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| Love at First Bight ... 1st land-level view of the Great Australian Bight, Eucla, Western Australia |
I was 4 – nearly 5! – the first
time I crossed the Nullarbor. Xmas day, and we were on the Indian
Pacific* heading for Adelaide. We'd spent Xmas eve in a
pub somewhere in rough as guts Western Australian gold-mining town
Kalgoorlie, but I don't remember that – maybe I blanked it out …
In September 2012, I made my second
Nullarbor crossing, this time by car along the Eyre Highway. And
while it was hot, dry and dusty with a killer sand-laden wind fresh
from the furnaces of hell, I couldn't suppress the frisson of
excitement that travelling this iconic landscape gave.
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| Nullarbor's Western Edge - Through the Windscreen ... |
Because the Eyre Highway's 1660 km
length**, crossing two monster states, three time zones and the
world's largest limestone karst shelf covering 200,000 km²
makes a Nullarbor crossing the ultimate Australian
rite-of-passage road trip!
The Nullarbor is WAY more than just a
long, dusty drive from A to B.
With unique Australian AND World
Exclusives jostling for position amidst magnificent coastal scenery,
remote roadhouses and the opportunity to be truly alone, who WOULDN'T
want to experience the wonders of the treeless (Null = none; arbor =
tree) plain?
BUT … if you're having trouble
picturing how a Nullarbor crossing – perhaps the ultimate
Australian travel adventure – is a good thing, here's 6
trip-teasers so you can see what you're missing!!
1 The Golf:
OK, you're on the Nullarbor on
(arguably) Australia's greatest road trip and I'm talking GOLF??
Yes.
Even if – like me – you're NOT a
golfer, you'll surely want to add a World Exclusive like World's
LONGEST golf course to your repertoire, right??
Nullarbor Links stretches
1365 km (848 miles) over 18 holes from the 'CY O'Connor' and 'Golden
Mile' holes in Kalgoorlie to 'Denial Bay' and 'Oyster Beds' at Ceduna
with 14 other aptly named holes – think 'Skylab' at Balladonia,
'Nullarbor Nymph' at Eucla and 'Dingo's Den' at the Nullarbor
Roadhouse – along the way. And you don't have to lug a whole lot
of (to me) superfluous golfing gear around either! Hire clubs at
each hole!!
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| Brumby's Run, Madura Pass Roadhouse, Nullarbor |
MORE about Nullarbor
Links!
2 The Bight:
Once across the border into South
Australia, the highway skirts the Bunda cliffs with their white base
of Wilson Bluff Limestone.
A dramatic edge to the Great Australian
Bight – that 1160 km long mouthful shaped chunk that eats into
Southern Australia – the impressive 200 km of unbroken cliffs is
part of the longest sea-cliff line in the world.
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| The Bunda Cliffs and Bight, Eyre Highway, South Australia |
MORE about Great
Australian Bight and Great
Australian Bight Marine Park
3 The Whales and other Wildlife:
Between May and October each year, up
to 60 Southern Right Whales migrate to this area to breed and calve.
One of the best places to sight them is the northernmost tip of the
curve of southern coastline, imaginatively called Head of
Bight!
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| Whales at Head of Bight, South Australia |
Get below the cliff line on the Great
Australian Bight Marine Park's viewing platform that puts you as
close to the whales as you can get without getting wet! But don't
just drop in like we did – break your journey at the nearby
Nullarbor Roadhouse so you can spend all the time you want whale
watching.
If whales aren't your thing, birdwatch
at the Eyre Bird Observatory – Nullarbor Quail-thrush is only found
on the Nullarbor!
Failing that, foolishly driving from
dusk onwards will virtually guarantee sightings of wildlife up REAL
close ...
MORE about Head
of Bight's Whale Watching AND Eyre
Bird Observatory
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| Bunda Cliffs up close, South Australia |
4 The Exclusives:
A Nullarbor road-trip really is the best way to appreciate Australia's size and scope as well as some experiences to be had nowhere else in Australia – or the World!
During the trip, experience the longest
straight stretch of road in Australia!
Just how long IS 90-mile
straight?? Of course … it's 91.1 miles or 146.6 km!!
And if you miss the bight and longest
line of sea-cliffs in the world because you're travelling by train,
make up for it by riding the longest straight stretch of railway line
in the world – 478 km (297 miles).
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| 90 Mile Straight, Nullarbor Plain, South Australia |
Under the world record breaking
limestone karst, worn by the weathering of millenia, lies the world's
longest cave system complete with rockholes and blowholes, including
Koonalda Cave and Murrawijinie Caves near the Nullarbor Roadhouse.
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| Eucla Signpost, Western Australia |
At 2.5 million acres, Rawlinna station
is the biggest sheep station in the world! Yes, that makes it bigger
than quite a number of countries … although the dry sheep
equivalent out here is pretty low!
Taking a photo of the big nothing
emptiness isn't too difficult … on roads this long, there's not a
lot of other traffic to get in the way!
5 The History:
Perhaps because of its isolation, harsh
climate and unique features, the Nullarbor's fascinating history can be experienced along the way.
