NULLABOR TRIP

jandas fun · Guru

NULLABOR TRIP

reza · Senior Member

Too many places to list as to see as for spares maybe i was lucky did perth and back and only got a puncture in Snowtown still think if i hadnt pulled in there i would have got back puncture free things we do for a carton of beer

JRH · Guru

As reza says tooooooooooooo many places to list them, as for spares We have done the trip from Perth to Adelaide and return the same way 4 times now and have been very lucky in that we have never had a problem re breakdown.

I get the car serviced before we leave and any minor adjustments such as tune up or oil change if needed. I like to change the oil and oil filter every 5000 klm's when towing so usually do that before we return to Perth.

Toolern Vale · Member

Many years ago on a trip to Esperence I went on the following because I saw it on a travel show:

http://www.visitesperance.com/accom_result1/aussie-bight-expeditions/

Not sure if you are into such things, but you may enjoy it as the trip is along a pristine beach with fantastic views.

As you travel further west, I would certainly suggest a stop at Hopetoun for fuel and provisions, and then straight into the Fitzgerald River National Park for (at least) an overnight stay.

justcruisin01 · Guru

When in Margaret River ,A must is the Voyger Estate Winnery .
If not for a tast test just for the gardens .
We were there in 2008, amazing . Coffee & scones in the restraunt was spot on .

william the third · Veteran Member

G'day reza, i wouldn't stop in snowtown,you might end up in a barrel!!

Delta18 · Guru

jandas fun wrote:

Hi All
leaving 15th March for Perth and return and wanting any suggestions of places that are a must to see or avoid. Any extra spares to take for vehicle or van?
Probably going via Dubbo-Broken Hill-Port Augusta-Ceduna-Norseman-Esperance-Albany-Margaret River. have 6 to 8 weeks.
We wiil be travelling in tag along mode with some relo's (g/g/parents of two of our g/kids. last one born yesterday) and maybe another GN. Frank 75 is getting over brain surgery last Dec. from an aneurysm and other complications, so we will have to "feather"him along. As this is likely to be his last trip, we will get him there and back somehow, so want to see the best places in the time available. We can always go again sometime.
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.
A gentle reminder to everyone. Don't put it off, you never know whats around the corner.

John and Anne

Must go to the "Head of the Bight" between Yalata (note:no fuel here) and Nullarbor Roadhouse. If you like watching whales that is.

The Lookouts at the top of Eucla Pass and Madura Pass are worth stopping at.

Eucla Caravan Park is good value at $20 for couple a night plus $ slot for shower. While there go for a drive down to the old Telegraph Station to see what is left of the substantial building above the encroaching sand dunes. If you have a 4x4 continue on along the easy 4x4 tracks to find the beach and the remains of the old Eucla Jetty. Try your luck fishing, (I didn't have any luck).

When you get back up have a look in the Telegraph Station museum (near the motel) and see just how big the village was when the TS was operating.

Top up with fuel here as it is the cheapest you will get before Norseman (Mundrabilla is much the same price). Prior to this you should have filled at Penong or Nundroo.

Keep your eyes open for wildlife, we see emus, roos, many eagles and if you are really lucky you will see Bustards, WHAT ARE THEY? CLICK HERE We have had the pleasure several times and last year there were two sightings actually within the road boundary.

Balladonia has a very interesting FREE (surprising for this place) museum all based on the Skylab which disintegrated between Esperance and here in July 1979. Don't even think about getting fuel here.

Not far further on is the Fraser Range farmstay. It is a working station with small area for van parking at reasonable rates. They run tours of the station and you can see the largest Eucalyptus hardwood forest in the world. See here for details.

Guys, there is just so much to see, I have only made mention of the Nullarbor, whatever you do don't do like so many and just look at the white line. The journey is just as much part of your holiday as the destination, love it.

Lyne and I have probably crossed over and back between Perth and Adelaide some 20 odd times. We never tire of it, the scenery is always subtly different.

Enjoy it.

We are hoping to be leaving Bunbury in March for another trip over, we may see you.

