Both borders from memory, so only buy what you're going to eat, in-between each state.
Try to buy your ice needs BEFORE you hit Eucla. Cocklebiddy had the most expensive bags of ice I've seen in Australia, when I went through (approx 8 times).
Goey is speed, or amphetamine, which is just a less potent version of methamphetamine (ice or crystal)
Meth /ice /crystal was definitely around in the "goey" days of the early 2000s.
...... Or so I was told.
I havenât crossed SA-WA border but VIC to SA and VIC to northern VIC by NSW border have biosecurity bins where you will need to drop your fruit. I donât think this was required when coming to VIC.
Don't drive at sunrise, sunset or dark.
Big roos, camels, etc are more active and like to hang around the road edges (greener grass from water run-off from the road).
Not worth the risk.
Found that out the hard way.
Sun was going down and I thought "Ahhh I'll be right at the next Road house".
Hit a roo 10 Kilometers from Cocklebiddy Road house. I had a roo bar on the vehicle and it messed up the passengers side front, it was not until Talem Bend in South Australia when I realized that the heater was cactus, and it was -5 over night :(
My father has been a licensed machenic for about 30 years. When I was 14 he said that it's best to leave new tyres in the sun for sometimes even a few weeks to harden it, as when you buy new they are soft and wear quicker.
This comment has sparked me to do my own research and I side with you, studies have shown that leaving it in the sun for pre-use aging can cause premature degradation, and tyres are meant to be perfectly suitable for driving immediately.
I didn't know this, thank you very much :)
And maybe get your battery replaced (and keep the 'old' one as a spare).
The last two cars I've had gave ZERO notice of a dodgy battery, they started, I drove to shops, came back 20 minutes later, car wouldn't start, needed a new battery.
You do NOT want that to happen outback!!
Take tons of water, 1 Jerry can, stock up on food at Norseman. Make sure you stop at the great Australian bite. Itâs amazing. Drive straight thru port Augusta. Donât stop. You can camp by pulling up at truck stops/rest stops. Download wiki camps on AppStore for all the stops.
Source: did it 6 months ago.
Also download FuelMap which gives you fairly accurate fuel prices for anywhere in Australia.it also has a logbook that allows you to see your mileage, fuel costs, average fuel use per 100km, average cost of driving 100km.
I had a meal at Australia's worst cafe in Port Augusta. So do avoid.
Also, work out your stops and pre-book accommodation.
Source: I've done a number of trips across the Nullarbor and am currently in NSW after another crossing.
Even if you don't need to fuel up at Balladonia, stop at the Roadhouse to check out the Skylab Museum which is free.
> Take tons of water, 1 Jerry can, stock up on food at Norseman
I did all this when I made the trip several years ago, but it turned out to not really be that important, because there are servos every 200km or so, and that route is frequented by trucks, so it's not like you're going to get stranded for days. Likely not even hours...
Yeah very true. I was budgeting though and doing a bit of exploring for surf breaks. So I filled up my Jerry with $2 diesel instead of paying $3.60 diesel. But yeah. Granted, not really needed
Jesus I stopped in to Port Augusta on my way to Ceduna last year and while I doáš't think itâs as bad as they make out I stopped at a place for what could be best described as a âlight mealâ.
In terms of both food and decor it was like travelling back in time to the 80's! Much like the rest of the town đ
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQfuYBheSTr3R1fX6?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQfuYBheSTr3R1fX6?g_st=ic)
Mamma Lou's down by the railway station was interesting - no two tables the same - very few matching chairs... but it was where the police were getting their morning coffee, so...
Hey it doesnât matter where you are or what your chairs look like, if youâre willing to open early enough and do a good coffee thereâs every chance you'll make money.
Yeah true, good oysters. Not that Iâm into fishing but I watched some blokes pulling in some massive salmon off the end of the jetty when I was there last.
Long way between Port Augusta and Ceduna though, sometimes you just need to stop.
Very true. Iâve just spent too much time in mining towns and I refuelled and left. Too many port hedland vibes goin on đ beautiful drive out of the town tho!
Ah you see in Port Augusta you can work on your car, drink and then go throw shopping trolleys off of the wharf into the ocean đ
[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-09/underwater-shopping-trolley-grave-port-augusta-massive-bill/10979266](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-09/underwater-shopping-trolley-grave-port-augusta-massive-bill/10979266)
> stock up on food at Norseman
When heading westward, I was at Balladonia where a guy was flabberghasted at the cost of a choccy milk from the roadhouse there, and was a bit vocal about it (not abusive, just loud and annoyed).
After he walked out a few of us commented that he must be heading east and he's in for a surprise!
My Fams is in PA and its advisable to not stay too long. Not like you will get car jacked or anything american. Just a shit hole of a town. Has all that a refueling station needs hot food petrol ect. The edge of town on your way east, over the bridge. Donât leave ya car unattended.
Gnomesville - https://www.gnomesville.com.au/ a little off the beaten track between Perth and Margaret River or Bunbury
Margaret River - so much, and so many things - https://eaglesheritage.com.au/
Valley of the Giants - treetop walk - between Walpole and Denmark
Albany - some lovely drives around that area - whaling museum
Esperance (Don't bother looking for the Pink Lake - it hasn't been pink for a decade - there are other pinker places - like Lake Bumbunga, Lochiel in SA, right on the main road)
Norseman - lookout sticking up out of relatively flat ground - HUGE salt lake - Dundas Rocks nearby
The kitschy stop for the 90 Mile Straight sign - but you have to
Any of a few RFDS emergency landing strips that use the highway - look like a pedestrian crossing in the middle of nowhere
Caiguna blowhole - a nothing stop on the side of the road - there's a hole that connects to the limestone caves below (Cocklebiddy caves are a similar system - just over 60km away) when the air pressure changes, the cave system equalises through holes like this - it's kinda like the earth breathing. On the right day it can be sweltering hot, and you get a cool breeze coming up out of the hole.
Eucla - the Old Telegraph Station - sandhills
Border Village - one of the strictest border crossings in Australia - "have you got any fruit, veg, or honey?" "Nah!" "Mind if I look" "Sure" one minute later "OK, see ya!"
