On to The Nullarbor

6th May 2024

Distance:429 km

Fuel: 43 L

The times they are a’changing

Left at 8am this morning thinking of the long journey taking 5 hours forgetting that once again I was changing time zones. In actual fact it took me ages to find the correct time in Eucla – even my phone got it wrong taking it to Perth time – Eucla is 45 minutes ahead of Perth.

Penong to Eucla

Easy driving on a good road had to overtake a few caravans crawling along but the long straight stretches of road made that easy. The scenery varied at first.

There were a surprising number of cyclists.

The road skirts the Nullarbor Plain hugging the coastline and offering spectacular views of the Great Australian Bight.

Sometimes the highway is very close to the cliffs

Arrived at the WA border and at the quarantine inspection checkpoint they took my potato and onion again!

It was only 12 km to the Eucla Roadhouse, Motel and Caravan Park where I checked in and filled up with fuel ($2.52 a litre!)

Discovered that the caravan park didn’t have water except for showers ($1) and washing. I think if I had known I would have driven on further. Anyway after setting up walked around looking at some of the sights that Eucla has to offer.

A fella I had been chatting to earlier knocked on my camper just as it was getting dark – he was going back to SA so he gave me some carrots and onions to stop them being confiscated. So win some. lose some.

Penong

5th May 2024

Distance: 392 Km

Fuel: 43 L

Left Kimba at about 8am, there was really nothing there to delay me, I was up at 6am for a shower so once I had some breakfast I connected up and set .off.

Interesting enough drive, had to overtake a couple of trucks and caravans but easy enough – not much traffic.

I find that travelling at 110kph on my speedo is about 103kph in actual speed, keeps me out of the way of trucks and seems to be reasonably economic.

Stopped briefly at Wudinna to have look at the granite sculpture which appears to be a tribute to Australian farmers.

Made surprisingly good progress, filled up with fuel in Ceduna, probably the last below $2 a litre for at least a few days.

It was only about 80km to Penong, where I arrived just after midday, I had booked a site a couple of days ago but when I arrived it seemed to have been forgotten but was able to get one though the park filled up by late afternoon. Once I had set up drove to the local servo to top up the tank and made a stop at Penong’s only attraction – its collection of windmills.

On the site next to me was a young girl on a motor bike also doing the Big Lap. She seemed to be well set up.

On to Kimba

4th May 2024

Distance: 262 Km

Fuel: 30 L

After a shower and breakfast went for a walk to the local IGA for a couple of groceries before coupling up the camper and getting ready to go.

Not far to go today, less than 300km so no rush, nice drive through the Flinders Ranges, hardly any traffic until I got close to Port Augusta. Tom Tom found a short cut round Port Augusta but it was bumpy I should have stuck to the highway.

BTW am back on Highway 1 which circumnavigates Australia and is the longest road in the world, Left it when I got to the top of Mt Ousley in Wollongong but am back on it for the next 1200km across the Nullarbor Plain.

Arrived in Kimba just after midday but for the second day running the sat nav had trouble finding the caravan park. its location was actually not even close.

Took the opportunity to hand wash some clothes before having a quick look at Kimba. It appears to be a big rest stop for the road trains crossing the Nullarbor, there is a big parking bay opposite the fuel stop where drivers have their compulsory breaks – quite interesting watching the activities there.

Orroroo

3rd May 2024

Distance: 321 Km

Fuel: 33 L

Lake Bonney to Orroroo

It was a lovely morning, cold but beautiful skies as the sun rose. the lake was like a mirror, the only ripples cause by the waterbirds.

Made my porridge for breakfast after remeasuring it (my big bowl was broken) – had a lovely breakfast watching the birds on the lake as the sun got brighter and the clouds burnt off.

Left as usual about 9am but only about 300km to drive today.

Passed through a variety of scenery before coming across the Flinders Ranges they are quite stunning after the flat country of the previous day.

Made one stop for a sandwich and toilet break. Loaded an audiobook into the car’s CD player.

Hit a small roo, thought I had missed it but it hit the camper.

For some reason the sat Nav went peculiar as we neared Orroroo and kept telling me to turn round. Eventually I just ignored it and followed the signs to the town where the caravan park was well sign posted. I have no idea what went wrong but the information the Tom Tom had was clearly wrong.

After setting up wandered into town for coffee, cake and an ice cream.

Changing State

2nd May 2024

Distance: 475 Km

Fuel: 48 L

Hay (NSW) to Barmera (SA)

Left Hay Caravan Park at about 9am on a cloudless day. For some reason my back is playing up today to the point where I took one of my painkillers about mid morning. Once again it was a cold morning but it didn’t seem as cold as yesterday however I dug out my fingerless gloves just in case.

Driving across the Hay Plain was, as usual, less than exciting, until I passed through Balranald when the scenery did improve with a bit of variety.

Crossed into Victoria before entering Mildura where I filled up with fuel (in the end it was actually cheaper in Barmera but them’s the breaks)

As I passed the South Australia border sign I watched my sat nav and sure enough at exactly that border crossing the clocks changed back half an hour.

