Would like to ask has anyone been across the nullabour in october ? then Boome .
Have been across before in may
Admitedly not the most ideal time i guess but due to other things going on
Ive got 8 weeks to spend on a trip down to albany then work our way up to Broome then northern highway to katherine back down the stuart to melbourne .
Furthest ive been on west coast is bunbury few years ago
Would like to hear from anyone that has done the same in OCT ... NOV
We have been across the Nullabor in October but on that trip didn't go further north than Exmouth, the weather was fine across the bottom and it was a great time to see wildflowers through the wheatbelt area, weather was great in the Perth to Carnarvon area but by Exmouth it was very hot. We have been in Broome in October coming from the other direction, by then the weather was very hot and everything was very very dry but the humidity was starting to build again, parks were getting empty and things were closing down, last year we were in Katherine in early October, again very quiet in the parks and the heat was pretty extreme, by November I don't think I could handle it and we really like hot weather.
We drove across the Nullabor in October 2019 to attend the 17th National Caravan rally. We had planned to have a leisurely trip across but unfortunately had an unplanned funeral that delayed us a week. Then the return trip had to be another fast one to be back east for a specialist's doctor's appointment - otherwise would have to wait another three months.
That said at every stop for breaks, fuel and overnight stays we found the weather quite mild with no headwinds either going or returning. As I recall we didn't have to run the air conditioner at nights at any of the stops. (It was different at Albany - rain and cold wind for eight days out of ten for the duration of the rally!)
Our trip over the Nullabor sounds much the same as experienced by Meredith. But note that we didn't go further north than Perth after the rally before heading back east.
After 24 times across the Nullabor I have done it pretty much in every season and from floods in 1963 with loads of mud ( roads were dirt then) to 43 deg mid summer.
October is usually quite nice weather to do the Nullabor and in fact I am heading off east again at the end of September.
However you are heading to Broome at the wrong time of year.
It will start getting hot the further you go north of Carnarvon.
The season is ending then and after that it is not fit for human habitation in my opinion.
Winter is the time for Broome and the Kimberley region.
Last time we drove to the Broome area from Vic, we arrived in Broome mid September. It was quite pleasant at that time but had certainly got warmer by mid October & by November we needed to adapt to always wet clothes & heat rashes. We stayed for around a year & we did manage to adapt quite well, but the early part of that adaptation process was quite challenging. The subsequent 4 wet seasons we spent in the north just felt 'normal'. Broome itself always felt more humid & 'muggy' to us when we visited from a couple of hundred kms north of the town but it does very much depend on which part of the town you spend your time in. Locals know where the sea breezes are & are not.
Hi goldenyears,
I drove the SA section of the Eyre Highway countless times "in the good old days" when I worked out there in the 70s, 80s (based at Ceduna). Our last trip across to Albany was six years ago.
Don't drive early in the morning/night as animals (roos, wombats & even camels) can be an extreme hazard. Take care & your time to have a good look around - being extra careful on the cliff tops - it's a rapid long way down to the water if the edge gives way. Yes, you can do the SA section in a day but what do you see? A bitumen road (one of the best ever made) & a dotted white line down the middle.
If you're traveling in July/August, drop into the Visitors' Centre at Whitewell (about 20kms east of the Nullarbor roadhouse) & see the Southern Right whales that come into the Head of Bight to calve. You may see whales further on in WA too - even Orcas.
However be in for a shock at Broome as caravan parks are often booked out well ahead & their prices are NOT cheap. Investigate as to whether you can camp at the Broome Bird Sanctuary (BirdLife Australia's website). The road isn't the smoothest that you'd come across though.
As Cuppa said, the humidity starts to wind up in October (as it does here in Townsville) - Broome's temperature is marginally warmer than ours. If you don't know how to read weather maps now, learn about them so you can travel during cooler periods & avoid strong head winds. From November onwards, it is NOT the most pleasant to head either west or north.
Otherwise have a great safe trip.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
