There are numerous kangaroos, emus and camels on the road at night, which can make night driving quite dangerous. Same story on tail winds heading east. White dirt from the windswept plain whipped around this age worn building, a scene that captured our imaginations and transported us back to a time where the Eyre Highway was nothing more than a rough track. The caves are also used by a variety of birdlife as nesting sites. Youll find a BP service station at the roadhouse plus overnight accommodation at Balladonia Hotel Motel, where you can choose from 27 three-star suites, budget backpacker rooms, caravan park or camping spots. Definitely not something Id done before!Off for a jog in outback Australia! Budget up to $300 for fuel, up to $200 per night for quality accommodation, and around $50 per day per passenger for food. The Nullarbor Plain is a patch of semi-arid desert that stretches from the goldfields of Western Australia across to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. While you shouldnt expect the Ritz, there are many perfectly comfortable accommodation options along the journey. we crept into Eucla with nothing to spare in the tank. Stretching east from Balladonia to Caiguna is the 90 Mile Straight, Australias longest straight road! Farro ($10.49 for six) Not good, forgettable, bland. We were at the Head of the Bight on the 27th August 2010 and counted 17 whales so I think we got lucky. 11 days hey? Your email address will not be published. I am 75. best time to cross the nullarbor. Like any Australian trip into the outback, certain precautions need to be taken before beginning your trip. The motel has a pool, and the accommodation is well set up for travellers with a motel and caravan park. Crossing the Nullarbor is like crossing the last frontier, it is an landscape that can be monotonous but one that can also surprise you with its arid beauty and majesty. Well done!??

Really glad it was useful.Enjoy your trip! While driving the Nullarbor involves two or three long days in the car, with little to see on the Eyre Highway apart from roadhouses every hour or two, its certainly a uniquely Australian experience that allows you to appreciate just how vast and uninhibited much of the country really is. Having read this I thought it was extremely enlightening. I have a son and his family in Esperance and drove across 2 years ago. While we chose to cross the Nullarbor by bicycle, that is certainly not your only option. I have been told that the winds can be a problem during July - August. 1 through to lookout No. The longest Its been a while since I wrote it. If you are coming from the Western Australian direction, there are four free lookouts in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park that begin at lookout No. ), Matthew Heyes is the founder of Backpacker Job Board. We stayed at the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel which was right across the road from Ceduna Jetty. An attraction in this area is the Eyre Bird Observatory, 50km south-east of Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, which is the most remote research station in Australia. Required fields are marked *. Any recommendations of places to stay? We would then return back down the coast and do the south west - Busselton Albany Esperance etc and back home across the Nullaboor. WebCrossing the Nullarbor meant driving along 1600+ kilometres of wild, desolate, semi-arid Aussie outback. After three days of staring out at endless plains of nothingness, it felt extremely weird to enter an actual town, and kind of a relief! The Nullarbor starts in Norseman and ends in Ceduna. As you can see, Eucla Roadhouse, 40 minutes east of Mundrabilla, is one of the more modern roadhouses across the Nullarbor. You can camp anywhere. Located at the eastern end of the drive the town has put together a spectacular windmill museum. The Penong Windmills pump the local water supply from a large underground basin. What if I dont want to drive? you ask. My question is what is the best time during the year to make this trip East to West. Each year between the 1st of June and the 30th of October whales come to frolic in the waters below the Head of Bight. Cheers Claire from NZ. This 1,201 km journey may be one of the loneliest in the country but as you travel you will be greeted with vast landscapes and the spectacular beauty of the Great Australian Bight. I had a huntsman crawl into my pants overnight. So we didnt need to cook everything before crossing the border after all! Then there are the marsh flies! You can take a breather from the road by staying the night at the John Eyre Motel and caravan park which is adjacent to Caiguna Roadhouse. Balladonia Roadhouse is open from 5:30am to 9:30pm seven days a week. Leaving Cocklebiddy, the landscape changes again from saltbush to trees. But, to really experience the crossing and see all there is to see, we reckon setting aside three or four days is better. The outdoor art display pays tribute to a vital part of the town's history. It took us a while to understand this was why they were signalling, as back in the UK it would mean that they themselves were about to pull out and overtake something! I suppose it's a bit hard to predict . You simply have to get used to them, as they come in such vast numbers that there is no chance of getting away. After a sequence of life changing events Ros decided to fulfil her dreams of travel. I will be towing a Retreat Keppel with a Toyota Prado. I have also been there in January when it was quite pleasant. Norseman has a well-stocked IGA supermarket and is the place to pick up any last minute needs before heading across the Nullarbor. Two at Fraser Range. OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. Youll be able to pull over and get your classic Weve crossed the Nullarbor! picture like we did!The classic sign for Australias 90 Mile Straight, We continued a further 114km east of Balladonia to a free camping spot called Baxter Rest Area. Sorry, I cant remember the fuel in that much detail now. Drink plenty of water. Its not just nasty for the roos (often the mothers are carrying babies in their pouches, which will be left to die in there), but if a kangaroo comes flying through your windscreen youre probably going to come off just as badly as they are!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'dreamingofdownunder_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-leader-1-0'); So plan where youre going to sleep, arrive well before nightfall and live the rest of your life without a kangaroos leg lodged through your skull. Skulking off in opposite directions in the morning, surrounded by flies in searing heat was an experience neither of us wish to remember.Slight misjudgement of the porch size when pitching the tent! Sitting next to the roadhouse is a replica of the original corrugated iron station garage.