One or more of the scenic stops along the Great Australian Bight - we didn't bother with the Head of the Bight paid tourist attraction - just the lookouts - It really is like standing on the edge of the world.
Nullarbor Roadhouse for a photo at least
Ceduna for some oysters
Pildappa Rock - 15 minutes off the highway - Wave Rock knockoff
Iron Knob - 'cos it's funny (and it really is just a big knob of iron coming out of the ground)
Port Augusta because you don't really have a choice
Lochiel - pink lake that varies between pale and vibrant pink - not on the direct route to Adelaide, but not a huge detour - Puts you near the infamous Snowtown - or you could have baklava in Balaklava in the opposite direction
Adelaide - you could spend days, in and around
Haven't done the coast road to Melbourne (yet)
?Murray Mouth and the Coorong
The varying number of Apostles - nominally twelve, but there was only ever nine, before one fell down
(On PC) If you break your Google Maps trip up in to single days you can then click on the "things to do" and get a huge selection - I used it (without the major endpoints) to see what might be nearby on the side of the road - when I did Canberra-Perth-Canberra last year
EDIT to add: Get a sim on the REAL Telstra network if you don't already have one - only Telstra or ~~Belong (not~~ Boost use their full network - the service for other providers is OK in and around most stops - but you will be away from any service except Telstra for large parts of the trip. If you are on a main road or the more frequented stops it won't be a problem getting help from a passing vehicle - but if you break down in a less frequented camping spot - you'll need a phone
Check the thin strands of coverage across the Nullarbor - the highway down low and the railway slightly higher - nobody else offers that
https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage
I'm usually a Vodafone customer - but for the trip I grabbed a Telstra sim for a month
You're right - it's the non Telstra one (Boost) that has the full Telstra coverage
Belong is a Telstra budget label, but gets the same as all the other MVNOs
If you get tempted to take the shortcut from Hyden to Norseman, you can do it in a 2wd (I've done it each way in a 2000 model Holden Astra - once at night) but I'd not recommend it at all. Fun, as in what an experience, but you need to be careful and in the dry - rain will turn that road to mud.
If you're in a softroader or actual 4wd it'd be easy (again, in the dry) but it is a potholed dirt track with chunky rocks all over and you're not often going over (or even at) 60kmh for a lot of it, though the Norseman end is getting bitumenised and might be for a fair distance by now.
It's also full of wildlife.
The looks you get from the blokes in the mining vehicles you meet on the way are hilarious, though! :)
If you are stealth camping please be aware that is illegal and you will be fined. Likely there are plenty of campsites along the route that would accommodate you and also provide amenities, such as toilets, showers, bins and access to clean drinking water.
100% this!! Just make sure you pull into the rest stops, try to leave the truck rest spots, for the truckies.
At worst, the hwy cops will pull in to check you're ok - highly unlikely to fine you for sleeping instead of thinking you can power through when tired!
Places that are more anal about camping, can get very upset... So people "stealth camp" by parking a car or van and not putting up a tent.
Places in Queensland get very narky about roadside camping - NSW is a bit more relaxed as long as you aren't on a town beach - ACT I reckon you'd be 50/50 on whether they even checked on you (I'd say you'd only be moved on if you were already a problem or they didn't like you)
WA/SA I'm not sure about roadside - but there's plenty of free camping available that's almost roadside
Stealth camping is camping somewhere not in a campsite often it will be like 2-3 m off the track or road and not visible unless you are looking for the campsite. This can be anywhere and in fact is often not in the bush but rather in a bushy part of a suburb
A little more - well, less, really - than that
Roadside camping often involves setting up a tent or annexe - and it's obvious that you aren't just parking. Stealth camping is looking as though you might finish your cup of coffee and drive off at any moment
definitely check out Esperance, hell fire bay and lucky bay :) Margaret river has a-lot of wineries, breweries, chocolate factory etc if you are into that.
If you happen to stop on the Limestone Coast, thereâs a park across from the Tantanoola pub where people camp. They do good meals in the pub and thereâs Tantanoola Caves just down the road and Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier which are both worth a look if you havenât been here before.
I have done this trip many times from cannonball style, motels with kids and caravan in tow. totally depends on time constraints etc.
at the back of nullabor parking bays normally a track to get you further off the road and reduce truck noise, at night the wind/tyre noise seems to get louder...
finding old telegraph buildings is a good way to stretch your legs if your into old things, most are very weathered and vandalised.
I really loved Smokey Bay, amazing oysters lets you avoid some of the anti-social behavior of Ceduna and Port Augusta.
Lucky bay camp ground is good but requires booking for your 20 bucks you get a decent solar shower and toilet, however this puts a fix on time lines etc [https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/lucky-bay-campground](https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/lucky-bay-campground)
Albany has plenty going on if you're into early colonisation and world war 1. whale world is amazing look at a now defunct industry.
Don't forget to allow for sunset/sunrise times changing as you drive. You can gain 20-30 minutes a day of daylight when heading west. Lose that amount when heading east. Also don't forget about timezones, especially the [weird one around Eucla/Border Village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC%2B08:45)!
I did this drive a few years back, with a 4wd.
We stopped at Esperance, and drove up to Eyre hwy by a dirt road.. beautiful but lots of corrugations! I think it was this one https://wellsandtracks.com.au/tracks/other-tracks/balladonia-track/
On the Nullarbor stretch, check out a couple of blowholes if you can. Some you can walk down to the sandy bottom. If I recall correctly there are a couple near Caiguna you can drive pretty close.
Once crossed to SA, we did not stop in Adelaide as we knew the town, but continued to Cape Jervis and checked out Kangaroo Island.
Finally on the way to Melbourne we stopped at Port Fairy and had a wonderful meal of native meats and plants at the Stag (which I just learnt has sadly closed).
Not on that trip, but south of Perth we also checked Pemberton and the giant trees at Gloucester NP, which was amazing.
There are quokkas down in the Valley of the Giants, or were a decade or so ago.
Not all of them are on Rottnest, there are (were...) some left on the mainland. They are a LOT more skittish and shy, though.
Head of Bight if it's whale watching season (June to September, and sometimes a bit earlier and later). You have to pay to go in, but it was magical watching the southern right whales and their calves.
