Crossing the Nullabor - question

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 18:59

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Member - Richard

Hi,
I am about to head west to Perth. This is the first time I have done this and am unsure where to stop (camping) with camper trailer. I plan to stick to the main drag - at least on the way over.

I guess I am asking people how they broke up their trip. I don't want to drive right through - even if possible. Also place of interest (for on the return trip)

Thanks in advance,
Richard

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Reply By: koh - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:08

Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:08

Pretty easy trip really Rich. aim for the bigger places at night, hold off driving dawn and dusk. Pop in and say Gday when you get to Merredin WA. the PC shop near the PO. Merredins about 3 hours your side of Perth.

Cheers

Bill And Diane

AnswerID: 36220

Follow Up By: Member -BJ (Sydney) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 18:42

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 18:42

whats a pc shop koh ?Regards Bob
Where to next

FollowupID: 26220

Follow Up By: koh - Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 00:12

Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 00:12

Personal computer ..

Ie; Computer shop

My wife does giftware too here too if its any help to find it.. two shops west from the post office. Use to be on the farm but we’ve leased it.. bit of a contrast hey !
regards

Bill & Diane

FollowupID: 26254

Reply By: bruce - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:17

Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:17

Plenty of road side stops along the way , usually with others there using them as well..pull in , set up , say hello , open a can or a cask of plonk and in all probability you will meet some nice people and have a great night yarning ...cheers

AnswerID: 36223

Reply By: joc45 - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:24

Tuesday, Nov 04, 2003 at 20:24

Definitely stay off the road at dusk or early morn - roos.
If you're worried about safety in parking in a side bay close to the road, keep the eyes peeled for microwave radio towers along the way, most are not used now, and the access road should lead you to something well off the road.
On the SA side, there is whale watching off the cliffs (forget exactly where, but you'll see the sign, somewhere near Yalata)
Blowholes at Eucla (ask at the motel) and remains of the telegraph station (Eyre is better)
If you are in a 4wd, it's worth checking out the Eyre Bird Observatory in the bight, south of Cocklebiddy, but you'd need to leave your trailer at the parking area at the top of the scarp (track too rough and sandy). This is an old telegraph station, all restored.
Suggest go via Kalgoorlie on the way west, and return via Esperance during the hotter months. If your camper trailer is a good off-road one, you could go east of Esperance, see some fab coastline and camping (Cape Arid, Cape Le Grand), then head north to the highway at Balladonia via Mt Ragged.
Gerry

AnswerID: 36224

Reply By: Member - Colin (ACT region) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 00:03

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 00:03

Last trip we stopped in at Fowlers Bay in SA - not far off the track - a great little fishing village, quite, and has good park.
If you have time, try and find your way down to the old jetty at Eucla - no trailer and the track is a bit hard to follow !
Another alternative to the Coolgardie or Esperance route is to head West from Norseman towards Hyden (Wave Rock).Subaru Forester
size isn't everything !

AnswerID: 36244

Reply By: Matt M - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 15:58

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 15:58

Richard, I have driven it six times by myself (must love my own company) in the last three years. I usually do it in three days from Syd to Perth. I know thats quick but being by yourself you usually want to get where you are going.

I use three good stops, Pt Augusta, the Big 4 there is great pool and lots of grass and trees, with great facilities. Just what you need for a good nights sleep and a refresh after driving all day! From there, Ceduna is nice spot for a rest, but I usually pass through! From there till Nulabour is not too much, some nice sights and points of interest, if you drop into the Info centre at Ceduna will give you a great outline of these all the way to Norseman.

My next night stop is Cocklebiddy, Caiguna or Balladoniai in that order depending on the lenght of your day!! All three are just Roadhouses with a camp area out the back, from gravel to grass, but again ok facilities and agood showers! The fuel is pretty hexy but you have to live with that.

There is a cheap fuel at Mundrablla, just down the cliff from Eucla, usually cheaper than Bordertown and Eucla and that usually takes me into Norseman for reasonable fuel and then the choice to head north os south into Perth.

As said before the scenic route is south, but watch out for the grain trucks, the quicker route is up north through Kal-Boulder and southern Cross!

Its a great trip and even better if you have the time to slow and see the sights, like the Cocklebiddy caves, Coastline and the old Eyre Tellegraph, but they are all time dependant!