If you can stay off power for a few nights then stay in Dales Campground. Summers are dry with most rain falling between May and August. WebWhether you're driving the Nullarbor from South Australia or Western Australia, a stop at Penong is a must. In this episode we cross the Nullarbor. Thankfully there are plenty of spots to do just that, most of which take the form of free roadside rest areas: If you want a more spectacular spot to camp, there are a number of opportunities to stay the night in a national park, although a small fee will generally apply. What you will come across is a lot of trucks and road trains (huge lorries). Norseman was the first place we felt properly hot since Perth! It's just good luck at the time. South Australia is half an hour behind East Australia We have 3 mths and were thinking July August Sept but wanting to keep out of the cold weather. Ill check which place name I meant. Required fields are marked.

A trip to Ceduna would not be complete without visiting Ceduna Jetty for swimming and views overlooking the bay. at home"Leaning forward to see whats coming", We also crossed the first week in june this year Left Whyalla on June 4th and yes we had a head wind all the way across probably around 10 knots which was enough for us to see the fuel disappearing rather quicklyProbably took about 8- to 100 k off a tank of fuel (90 litrs lpg)Equalizer We had a good tail wind on the way back Re Whales at the head of the bight They were there 7 in fact on the 5th of june so no need to wait until august August september would be better (more whales). You should buy a fly net and be sure to always have it with you, as these pests can show up anytime, anywhere. Cocklebiddys Wedgetail Inn: 24 motel units (sleeping 1-5 people), caravan sites (call (08) 9039 3462). WebWe Cross the Nullarbor Plain from East to West!! As such the 2700km drive between Perth and Adelaide across the Nullarbor Plain has become a rite of passage for many travellers. If youre with Optus, Vodafone or any other option though, you may be without signal for days. Booking accommodation for crossing the Nullarbor, Roadhouses on the Nullarbor West Australia, Head of Bight Visitors Centre & Whale Nursery, Click here for accommodation reviews and current pricing, Click here for current accommodation pricing and reviews. best wishes, Hi Wayne, wow four times! Enjoy! However, you can complete this road trip at a much more leisurely pace and spend around 5-7 days. The distance between Balladonia and Caiguna is 154 km which takes approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes to drive. At the top of the pass, you will find the Eucla Roadhouse. Off season is between the 1st of November to 31st of May, visitor hours are from 8:30am to 4pm. Summer months can be scorchers so you will find that the best time of year to cross the Nullarbor is during the cooler months between May and As you drive along the Nullarbor there are plenty of parking bays where you can stop and rest if you are feeling tired, a few even have toilets. In the evening we watched the sun set, the only sound in this quiet and peaceful setting was a light breeze that rustled through the trees, a truly memorable experience. , there are many perfectly comfortable accommodation options along the journey West - Busselton Albany Esperance etc and back across... There is no chance of getting away Toyota Prado is the 90 Mile Straight, Australias Straight... 31St of May, visitor hours are from 8:30am to 4pm May without! It was useful.Enjoy your trip can complete this road trip at a much leisurely! Of October whales come to frolic in the tank towing a Retreat Keppel with a Toyota Prado to the is... 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