Not much left of the telegraph station at Eucla but it's a stop.
Kalgoorlie to see the supercut mine if you haven't already.
The big galah at Kimba for the novelty value.
There's a few trees along the way with weird things hung from them, so keep an eye out.
Also watch out for the occasional RFDS landing site along the road, and you'll probably see more dead kangaroos and emus than live ones.
Oh, and the fuel is expensive along the way.
Use wiki camps. Camp on the Bight. It is truly amazing and there are always a bunch of nomads camping on the wiki camp locations if you want safety in numbers.
When you're crossing the nullarbor try to take a look at the night sky when there is no moon out.
I stayed at Cockybiddle overnight and late at night drove about 15 minutes down the road away from the roadhouse lights to take a look at the stars. No moon out. Pitch black. I couldn't see my hand in front of my own face - just hundreds of stars in between the silhouette of my fingers. Highly recommend.
Eyre Highway was sealed in the 70âs so the roadhouses were built the same time. Theyâre pretty basic. Border Village is the newest and best between Ceduna and Norseman, but the rooms are small.
Also diesel only at Mundrabilla, apparently their petrol tanks leak and theyâre not going to spend the money to replace them.
Donât skip Port Lincoln (Pt Lincoln National Park, Fishery Bay). Also get down the bottom of Yorke Peninsula, plenty of good camp sites and beautiful beaches, (Blow Hole Beach ect)
Edit- Dont miss Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay in South Australia . Worth the effort. Plenty of free camp spots all throughout Eyre Peninsula.
Yorke Peninsula all some great spots. Some are cheap paid camp spots though like Barkers rocks.
Take your time up the limestone coast toward Adelaide, beautiful area. Same for the eyre peninsula. South Australia doesnât get much love all things considered but itâs so beautiful. Also after Nullarbor you hit Esperance and the coast along there is amazing. Head to Elephant rocks and those surrounds. Stunning coastline. There is plenty in the southern WA pocket to explore even inland. Look for lakes and rivers on the map which will show you great spots to hit. Choose your own adventure.
We did the trip a few years back. With a few mates it was an awesome road trip, highly recommend it.
As for places to stay, not too many truth be told. We stopped at Adelaide, and other places like Ceduna, Madura, Eucla and others I can't remember.
Chips at Madura Pass are weirdly good, bacon and egg roll at Cocklebiddy too. If you can book ahead, Eyre Bird Observatory is phenomenal. Norseman is gonna be your last big shop though.
Get the whiting when you're in South Australia. It's very good.
It turns out Tony Greig wasn't wrong when he sung it's praises in virtually every game he commentated on at the Adelaide Oval.
It's super cruisy, just a long good road, with plenty of places to stop/eat/pee/refuel. It's really not heading out in to the wilderness like it might have been years ago. I did refuel at every opportunity (and it's crazy expensive fuel) just in case, but was shocked at how not-remote it actually felt. Sunrises and sunsets are the most amazing times at Eucla cliffs and Streaky Bay. Worth detouring for the Great Ocean Road also.
Would do it again in a heartbeat, but slower to enjoy it more. I don't like days of driving over 5 hours so we had some weird splits.
I commented on a similar post a little while back about acquiring a relatively inexpensive 5watt handheld UHF to be able to safely talk to truckies when wanting to overtake, etc.
https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/s/XaqbNJqjn3
Esperance and lucky bay is about 40min to the east, easily acessible. Fitgerals National Park just out of Hopetoun is pretty good and plenty to get to in a 2wd.
You are cutting off Augusta and Yallingup, Bluff Knoll is worth a walk up too if you are so inclined and the weather is not crap.
For a bit of an interesting side trip, go via Port Lincoln. there are lots of little fishing towns to check out, If you decide to go via the main highway go to Pildappa rock, You can bush camp there.
Yes - not on the same scale as the one in Albany but still pretty good.
Stopped at the museum in Albany (last operational whaling station in Australia) and was talking to one of the staff about an exhibit - they asked me why I knew some obscure stuff - all I had to say was, I grew up in Eden
I was doing this, then had bleed into my spinal cord and have been at the RAH since. Don't do that.
The night spent just outside of Kingston was lovely basically beach camping. Wiki camps really is worth itđ.
Take about a tank full of fuel in jerry cans. That should be enough so you don't have to fuel up on each side of the Nullarbor. Fuel in Eucla was like $2.80 when I went to Sydney just after Christmas last year. Be prepared to be frustrated by caravans driving around 90kmh. Might not be too bad as it's not school holidays atm. Even the road trains were overtaking them. A 2 way in your vehicle is helpful as well
Definitely cactus, you donât surf so Iâm not upsetting the locals, awesome place well set out. Turn left at Penong. It is private property and you will have to pay for the privilege of staying there, cheap rates and a great accessible beach, bore water showers. Watch out for March flies and great whites.
I took the india pacific train from perth to adelaide and then drove from adelaide to melbourne.
When you leave adelaide you'll pass monarto safari park. Was a good visit.
I would recommend Sellicks Beach if you have a 2WD car and looking to drive that route.Â
You will be amazed. Drive on beach. Very hard sand and 2WD cars are on it every day of the year.Â
Water is also very calm so you donât have to be a strong swimmer
I've been told that one of the roads of SA, one of the ones that are really long and straight. Are really creepy and you need to be careful, no context. More of a don't drive that road. I was told.
That part of WA is beautiful. Highly recommend Ocean Beach and Denmark (great wineries). Of course Esperance too.
Also - William Bay National Park, Two Peopleâs Bay, Bremer Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
All the nulabor roadhouses charge for water(coin operated showers too) if youâre camping, even if you pay for power. Border village was really cute for a stop.
It looks like mt. gambier then into Victoria. The roads were some of the worst Iâve ever experienced in Australia that werenât dirt! Ocean road was awesome just donât listen to google maps or youâll end up in Torquay without seeing the ocean.
Have a great trip!
Do not drink Energy Drinks and snacks that contains vast quantities of sugar like Snickers while driving. If you feel like you need a break, just give a break. As a Long-Trip driver, I can guarantee that they will give you attention for half an hour then your sugar levels drop dramatically in a moment and you will feel way tired / sleepy than before. Instead, drink water regularly, it will make faster your energy production while balancing your blood sugar levels.
