Sydney to Perth Trip

1. There are choices until you hit Port Augusta then there are none.

2. some of the "towns" there are no choices. some of the "towns" across the nullabor are just fuel stations

3. There are plenty of Fuel along the way unless you are driving a vehicle that requires high octanne fuel then you may have to down grade to normal unleaded. Yalata in SA is closed and almost abandonded. So that is the only "dot" on the map that has no services at all.Check the distance to the next fuel stop to make sure you have enough to get there before driving past

4. No fruit, vegetables or honey are to be taken into WA. Road block at Border Village. No fruit, Veg can come from WA to SA road block a few K west of Ceduna. All fruit and veg will be taken from you both directions. If you try to hide fruit or veg and it is found then be prepared to pay a heavty fine.

5. Do not drive at night especially between Ceduna and Norseman. Kangaroos can be a problem. Emus can be a problen during the day.

It is a great trip but at the speed you are going to travel at you will see bugger all.

Barry G

Don't carry anything in fruit boxes either Robert.
Apple and banana boxes etc. will also be confiscated at the check point goint to WA.

Dave

Hi Robert,

it's a great experience, driving to Perth from Sydney, if you're not in a hurry. The distance is about 4000kms, so aiming to do that in four days is a fair commitment. That would be averaging 1000kms a day for four days, 100 km per hour for 10 hours each day but many people have done it.

1) Go through Dubbo and Broken Hill. Then head to Peterborough and Port Augusta (Road B56). After that, follow the signs to Perth.

2) I wouldn't book accomodation. I'm not sure if you want hotel or caravan, bed for one or six, but generally speaking you can always get a bed, especially this time of year.

3) Before you leave you should know how far you can go with a full tank. Use that as a guide and fill up before you estimate need too. I try to fill up in bigger towns and cities because the fuel quality is usually better because it is used more often. Fill in Sydney, then Dubbo, Broken Hill for example but this depends on what size tank you have and what your fuel economy is like.

4)You will go through a Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone near the South Australia/NSW border. Check http://fruitfly.net.au/can-i-carry-fruit-and-veg-from/ for more info. I was pulled up at a Fruit Fly Inspection set up near Narrandera one Sunday morning and got a $200 fine for a tomato that found it way to the bottom of my car fridge. If you get inspected by a lady named Bev near Narrandera, duck!!

5) Driving at dusk and dawn is not recommended but sometimes you have to. I drive a Landcruiser with bull bar and driving lights and I have done many thousands of kilometres at night with no real trouble but I truly believe there has been a lot of luck involved. I have fitted a pair of small whistles to the front of my vehicle and they are specifically designed to alert animals of something coming, hopefully encouraging them to get going. They can be bought at most spare parts shops. If I was driving a sedan with, or without, frontal protection I don't think I would drive at sunset or dawn.

6) Buy a good map or an even better option is a spiral bound road atlas. I use the UBD Complete Motoring Atlas of Australia for main highway travelling.

7) A car fridge is a great way to have cold drinks, fruit and food. If you can't do that pack an esky. It will save you money but it's also great to have cool food and drink when you want it.

8) Pack a few spares for the car like windscreen washer fliud, radiator hose/s (or repair tape from spare parts shop), fan belts, coolant. Have your vehicle serviced before you go and ask the mechanic to change the belts and hoses if needed. Depending on your vehicle you might need a service before you get back to Sydney. Check how far your vehicle can travel between services. Get your tyres checked at a tyre shop and make sure the spare is good and inflated. Each morning check you water and oil levels,and have a look over the vehicle to make sure it's all good.

9) It's a big drive and this time of year it can be really hot. If you're not used to it this can be an issue. Take hats, water sunscreen. Travelling west for days the driver will get a sunburnt right arm and travelling home the passenger will get a sunburnt left arm, so use plenty of sunscreen because everyone will be exposed to the sun.

10) Don't rely on your phone to work. Telstra Next G is your best change of getting some coverage but other than that you may get some coverage only in major cities. A hand held UHF CB radio, and spare batteries, is a good back up so you can possibly communicate with someone if the need arises.

11) A small first aid kit with band aids, antiseptic cream, betadine, asprin is handy, tweezers.

That should get you started. Good luck and have fun.
Steve

One of the most logical things that some people forget is water.
You need to count on no water being available from Ceduna to Norsman, other than expensive bottled water (unless they have run out).
4 to 5 litres per day per person I would suggest as minimum. It will be hot.

Neil

Thanks for the information from everyone :) any more advice would be great, i am not sure about the 1000km per day , maybe wishful thinking :)

Hi Robert, it is a great drive across the Nullarbor on the Eyre Highway. I hope you can take your time and enjoy it.

As said for WA, no fruit or vegetable products, although you can thoroughly peel potatoes and onions so no soil remains and have these inspected, but you are at the mercy of the inspector. Vegetables can be par-cooked and frozen/refrigerated, so really salad greens are about all you can't process this way. We have a 'cook-up' the night before the border. No cardboard boxes that have carried food products. No honey of any type. Nothing carrying soil or seeds.

Motherhen

Re taking four days: When we purchased our caravan, we went from the SW of WA to Bundaberg in four days and returned home in six with the caravan as we had deadlines to get there by and to be back home again by. To do this and avoid travelling at night, we stopped as soon as it got dark where ever we were and got up around 4 am so left at very first light. We took turns in driving and catnapping, and i made lunch on my lap without needing to stop. Each night was just a blur of visions we'd seen in the day rushing past, and we worked out which state we'd been in by the day of the week.

Mh

We took 3 days from Norseman to Ceduna and doing all the driving myself That was enough

Is a bit different towing a big van but 1000k a day is not my idea of fun and a

waste of fuel as you wont have time to see anything.

Would be easier and probably cheaper to fly and hire a car in Perth.

thanks guys for everything , and yes maybe i am rushing the trip, i need to think more about the time and ofcourse its easiser to fly there but for me its an experience . by the way, my car only takes high octane fuel, does anyone seem to think there will be a problem with fuel, or that should not be a problem? thanks for feedback and please keep them coming it is very helpful :)

Depends on your motivation for the trip. We've occasionally done it as a three dayer but that's simply a case of " we are here, we need to be there". Drive till two in the morning, roll out swag, sleep, get up, drive.
If you're doing it for the experience, four days is not enough. Never found accommodation to be a problem, generally glad to see you.
Unless your fuel consumption is abnormal, there's no real problem with fuel. Some big gaps but all well within the capacity of any modern vehicle.
Easiest option is not to carry fruit etc. Eat it well before borders.
Roo's are a tricky one. I once did a three day trip in a sedan with no roo bar and survived but I wouldn't recommend it as a relaxing journey! If you don't have good lights and solid frontal protection I'd be stopping before dusk. Not sure about evening as I've hit roos at 1am in the morning. Fish bite at dawn and dusk but roos seem to keep longer hours!

yeah point taken , i am doing the trip in a coupe, so no roo bar :) will have to only drive in the day, and see how it works, i agree with the fruit, easier just not to take any and be safe than sorry :)