Several settlements and roadhouses are
built around the Telegraph line, like Eucla, near the WA/SA border,
once the busiest Telegraph Station outside the capital cities when it
opened in 1877. Drowning in sand, the ruins can still be accessed by
4WD.
The Eyre Bird Observatory was once an
historic Telegraph Station, itself on the site of a watering hole
used by Edward John Eyre during his Nullarbor Crossing. Back on the
highway, nearby Cocklebiddy was once an Aboriginal mission.
Indigenous legend and history is further explored at the Head of
Bight Interpretive Centre.
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| Storm Approaching, Madura Pass, Western Australia |
If you can remember back to 1979, spare
a thought for Skylab when you reach Balladonia – debris was found
at Woorlba Sheep Station 40 km east. A Cultural Heritage Museum in
the hotel complex also recreates the area's history including
Aboriginal Dreaming legend and Afghan Cameleers.
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| Not so Scenic! Nullarbor Rest Stop ... |
To cement YOUR place in history, pick
up a Nullarbor Crossing Certificate from the Norseman Tourist
Centre!!
6 The Nullarbor Nymph:
The story of a blonde white woman
living among kangaroos on the Nullarbor Plain was first reported,
perhaps unsurprisingly on the day after Xmas, 1971.
After some
footage of a woman wearing kangaroo skins was released – did I
mention she was half-naked?? – the small town of Eucla (then with a population of 8) on the Western Australian side of the border with South
Australia, was swamped by journalists from around the world.
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| If you don't get to see the real thing ... make do with this! Eucla, Western Australia |
Sadly, the Nullarbor Nymph was outed as a hoax in 1972, although perhaps she remains a subliminal fantasy for in the 'best' Aussie tradition, the story of the nymph has been immortalised in a (you'll not be surprised to hear low-budget) film.
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| The BIG Galah, Kimba, South Australia |
Most – if not all – travellers
won't get to see the nymph, so will have to content themselves with
this Aussie BIG Thing at the Half-way Across Australia mark instead …
* Famous Australian train running from
Sydney to Perth ie between the Indian and Pacific oceans!!
** From Norseman, Western Australia to
Port Augusta, South Australia – with the accepted limits of the
Nullarbor Plain being the ~1200 km from Norseman to Ceduna. The
actual distance from Perth to Adelaide is 2700 km.
Just between us, this is only the beginning ... there are WAAAAY more than 6 reasons to attempt a Nullarbor crossing! But I'll leave finding the rest up to you!!
Interested? Intrigued?? Incited???
THEN … Read MORE:
- The Nullarbor Plain, South Australia and Western Australia
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| Last shop for 1000 km, Penong, South Australia |
ALL the Aussie ABCs:
Wow you have really captured how vast the country is.
ReplyDeleteClearly it is not the longest stretch of nothing in the world. A nice post spoiled by big bad things!
ReplyDeleteLooking down that highway is amazing. I really like the Bunda Clifs and great info throughout the post as always by you Red. I love the whales - reminds me of home. I want a BIG Galah in my back yard. If I saw the sign that said "last shop for 1,000km, I think I would really stock up the camper :)Loved this post :)
ReplyDeleteThe golf links weren't there on our last crossing Red, so for us it is a must do when we travel over (hopefully) later this year. People say it is boring crossing the Nullabor, not so. So much to see, just different. Certainly not a place you expect to get pulled over by the police for a breath test at 10 in the morning but you can be. Just got to watch out for those road trains coming at you.
ReplyDeleteThat is a whole lot of nothing. I could really go for that sometimes instead of bouncing between two cities every weekend as I do. Thank you for keeping this window on the world open for me. I look forward to the time I can look at scenes like this rather than the one behind me right now.
ReplyDeleteRed, great post on the Nullarbor with excellent photos and description. This is a journey I'd love to make some day, and will think of your highlights along the way.
ReplyDeleteOn the picture, you wouldn't say these whale are so big.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
I guess you´re not even kidding about that golf-thingy!
ReplyDeleteThe longest straight stretch of road sadly wasn´t that straight for us with our Holden steering to the right by himself if you let go of the steering-wheel...
The "No Parking" on the Eucla-sign cracks me up :-)
Sadly our Holden wasn´t a 4WD - and we had little time, only 6 months, sooo sad.
Hmmmm, Emu Export - do I look forward to November!
Missed the big Galah, too, argh. Time travel, that´d be great!
We really just went through there as quick as possible back then, really sad.
Thanks for sharing, Red!
I am not into golfing but I would like to see the whales and the bird observatory. The views of the cliffs and ocean are beautiful. Wonderful post and photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this fabulous post Red. We are crossing the Nullabor (twice - west to east, and then east to west - we have to get back home somehow!) later this year for the first time - like you said every Australian should do it at least once.
ReplyDeleteLove your idea of the ABC of Australia - I will check out the rest.
Wow! Your Nullarbor looks quite a bit like West Texas, and probably has similar weather. That second picture looks as though you could just drive off and never stop! So mysterious--I'll bet you'd think all sorts of odd thoughts if you found yourself alone out there!