Cheers Neil

tiger5 · Senior Member

Hi John & Anne,
Look up nullabor net .It will give you an idea of what to see.Have been across 4 times and have been lucky not to have any problems.
Jeff

Ma · Guru

Delta18 wrote:

Must go to the "Head of the Bight" between Yalata (note:no fuel here) and Nullarbor Roadhouse. If you like watching whales that is.
The Lookouts at the top of Eucla Pass and Madura Pass are worth stopping at.
Eucla Caravan Park is good value at $20 for couple a night plus $ slot for shower. While there go for a drive down to the old Telegraph Station to see what is left of the substantial building above the encroaching sand dunes. If you have a 4x4 continue on along the easy 4x4 tracks to find the beach and the remains of the old Eucla Jetty. Try your luck fishing, (I didn't have any luck).
When you get back up have a look in the Telegraph Station museum (near the motel) and see just how big the village was when the TS was operating.
Top up with fuel here as it is the cheapest you will get before Norseman (Mundrabilla is much the same price). Prior to this you should have filled at Penong or Nundroo.
Keep your eyes open for wildlife, we see emus, roos, many eagles and if you are really lucky you will see Bustards, WHAT ARE THEY? CLICK HERE We have had the pleasure several times and last year there were two sightings actually within the road boundary.
Balladonia has a very interesting FREE (surprising for this place) museum all based on the Skylab which disintegrated between Esperance and here in July 1979. Don't even think about getting fuel here.
Not far further on is the Fraser Range farmstay. It is a working station with small area for van parking at reasonable rates. They run tours of the station and you can see the largest Eucalyptus hardwood forest in the world. See here for details.
Guys, there is just so much to see, I have only made mention of the Nullarbor, whatever you do don't do like so many and just look at the white line. The journey is just as much part of your holiday as the destination, love it.
Lyne and I have probably crossed over and back between Perth and Adelaide some 20 odd times. We never tire of it, the scenery is always subtly different.
Enjoy it.
We are hoping to be leaving Bunbury in March for another trip over, we may see you.
Cheers Neil

One thing that REALLY annoys me is when people say "The Nullabor is sooooo boring, there's nothing to see". Nearly got into a "blue" with one woman when we were in Echuca last year on just this topic.

There is so MUCH to see. All you have to do is open your eyes. Even if you don't have time to get off the main road, open your eyes, there's something new and different to see EVERY kilometer you travel.

Elaine

jandas fun · Guru

Thanks everyone for your tips and web site info.
Usually like to just meander along at my own pace and visit the Info. centres or check with the locals for places to see etc. that then decides which way we go at the next crossroad.
My concern this time, is if my mate is still not well, we may have to camp up for a few days at a time. 10,000klm round trip in 6-8 weeks will limit what we can see and do. Might cheat and do a couple of sight seeing plane trips which i believe can be done from around that area.
Thanks again.

Jeff. beautiful part of the world you come from.

Johnw

jandas fun · Guru

Spot on Ma.
Love the long lonely roads.always something of interest if you actually look at whats out there. Often stop on these roads for a cuppa and enjoy the peace and solitude.

Whoops. welcome to the forum Tiger5 lots of great people, info and friendly banter in here.
I think Ma was from our neck of the woods when she was a gal?

Johnw

Pam · Guru

Fraser range had closed when we went through last year so I don't know if it is open again.
Cape le grande is worth a look. The whitest sand I have ever seen.
Saracen Winery/Duckstein Brewery near Margaret river is great to see. There is a nut factory with lots of free samples and Providores also. Chocolate factory was not so good.
Allow a fulll day for Whale world at Albany.
Around Pemberton there is the Gloucester Tree and a tramway.
I could go on and on......... We spent a month pottering from esperance to mandurah and did not see everything.

justcruisin01 · Guru

"The Nullabor is sooooo boring, there's nothing to see".

A very poor excuse for not opening their eyes .All the Headlands ,parking bays , the country side keeps on changing .What else do we need , not a city i hope .

milo · Senior Member

I'd love to do this with dad while we still have "The Tardis" and him of-course..
whats the go with fuel spots, is there many places with long distances between them,
we can roughly do 800 k's so would like a rough idea say from port agusta then into WA etc

Pam · Guru

every 150-200 k there are fuel stops however some can be pricey. the roadhouses also have powered sites behind them.

Delta18 · Guru

milo wrote:

I'd love to do this with dad while we still have "The Tardis" and him of-course..
whats the go with fuel spots, is there many places with long distances between them,
we can roughly do 800 k's so would like a rough idea say from port agusta then into WA etc

Hi Milo, fill up in Pt Augusta, then Penong. That will get you to Eucla easily. From there it is 700km to Norseman so a top-up at Mundrabilla (same price as Eucla) will get you to Norseman easily. If on the off chance you get extreme headwinds, check your usage and top up at Balladonia if necessary with JUST enough to get to Norseman.

Fuel stops on the Nullarbor are between 60 & 160 kms apart. With planning there are no problems.

The road is excellent and provided your vehicle is in good nick you will have no problems. In 20 return trips I have had one flat tyre and one water pump failure. Rac came out on that one and towad us back to Pt Augusta.

As an aside, I would recommend ALL travelers to have good roadside assist coverage whenever they are traveling. Our RAC Classic coverage gives excellent coverage if we are more that 100km from home. Don't leave home without it.

