Crossing the Nullarbor

BOKO56 · Member

Crossing the Nullarbor

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Take your time and pull off look around . There's the anxiety to complete the trip . I did it in 5 days . With I did it much slower . Can pull off the side of road in most areas . Just short bush . Keep checking wiki camps for places to go . There is Mobil signal out there . Look out for towers . Enjoy .. If your heading into head wind ? Suggest you stop over night ? It may change in the morning .. Some top little villages on south coast . We didn't stay in camping grounds . Till Port Lincoln .

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 20th of January 2017 10:12:38 AM

Cupie · Guru

Aus-Kiwi has got it right.

Get over the natural anxiety to complete the trip & just take your time & enjoy all that there is to see.

Read up as much as you can before starting & talk to others that you meet along the way. What you can't fit in on the way over you can do on the way back.

If you are not set up for free camping, don't worry, you don't need much for an over nighter without power. In any case there are Roadhouses along the way where you can shower & eat if you want. Just plan a bit & you'll enjoy it even more.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Hahaha, I've been out here 3 weeks and I'm only just half way. Well half way to more water.
I've found so many cool places. This is probably my 300th crossing.....it's always been fast. This will be my last I'd say. Well last that I can enjoy.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yep we stopped at a few road houses . They need our money . Even topped up with some fuel .

woolman · Guru

No prizes for doing the trip in the fastest time. We spent 6 weeks Norsman to Ceduna. Heaps of water holes just off the road with so many birds. Pleasent places to camp for us. There are caves, blow holes and in limestone outcrops there are lots of fosselised shells and fish.

It all depends on your time frame and interests. Have done Perth to Sunshine Coast in 3 days, with son as extra driver. Never again though.

Take your time and smell the roses

Neil

-- Edited by woolman on Friday 20th of January 2017 10:36:02 AM

-- Edited by woolman on Friday 20th of January 2017 10:36:34 AM

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Yep we stopped at a few road houses . They need our money . Even topped up with some fuel .

I have a sheet where I monitor the fuel prices etc. Mundrabilla is a good one to aim for as he keeps his diesel at the best price he can. Foods good and I stayed there too (rarely stay at parks). There is 3 (used to be 5) roadhouses that capitalise on people not planning. They own the 3 and say 'well, what we don't get on one, we'll pick up on the next' - so....I don't like that kind of attitude much, so I ensure I don't need much by then.

Hahah.....the rest I can't report on yet lol.

Phil C · Guru

Gday and welcome BOKO56

Thats a pretty big chunk each day. When I was in the RAAF and based at Pearce (Bullsbrook) we drove Perth to Southern Cross to Eucla to Ceduna (over dirt) to Adelaide, just about killed me.

Last April we came back the slow way Perth to Southern Cross to Norseman to Baxter Camp to Mundrabilla to Nullabor to Penong to Crystal Brook to Adelaide.

Great trip if you have time, stop and smell the roses. There is some spectacular scenery on the bite coastline etc.

Overall be safe and dont push too hard, its a great drive and full of plenty to see.

Cheers
PS: Coffee at Balledonia is dreadful

Phil C · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Yep we stopped at a few road houses . They need our money . Even topped up with some fuel .

AK thats right on the money mate. These little whistle stops do us a great service (fuel etc) and most of them are friendly and reasonably priced. We were going to free camp on our home but decided that a shower and electricity were important.

Its a great trip I enjoy immensely, even saw a hold on needing my help, he had a flat battery and my Ford gave him a jump start.. I had to put that in for Dougwe.

Cheers mate, be well

Dougwe · Chief one feather

"Its a great trip I enjoy immensely, even saw a hold on needing my help, he had a flat battery and my Ford gave him a jump start.. I had to put that in for Dougwe."

I heard that!