ReplyDeleteEucla Signpost, Western Australia
ReplyDeleteAlways thought sign posts like that were cool! Kind of puts things in perspective.
You have captured the essence of vastness with your descriptions and photos. I really enjoyed this virtual trip with you as I doubt we'll ever do that trip. We have skirted the Nullarbor at both ends in WA and SA and just looking from there is awesome. I thought of you on our recent trip to FNQ. I have discovered the REDDEST place in Australia. It is at the Weipa bauxite mine. I'll show you the proof on my blog some time in the future.
ReplyDeleteNothing but superlatives, the whole of Australia is a superlative.
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone ever get to the end of this vast and fascinating continent.
Item 7: Cactus Beach – big waves, long rides, white pointers.
ReplyDeleteSeems you enjoy the Nullarbor as I do. The whales we saw were not large ones whoever, lovely to watch.
ReplyDeleteGreat information. I'd never heard of the Bight or the Nymph. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I though is that nulla in Italian means nothing, so I had a look in wiki and found Latin: nullus, "no", and arbor, "tree"), so Australians too go for Latin names eh!
ReplyDeleteaw, i'd love to see the whales and the bird observatory.
ReplyDeletei thoroughly enjoyed your article and photos.
happy weeknd~
i linked to you today!!
xx
Crossing the Nullarbor is on my Bucket List, now I can fill in some of the details. Thanks for a great trip.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Red. Seriously you're the only person who could make crossing the Nullarbor sound exciting :) I do know quite a few people who have driven across and lived to tell the tale haha! I really enjoyed reading about it here, but if I had to do it, it would probably be the train for me.
ReplyDeleteThat's one serious roadtrip Red (and this from someone who lived on the road for years; we enjoy them!).... You really do show us how huge your country is here. I read parts of this to Bill -- wish we were younger! Have you showed us that big Gulah before? He sure looks familiar.
ReplyDelete@Mo - Haha, it's WAY more vast when you're actually in the middle of it!!
ReplyDelete@Andrew - Or BAD Big Things!!! The Galah is one of my personal favourites ... that gives you some idea of my condition!!!
@Saucy Kod - Haha, the shop was a SHOCK! Although we travelled the other way, so only saw it at the END of our journey ... there are actually supplies along the way, but it's all roadhouses and pubs! I'm with you on the Big Galah - maybe I should start producing them!!!
@Linley - I'm SO not a golfer - but when you're on the World's longest course?? Gotta give it a go!! We were once breath-tested on the Hay Plain at 9:30 am after crossing a whole big bunch of nothing ... I suspect there are quotas at play ...
@SFlaGuy - Anytime you want to see the world through an open window to nothing, I'm your girl!!! Living in two cities is surely akin to being on the road - but at least we tow our 'home' behind us!!
@TFG - Yeah ... forget the Rock, the Reef and the Sydney Harbour Bridge! The Nullarbor is the REAL Australia!!
ReplyDelete@Filip - That's the problem with photos - there's nothing to show their size! Lets just say they looked like submarines with the waves rolling over them!
@Iris - HAhaha, I guess your car's veering to the right kept you awake on the dull bits!!! AND you wouldn't believe that just before I took the pic, there was a massive caravan parked in front of the Eucla 'No Parking' sign!!
@eileeninmd - It's a VERY wild & untamed part of OZ! I didn't play the golf course, but it was a thrill to be on it, given it's the biggest anywhere!!!
@Jill - HAha, take the LOOOOOOOONG way round like we did and go home up the Centre then round the coast!!!!! There's plenty more I didn't write about - look forward as always to your take on it!
@TMWH - I guess a lot of arid lands have features in common! I don't know if I could cope with doing the drive solo ...
ReplyDelete@Beach Bum - There's a lot of this kinda signpost down here ... most places are a helluva long way from most other places!!!
@diane b - The Nullarbor isn't as bad as you think if you pace yourself and don't try to just get it over & done with! Look forward to your RED stuff - as usual, you are way ahead of me! Never been to Weipa!!
@Friko - Yet people still ask me when I'm going overseas now that I've 'done' Australia!!!!
@FigMince - One of the great tragedies of our crossing was not being able to give the Eyre Peninsula the respect it deserves ... I look forward to giving it a good going over next time!
@whiteangel - Even though our crossing was fraught with heat and wind, I would NEVER describe it as boring!!! There's so much to see next time too!!
@Christopher Allen - Hahaha, the Nymph still draws the crowds - although 'crowd' is a relative term on the Nullarbor ...
@Alessandra - HAha, yes us Aussies LOVE our Latin!!!! Only kidding ... that's a direct result of colonialism!!!
ReplyDelete@Betty - The whales are AWESOME!!! Thanx so much for the link - hope your weekend was FAB!
@Pauline - Haha, I wonder how many New Zealands would fit into that space??!! It's SO worth doing though ... glad I could inspire you!
@PDP - I could go another train crossing myself ... although you don't get to see the edge!!! I take my 'excitement' wherever I find it ...
@Sallie - HAhaha, you're SO on to me!! I featured the Big Galah later last year!!! And this was just the END of the Road trip - last year on our 'winter' trip we covered 16000 km!