border.
We never tire of the scenery, it is different every time due to season or just time of day.
We search out wildlife, eagles, roos, emus & bustards, dingos too. I have yet to see a live (wild) camel though.
Have a look at the deserted old Balladonia Homestead, just east of Balladonia, you will hop a low fence but it is so worth a look. Complete with lake at the back.
There is a massive cave system at Coc klebiddy if that interests you, Madura blowhole. Have a look at the old Eucla jetty just past the old post office almost covered in sand. Look in the museum/info centre at Eucla roadhouse and see how many buildings were in the old township.
If you are into golf then play the Nullarbor Links, there is a hole at every service station, beginning at Ceduna and ending at Kalgoorlie. http://www.nullarborlinks.com/
See here for lots of info. http://www.australia.com/explore/itineraries/crossing-nullarbor.aspx and here, http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/nullarbor-plain/information
If fuel cost is a concern to you (and who is not concerned?) and you have 700km range then fill at Penong, Eucla (not Border Village) top up at Mundrabilla then on to Norseman (the small Shell in town, not the highway mega stops) Avoid Nullarbor Station and Balladonia.
Whatever your time plan is don't fall for the trap of singularly thinking of and looking forward to the end of the desert. Spend your time looking at and enjoying the scenery. I deliberately avoid looking at mileposts. I try to imaging what the early explorers, in this case John Eyre, who walked across, not knowing what was over the next dune, were feeling and how they survived on the water they carried or could find. We have NO problems.
Cheers Neil

Good post Neil, I love crossing the Nullabor too.....all in the eye of the beholder I suppose, look and you will see!

Water is more important that food for that crossing IMHO, take plenty but more if you are leaving the highway for a looksee, and use what you have wisely.

Dunmowin · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
As far as water availability on the nullarbor one thing is for sure, there is NO surity of supply between Ceduna and Norseman. All places between rely on rain tanks or desalination which are unreliable and/or very expensive. Do not expect to fill a tank anywhere. Eucla van park is $15 - 20 per night + $1 per shower (about 4 minutes).
We have done close to 30 return trips since I moved to WA in 1978.Â MY first trip was in '76 from Adelaide when it was dirt road from Penong to the WA border.
We never tire of the scenery, it is different every time due to season or just time of day.
We search out wildlife, eagles, roos, emus & bustards, dingos too. I have yet to see a live (wild) camel though.
Have a look at the deserted old Balladonia Homestead, just east of Balladonia, you will hop a low fence but it is so worth a look. Complete with lake at the back.
There is a massive cave system at Coc klebiddy if that interests you, Madura blowhole. Have a look at the old Eucla jetty just past the old post office almost covered in sand. Look in the museum/info centre at Eucla roadhouse and see how many buildings were in the old township.
If you are into golf then play the Nullarbor Links, there is a hole at every service station, beginning at Ceduna and ending at Kalgoorlie. http://www.nullarborlinks.com/
See here for lots of info. http://www.australia.com/explore/itineraries/crossing-nullarbor.aspx and here, http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/nullarbor-plain/information
If fuel cost is a concern to you (and who is not concerned?) and you have 700km range then fill at Penong, Eucla (not Border Village) top up at Mundrabilla then on to Norseman (the small Shell in town, not the highway mega stops) Avoid Nullarbor Station and Balladonia.
Whatever your time plan is don't fall for the trap of singularly thinking of and looking forward to the end of the desert. Spend your time looking at and enjoying the scenery. I deliberately avoid looking at mileposts. I try to imaging what the early explorers, in this case John Eyre, who walked across, not knowing what was over the next dune, were feeling and how they survived on the water they carried or could find. We have NO problems.
Cheers Neil

ThanksNeil, very usefull information.

Santa · Guru

littledick wrote:
I think if anyone is looking for info on the Nullabor as was first asked re water or whatever, it just irritates me when people feel the need to add nothing to the original question. I hope to try the Nullabor this year
and look forwood to any info that can assist me as well. Usefull info has been supplied and to those I thank you.
At least someone got it right. Anyway, others have their opinion, I have mine.
Dick.

