Sunset over the Nullarbor Plain

We spent a lot of our precious travelling time in South Australia and were amazed by her diversity and beauty. However, it was time to say goodbye and make our way across The Nullarbor to another State and a whole new set of adventures and places to enjoy.

Our Nullarbor experience began with a quick overnight visit to Ceduna to stock up on supplies and ensure that the car and caravan were roadworthy for the 1200 Km trek on the Eyre Highway.

For those of you who don’t know, here are some facts about the Nullarbor Plain:

•  The name Nullarbor means in Latin: nullus, “no”, and arbor, “tree”
•   Is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia.
•  It is located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north.
•  It is the world’s largest single exposure of limestone bedrock.
•  It occupies an area of about 200,000 square kilometres.
• At its widest point, it stretches about 1,100 kilometres (684 mi) from east to west across the border region between South Australia and Western Australia.

Road Sign on the Eyre Highway

Crossing the Nullarbor, for many Australians, is a quintessential experience of the Australian Outback. Travellers love to buy stickers from roadhouses on the highway that say “I have crossed the Nullarbor“!

Contrary to popular belief, the Nullarbor is densely vegetated primarily with low saltbush and bluebush scrub.  There are Truck Stops or Roadhouses dotted along the Eyre Highway every 100 Km’s or so there are some signs of civilisation. Otherwise we saw a lot Emus, Black Crows, Lizards and a lot of dead Kangaroos on the roadside.

Emus on the Nullabor

Ceduna

•  Ceduna National Trust Museum houses a historic collection of pioneer, farm and Maralinga memorabilia and is worth a visit.
•  Walk out along the jetty in Ceduna and try your hand at fishing, crabbing or squidding.

Ceduna Foreshore & Jetty

•  Ceduna’s Coastal Walking Trail winds along the foreshore of beautiful Murat Bay for 3.6 Km’s.
•  Take in the views from Pinky Point Lookout at Thevenard end of the walking trail.

Old Huts at Ceduna Museum

•  Get some fresh seafood at one of the two fish factories in town or some delectable oysters at Ceduna Oyster Bar.
• Cruise out to the islands of Nuyts Archipelago which are located a few Km’s offshore and dive to catch some Rock Lobster or Abalone.  Or just relax on the sparkling beaches on the islands.

Penong

• Penong Woolshed Museum
• Cactus Beach, a world renowned surfing spot with great surf breaks such as Cactus, Castles and Caves.

Cactus Beach

• The pink lake at Lake McDonnell is bursting with bird-life and is tinted a pink hue on one side and blue lake on the other.

Pink Lake at Lake McDonnell

• Port La Hunte a pretty little bay with a jetty and an old shipwreck surrounded by large limestone rocky cliffs and white sand dunes.

Port La Hunte

Head of Bight

•  A premier whale watching area, in season, where white sand dunes meet the Bunda Cliffs.

Bunda Cliffs, Head of the Bight

•  A purpose built boardwalk and viewing platforms gives fantastic views of the Whales and the towering cliffs into the pounding Southern Ocean.

Head of the Bight

Nullarbor Bunda Cliffs

•  There are three coastal lookouts to view the dramatic Bunda Cliffs which stretch for 200 Km’s.

Bunda Cliffs

WA/SA Border Village

•  Here you cross a quarantine checkpoint where most fruit, vegetables and certain plant material will be consficated.

WA/SA Border Quarantine Checkpoint

•  There is a huge signpost marking the border of WA/SA just through the checkpoint

SA/WA Border Sign

Eucla

• Check out the Eucla Telegraph Station ruins

Eucla, WA

• Stroll down to the sandy beach

Madura Pass

•  Take a photo from the top of the Madura Pass with stunning views of the Roe Plains

Views from Madura Pass

Caiguna

•  There is an unique blowhole 5 Km west of Caiguna

Caiguna Blowhole

•  You may see light planes refuel with Avgas at the Service Centre

Balladonia

•  Visit the Balladonia Cultural Heritage Museum

Balladonia Museum

•  The crash landing site of NASA’s Skylab in 1979.

Fraser Ranges

•  On the edge of the Nullarbor you see the welcoming sight of the scenic Fraser Ranges of granite hills and a hardwood forest.

Fraser Range Station

•  Stop by the Fraser Range Station which is steeped in history.

Norseman

•  Drive up to the top of Beacon Hill for 360 degrees views of the goldfields, the tailings heap, the Fraser Ranges and the township of Norseman.

Beacon Hill Lookout, Norseman

•  Take a photo of the tin camels on the roundabout into town.

Tin Camel at Norseman

•  Learn about how Norseman got it’s name by checking out the bronze statue of the horse, called Norseman, that started the goldrush in the area.

Norseman Horse Statue

Nullarbor Links

Make sure you pack your favourite golf club and putter and play the ‘world’s longest golf course’ across the Nullarbor.  Imagine teeing off in Ceduna, South Australia, and tallying your score card 1365 Km’s away in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on outback-style natural terrain fairways?  Each participating town or roadhouse along the Eyre Highway hosts a hole on the 18-hole par 72 gold course.

Nullarbor Golf Links

The Nullarbor was a travel experience like no other.  Each day brought forth her magic, with timeless landscapes of forests, grasslands, tablelands, rugged coastline, Australian wildlife and snow white dunes. I was enthralled with her beauty.