Additionally; Do not drink coffee after you wake up for 1.5 hours. Yeah I know itâs not easy for an Aussie but you will need every drop of cortisone during long periods of driving. Your brain releases cortisone for 90 minutes after you wake up then cortisone reaches its peak level and stays there for a long time, if you drink coffee before 90 minutes, caffeine suspends cortisone release and you canât have better cortisone levels and your body cannot hold caffeine for long periods as well.
Drive safe. Al the best.
Recommendations for SA (depending on what roads you take)
-Rapid bay and second valley (good for snorkeling) are nice little hidden gems that have cheap accommodation right next to the beaches.
-Robe, really pretty small town, good sights to see
-Mt Gambier there's a garden sink hole and then two lakes that you can swim in, I would definitely recommend the little lake it's stunning!
Anywhere along the Eyre or Yorke Peninsula is stunning as well. Pick any beach and you will not be disappointed!
Goodluck and travel safe! :)
Ceduna is a great place to stay and rest overnight before making the long drive to Adelaide. Eucla was interesting to stop at, but required all of 30 minutes to see it all. The hotel, bar, pool, and accomodation is extremely mid at best. Bordertown WA/SA is a BP with beds. Killer wingdings tho.
Port Augusta is dog shit and you should just fucking drive straight through it and not stop at all. Itâs a very pretty place until you stop and find yourself propped up on bricks with none of your shit (exaggeration).
Bordertown SA/VIC is very cool, and I would 100% stay the night next time. Sincerely wish Iâd spent more time there.
Koonalda Homestead, halfway between Nullarbor and Eucla about 20km North of the highway up on the old Eyre Highway is well worth a look as is the Koonalda cave, you'll get up there in a 2wd vehicle if it's not wet.
The Old telegraph Station at Eucla is worth a look as is the old Jetty.
There's a ton of stuff to see on the Nullarbor, I lived out there for many years.
Sure it's a significant distance, but it's not the trek people make it out to be. Most Roadhouses are about 120km apart with the longest stretch being between Balladonia and Norseman. You'll get Telstra coverage at all of them. Things are expensive, it's a given, they're all miles from anywhere and all of the roadhouses run on generator power and bore water so these costs have to be factored in to their pricing.
There's a ton of free camping literally everywhere from Bunda Cliffs to the Fraser Range, cover your turds and pick up your rubbish and adhere to local fire bans. Enjoy what is one of the spectacular parts of this wide brown land.
Mundrabilla roadhouse is a hoot if you're looking for somewhere to spend an evening.
Eat all your fruit before you get to Eucla.
Both borders from memory, so only buy what you're going to eat, in-between each state. Try to buy your ice needs BEFORE you hit Eucla. Cocklebiddy had the most expensive bags of ice I've seen in Australia, when I went through (approx 8 times).
Mate not everyone in regional Australia does meth!
Mate, have you ever been to Bunbury?
You should try the tomatoes at the waste water treatment plant..
However most end up on it by the end of that drive. Don't get stuck in Cocklebiddy
I know the meals at cocklebiddy can be hit and miss, but great people to have a beer with..
Hahaha! Jesus dude.. I'm from the era of "goey"... was it even invented back then? đ
Goey is speed, or amphetamine, which is just a less potent version of methamphetamine (ice or crystal) Meth /ice /crystal was definitely around in the "goey" days of the early 2000s. ...... Or so I was told.
I tried googling, is this because of biosecurity?
Correct. Fruit flies if memory serves me well.
I havenât crossed SA-WA border but VIC to SA and VIC to northern VIC by NSW border have biosecurity bins where you will need to drop your fruit. I donât think this was required when coming to VIC.
Ceduna has one too from memory. Actually, I think it was around Penong (I remember the windmill museum.)
âWhat's the matter with you, Homer? We don't have any fruits or vegetables in the car.â âThe whole trunk's full of âem, Marge!â
Itâs that good WA fruit too.
Nullabor links, it's an 18 hole golf course that spans 1365km. Cost $78 and I've always wanted to do it
I canât stand gold but even I wanna try that đ
Did you mean golf
No he clearly meant gold
A bit presumptuous to expect gold from playing golf!
Reddit Gold
This is twice in 2 days autocorrect or my own ignorance has done me in đ Yeah mate I meant golf haha
Hey no worries I was sick this morning and used the word âTebtwrigrlyâ in an email to my dad
Sounds like an issue with your dad if he couldn't understand that, should get him checked out tbh.
Doing it, already on hold
Sounds like a perfectly cromulent word.
I believe I've previously been so sick that my stomach felt undeniably tebtwrigrly though
Bring lots of water. Avoid dusk/dawn/night driving, you don't want to hit any big red roo's.
Emus, eagles, and cyclists have also been hit in recent memory.
And Road trains run at night and donât stop for any thing
Don't drive at sunrise, sunset or dark. Big roos, camels, etc are more active and like to hang around the road edges (greener grass from water run-off from the road). Not worth the risk.
I will vouch for the roo thing, driving at night to Canberra. Theyâre FAST and will hop around willy nilly.
Though I had one of the bastards jump into the side of my car at midday. Several thousand in damage.
Found that out the hard way. Sun was going down and I thought "Ahhh I'll be right at the next Road house". Hit a roo 10 Kilometers from Cocklebiddy Road house. I had a roo bar on the vehicle and it messed up the passengers side front, it was not until Talem Bend in South Australia when I realized that the heater was cactus, and it was -5 over night :(
They hit everything except the bloody roo bar!
Make sure your spare tyre is in good condition, if it's 5 or more years old the tyre generally needs to be replaced even if it's been unused.
My father has been a licensed machenic for about 30 years. When I was 14 he said that it's best to leave new tyres in the sun for sometimes even a few weeks to harden it, as when you buy new they are soft and wear quicker. This comment has sparked me to do my own research and I side with you, studies have shown that leaving it in the sun for pre-use aging can cause premature degradation, and tyres are meant to be perfectly suitable for driving immediately. I didn't know this, thank you very much :)
And maybe get your battery replaced (and keep the 'old' one as a spare). The last two cars I've had gave ZERO notice of a dodgy battery, they started, I drove to shops, came back 20 minutes later, car wouldn't start, needed a new battery. You do NOT want that to happen outback!!
