The Nullarbor Plain is home to one of the most iconic road trips of Australia. Better known as a ‘Nullarbor Crossing’ or ‘Crossing the Nullarbor, this road trip is like an Australian rite of passage.
Although, this road trip is not to be taken carelessly as there are extreme and harsh weather conditions in the outback, and there are well over a thousand kilometres to trek. Furthermore, this guide will give you an insight on how to do the Nullarbor correctly and safely.
Come upon information such as driving etiquette, mobile phone service, Nullarbor facts, towns along the Nullarbor and more.
Finally, the Nullarbor is a significant road as it connects the western regions of Australia to the central and southern parts of Australia.
How Long Is the Nullarbor and How Long Does It Take to Cross?
The Nullarbor is set along the A1 Eyre Highway, also known as the National Highway. It typically takes around two full days of driving to cross the Nullarbor. However, you can complete this road trip at a much more leisurely pace and spend around 5-7 days.
The Nullarbor is a total of 1675km and is not a road trip to be taken lightly! Not to mention, there is a straight path called the 90-mile straight, which is about 147km long; This is one of the longest straight roads in the world.
Additionally, there’s about 200km between towns, which means stocking up on necessities such as water and food is crucial. Finally, the highway begins in Port Augusta, South Australia and ends in Norseman, Western Australia.
The Towns along the Nullarbor
If you’re travelling in a westerly direction, coming from Adelaide, these are the towns in which you will pass on your journey. Moreover, this list will only include towns from Port August SA to Norseman WA.
- Port Augusta: This is the starting (or finishing) destination, be sure to stock up on plenty of supplies before beginning your journey.
- Kimba: Home to the Big Galah and Halfway across Australia signage. And this is a nice spot to stopover for the night and have a rest. Also, there are plenty of cafes in the area and an IGA for essentials.
- Ceduna: A slightly larger coastal town worth a single-night stopover. Moreover, there is a lovely swimming beach to cool off after many hours of driving. Additionally, this is also an excellent location to stock up on more supplies and spend the night at a holiday park.
- Yalata: A small town just off the Eyre Highway; Also a great rest stop for the night.
- Eucla: Once crossing the border from South Australia into Western Australia, the next town you’ll come upon is Eucla. I’d recommend stopping here for at least a night to explore this lovely little town. Moreover, there is a motel and caravan park in the area, therefore choose according to your travel needs.
- Norseman: Upon reaching Norseman, you will have completed the length of the Nullarbor.
Finally, there are a few other small towns that you will pass through. However, they aren’t as populated, and they tend to be much quieter.
Read more: Travel Advice in Australia: 10 Things You Should Know
What Is the Average Fuel Expense?
While this number will vary widely due to different vehicles and tow limits, a rough estimate of the cost is anywhere from $220 up to $450.
Keep in mind, towns are roughly 200km from each other, so if you see a fuel stop, it’s best to fill up when you can.
Also, in the outback and throughout your journey, expect to pay upwards of $2 a litre for Unleaded petrol. Moreover, it seems that these regions are typically 50c more expensive than metro cities.
5 Facts about the Nullarbor Plain
- There are over 100,000 wild camels that roam the Nullarboar plain. These animals were abandoned here after their service in building the rail roads. Therefore, you’re bound to see a camel at some point of your trip.
- The word ‘Nullarbor’ is latin which translates to ‘No trees’.
- The average rainfall along the Nullarbor Plain is typically around 200mm, although many animals still call this region home. Some of which include camels, kangaroos, birds and dingoes.
- The Nullarbor is home to the worlds longest straight road, largest piece of limestome and longest underwater cave.
- John Eyre was the first European settler to successfully cross the Nullarbor in 1841. The crossing took almost a year.
For more information on the Nullarbor Plain, check out the official Australia website
Where to Stay along the Nullarbor
Surprisingly enough, there is a range of places to stay along the Nullarbor, many of which have great reviews. Therefore, enjoy a stay in a unique and desolate location to rest up for the following days of driving.
- Caravan and Camping Area, Iron Knob, SA
- Penong Caravan Park, Penong SA
- Nuttbush Retreat, Pandura, SA
- Nullarbor Roadhouse, Nullarbor SA
- Eucla Motel, Eucla WA
- Mundrabilla Roadhouse, Mundrabilla WA
- Wedgetail Inn Hotel, Cocklebiddy WA
- Norseman Free RV Site, Norseman WA
Things to See along the Nullarbor
Great Australian Bight Marine Park
Awesome views of the bight, an absolute must-stop location.
Address: Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Nullarbor SA 5690
Eastern End of the Nullarbor Plain
Stop by the sign and take a photo.
Address: Eastern End of the Nullarbor Plain, Eyre Hwy, Yalata SA 5690
Nullarbor Cliffs Lookout
Pull over for 5 minutes to check out the awesome views.
Address: Nullarbor Cliffs Lookout, National Highway, Nullarbor SA 5690
SA/WA Border Crossing Sign
Awesome spot to pull over before crossing the opposite state. And, take a photo in front of the sign.
Address: SA/WA Border Crossing Sign, Eyre Highway, Eucla SA 6443
Eucla Jetty
This jetty is situated in a pretty spectacular location in Western Australia, and it’s also a historical landmark. Moreover, it was built in 1887 and was originally 151m long. Not to mention, it’s an awesome spot for snorkelling and ideal for a refreshing dip! Finally, this was a significant transport location for international ships, including the trade of camels, horses, sandalwood and wool.
