Nullarbor fuel price update

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 09, 2015 at 17:43

ThreadID: 117422 Views:4660 Replies:6 FollowUps:5

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Bruce M

The following fuel prices were noted across the Nullarbor between 6 and 9 April 2015:

Ceduna (Shell), diesel $1.359, unleaded $1.339
Penong, diesel $1.349, unleaded $1.339
Nundroo, diesel $1.419, unleaded $1.409
Nullarbor, diesel $1.789, unleaded $1.769
Border Village, diesel $1.770, unleaded $1.910
Eucla, diesel $1.720, unleaded $1.720
Mundrabilla, diesel $1.780, unleaded $1.720
Madura, diesel $1.760, unleaded $1.780
Cocklebiddy, diesel $1.760, unleaded $1.810
Caiguna, diesel $1.770, unleaded $1.820
Balladonia, diesel $1.750, unleaded $1.850
Norseman (Caltex), diesel $1.349, unleaded $1.339: BP, on the Eyre Hwy corner, charged $1.390 for diesel and $1.495 for unleaded.

As usual, if you have the range it is cheapest to fill at either end and again at Eucla (for either diesel or unleaded) or Mundrabilla (for unleaded).

Why did it take us four days to cross? We joined Robin Matthews’ great tour of Maralinga, and very much enjoyed it. We highly recommend this deviation (see www.maralingatours.com.au). Thanks to Robin, and to Stephen L of Clare for advice.

Bruce M

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Apr 09, 2015 at 19:26

Thursday, Apr 09, 2015 at 19:26

Hi Bruce

Good to hear that you have had a great time and it was a pleasure to help you out and get the ball rolling in getting you in to Maralinga.

Cheers

Stephen

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Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Thursday, Apr 09, 2015 at 22:23

Thursday, Apr 09, 2015 at 22:23

Thanks for the fuel update, and glad to hear you enjoyed Maralinga. We've booked and paid for the trip next month. What's the road like on the way in from Nundroo?
Cheers

Wildmax
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 07:42

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 07:42

Hi Wildmax

It can only be described as dead easy, with less than 80 kilometres of dirt road with is usually in good condition. The rest of of the way is on a super highway, wide, flat and bitumen that was made to take big heavey mining trucks.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Bruce M - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:45

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:45

From Nundroo you drive 27km west on the Eyre Hwy, and excellent 110kph bitumen road.

From the turnoff it's a 2.5 hour drive in total.

The first 80km north from the Eyre Hwy is good (100kph) bitumen leading to the Iluka mine.

Next is 65km of good gravel across to the Ooldea crossing of the Trans line. Lower tyre pressure is advised on the gravel, and there are a few bumps and turns, but an average of 70kph should be easy. The total time to Ooldea is around 1 3/4 hours and here the Maralinga visitor calls Robin on mobile phone to arrange to meet him at the Maralinga gate, which is another 45 minutes away.

From Ooldea to the Watson-Maralinga road is 27km of further gravel, not quite as good as that to Ooldea but still no trouble. Finally there is 20km on the 60-year-old bitumen road built for the bomb tests, not perfect but again good enough for 90kph.

Bruce M

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Reply By: vk1dx - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 08:29

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 08:29

Is the tours the only way to see the place? Otherwise I don't think that we will be able to go. No so "cashed up" as others. Ah well.

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Follow Up By: Bruce M - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:52

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:52

vk1dx

Yes, tours are the only way to see it. Notwithstanding the cleanup of 1995, there is a lot of radioactive material buried on the site, and that will remain the case for the foreseeable future.

It remains a controlled area, ultimately under Commonwealth jurisdiction. Inspectors and monitors visit regularly.

Access for tour visitors requires (apart from the permit to cross aboriginal land en route) that they be met at the locked entry gate and escorted to the village. Once there, visitors are not free to wander the broader site, but must be accompanied. Hence the tour is the only way to see it. On the plus side, you would be missing a great deal not to have Robin's explanation of what went on, and what you are seeing.

Bruce M

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 09:14

Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 09:14

Thanks Bruce

All the above understood. Just a shame. We can't afford that. You enjoy the trip. Sometimes a guide does know more than the books. And the "short stories" on the side, are interesting as well.

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Reply By: Michaeljp - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 15:37

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 15:37

Thanks for that info Bruce M, did you notice the opening hours of any of the servo's? I was camped along the cliffs just south of the Nullarbor RH and left there after dark about 9ish and it was closed. Just wondering if its the same all the way across the paddock.

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Follow Up By: Bruce M - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:57

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 19:57

Michaeljp

Sorry, I did not record that detail. I did notice that not all were 24 hour operations, though. I believe you could collect the information by phoning each roadhouse.

Bruce M

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Reply By: Member - David M (SA) - Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 17:01

Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 17:01

Pity about the prices at Mundrabilla now. Used to be Penong, Munrabilla, Norseman to fuel up when heading West.
Dave.

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Reply By: Fab72 - Sunday, Apr 12, 2015 at 08:10

Sunday, Apr 12, 2015 at 08:10

Border Village ULP prices always scare me.

This info has come at a perfect time for me... in the planning stages for a CSR trip from Adelaide. Although there will be price variations day to day, the general trend will remain the same.

Cheers....Fab.

AnswerID: 552311