CAMPSITE # 108 - Driving the Nullarbor - Are we there yet?

One of the biggest factors we had to consider when preparing for the 1100km (monotonous) drive along the Nullarbor Plain was to make sure we were wise about where & when we filled up our dual fuel tanks.

At a combined total of 160 litres, plus our new tyres extending our range, we guesstimated that we could get roughly 1300km without having to refuel.

We did our major fill up the day before in Streaky Bay where we paid $1.56/L. About 170km down the road, we did a top up in Penong at $1.66L.

Just as we began to complain about the 10c increase, we pulled in to the Nullarbor Roadhouse for a loo break some 200km away and just out of interest I checked their price on diesel - $2.04/L!!!  The most expensive we have ever seen!!! Thank God we didn't need to refuel once we arrived at the SA/WA border, the price at the first servo since Nullarbor at Border Village was $1.88/L, 12km down the road however, they had diesel for $1.77/L. It blows my mind how they think they can justify such a dramatic difference in price from their neighbouring stations. I'm just glad we have dual tanks!!!

Day #1 of the two day drive across the Nullarbor wasn't your typical drive across the arid Australian outback. Only for us would thunderstorms be forecast in one of the hottest & driest areas of the country. It was big-fat-black-storm-cloud followed by scorching-hot-sunshine followed by another big-fat-black-storm-cloud. Urgh!

For a while, you just a few kilometres away from the sea. We stopped in at the first cliff edge viewing point to capture these photos. We decided not to do that ever again after we passed the next viewing point that was closed down because the cliff had fallen in.... eeek!

The Nullarbor Plain actually has the largest golf course in the world. At various towns, you pull in and they have a tee off area & a hole. We didn't play due to lack of a) golf clubs and b) desire to do so in a thunderstorm. (Tom snapped this shot during the scorching-hot-sunshine stage) ...

However, WA really welcomed us with open arms. It was as though, as soon as we were cleared by the scary Quarantine lady at Border Village and entered Western Australia for the very first time... WA said "let there be blue skies and sunshine for you my child". 

Because you're not allowed to take any fresh fruit or vegies into WA, we stopped just 100metres short of the quarantine point and had a rather delightful vegie stirfry. I may have gotten slightly carried away at trying not to waste any... 3 chillies in one stirfry = Amy sculling a litre of milk.

From the border all four hours of the way to our Moondini Bluff campsite that night, we were driving along a stretch that apparently would make any geologist wet their pants with excitement. 
I was informed by the on-board travelling Geo that the whole area we were driving along would have been under water sometime within the last 10,000 years (which apparently is "just yesterday" in Geology Land). This was determined by the sheer cliffline that ran parallel to us on our right, the shells found scattered everywhere that had not yet fossilised but where evidently in the early stages of diagenesis and the rock type underneath us - limestone. I was then led to be informed that limestone is built up plankton compacted together over a course of thousands of years.

I noticed that we were surrounded by hundreds upon thousands of sinkholes as close as 20 metres from the road we were travelling. What I found quite interesting is that rainwater is infact quite acidic to rock, particularly to limestone, and over time the ground water erodes krasts (caves) into the limestone. Some of these holes can be fairly close to the surface so it causes the area to collapse from underneath and can sometimes fall as deep as hundreds of metres below ground level.

I read a book a few years ago where this girl was murdered and her body was locked, by her murderer, inside a fridge and dumped down a sinkhole. Tom gave me a rather concerned look when I thought out-loud and said that a sink hole could possibly seal the deal for the perfect murder. 


Did I mention the Troopie got new tyres? All of these photos keep on popping up in our images folder and considering Tom's the photographer, something tells me he really likes our new tyres...

The sign says "Royal Flying Doctor Emergency Landing Strip"

Us driving on the Emergency Landing Strip A.K.A The Nullarbor Plain...

All the way along you find all these trees along the side of the road have been decorated over time by passer-bys... I think this one was supposed to be an electrical appliance theme. Other ones we saw were - ties, stuffed toys, bras, energy drink cans, t-shirts, hats, cups... the list goes on.

Site : Moondini Bluff Camping Ground
Rating : 8 / 20
Facilities : A really big rest area with loads of spaces to camp, heaps of firewood available, some picnic benches and a bush toilet.   


Tommy has mastered the art of cooking beer bread in the camp oven. We put together a little video on how he does it. If you ever get the chance, I strongly recommend giving it a go because it tastes divine...