Crossing the Nullarbor is usually at the top of every off-road adventurer’s list of things to do – and we understand why! Spanning 1200 km from Norseman, Western Australia to Ceduna, South Australia, the Nullarbor Plain takes travellers through the vast Aussie outback. Seeing the unique and captivating desert landscape in pictures is one thing – but to be up close and personal, when it’s all you can see for miles and miles, is an experience you will never forget.
Off-roading the Nullarbor is truly unforgettable, but challenging terrain and long, LONG stretches of nothingness mean planning your trip carefully is crucial. Knowing how to avoid the dangers without missing out on the beauty is the key to a trip full of wonders, not regrets.
Planning Your Nullarbor Plain Camping Trip
It takes the better part of 13 hours to drive from Norseman to Ceduna – but don’t do that! You’ll miss all the best bits. To safely cross the Nullarbor by vehicle, a minimum of two days of driving is recommended. However, if you’re camping Nullarbor, you’ll want to break up your trip over several days (between 3-6 is ideal) so that you can stop to take in the many sites along the way.
When To Go
If you’ve never travelled the Nullarbor before, you may want to travel during winter to avoid the scorching hot outback summer conditions. Aim to travel between May and October – and keep in mind that June to October is prime whale-watching time.
Communication
Once you’ve hit the road, communication can be patchy. There is little to no phone service on the Nullarbor unless you have a satellite phone – and even that can be unreliable. Most roadhouses have some service, but you may need to stand like a human TV aerial to get one bar in some locations!
Create a travel itinerary with set days for checking in and share it with a family member or friend. That way, if you miss a check-in, there’s a rough idea of where to send the search party!
Prepare Your Car and Camper
- SERVICE: Book your car and camper for a service and safety check as if your life depends on it – because it does!
- INSURANCE: Check your insurance for premium roadside assistance and towing because remote tows cost an arm, a leg and sometimes a kidney.
- FUEL: Have extra fuel onboard, and once on the road, fill up at every opportunity.
- FOOD: Have enough shelf-stable food and water for everyone for seven days. Leave fresh food and vegetables at home; all must go at the WA, SA border.
- WATER: Most stops don’t have bulk-buy water facilities. There are two water tanks at Ceduna and Mundrabilla; however, water availability is a gamble.
- HEALTH + HYGIENE: Take ten days’ worth of medication and a first aid kit. Remember a small shovel and spare toilet paper (yep, you know what it’s for).
Tips For Staying Safe
- BEWARE TRUCKS: Triple-decker road trains have brutal slipstreams, so slow down or pull over to let them pass. Keep your eyes on your rearview mirror because, like tarmac ninjas, they will sneak up on you.
- AVOID NIGHT DRIVING: The Eyre Highway turns into a marsupial rave party at night, from camels, kangaroos, dingoes and occasionally wombats. With no phone service, no other travellers, and emergency services hours away, getting into an accident could leave you stranded without help.
- CAMPING: When camping Nullarbor, keep an eye out for scorpions, bird-eating spiders, eastern brown snakes, and death adders. Avoid setting up camp near bodies of water, high vegetation, rocks, fallen logs, or under trees. Also, remind curious kiddos that sticking hands in holes in the ground, under rocks, logs, or trees could disturb a creepy crawly!
- ALWAYS STAY WITH THE CAR: Yes, that’s big, rude shouty capitals! If you run into trouble, do not leave your vehicle to search for help. Drones, planes, foot searches, and car trackers will see a vehicle and find you. Unless a game of high-stakes hide-and-seek is your jam, your safest bet is to stay with your car.
Camping Attractions
Baxter Cliffs
The Great Australian Bight has some camping areas along the Baxter Cliffs with breathtaking views. These are beginner-friendly tracks, but don’t get too close; the cliff edges can sometimes crumble into the sea.
Head of Bight
Keen for some whale-watching? Head of Bight is home to southern right whales during the months of May to late October. They migrate here to mate and give birth – and if you’re travelling during August, you might see mother whales with their calves.
Bilbunya Sand Dunes
The tallest sand dunes in Australia provide a great view and an adrenaline-inducing adventure if you have the skills and experience. They’re not recommended for beginners.
Holland Track
Holland Track is great fun but have a water depth checker and don’t drive blindly into potholes; some are deeper than you expect.
Other Places To Stay
- Koonalda Homestead: campsites are powered and provide some comforts and an “on the land” experience.
- Point Sinclair Camping Ground: If a coastal setting is more your style, this is right on the beach with cheap and spectacular views.
- Border Village Roadhouse: Overnight stays can be made at this roadhouse located directly on the border between WA and SA.
- Free camping is also available at roadside stops along the Eyre Highway.
Off-Roading Nullarbor can be done safely with careful forward planning – and there’s no better way to take the road less travelled than in an Aussie tough JAWA offroad camper. Take a look at our range!