I've read through this thread a couple of times Dick and I'm darned if I can find anything from you that adds to the OP, only complaints about the way others post. confuse

herbie · Guru

we just make sure our tanks are full before we start the trip accross , just don't go wasting it. And you should be fine. We do not use the shower in the van though.We use the showers at road houses each day when we pull up for fuel.On our crossing we have seen people on bikes and all sorts of different modes of transport , even seen people walking on one trip.So if they can do it , i am sure you will be fine frgarding having enough water.And if worst case scenario happenes there is always bottled water to buy at the road houses.Enjoy your trip accross.

KFT · Guru

Hey Neil,
top post, we have not done the nullabor yet but I will save this info for future reference

many thanks for posting.

frank

Delta18 · Guru

Just a couple asides from the OP, a lot of people think that Nullarbor is an aboriginal word, in fact it is Latin Null (nil - none) Arbor (Trees) so...no trees.

The Eyre Highway only passes through about 40km of the true Nullarbor Plain and this section is marked by large signs.

The longest straight road in the Southern Hemisphere runs between Caiguna & Balladonia.

The Old Jetty at Eucla is very photogenic. old jetty.jpg

Delta18 · Guru

I don't get it, one pic shows twice in the text area but all 3 are shown as thumbnails...confusing.

Nicholstones · Guru

Neil & Lynne, you guys are obviously power tourists, you don't even get out of the car to take a photo! wink

Delta18 · Guru

Nicholstones wrote:
Neil & Lynne, you guys are obviously power tourists, you don't even get out of the car to take a photo!

LOLOL .. you just made my day, I'm still laughing. biggrin

Cheers

Lynne

Delta18 · Guru

Nicholstones wrote:
Neil & Lynne, you guys are obviously power tourists, you don't even get out of the car to take a photo!

Ha ha, we have been past the signs so many times we don't stop anymore. biggrin

Cheers Neil

chris & terry · Senior Member

We came across from west to east in Oct last year. The twin tanks in the van were more than enough & what was said of the fuel at Eucla was on the money. We took our time across & I played the Nullabor Links, & even though I am not a golfer (this was close to my first ever game) I had a ball & can highly recommend it. Lots of laughs lots of fun & absolutely unique. Give it a go.

terry

Dunmowin · Guru

chris & terry wrote:
We came across from west to east in Oct last year. The twin tanks in the van were more than enough & what was said of the fuel at Eucla was on the money. We took our time across & I played the Nullabor Links, & even though I am not a golfer (this was close to my first ever game) I had a ball & can highly recommend it. Lots of laughs lots of fun & absolutely unique. Give it a go.

terry

Thanks Terry, we bought a second had set of clubs in Cleve last week in preparatin for our "game" across the Nullabor! Apart from 4 ball ambrose at corporate golf days, I have not played either, so it should be a hoot!

Gerty Dancer · Guru

This's got nothing to do with water supplies... we were parked near the Nullarbor Roadhouse, and the bloke from the next caravan went off with his golf club to play the hole there. An RFDS plane landed, giving us an interesting view of their activity. Eventually the golfing neighbor returned, and said he'd had to allow the plane to "play through". Only on the Nullarbor! biggrin

littledick · Senior Member

Well santa, if I can add info on any subject that can be used or help others I will endeavour to do so.

If you read my last post, I have never been across the Nullabor, so I will appreciate any info you can supply.

With thanks.

Dick.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Ole_Grizzly wrote:
No matter how fast or slow I drive or where ever I decide to camp for night, I still haven't caught up with the The Nullarbor Nymph.
Some bloke back in 1972 said it was a hoax, but heck, I'm still hopeful in sighting an aged Nymph by now.

Back to the water question: Well way back then we used Seagull brand hand soap which would lather in the bore water available during the crossing.
Do have fun out there and travel at your own pace...Cheers

You have to go at the right time of the year to see the nymph, mainly summer time, and to keep this on topic, one pic shows the Nymph looking for water the other when she found it. biggrin biggrin (sorry about the specks of dust on my lens)

LOOKING FOR WATER

FOUND IT