My bestest Brave has just sharpened his scalping knife and is heading your way, mate. I tried to stop him but he was quicker than me, sorry.

jrg · Senior Member

Mate I,m leaving 20th Feb doing 450 t0 480 per day and I reckon I,m doing a very quick trip your doing 750 first day then following it up thats ave 10hrs per day. As has been said unless you have to dont .There is lots to take in plenty of good free camps well away from the road so add a day to your trip wont hurt.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

To be honest...it disturbs me to know there's people out on the road doing such lengths of time towing....especially if they're old and especially if they haven't had much towing experience (not angling this at OP or anyone in particular).
Truck drivers.....professionals....have to take breaks and monitor length of time driving. I don't think people understand how much more tiring towing is as opposed to normal driving.
I know a 94 year old that bragged of his 18 hour days coming up to Darwin in a few days and I had to reverse his van in to place because he couldn't. Yet he thought he was ok to be out there amongst us pulling days like that. Very disturbing as far as I'm concerned. It's also one of the reasons I do such small days....give me less chance of 'meeting up' with some of these people.

Phil C · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
"Its a great trip I enjoy immensely, even saw a hold on needing my help, he had a flat battery and my Ford gave him a jump start.. I had to put that in for Dougwe."

I heard that!

My bestest Brave has just sharpened his scalping knife and is heading your way, mate. I tried to stop him but he was quicker than me, sorry.

Must be a good brave Doug.. pushing his hold on all that way... Hope you are well old mate. Enjoying the banter. smile smile

Pakrak · Veteran Member

Great trip. Take your time. Too much to see to rush it. Carry some extra water and long life food in case of delay. You lose 3 hours daylight between Perth and Melbourne. Sun rises in the East so early driving can be a bit of a problem.
Enjoy the experience and the trip back whatever the route.
Pakrak

madaboutled · Guru

Phil C wrote:
Cheers
PS: Coffee at Balledonia is dreadful

I think that must be their trademark, seems nothings changed from when I worked there in the early 80's.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Blimey, is the so called Nullarbor that boring that you have to beat the records set by the London to Sydney car trial? And those competitors weren't towing caravans!!

As a former Ceduna-ite, yes we did those times with an emergency communications failure but for tourism, No! If you travel during the whale season, you can spend half a day at what I know as White Well (east of Nullarbor) watching the whales at an excellent viewing establishment. At Ceduna, there are many sights to see, many fish that might take your bait if you drop a line as well as a well established oyster industry.
I may be biased, but the best oysters in Australia come from the Great Australian Bight from Coffin Bay to Ceduna.

There are many caves & blow holes to see on "the Nullarbor" - you actually only travel on a few kilometres of the Nullarbor (near Nullarbor Homestead). Then there is Fowlers Bay - a former whaling station & has a pleasant caravan park - even in winter.

Do your homework well, drop into Information Centres - you'll be surprised as what you can see on what seems to be a boring trip.

Warren

Traway · Veteran Member

We have just finished a double crossing starting in November. Our overnight stops Perth to Port Augusta (as newbies) were Tressies CP at Karlgarin, free camping on Lake Johnston, Fraser Range Station, Madura, Nullabour Roadhouse, Ceduna, Kimba then a short day to Port Augusta. On the way back we went from Clare SA , Iron Knob (safe port in a huge storm), Ceduna, Free camp area just outside Head of the bight, camping area behind a rest stop approx 20 km before Caiguna (started to get braver!) Fraser Range Station. There we found our air-conditioner had broken. Fraser range station is 100 km east of Norseman which is a similar distance you are planning for your first day. We planned to stop at Corrigin but at 3.30pm it was still 42 degrees so we beelined it for home. Arrived at 6.30pm and I can honestly say it was the hardest day of our whole 2 month trip. Over 800 kms when our longest day before this was about 450 km. I would not recommend travelling all the way to Norseman from Perth in one day.