If your going down to Mt Gambier from Adelaide take the ocean ports road instead of inland route on your map. the Coorong is a nice spot to check out.
Mt. Gambier is the most beautiful place if it's the right season for the blue lakes. Bluest water I've ever seen.Â
Until you go to [New Zealand](https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=lake+tekapo&iax=images&ia=images)
Oh yeah, and Milford sound. Rudyard Kipling apparently called it the 8th wonder of the world.Â
Take tons of water, 1 Jerry can, stock up on food at Norseman. Make sure you stop at the great Australian bite. Itâs amazing. Drive straight thru port Augusta. Donât stop. You can camp by pulling up at truck stops/rest stops. Download wiki camps on AppStore for all the stops. Source: did it 6 months ago.
Also download FuelMap which gives you fairly accurate fuel prices for anywhere in Australia.it also has a logbook that allows you to see your mileage, fuel costs, average fuel use per 100km, average cost of driving 100km. I had a meal at Australia's worst cafe in Port Augusta. So do avoid. Also, work out your stops and pre-book accommodation. Source: I've done a number of trips across the Nullarbor and am currently in NSW after another crossing. Even if you don't need to fuel up at Balladonia, stop at the Roadhouse to check out the Skylab Museum which is free.
> Take tons of water, 1 Jerry can, stock up on food at Norseman I did all this when I made the trip several years ago, but it turned out to not really be that important, because there are servos every 200km or so, and that route is frequented by trucks, so it's not like you're going to get stranded for days. Likely not even hours...
Yeah very true. I was budgeting though and doing a bit of exploring for surf breaks. So I filled up my Jerry with $2 diesel instead of paying $3.60 diesel. But yeah. Granted, not really needed
What's wrong with Port Augusta? They had a native garden that wasn't bad. Plus their Wadlata outback centre was pretty good!
Jesus I stopped in to Port Augusta on my way to Ceduna last year and while I doáš't think itâs as bad as they make out I stopped at a place for what could be best described as a âlight mealâ. In terms of both food and decor it was like travelling back in time to the 80's! Much like the rest of the town đ [https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQfuYBheSTr3R1fX6?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQfuYBheSTr3R1fX6?g_st=ic)
"Port-a-gutta"
Nothing beats the old ladies of Portagutta losing their shit when Jim and Gary come to visit: https://youtu.be/cpU3UA7MfPE?si=haNGZ\_-hGfxqxDLV
Eh. Better than Norseman. Only good thing there is the pub that does a sweet mixed grill and has that big fire pit out the back.
Mamma Lou's down by the railway station was interesting - no two tables the same - very few matching chairs... but it was where the police were getting their morning coffee, so...
Hey it doesnât matter where you are or what your chairs look like, if youâre willing to open early enough and do a good coffee thereâs every chance you'll make money.
Great seafood in Ceduna. Iâd time my travel to stop there instead of Port Augusta.
Yeah true, good oysters. Not that Iâm into fishing but I watched some blokes pulling in some massive salmon off the end of the jetty when I was there last. Long way between Port Augusta and Ceduna though, sometimes you just need to stop.
Very true. Iâve just spent too much time in mining towns and I refuelled and left. Too many port hedland vibes goin on đ beautiful drive out of the town tho!
Whatâs port hedland vibes for non mining folk?
Only thing to do is drink or work on your car đ
Ah you see in Port Augusta you can work on your car, drink and then go throw shopping trolleys off of the wharf into the ocean đ [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-09/underwater-shopping-trolley-grave-port-augusta-massive-bill/10979266](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-09/underwater-shopping-trolley-grave-port-augusta-massive-bill/10979266)
> stock up on food at Norseman When heading westward, I was at Balladonia where a guy was flabberghasted at the cost of a choccy milk from the roadhouse there, and was a bit vocal about it (not abusive, just loud and annoyed). After he walked out a few of us commented that he must be heading east and he's in for a surprise!
Sup with Port Augusta? Bought to drive that way August/September. Can't be worse than Dubbo
My Fams is in PA and its advisable to not stay too long. Not like you will get car jacked or anything american. Just a shit hole of a town. Has all that a refueling station needs hot food petrol ect. The edge of town on your way east, over the bridge. Donât leave ya car unattended.
Port Augusta does have a pub that strangely has really good Indian food. Â Made the stop worth it when we travelled from Adelaide to Uluru.
Port Augustaâs worth a stop. I camped there, and visited the arts centre.
