Weve done the Nullarbor crossing a few times, we havent made it to Uluru though. There are lots of camps between Perth and Port Augusta, and we normally have a general idea of where were likely to stop that night and use WikiCamps to pick a spot. We like to be set up at camp well before sunset so max for us is about six hours. Some of the stops we like are Boorabin, Norseman, East Caiguna, Eucla, Nullarbor Gravel Pit, Wirula and Kimba
My first question, why the hurry if you are retired?
Across the Nullabour we took 6 weeks from Norseman to Ceduna. When we saw smaller birds we lookes for a track off the Hwy which lead to a natural water hole. The only vistors we had was the wide range of wild life. You willnot get drinking water out of main towns other than bottled water.
We have been 15 years full time on the road and mostly stopped wherever convenient. If littered with empty alcohol we moved on. I have all my pre travelling life lived on a farm near a hwy but not in sight of another house without any issues. With a van or motor home it is probably less dangerous as you are not permimant.
Not in any hurry just looking for recommendations.
I actually thought that 500 ks per day was taking it easy ha ham but this idea is probably naively based on previous road/car trips when I was a young fool.
Probably now an older one!
Are you saying that potable water for caravan tanks cannot be bought or sourced at petrol stations along the way (not sure what major towns defines).
Cheers.
David
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Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
As you are retired, no time restraints, slow down stop more and enjoy the trip. 400kms a day is plenty, if you have to make some time up sure do the extra but otherwise why rush!!
As you are travelling the Eyre Hwy which is all bitumen, fuel stops are no problems with plenty of small towns and roadhouse all the way even when you turn left at Pt Augusta and head north.
Just buy a good map book, download the Wikicamps app and even buy the latest Camps book for free camps and good mapping
Thousands do this trip both ways each year, so no real issues, you WON"T be alone
Not in any hurry just looking for recommendations.
I actually thought that 500 ks per day was taking it easy ha ham but this idea is probably naively based on previous road/car trips when I was a young fool.
Probably now an older one!
Are you saying that potable water for caravan tanks cannot be bought or sourced at petrol stations along the way (not sure what major towns defines).
Cheers.
David
400ks is easily done and still time to look around, coming back you will do 500ks or more as you pick up an hour and a half from SA to WA, we have arrived at a planned stop and it was only 12 o'clock, so kept going a bit more.
You won't get water between Norseman and Ceduna, unless it's bottled from the roadhouse at $10 a litre.
Just past Nullabor Roadhouse, turn right to the Head of the Bight, there is a great free camp at White Wells near the gate.
Bobdown is correct - there is no water available to fill or top up caravan tanks between Norseman and Ceduna. All the roadhouses along the way use bore water, and despite what people may believe, there is a limit as to how much can be pumped from the ground. The roadhouses only pump enough for their own use.
Being bore water it is full of minerals and the roadhouses only process enough for their kitchens, laundries and bars. (If using their showers use their special shampoo to wash your hair, otherwise it will be like washing with cement. Ladies, you have been warned!)
C0cklebiddy has a water dispenser - ten litres in your own container for a $2 coin, so for $4 the 20 litres should tide you over. I didn't notice but other stops along the way may have similar dispensers.
There is one other thing about travelling on the Nullabor that nobody has mentioned and that is don't relax thinking that there is no other traffic around. Often there are occasionally cyclists and on one of our trips we passed a person pushing a wheelbarrow contraption way out in the middle of nowhere. Even people in wheelchairs have been known to do the crossing. Only a couple of months ago a truck struck and killed a cyclist in the vicinity of the Nullabor roadhouse.
Yes, back in the seventies I crossed the Nullabor several times by motorcycle while part of it was still gravel, got off the bike and kissed the bitumen when I got to the other side. At the old halfway house I met a Japanese guy crossing on a Honda 50 step thru, funny as, he was in good spirits. I hope the shower water has improved, once I'd dried my hair I made rock star Billy Idol's hairdo look pretty tame. Good luck.
We stayed at Fowlers Bay CP when we travelled to and from WA in 2020. Fowlers Bay is not far off the highway, west of Penong. Water available there (Not borewater. The CP has a system that draws water out of the sand dunes.) and a good place to visit too. Ocean, sand dunes, whale watching cruises at certain times of the year. When we free camped across the Nullarbor, we had enough water in our van's tanks. We practiced some water rationing. In the avatar, the van behind the Patrol looks like it would have decent water tanks.