Enjoy, and you will soon realise why it was named the Nullabour (Treeless Plain)!

ps the longest straight road in Aust is not on the Nullabour, it is just out side of Caiguna and it is 187km dead straight!!

Matt.

AnswerID: 36303

Reply By: Peter Guy - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 18:30

Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 at 18:30

lost count of the number of times we have driven accross and in the flat open expanses at first it looks difficult to find a private protected out of sight camp spot but if you turn off at places like Newman Rocks (a shady quiet spot with picnic tables and only a short distance off the Highway being perfect for a camper trailer- East of Norseman) is a perfect example of a good pos to camp.
Another trick is to turn left or right at a cattle grid (easy to spot ) as there is always a service track along the fence line. These are easier to find when its dark and difficult to see other track intersections.

AnswerID: 36321

Reply By: Dmitri - Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 03:41

Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 03:41

Richard,

I highly recommend "A guide to priceless campsites and rest areas in the South of Western Australia" by Jan Holland.
In 99% you can rely on the description and plan you stops well ahead.

I've bought it from ExplorOz and it is worth every cent

http://www.exploroz.com/Shop/DisplayItems.asp?CategoryID=2&ClassID=10&PN=2

Cheers,
Dmitri.

AnswerID: 36365

Follow Up By: Dmitri - Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 14:42

Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 14:42

Just a follow-up:

Last summer we took a trip from Melbourne to Exmouth and back by the coastline. On the way from Adelaide to Perth I remember the following places of interests and camping spots:

- Gawler ranges and Lake Gairdner. You can camp at Mt.Ive homestead

- Nullarbor - just in the plains (you need to get a camping permit at Ceduna). Not really nice spot, because you can see a light from the trucks for the whole night. You can also stop at the roadhouse with same results :)

- Yalata (aboriginal lands) - whale watching (not now I guess)

- Eucla. Dunes, old telegraph station etc. Also a caravan park.

- nice camping spot at Jullayh rockhole (I am not sure about correct spelling). It is near Mundrabilla. (all this campsites are listed in the book I mentioned before)

- Cocklebiddy cave. A must to see. We also camped nearby. Be prepared for the very strong winds.

- Eyre bird observatory. The track was pretty good and as for me it won't be a problem for a camper-trailer. To stay overnight there is a little bit pricey ($70pp). We just walked there and got a cuppa.

- Belladonia - roadhouse with a caravan park and hot shower. Pretty good. But don't drink their best cappuccino in SA - it was awful :)

- Baxter cliffs. You need to take a track from Caiguna. It's a great place, but the track is overgrown and it took us a while to get through it (4-5 hours). The track wasn't so rough as local people say. Also, ask at Caiguna roadhouse for a map - it's not accurate, but it's better then nothing. I think it is suitable for a camper-trailer. And you can leave the trailer at Belladonia, because the track returns back to the hwy.

- Mt. Ragged. On the track there is a nice camping spot near the rockhole and salt lake (don't remember), not so far from Caiguna.
This track won't be a problem for a trailer.

- Israelite Bay (good camping)

- Cape Arid NP / Thomson river - also a very nice place with cosy camp grounds.

- Cape Le Grand /Le Grand beach - very popular place and it's hard to get a spot there (number of campsites are limited to 20). It is worth to spent there 2-3 days.

Also I want to mention Stokes NP and Fitzerald river NP - there are worthwile visiting. And of course Stirling ranges.

I hope this will be helpful.

Have a nice trip,
Dmitri

FollowupID: 26289

Reply By: Member - Richard- Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 21:25

Thursday, Nov 06, 2003 at 21:25

Thanks all for the great comments.

re camping book - I was looking at that Camps Australia Wide 2 (only one I have seen in the shops so far).

How does this compare with the book "A guide to priceless campsites and rest areas in the South of Western Australia"

I must admit the Camps 2 book seems to be limited in any info other than there is a camp at a particular location.

I was looking for one with a bit of info (the tourist stuff!)

Richard

AnswerID: 36457

Follow Up By: Dmitri - Friday, Nov 07, 2003 at 10:31

Friday, Nov 07, 2003 at 10:31

I don't remember this book (Camps Australia Wide), but Priceless campsites was the best 1 year ago. I liked it because it is more then brief discription, but also a guide to what to see and what to do in the area.

Maybe there is something new on the market since then.
Have a look here: http://www.melbmap.com.au/

Cheers,
Dmitri.

FollowupID: 26354