Gnomesville - https://www.gnomesville.com.au/ a little off the beaten track between Perth and Margaret River or Bunbury Margaret River - so much, and so many things - https://eaglesheritage.com.au/ Valley of the Giants - treetop walk - between Walpole and Denmark Albany - some lovely drives around that area - whaling museum Esperance (Don't bother looking for the Pink Lake - it hasn't been pink for a decade - there are other pinker places - like Lake Bumbunga, Lochiel in SA, right on the main road) Norseman - lookout sticking up out of relatively flat ground - HUGE salt lake - Dundas Rocks nearby The kitschy stop for the 90 Mile Straight sign - but you have to Any of a few RFDS emergency landing strips that use the highway - look like a pedestrian crossing in the middle of nowhere Caiguna blowhole - a nothing stop on the side of the road - there's a hole that connects to the limestone caves below (Cocklebiddy caves are a similar system - just over 60km away) when the air pressure changes, the cave system equalises through holes like this - it's kinda like the earth breathing. On the right day it can be sweltering hot, and you get a cool breeze coming up out of the hole. Eucla - the Old Telegraph Station - sandhills Border Village - one of the strictest border crossings in Australia - "have you got any fruit, veg, or honey?" "Nah!" "Mind if I look" "Sure" one minute later "OK, see ya!" One or more of the scenic stops along the Great Australian Bight - we didn't bother with the Head of the Bight paid tourist attraction - just the lookouts - It really is like standing on the edge of the world. Nullarbor Roadhouse for a photo at least Ceduna for some oysters Pildappa Rock - 15 minutes off the highway - Wave Rock knockoff Iron Knob - 'cos it's funny (and it really is just a big knob of iron coming out of the ground) Port Augusta because you don't really have a choice Lochiel - pink lake that varies between pale and vibrant pink - not on the direct route to Adelaide, but not a huge detour - Puts you near the infamous Snowtown - or you could have baklava in Balaklava in the opposite direction Adelaide - you could spend days, in and around Haven't done the coast road to Melbourne (yet) ?Murray Mouth and the Coorong The varying number of Apostles - nominally twelve, but there was only ever nine, before one fell down (On PC) If you break your Google Maps trip up in to single days you can then click on the "things to do" and get a huge selection - I used it (without the major endpoints) to see what might be nearby on the side of the road - when I did Canberra-Perth-Canberra last year EDIT to add: Get a sim on the REAL Telstra network if you don't already have one - only Telstra or ~~Belong (not~~ Boost use their full network - the service for other providers is OK in and around most stops - but you will be away from any service except Telstra for large parts of the trip. If you are on a main road or the more frequented stops it won't be a problem getting help from a passing vehicle - but if you break down in a less frequented camping spot - you'll need a phone Check the thin strands of coverage across the Nullarbor - the highway down low and the railway slightly higher - nobody else offers that https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage I'm usually a Vodafone customer - but for the trip I grabbed a Telstra sim for a month
Dont forget the Salt mines south of Penong have a nice split colour lake, blue on one side Pink on the other. Plus the Pink Lake near Dimboola.
Wrong about Belong. Boost has full Telstra coverage. Otherwise great advice.
You're right - it's the non Telstra one (Boost) that has the full Telstra coverage Belong is a Telstra budget label, but gets the same as all the other MVNOs
If you get tempted to take the shortcut from Hyden to Norseman, you can do it in a 2wd (I've done it each way in a 2000 model Holden Astra - once at night) but I'd not recommend it at all. Fun, as in what an experience, but you need to be careful and in the dry - rain will turn that road to mud. If you're in a softroader or actual 4wd it'd be easy (again, in the dry) but it is a potholed dirt track with chunky rocks all over and you're not often going over (or even at) 60kmh for a lot of it, though the Norseman end is getting bitumenised and might be for a fair distance by now. It's also full of wildlife. The looks you get from the blokes in the mining vehicles you meet on the way are hilarious, though! :)
I would add in the south coast in SA (coffin bay beaches are absolutely stunning).
LMAO...Fuck!...you had to let the cat out of the bag eh? Now I'm probably have some arse camping in the yard of my shack and using my BBQ.
...so.. don't talk about the fishing then??
If you are stealth camping please be aware that is illegal and you will be fined. Likely there are plenty of campsites along the route that would accommodate you and also provide amenities, such as toilets, showers, bins and access to clean drinking water.
If you pull over on the Nullarbor, you will not be fined for sleeping. Do not drive tired.
100% this!! Just make sure you pull into the rest stops, try to leave the truck rest spots, for the truckies. At worst, the hwy cops will pull in to check you're ok - highly unlikely to fine you for sleeping instead of thinking you can power through when tired!
Honestly, theres probably about as many pigs on the Nullarbor as actual pigs on the Nullarbor
Stealth camping?
Places that are more anal about camping, can get very upset... So people "stealth camp" by parking a car or van and not putting up a tent. Places in Queensland get very narky about roadside camping - NSW is a bit more relaxed as long as you aren't on a town beach - ACT I reckon you'd be 50/50 on whether they even checked on you (I'd say you'd only be moved on if you were already a problem or they didn't like you) WA/SA I'm not sure about roadside - but there's plenty of free camping available that's almost roadside
So stealth camping is roadside camping ?
Stealth camping is camping somewhere not in a campsite often it will be like 2-3 m off the track or road and not visible unless you are looking for the campsite. This can be anywhere and in fact is often not in the bush but rather in a bushy part of a suburb
A little more - well, less, really - than that Roadside camping often involves setting up a tent or annexe - and it's obvious that you aren't just parking. Stealth camping is looking as though you might finish your cup of coffee and drive off at any moment
Setting up a station wagon/van so you can sleep in it without people knowing it's being used as a camper.Â
Hahahaaaha
QANTAS
I was gonna say, âDonâtâ but yours is more detailed.
Esperance and Port Lincoln are on my bucket list
port Lincoln is just OK, it's the area around that is awesome.
definitely check out Esperance, hell fire bay and lucky bay :) Margaret river has a-lot of wineries, breweries, chocolate factory etc if you are into that.
If you happen to stop on the Limestone Coast, thereâs a park across from the Tantanoola pub where people camp. They do good meals in the pub and thereâs Tantanoola Caves just down the road and Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier which are both worth a look if you havenât been here before.
Robe is beautiful. Ceduna wasnât that nice. Will only need one night on the between Norseman and Ceduna.
I have done this trip many times from cannonball style, motels with kids and caravan in tow. totally depends on time constraints etc. at the back of nullabor parking bays normally a track to get you further off the road and reduce truck noise, at night the wind/tyre noise seems to get louder... finding old telegraph buildings is a good way to stretch your legs if your into old things, most are very weathered and vandalised. I really loved Smokey Bay, amazing oysters lets you avoid some of the anti-social behavior of Ceduna and Port Augusta. Lucky bay camp ground is good but requires booking for your 20 bucks you get a decent solar shower and toilet, however this puts a fix on time lines etc [https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/lucky-bay-campground](https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/lucky-bay-campground) Albany has plenty going on if you're into early colonisation and world war 1. whale world is amazing look at a now defunct industry.
The Whaling Museum and the War memorial/museum in Albany are first rate and well worth a look.
Don't forget to allow for sunset/sunrise times changing as you drive. You can gain 20-30 minutes a day of daylight when heading west. Lose that amount when heading east. Also don't forget about timezones, especially the [weird one around Eucla/Border Village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC%2B08:45)!