By the way, at the time, at Ceduna's local water browser, the system to fill the van's tanks was not working. Probably only an irregular fault but annoying at the time.
-- Edited by watsea on Tuesday 12th of July 2022 05:03:36 PM
I prefer a 300km max, but happy to do less & occasionally a bit more. I can drive 6 hours a day & am happy going slow, saves fuel & we see more.
Your comment "caravan parks or safe over night stays (i.e. not in the middle of no where)." make me smile. I can only guess what may be behind that comment, but I imagine it is probably imagination born of uncertainty. It's fair to say that my wife & I, retirees & full time travellers, feel far safer in the 'middle of nowhere' than we ever do in a caravan park. I understand that some may feel safer in an environment closer to what is familiar to them, but I think this is little more than an illusion. It is what you get used to. A number of years back we drove a 45,000km figure 8 around the country, & have also been travelling slowly, predominantly in remote areas, for the past 5 years. During that time we have bush camped most of the time & have rarely felt unsafe. On the only two occasions I can recall feeling unsafe it was where there were other people, & the fear a result of our overactive imaginations rather than any real risk to us. The only of time we have had something pinched was in a caravan park. That all said you should do what is comfortable for you, but I suggest that with a view to adventure & some travelling experience under your belt that you will find that your comfort zone expands.
Personally if going from Perth to Uluru I would take the Great Central Road, but that depends upon the suitability of your vehicle & van for off bitumen use. The longer way & less interesting way (but still interesting if you have never driven it) is across the Nullarbor & up the middle.
June to September is the best time either way you go.
Water - Fill up at every opportunity after stopping for the cup of tea test. If the tea tastes acceptable fill up. If you do start to get low on water, you can always drive a bit further. Not many travellers die of thirst. Neverthless it does no harm to carry a a separate emergency supply - 10 litres say. That way if your tank springs a leak you have enough for an overnighter somewhere.
Not in any hurry just looking for recommendations.
I actually thought that 500 ks per day was taking it easy ha ha but this idea is probably naively based on previous road/car trips when I was a young fool.
Probably now an older one!
Are you saying that potable water for caravan tanks cannot be bought or sourced at petrol stations along the way (not sure what major towns defines).
Cheers.
David
We stayed at Fowlers Bay CP when we travelled to and from WA in 2020. Fowlers Bay is not far off the highway, west of Penong. Water available there (Not borewater. The CP has a system that draws water out of the sand dunes.) and a good place to visit too. Ocean, sand dunes, whale watching cruises at certain times of the year. When we free camped across the Nullarbor, we had enough water in our van's tanks. We practiced some water rationing. In the avatar, the van behind the Patrol looks like it would have decent water tanks.
Yep caravan has 2 x 110l tanks so plenty of water but I prefer not to carry all the weight if I don't have to.
By the way, at the time, at Ceduna's local water browser, the system to fill the van's tanks was not working. Probably only an irregular fault but annoying at the time.
-- Edited by watsea on Tuesday 12th of July 2022 05:03:36 PM
__________________
Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
Having worked on the SA side of the Eyre Highway for a number of years, there is plenty to see - if you know where the more interesting spots are. But yes, Fowler's Bay is worth staying at, as is Eucla, & spend a few hours at the Head of Bight visitor centre from June - August (whale watching).
Going after rain will ensure you will see small wildflowers. If you're into bird watching, there's some to keep you interested.
I assume your rig is what is shown on your avatar. There is an interesting short cut east of Ceduna to Glendambo. I would be cautious about taking a large large caravan on the road & runs through the Gawler Ranges. There is no fuel between Ceduna & Glendambo! And I wouldn't be carrying excess amounts of water either. Enough for a drink, cooking & a "lick & spit" wash.
As a retiree, I don't think you'll be affected by this - don't travel at dawn, dusk & night as kangaroos, wombats are prevalent.
Peter67, there were sometimes Japanese men travelling by push bikes on the old dirt highway (?). Perhaps the pot holes, corrugations were easier to handle on a bike!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
A couple of spots we like are ten mile rocks east of Norseman, moodini bluff east of madura pass, 13k past border village on the right heading east, some good spots if you pick your way around the rocks, views of the ocean. Nice camp at Kimba sports ground, a Lions and Rotary funded spot. Entry by donation. Please don't be stingy with the donation.
Probably only an irregular fault but annoying at the time. 
