Traveling across the Nullabor

Judi Lawler · Newbie

Traveling across the Nullabor

RustyD · Guru

Just planning to go anti-clockwise (East Coast - Darwin - Perth - East Coast) to see the wild flowers in Spring. If you go East to West in Spring you get to the West as summer is arriving.

-- Edited by RustyD on Friday 23rd of June 2017 05:01:57 PM

Possum3 · Guru

On days when the wind is blowing in the same direction as you want to travel that is the best time - normally best time of day is in the early mornings.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

East or west . North/ south is much longer .. lol

Meredith · Senior Member

You can get winds from either direction, so there is really no best way.

TheHeaths · Guru

Depends which end you are starting from and going to!

aussietraveller · Guru

prior to setting out to cross the Nullabour its worth visiting either the tourist office at Ceduna or Norseman and pick up a strip map which shows a lot of very interesting sites on the way across, and most important they will have information on wind direction for the next 4-5 days.

enjoy your trip out in the big playground.

Cupie · Guru

Meredith wrote:
You can get winds from either direction, so there is really no best way.

I agree.

It is worth watching the highs/lows moving up from the Bight with their prevailing winds (in opposite directions at top & bottom) ie. Clockwise is east to west across bottom & west to east at top.

So if wind is an issue then you try to time your trip across when the event is in a favourable position.

Or just take pot luck & pull up & enjoy the country if the wind is just too much for you.

perhaps this site may be of interest

https://www.windfinder.com/windstatistics/nullarbor

Perhaps Jul Aug Sept if going West to East.

I agree with Aussie Traveller in relation to calling at Ceduna Info Centre ... They have great info on cloud types that you will encounter too.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

If there's a head wind ?Pull over for the day or night . Chances are it will be better in the morning . We did untold fuel mileage .

Desert Dweller · Guru

Judi Lawler wrote:
is there a best direction to cross the Nullabor in winter 2018, towing a van. East to west or vice versa ?

In 2018 it will be East to West, for the next 2 years, 2019 & 2020 it will be West to East. After that who knows?

sufil · Guru

Either way, it doesn't matter as you will cop weather whichever way you go!! Just take your time, park up it it is too wet or too windy for you to travel in and enjoy the trip.

PeterD · Guru

aussietraveller wrote:
prior to setting out to cross the Nullabour its worth visiting either the tourist office at Ceduna or Norseman and pick up a strip map which shows a lot of very interesting sites on the way across,

It is available on line - Nullarbor Net - study it now and a few more times before setting out. If you are a golfer then play the Nullarbor Links.

Tony Bev · Guru

A person who crosses the Nullarbor with a tail wind, will say that is the direction to go

Another person who crosses in the same direction with a head wind, will say to go the other direction

I have been across the Nullarbor three times, (each way), in the last four years

I normally leave from the West between Christmas and New Year, and return around the end of March/April

I can only confirm that the wind does change

As others have said, (in regards to the wind direction), if you encounter a strong head wind, you always have three choices

Carry on regardless, and be prepared to use a lot more fuel than usual
Slow down, to give better fuel economy
Stop to enjoy the scenery, and try not to push on, through the head winds

RustyD · Guru

Put Nullabor in the search on this page. www.wilmap.com.au/index.html

jrg · Senior Member

In winter most of the W.A. and the southern states weather comes from the west accross the Bight as shown on TV weather maps which mean going west to East is better should you get a front. But should you dodge the fronts it is generally calm in winter so either way would be OK. I think the rest of your trip needs to be planned the Nullabor will take care of itself we have been accross 3 times in february and had fantastic weather but have had friend 2 weeks before who melted Luck of the Draw.