Cheers Neil

Delta18 · Guru

In addition to the above post, it is 190km from Baladonia to Norseman, don't short fill yourself for this stretch.

Cheers Neil

Ma · Guru

jandas fun wrote:

Whoops. welcome to the forum Tiger5 lots of great people, info and friendly banter in here.
I think Ma was from our neck of the woods when she was a gal?

Johnw

Sure was Tiger, lived around the Hawkesbury for near on 40 years.

jimricho · Guru

Much of "Outback" Australia is very boring.........if, like many travellers, you keep your eyes half closed and your mind completely closed.

ibbo · Guru

Hi Ma,did you ever come across"Top Transport".or did you ever drive a car carrier.?just asking.Does the name Biddle ring a bell with you?Cheers Inspector Ibbo.

-- Edited by ibbo on Monday 25th of January 2010 01:47:22 PM

dave06 · Guru

well you could always play golf on the way through!!

Delta18 · Guru

dave06 wrote:

well you could always play golf on the way through!!

I already have my card, did Norseman, Kambalda and Kal on the way back late last year. Too hot to do the rest. We plan on doing them in March.

Cheers Neil

JRH · Guru

One thing that REALLY annoys me is when people say "The Nullabor is sooooo boring, there's nothing to see". Nearly got into a "blue" with one woman when we were in Echuca last year on just this topic.

There is so MUCH to see. All you have to do is open your eyes. Even if you don't have time to get off the main road, open your eyes, there's something new and different to see EVERY kilometer you travel.

Elaine

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We were in Norseman in 2004 when this rig came into the CP and the woman was a real mess, said she needed at least 3 days to de-stress as they had just crossed the Nullabor and it was sooooooooooooooooooo boring she had stressed right out.

Couldn't understand what all the fuss was about, I have yet to find a boring stretch of road in Australia.

ibbo · Guru

Ooooooops wrong person.Where is Consultant Duck when you need him?.Cheers.Ibbo.

-- Edited by ibbo on Monday 25th of January 2010 01:50:58 PM

Ma · Guru

ibbo wrote:

Hi Ma,did you ever come across"Top Transport".or did you ever drive a car carrier.?just asking.Does the name Biddle ring a bell with you?Cheers Inspector Ibbo.

-- Edited by ibbo on Monday 25th of January 2010 01:47:22 PM
Certainly did come across Top Transport, many many times. Yes, we did have a car carrier, subbied to Top at one stage. We drove a Grey Dodge, long nose table top and tugged a two tier trailer and one car over the cab. That was back in 1972 - 74. Then went cubic freight/containers.
Main route Sydney - Brisbane.

There was Eric Biddle, Barry Biddle and I think it was either Frank or Tom Biddle.

Elaine

Cruising Granny · Guru

Unfortunately at the time of year you're planning to travel the Nullarbor there won't be any whales, unless they've mixed up their breeding seasons. No peeking now.
They are there from about June to Sept, and well worth the wait.
In the 80's when I lived at Pt. Lincoln there were about 180-200 whales in the Bight. The last time I discussed whales with anyone from over there it's estimated there are now more than 1000. That's amazing.
And a look at the Albany Whale World will demonstrate the sounds-and-all experience of how it used to be.
If you need a spell before you "tackle" the big road west/east, park up at the Penong Caravan Park. Clean, friendly and right behind the pub where the meals are reputed to be great country fare.
A drive through the gypsum and salt flats will get you to Cactus Beach - some of the best surf in the world.

Pam · Guru

Check that your roadside service covers anything you are towing. Some of the NRMA basic assist do NOT cover your trailer/van however their top cover does.

jandas fun · Guru

Yep. always had the NRMA Premium Care (top Cover) for the tow vehicle which includes the van. Wouldn't be without it. $144.80 is cheap peace of mind.

Good one Dave, forgot the golf , must take some clubs. At least i won't end up on the wrong fairway!! altho the way i play ?

Thanks again for the tips. Might see some of you out there. Heres hoping.

Johnw

dave06 · Guru

I fail to see where the boredom would come into it, sure it's long and yes it's straight but you are hardly ever far away from the great cliffs and that view

we have crossed it 4 times and loved each one of them, I as yet haven't tried the golf and don't know if I would, always seems like a good way to ruin a fine walk to me!

jandas fun · Guru

No. i can't see why people get bored on these long trips either.
As my signature says " happiness is the road" the destination for me is simply the turning around point. take your time, have plenty of stops, get out and look!!!!
Might be different for truckies doing the same route again and again and again. but i drive for pleasure not for a job. Enjoy this beautiful and diverse country we have while you still can.

Johnw