Hi all.... just trying to make a choice between crossing the NULLARBOR from Melbourne at the end of March or going to Tassie. Would love to do the Nullarbor but unsure if this is a good time. Have watched so many 'you tube' videos and have to say the flies are putting me off!!lol is there a time they are not quite so bad so you can at least enjoy eating and sitting outside???
We did the Nullarbor at that time of year. The flies were really bad at the Head of the Bight Whale Centre. Apart from that, no worse than usual. Went from Carnarvon way down to Esperance before coming back.
Was nowhere near as hard as I thought it would be & absolutely loved WA.
Check whether there are any spaces left on the Spirit of Tasmania if you are planning on taking a caravan or camper trailer. There appears to be a few spaces left going to Tasmania at the end of March but there do not appear to be any spots left coming back to the mainland in April, May or June.
But check the signboard at the C*cklebiddy Roadhouse. That gives the number of staff, dogs, kangaroos and flies in the area - flies are numbered in the many millions!
We were on the Nullabor in March 2019. Westwards and then are much quicker return.
Lots of flies then.
We used those weird looking black nets that go over one's head. Not stylish but they work. i purchased the head nets at an Anaconda store. Strangly our dog did not attract the same proportion of flies as did humans, so she was not bothered by them.
Probably the flies are after moisture (sweat). Dogs don't sweat.
-- Edited by watsea on Saturday 23rd of January 2021 10:44:56 PM
Hi Gaza,
You can strike hot weather even into April but flies - they are prevalent in regional areas of SA. We always know when we reach Pt Augusta because of the flies! And before I get the "heavies" jumping on me, I still consider myself as a "Crow-eater" (37 years in SA, vs 33 in Qld). I spent nearly 16 at Ceduna.
Later in the year, the Southern Right whales come in to calve - can be seen easily at the new Head of Bight visitor centre.
I would suggest that you don't fly through just to say "I did the Nullarbor" - if you have the time have a good look at the towns, find out what the features are of each (did you know there is a "wave rock" near Wudinna?). Near Penong, Cactus Beach is unique amongst the surfer fraternity, see the largest gypsum mine in Australia. There are numerous caves (not Naracoorte style as water is an issue), blow holes not far off the Eyre Highway. Find out the scourges of Eucla, etc.
Have a look at the photo stops past Head of Bight - be VERY careful near the edges of the cliffs - it is a long way down, the water is very deep & there's no way back up!
If you go, have a great trip
__________________
Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I would agree with Tony. Have travelled the Nullarbor many times at all times of the year and the flies are no worse than in other rural parts of the continent.
I have had worse fly issues at some of the popular coastal holiday spots than the Nullabor.
We dont like the cold so did Tassie Oct-April 6 months. March April most Taswegians head for the mainland to avoid the colder wx. Book now for your return otherwise you may end up locals for 8 months
If we do the Nullarbor it will be sort of quick one way but take our time on the return. Have already checked the SOT and because we have a caravan under 2.1mtres in height there are no issues getting over in March or back in May. I am sure that could change. I am Tasmanian but left at 22 so didn't do the tourist stuff....now I see such a great state to travel in and a lot of free camping... thank you all and guess if we want to do the Nullarbor will have to enjoy the company of flies! Will get one of those hats with the face mesh...
-- Edited by gazza48 on Sunday 24th of January 2021 08:12:26 PM
If its windy there will almost certainly be a lot less flies, then people will complain about the wind instead. We have been across in March, June, September and October and I can't say that I remember the flies ever being a real problem, I'm sure there were some but no worse than anywhere on the outback.
We dont like the cold so did Tassie Oct-April 6 months. March April most Taswegians head for the mainland to avoid the colder wx. Book now for your return otherwise you may end up locals for 8 months
March April MOST Taswegians head for the mainland to avoid the colder
Or maybe just SOME Tasmanians head north...
Been living in Tassie for 8 years now and the number of retired folk l know around here that go interstate for months every year could be counted on one hand.
But check the signboard at the C*cklebiddy Roadhouse. That gives the number of staff, dogs, kangaroos and flies in the area - flies are numbered in the many millions!
Murray
No flies, but the one mosquito didn't get a mention!
You'll never forget the pressing silence of the nights on the Nullabor - broken only by the
howls of the dingoes and the answers from others away in the opposite direction.
The very solitude of the place is its considerable attraction.
Lots of scenic clifftops to camp at. Great spot in the fenced compound on the road into
the whale viewing station.
Don't know how you'll go at the border - they are a bit schitzo due to China Virus.
Have never been aware of flies there - I think the winds maybe keep them away, but have
always crossed in colder months.
(Last year the flies up the Center in winter were horrific - drive
one to near panic. So bad that it was impossible to eat outdoors, and even with the
mandatory fly veil, they got up under when lifting to take a bite and then you were stuck
with them inside the veil).
Last time I drove the Nullarbor there was still 276 miles of dirt and there was a mouse plague, they were about a foot deep at Nullarbor Station. Had to walk across them, would have been about 1974? Going to do it again in a couple of months from Adelaide, just waiting on our new camper trailer to be delivered.