Address: Eucla Jetty, Eucla Airport, Eucla WA 6443
Bilbunya Dunes
Whitesand dunes. some of the dunes are up to 100m tall. awesome to explore mid road trip.
Address: Bilbunya Dunes, Eucla WA 6443
Mundrabilla
Home to nothing but a roadhouse, nice for a quick stopover.
Address: Mundrabilla Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy, Mundrabilla WA 6443
Madura Pass Lookout
Simple lookout over the Nullarbor plain. Also, a great spot to stretch your legs.
Address: Madura Pass Lookout, National Highway 1, Madura WA 6443
Beacon Hill Lookout
A raised lookout location with plenty of signage on the history of the area.
Address: Beacon Hill Lookout, Norseman WA 6443
Norseman Visitor Centre
This centre is great for some local information, there is also some beautiful art on display outside.
Address: Norseman Visitor Centre, 78 Prinsep St, Norseman WA 6443
A Few Tips on Driving Etiquette
When driving along the Nullarbor Plain, it’s crucial to have a good understanding of driving etiquette. Therefore, as long as everyone follows the rules and drives safely, crashes will be much less likely to happen.
For the most part, you’re likely to see around 5-15 vehicles per hour. And, the majority of them will be either trucks or road trains while a smaller number of them will be travellers or recreational vehicles.
Firstly, keep your distance from other vehicles. Never travel closely to another car as braking distance is crucial; Especially since most vehicles are travelling at 110km/h.
Secondly, never overtake a road train when they’re performing a turn. Since these trucks are exceptionally long, they usually need all the space possible to complete a turn.
Finally, pull over when you see a road train approaching. Therefore, this ensures that minimal rocks will fly up at your windscreen, and the wind force won’t be as strong. (The drivers will be thankful!)
Mobile Phone Service
It’s doubtful that you’ll receive phone service throughout the majority of the trip. However, your best chance for receiving service is near accommodation, roadhouses, caravan parks and small towns.
So, take the chance while stopping in these towns to check anything you may need online, call a family member, send a text message or even an email.
How to Cross the Nullarbor Plain Safely
First things first, it’s great to see you’re researching how to cross the Nullarbor safely, as it’s not a road trip to be taken thoughtlessly! So, continue reading the travel tips to ensure your Nullarbor crossing is performed cautiously.
- Do a Complete Vehicle Check
Before embarking on your journey, be sure to have your vehicle serviced and fix any issues that arise. It’s likely best to do this at least a month before leaving so that everything is up to scratch for your road trip. Secondly, a few days or a week before heading off, check the engine oil, coolant, windscreen wipes, tyres (and spare tyre), car jack and other mechanical fluids. Get all of these sorted to ensure your vehicle drives as safe as possible.
- Carry Spare Fuel
While there are many fuel stops along the way, being caught out with no fuel isn’t exactly ideal. Therefore, pick up a fuel-safe jerry can from any automotive store or Bunnings warehouse to ensure you don’t end up stranded. As a general rule of thumb, if the fuel tank goes under halfway and you’re not far from the next fuel station… Fill up! It’s better to have more fuel than less.
- Do Not Drive before Dusk and after Dawn
Strangely enough, there are lots of animals along the Nullarbor Plain. Therefore, you wouldn’t want to run into one along the trip. With that being said, begin your driving at the earliest after dawn and finish driving in the afternoon. The reason being that these animals are most active at dawn and dusk as it’s their feeding time.
- Pull Over When You See a Road Train Approaching
Thankfully, since the Nullarbor is mainly a long and straight road, you’re likely to see any approaching trucks and road trains. Therefore, if you see a road train approaching, take some time to pull over and allow it to pass. Road trains tend to create a strong wind force which may be dangerous for your sake.
- Pack Enough Food and Water for 7 Days
You may be surprised that when you begin driving along these long and straight roads, exhaustion will quickly set in. So, take your time planning and allow plenty of time for rest stops to keep yourself and other drivers on the road safe.
- Turn Those Headlights On
Even in broad daylight, headlights are an absolute essential. You are much more likely to see a vehicle many kilometres away when they have their lights on compared to when off. Thus, it gives you plenty of time to prepare to pass the opposite vehicle safely.
- Allow Vehicles to Safely Overtake You
While driving along this long stretch of road, you’re bound to be overtaken several times. And, it’s totally fine to go a little slower than the speed limit, nonetheless allowing vehicles to overtake you safely is crucial. As they prepare to overtake you, do not turn off the road or slow down, be sure to maintain your current speed. Then as they cross the other side of the highway, slow down a little to allow them to get ahead. Finally, they will pull back into your lane, and this is where you provide them space to get further ahead, creating a safer braking distance.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the journey across the Nullarbor is an absolutely fantastic experience for all travellers. But, it requires some sensibility before completing.
Luckily, we have access to plenty of helpful resources that encourage us to make the best decisions regarding safety. Therefore, write up a few key points from this post that resonate best with you.
Finally, the main advice from myself and previous Nullarbor travellers is to plan ahead and ensure you are completely prepared for what this desolate landscape throws at you.
When are you planning your Nullarbor crossing? Who are you crossing the Nullarbor with?
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