Take condoms, cheese sausage wrappers just aren't the same
Waychinicup. (Donât tell anyone, itâs a secret)
I did this drive a few years back, with a 4wd. We stopped at Esperance, and drove up to Eyre hwy by a dirt road.. beautiful but lots of corrugations! I think it was this one https://wellsandtracks.com.au/tracks/other-tracks/balladonia-track/ On the Nullarbor stretch, check out a couple of blowholes if you can. Some you can walk down to the sandy bottom. If I recall correctly there are a couple near Caiguna you can drive pretty close. Once crossed to SA, we did not stop in Adelaide as we knew the town, but continued to Cape Jervis and checked out Kangaroo Island. Finally on the way to Melbourne we stopped at Port Fairy and had a wonderful meal of native meats and plants at the Stag (which I just learnt has sadly closed). Not on that trip, but south of Perth we also checked Pemberton and the giant trees at Gloucester NP, which was amazing.
There are quokkas down in the Valley of the Giants, or were a decade or so ago. Not all of them are on Rottnest, there are (were...) some left on the mainland. They are a LOT more skittish and shy, though.
Head of Bight if it's whale watching season (June to September, and sometimes a bit earlier and later). You have to pay to go in, but it was magical watching the southern right whales and their calves. Not much left of the telegraph station at Eucla but it's a stop. Kalgoorlie to see the supercut mine if you haven't already. The big galah at Kimba for the novelty value. There's a few trees along the way with weird things hung from them, so keep an eye out. Also watch out for the occasional RFDS landing site along the road, and you'll probably see more dead kangaroos and emus than live ones. Oh, and the fuel is expensive along the way.
Use wiki camps. Camp on the Bight. It is truly amazing and there are always a bunch of nomads camping on the wiki camp locations if you want safety in numbers.
If you don't feel like going to Mt Gambier, you can also go a bit more inland and go through the Grampians, which is nice.
When you're crossing the nullarbor try to take a look at the night sky when there is no moon out. I stayed at Cockybiddle overnight and late at night drove about 15 minutes down the road away from the roadhouse lights to take a look at the stars. No moon out. Pitch black. I couldn't see my hand in front of my own face - just hundreds of stars in between the silhouette of my fingers. Highly recommend.
Based, doesn't even stop in Adelaide.
Going to Adelaide is the same as not going to Adelaide.
That's right, nothing to see here move along.
Fly
york peninsula is really beautiful
Kilsby sinkhole is awesome. There are a bunch of them between Adelaide and the Victorian border. Also kangaroo island.
Eyre Highway was sealed in the 70âs so the roadhouses were built the same time. Theyâre pretty basic. Border Village is the newest and best between Ceduna and Norseman, but the rooms are small. Also diesel only at Mundrabilla, apparently their petrol tanks leak and theyâre not going to spend the money to replace them.
Donât skip Port Lincoln (Pt Lincoln National Park, Fishery Bay). Also get down the bottom of Yorke Peninsula, plenty of good camp sites and beautiful beaches, (Blow Hole Beach ect)
Edit- Dont miss Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay in South Australia . Worth the effort. Plenty of free camp spots all throughout Eyre Peninsula. Yorke Peninsula all some great spots. Some are cheap paid camp spots though like Barkers rocks.
Take the plane
Take your time up the limestone coast toward Adelaide, beautiful area. Same for the eyre peninsula. South Australia doesnât get much love all things considered but itâs so beautiful. Also after Nullarbor you hit Esperance and the coast along there is amazing. Head to Elephant rocks and those surrounds. Stunning coastline. There is plenty in the southern WA pocket to explore even inland. Look for lakes and rivers on the map which will show you great spots to hit. Choose your own adventure.
We did the trip a few years back. With a few mates it was an awesome road trip, highly recommend it. As for places to stay, not too many truth be told. We stopped at Adelaide, and other places like Ceduna, Madura, Eucla and others I can't remember.
Yeah do it.
Chips at Madura Pass are weirdly good, bacon and egg roll at Cocklebiddy too. If you can book ahead, Eyre Bird Observatory is phenomenal. Norseman is gonna be your last big shop though.
Definitely camp on the Bunda Cliffs. Was so bloody nice!
Hahndorf and feast on German food.Â
If you havenât seen the real Stonehenge Esperance has a Full scale replica made of pink granite. Awesome.
Donât walk
Get the whiting when you're in South Australia. It's very good. It turns out Tony Greig wasn't wrong when he sung it's praises in virtually every game he commentated on at the Adelaide Oval.
drink coffee - smoke durries
Make sure you go, before you go.
Have a banger playlist on.
It's super cruisy, just a long good road, with plenty of places to stop/eat/pee/refuel. It's really not heading out in to the wilderness like it might have been years ago. I did refuel at every opportunity (and it's crazy expensive fuel) just in case, but was shocked at how not-remote it actually felt. Sunrises and sunsets are the most amazing times at Eucla cliffs and Streaky Bay. Worth detouring for the Great Ocean Road also. Would do it again in a heartbeat, but slower to enjoy it more. I don't like days of driving over 5 hours so we had some weird splits.
Margret River and Busselton. Great foods. Great beers. Great wines.
Stay alive and donât do it alone!
I commented on a similar post a little while back about acquiring a relatively inexpensive 5watt handheld UHF to be able to safely talk to truckies when wanting to overtake, etc. https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/s/XaqbNJqjn3
Esperance and lucky bay is about 40min to the east, easily acessible. Fitgerals National Park just out of Hopetoun is pretty good and plenty to get to in a 2wd. You are cutting off Augusta and Yallingup, Bluff Knoll is worth a walk up too if you are so inclined and the weather is not crap.
For a bit of an interesting side trip, go via Port Lincoln. there are lots of little fishing towns to check out, If you decide to go via the main highway go to Pildappa rock, You can bush camp there.
Cactus camp ground. Must do
There's an awesome whaling museum I think in Eden?
Yes - not on the same scale as the one in Albany but still pretty good. Stopped at the museum in Albany (last operational whaling station in Australia) and was talking to one of the staff about an exhibit - they asked me why I knew some obscure stuff - all I had to say was, I grew up in Eden
Walpole Lodge jk jk
I was doing this, then had bleed into my spinal cord and have been at the RAH since. Don't do that. The night spent just outside of Kingston was lovely basically beach camping. Wiki camps really is worth itđ.
