Nullarbor / WA

[sjm]

I'm just back from a 7300km trip across the Nullarbor to WA. From Melbourne up through Port Augusta, then across via Kimba and the big galah. I stopped at the cliffs for the obligatory cliff-top shot and spent the night there.

I ate my breakfast sitting on top of the cliff, watching the whales below. A pretty amazing experience.

Back on the highway through to WA, but I turned south at Balladonia Roadhouse, and headed down a 160km 4WD track (Balladonia Tk) towards Cape Arid NP. Along the way I called in at Deralinya, an old homestead built in 1890.

Then on to Cape Le Grand NP, where there are some beautiful beaches.

continued...

 

[sjm]

You are allowed to drive on a couple of the beaches, so of course, I had to do it...

Then into Esperance, and onto Wave Rock at Hyden, and another long gravel road through to Kalgoorlie and the Superpit.

Then it was back onto the highway, although this time heading East through to Border Village, at which point I left the highway, and came back across the Nullarbor via the old road. I didn't see another soul for the entire length of this section, although there was a lot of wildlife...

I spent the night on the plains and had a visit from a friendly dingo (there were dozens, in all colors), and in the morning continued along the old road.

I called in at the ruins of Koonalda homestead and spent a while wandering the car yard. The old road eventually merged with the new, and it was back onto the bitumen again. Instead of returning via Kimba, I turned south and did a loop around the Eyre Peninsula via Port Lincoln and Whyalla. Back through Port Augusta, and returned to Melbourne.

A good trip, 13 nights camping, no problems at all.

 

[thunder039]

great trip report, looks like a great trip, how did the forester perform?

 

[Ratbag]

Terrific SJ

Wonderful pics of a wonderful trip. I'm envious ... :biggrin:

 

[Fly]

Looks like a great trip indeed, very beautiful scenery.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[taza]

Thanks for sharing mate! Looks like a great trip and some awesome pics! I really wanna take a road trip now

 

[stilson]

I did a similar trip in a silver forester about six months ago.

I wish I'd been able to stop and smell the roses but I made it back to Perth 8 hours before I had to start work.

Great photos and trip report.

 

[mr turbo]

Fantastic trip report sjm & awesome pics too mate

Looks & sounds like you had a great time

I really like the Wave Rock pic as it's one place that I hope & really want to visit one day

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[carljwnc]

Breakfast with whales...awesome!!!

Great pics and report sjm, thanks for sharing.:ebiggrin:

 

[El_Freddo]

Awesome trip report sjm!

You've pretty much ticked EVERY box of the Nullarbor experience that I want to do. We missed out on a lot of them last time I was out there

Looking forward to doing this trip with Mrs El Freddo some day! Hopefully Ruby Scoo will still be around to do it in.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[FozzyMatt]

Looks like an awesome trip and those are some spectacular photos. Definitely a trip I want to be doing one day.

 

[waggaclint]

Looks like ya had a great trip and you got some great pics as well, I did the nullarbor run about 7yrs ago and i must say its defanatly one of the must do runs in Aust hey...

 

[JohnA]

Brilliant

Pleasure sharing that trip, mate. There was I thinking there was nothing to see in WA. Did you do the whole Nullabor on dirt?

 

[sjm]

Did you do the whole Nullabor on dirt?

I crossed the full length of the Nullarbor National Park on dirt. West of the NP and you have to go through quarantine (on the sealed highway). And east of the NP it's an indigenous protected area (Yalata Aboriginal Reserve). So I did as much as was legally possible, including side-trips to checkout the caves and the homestead.