We will be off shortly on our epic trip from Adelaide to Perth. I have seen on wikicamps a number of highly rated free camps etc on the way over the Nullabour, so accommodation is not the biggest worry, I guess my biggest worry is fuel and how much I will need. Ive done the sums and over the 2200KMs I will probably use 350 Litres of diesel.
If anyone out there has some tips and tricks for doing this trip I would be most appreciative. Its been over 40 years since we did the Nulla and then there was 250 miles of dirt east of Eucla, thank goodness that has changed.
Any advice would be well received, BTW please dont tell me this me this has been asked before, It probably has but time changes conditions and places.
Cheers
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
these were the prices this time last year - we filled a couple of jerry cans at Ceduna so didn't need to fill up on the Nullabor Port Augusta 1.259 Kimba 1.259 Ceduna 1.239 Border village $1.70 Norsman 1.349 If you have time check out Koonalda Homestead (Google for co-ordinates as its not sign posted)- really worth a slight detour off the hwy and a good overnight stop
These were the fuel stops mid 2014
Kelmscott 1.559 Merridan 1.659 Coolgardie 1.599 Norseman 1.66 Eucla 1.98 Ceduna 1.589 Port Augusta 1.569
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Sunday 31st of January 2016 12:38:10 PM
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
If you are interested in not getting ripped off with fuel (who isn't ) give Border Village (SA/WA Border) a miss and go 15km further into WA to Eucla, it is around 15cpl cheaper.
Apart from that Villatranquilla is on the money.
The maximum distance between fuel stations is around 200km so there is no need to carry extra if you don't wish to.
Cheers Neil.
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
Phil Hi, The weather can play a big part on the Nullarbor, one trip in a v6 petrol pajero going over fuel was about 17l per 100kl. coming back there was a strong head wind & I had made arrangements that I needed to keep & consumption was nudging 30l per 100. Then it's only money & the fuel companies need our support.
I always enjoy the trip across some say it's boring but I always find plenty to see.
Thanks guys, thats great information. I heard Border Village was expensive so will fill after the tick gate at Eucla. I also hear the inspectors are full on at the border.
Cheers
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
A great spot to camp at "Head of Bight" - drive down the entry road, and next to the gate is the old telegraph house, and a huge parking area, gravelled, level. No facilities, but good spot to stop.
Also at one of the lookouts, you can drive around the tracks and camp almost on the cliff edge - wonderful. Make sure you get rid of fruit and veges before you get to the border checkpoint, some of the officers are a bit officious. No honey either. Coming back the checkpoint is at Ceduna - you can bring carrots, with their tops cut off, and celery as well, washed potatoes are fine, and onions with the tops cut off. Be aware and take some fly swatters - friend killed about 300 march flies at one of the stops going over, usually come up from the ground, so if sitting outside, put your feet up on a stool or something.
Love travelling the Nullarbor, so much to see. Enjoy your trip - when are you going over?
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Thanks Jules, I can see on wikicamps a large number of lookouts etc, we plan on spending a night at Twiggys and cliff top on the way back so we should get a good fill of the bight.
I have read a lot of differing info on what can and cant be bought into WA, their website is agreeing with what you are saying, we will probably get as much veg and stuff like that eaten before we cross into WA, Im told anything frozen/cooked etc is OK. We intend to freeze two weeks of meals and travel light in the pantry.
Thanks again, hope you and Billeeeeeee (7 es) are well.
Cheers
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
The free camps in your State are a bit primitive and watch out for the drop off from the tar seal road edge onto the dirt or metal camp track (or wear crash helmets) -some of them are pretty nasty.
Eucla is also good if you want to CP for the night and have a shower - just be aware that when we came through about 5 months ago half of the power outlets didn't work and the park filled up by 4pm-ish (theres plenty of comments on wiki about it, so no doubt the comments about power are more up to date.
WA has a lot of free camp areas with multiple tracks graded back into the scrub so you can get well off the road (and truck noise) and not scratch your vehicle or 'van. There are also a few with drop toilets. Unfortunately, the WA Main Roads region that runs the area south of Perth don't maintain the free camps that well and often theres piles of rubbish and snow (toilet paper) hooked up in the bush from rubbish bins that are only emptied every 2 or 4 weeks. This is in stark contrast to Main Roads Northern who run really clean and well maintained free camps - even have dump points (with water to clean them in 20 lt drums) and toilet paper in the toilets.
When you get to Norseman, go into town and at the end of the shops on the right side is a café. They make GREAT food and sausage rolls to die for (always very busy with local customers) and their coffee is good as well.
Salmon Gums is about 2 hrs south of Norseman if youre heading to Esperance. It was one of the towns destroyed in the fires just before last Xmas, but it has a low cost CP which is great. Level sites, water, washing machine, power, toilets and a really nice young farm labourer who lives there and runs it part-time. Its owned by the local community and costs $10 a night. Local pub serves good food as well lol
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
"When you get to Norseman, go into town and at the end of the shops on the right side is a café. They make GREAT food and sausage rolls to die for (always very busy with local customers) and their coffee is good as well"
Yep - we reckon their vanilla slices are to die for as is their coffee - it is just down from the little supermarket.
Kambaulda, if you are going up from Norsman, have a terrific free camp, run by the council, dump point, toilets and showers available at the Rec centre next door ($2.50 shower) - Woolies and BWS across the road, as well as several small shops. I won't say much about the Kalgoorlie free camp, as we had a bit of trouble there. There is one at Coolgardie as well, but right next to the railway line. On that same road heading to Perth is Meckering (earthquake town) nice little free camp with toilets, and the Big Camera store, whose owner is a wealth of knowledge about the area. Going this way you come in at the top of Perth.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Please Jules. Far be it for me to criticise someone (being a paragon of virtue, and all) but the spelling is KamBALDA. I noticed you spelt it incorrectly a few weeks back but just thought it was a typo.
And I remember the Meckering Earthquake really well. I was one of the first there after it happened. The pub was pretty well demolished but the servo across the road was OK. The publican and a couple of others took a door off the pub, set it on two 44 gallon drums, put a Temprite (remember them?) on top and tapped a keg. It was business as usual at the open air pub.
The Phantom
-- Edited by The Phantom on Sunday 31st of January 2016 04:50:30 PM
Phantom - don't know why, but I have this thing about spelling KAMBALDA with a U in it - just a glitch in my aging brain!!!
The guy in the Big Camera told us the whole story, the bent railway tracks are in the park where the free camp is, as well as lots of info on the earthquake.
I can imagine the pub - not much can get between a man and his beer, eh?
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Phil check our post "Perth (Nullarbor) to Nations Capital $25- 13/10/2015.
Provides details in relation to diesel prices, klms between stops, useage being 2013 Cruiser and places to stop being "Free Camps" As the subject says Perth to the Nations Capital $25-
Hope you have your Honda 20I all prepared because if you are heading out any time soon it is going to be "Hot Hot Hot"
) give Border Village (SA/WA Border) a miss and go 15km further into WA to Eucla, it is around 15cpl cheaper.