BOKO56 · Member

Well those questions raised a bit of emotion. Just for the record I am neither an OP or a newbie to towing. Thanks for the constructive advice, but unfortunately I don't have time to smell the roses on this trip, but need to get there in the safest quickest time feasible with the rig I have. I have crossed it already 4 times..... many years ago but not towing a van. So not intending to beat any land speed records. But would appreciate any advice regarding reasonable distances per day. ð

Gaylehere · Guru

I think what you said is doable except for the Adelaide to Melbourne in one day. We have travelled from SE Qld to Adelaide in 2 days regularly (but in a car only) and took 4 days in the motorhome last time we had to go down that way but we had a flat and hobbled back to the nearest town for a fix. Leave early morning and if your body says "I'm tired" please stop and have a sleep no matter what time of day. Can you share the driving? Like the others have said there is a lot to see along the way if time permits. Take care.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

In that case drive to the way you feel .maybe two or three tea or pee breaks on the way ? . I walk 5 to 10 times around rig etc . Just to keep bones moving lol Often behind a tree .

Desert Dweller · Guru

For us it's all about the journey, not about the destination & how quick we can get there.

in transit · Senior Member

We came across west to east at the tail end of South Australia's power debacle and there was still some funny weather.

Some of the things we would recommend are:
Norseman: we stopped for fuel top-up and a hot shower at the info centre
Frazer Range farm stay for an overnight ($22 unpowered)
Moodina Bluff, a freebie with toilets and plenty of shade
a walk to the telegraph station and beach at Eucla
Coorabie farm stay on Fowlers Bay road, great hosts and $20/night unpowered
Pildappa Rock for overnight and great scenery
Kimba Rec Area for overnight, donation and pay for showers, early arrival recommended.

You didn't say whether you were self contained, but all the above don't require S/C.

Get the latest camp and fuel info from Wikicamps and fuel map
Enjoy

Phil C · Guru

BOKO56 wrote:
Well those questions raised a bit of emotion. Just for the record I am neither an OP or a newbie to towing. Thanks for the constructive advice, but unfortunately I don't have time to smell the roses on this trip, but need to get there in the safest quickest time feasible with the rig I have. I have crossed it already 4 times..... many years ago but not towing a van. So not intending to beat any land speed records. But would appreciate any advice regarding reasonable distances per day. ð

To answer your question I would suggest 500KMs a day will be just enough to make you sleep well at night. I did 580KMs from home to Kimba and it did my head in.

Safe travels anyway mate.

Steve11 · Senior Member

someone posted in the last few months their journey from west to east and it was an interesting post with distances, diesel prices, and tourist attractions. However, I can't find in now. Does anyone else remember it? I should save those posts , however you do it!.

cheers

Steve

Bill B · Guru

This site may be of interest : www.nullarbornet.com.au/

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Steve11 wrote:
someone posted in the last few months their journey from west to east and it was an interesting post with distances, diesel prices, and tourist attractions. However, I can't find in now. Does anyone else remember it? I should save those posts , however you do it!.
cheers
Steve

That was called Nullarbor crossing late December 16......etc by tony Bev. I'm not sure how to link back to it - but searching that bit might find it - it was just in the last few weeks.

Grumpytoo · Senior Member

There is a 3 hour time difference between the west coast and east coast so going west to east you are losing time, so daylight hours for travel slightly less. The distance you travel in a day is up to you but be prepared to stop when tired and not push on to a predetermined spot.

meetoo · Guru

Bill B wrote:
This site may be of interest : www.nullarbornet.com.au/

Thanks Bill. Interesting site, very informative.

Cheers, John.

Treecrest14 · Senior Member

Minnipa has a great free camp (with flushing toilets) just on the east side of the town. Easy pull in spot and a nice easy walk to the shop (to get the blood flowing again!)
If you have time do the drive out to their local rock formations (I think there are 3).

Don't forget you loose 2.5 hours travelling east, and if it is raining watch out for the wild life which come to the bitumen to get a drink! Wombats are like hitting a brick wall.

Glen