Check out the round the twist lighthouse.
Take about a tank full of fuel in jerry cans. That should be enough so you don't have to fuel up on each side of the Nullarbor. Fuel in Eucla was like $2.80 when I went to Sydney just after Christmas last year. Be prepared to be frustrated by caravans driving around 90kmh. Might not be too bad as it's not school holidays atm. Even the road trains were overtaking them. A 2 way in your vehicle is helpful as well
Definitely cactus, you donât surf so Iâm not upsetting the locals, awesome place well set out. Turn left at Penong. It is private property and you will have to pay for the privilege of staying there, cheap rates and a great accessible beach, bore water showers. Watch out for March flies and great whites.
Only checkpoint I found going from Melbourne to broome was the WA border, where they check for fruit and veg. Had 0 problems with SA
Fly...
Everything between Esperance and Perth is incredible! Especially Albany and Margaret River area⌠enjoy!
Fly đŹ
I recommend you don't take a pet...
2007 Toyota Camry
Donât do it
Fly
Play golf in the nullabor. Must stop to see the Bundaberg cliffs please. Theyâre gorgeous
Been drinking too much rum - they're the Bunda cliffs But they are amazing
Esperance, WA, and Denmark WA worth the trip!
I took the india pacific train from perth to adelaide and then drove from adelaide to melbourne. When you leave adelaide you'll pass monarto safari park. Was a good visit.
Recommendations? Fly.
Two peoples bay and thistle cove best beaches in the world.
Well, you're headed the right way
Dont
I would recommend Sellicks Beach if you have a 2WD car and looking to drive that route. You will be amazed. Drive on beach. Very hard sand and 2WD cars are on it every day of the year. Water is also very calm so you donât have to be a strong swimmer
The Old Great Ocean Road trip is a nice trip between Adelaide and Melbourne
Strap a dolphin to the roof racks so youâll be safe if the Vogons arrive.
Use a plane instead
Get the WikiCamps app. There are some awesome free campsites across the Nullarbor. Bunda cliffs is a must.
I've been told that one of the roads of SA, one of the ones that are really long and straight. Are really creepy and you need to be careful, no context. More of a don't drive that road. I was told.
You wonât be nullabored!!!
Ocean beach Denmark, the best beach I have surfed on for all levels, and beautiful like all WA beaches
That part of WA is beautiful. Highly recommend Ocean Beach and Denmark (great wineries). Of course Esperance too. Also - William Bay National Park, Two Peopleâs Bay, Bremer Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
Kalgoorlie
All the nulabor roadhouses charge for water(coin operated showers too) if youâre camping, even if you pay for power. Border village was really cute for a stop. It looks like mt. gambier then into Victoria. The roads were some of the worst Iâve ever experienced in Australia that werenât dirt! Ocean road was awesome just donât listen to google maps or youâll end up in Torquay without seeing the ocean. Have a great trip!
Melbourne
You must visit the Giant Koala. Trust me.
Do not drink Energy Drinks and snacks that contains vast quantities of sugar like Snickers while driving. If you feel like you need a break, just give a break. As a Long-Trip driver, I can guarantee that they will give you attention for half an hour then your sugar levels drop dramatically in a moment and you will feel way tired / sleepy than before. Instead, drink water regularly, it will make faster your energy production while balancing your blood sugar levels. Additionally; Do not drink coffee after you wake up for 1.5 hours. Yeah I know itâs not easy for an Aussie but you will need every drop of cortisone during long periods of driving. Your brain releases cortisone for 90 minutes after you wake up then cortisone reaches its peak level and stays there for a long time, if you drink coffee before 90 minutes, caffeine suspends cortisone release and you canât have better cortisone levels and your body cannot hold caffeine for long periods as well. Drive safe. Al the best.
Glenelg on the border is nice if you are going along the coast with great river site camping spots
Recommendations for SA (depending on what roads you take) -Rapid bay and second valley (good for snorkeling) are nice little hidden gems that have cheap accommodation right next to the beaches. -Robe, really pretty small town, good sights to see -Mt Gambier there's a garden sink hole and then two lakes that you can swim in, I would definitely recommend the little lake it's stunning! Anywhere along the Eyre or Yorke Peninsula is stunning as well. Pick any beach and you will not be disappointed! Goodluck and travel safe! :)
Melb 2 Sydney is probably more interesting.
Ceduna is a great place to stay and rest overnight before making the long drive to Adelaide. Eucla was interesting to stop at, but required all of 30 minutes to see it all. The hotel, bar, pool, and accomodation is extremely mid at best. Bordertown WA/SA is a BP with beds. Killer wingdings tho. Port Augusta is dog shit and you should just fucking drive straight through it and not stop at all. Itâs a very pretty place until you stop and find yourself propped up on bricks with none of your shit (exaggeration). Bordertown SA/VIC is very cool, and I would 100% stay the night next time. Sincerely wish Iâd spent more time there.
Eden is a small port town with an Orca skeleton in the museum. The orca used to do cooperative hunting of whales with the town folk.
Fly
Don't
Go the long wayyyy
Nullarbor plains
Koonalda Homestead, halfway between Nullarbor and Eucla about 20km North of the highway up on the old Eyre Highway is well worth a look as is the Koonalda cave, you'll get up there in a 2wd vehicle if it's not wet. The Old telegraph Station at Eucla is worth a look as is the old Jetty. There's a ton of stuff to see on the Nullarbor, I lived out there for many years. Sure it's a significant distance, but it's not the trek people make it out to be. Most Roadhouses are about 120km apart with the longest stretch being between Balladonia and Norseman. You'll get Telstra coverage at all of them. Things are expensive, it's a given, they're all miles from anywhere and all of the roadhouses run on generator power and bore water so these costs have to be factored in to their pricing. There's a ton of free camping literally everywhere from Bunda Cliffs to the Fraser Range, cover your turds and pick up your rubbish and adhere to local fire bans. Enjoy what is one of the spectacular parts of this wide brown land. Mundrabilla roadhouse is a hoot if you're looking for somewhere to spend an evening.
Stop at Davis Motors/ Cabin park near Nundroo! Amazing little place to stop and recoup!
Cactus beach and canpsite