Before arriving at the quarantine check point at Yamba I threw away a couple of potatoes and an onion into the bin provided, when I arrived at the checkpoint I was told that the onion would have been allowed… Ho hum.

Drove through Renmark before reaching Barmera where the caravan park is situated. It is a very smart park situated on the shores of Lake Bonney, ironically it was actually cheaper at $34.50 than the park at Hay but has much better facilities including a kids water park, lake side picnic shelters and good sized sites.

Once I was set up I drove a couple of kms to fill up with fuel for tomorrow’s trip to Orroroo (love the name)

Just before sunset the sky clouded over. I don’t know if there will be rain.

Port Augusta to Hay

21st September 2023

Distance: 846 Km

Fuel: 94 Litres

The Marathon continues…

Apart from a couple of stops, one for fuel at Renmark and another at Lake Benanee near the town of Euston it was a day of serious driving.

Lake Benanee was actually a very nice spot to stop and when we were there some caravans were already setting themselves up for a night of free camping. The council had even provided a toilet.

We, however, had more driving to do.

We had started driving at just after 8am and checked into Hay Caravan Park at about 5.45, just before it got dark. It was a long day. We also changed time zone, back to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Marla to Port Augusta

20th September 2023

Distance: 787 Km

Fuel: 93 Litres

A Long Day

Another long day driving over old territory. Set out at 8.30am with the intention of staying at Woomera and drove steadily south with that in mind.

Refuelled at Glendambo with 60 litres of diesel, that meant 12 litres left in the tank which should have got us to Woomera but it would have been a close run thing.

Stopped at a salt lake (Lake Hart) for a breather and a chance to stretch our legs a few kms before the Woomera turn off.

When we did arrive at Pimba where the road turns off to go to Woomera it was only 2.30pm, a quick look at the map showed Port Augusta only another 170 km further on, so made the decision to keep going.

Finally arrived at Port Augusta at 4 30 and booked in at the Shoreline Caravan Park, it is indeed right on the beach!

Deposited the camper and filled up with fuel at the local Coles Express and settled in for the night after a quick walk to the water front to watch The Ghan set off for Alice Springs and Darwin.

After the heat of Central Australia the cold wind here was a bit of a shock, down to 9° tonight.

Heading South

19th September 2023

Distance: 537 Km

Fuel: 55 Litres

Kings Canyon to Marla.

Our group broke up this morning, Katie and Geoff heading north on the Mereenie Loop to Alice Springs to visit a friend, The rest of us to our various homes, at varying speeds and in various directions.

I shall miss their company, Katie and Geoff’s new trailer was brilliant but also has plenty of scope for modification.

Andrew’s new tent seemed spacious and he has a great set up especially designed for free camping.

Dale had a swag on a stretcher another really good idea especially for free camping (I was sure I took a picture but I am blowed if I can find it), you can just see his car and swag in the background of the above photo. They are all so well set up.

We have decided to put in long driving stints to try to be home by the weekend, hence today’s long distance drive to Marla.

Marla Roadhouse is OK if a bit of a higgledy piggledy layout, we thought Andrew might be there but he had gone further on.

We intend to try to make it to Woomera tomorrow, by-passing Coober Pedy.

Coober Pedy to Kulgera Roadhouse

12th September 2023

Distance: 423Km

Fuel: 51 Litre

Leaving SA

Up early and showered in order to be at the IGA when it opened to get bread and milk to last for a few days.

We all set off at about 10am with the first stop the Cadney Homestead for fuel and coffee. Fuel economy is very poor because of head winds (as it has been for most of the trip to date).

Stopped again at Marla for fuel and a toilet break. Fuel will only get more expensive as we travel north.

After about 410 km crossed the border into the Northern Territory where we stopped briefly at the sign.

The kids stayed at the border to free camp but we drove on to the Kulgera Roadhouse where there was a campsite with facilities. The cost of diesel there was $2.90 a litre

Around Coober Pedy

11th September 2023

Distance: 61 Km

Fuel: 48 Litres

Opal City

We had booked 2 nights in Coober Pedy so today was the first “rest” day of the trip. The boys had booked us a 10 am tour of Tom’s Opal Mine just outside town so that was our first event.

It was quite a different mine to the one we experienced in White Cliffs last year. The Coober Pedy mines are in sandstone so the tunnels can be larger with less danger of collapse. The guide had 40 years of opal mining experience to draw on and told the tale in a very entertaining way.

Afterwards we visited the Big Winch on a hill in the middle of town followed by a trip to the Catacomb Church.

This was followed by a quick visit to the IGA store in the middle of town to replenish the food supplies before visiting some opal stores.

A drive to visit the Dog Fence (also called the Dingo Fence) was next – this is part of the 5600 km fence that stretches from eastern Queensland to the Nullarbor plain in an attempt to keep pests out of the fertile south eastern Australia.

I first tried to visit the fence some years ago but was forced to abandon it due to a very boggy road. Now most the of the road to the fence is bitumen, so for me the trip was a bit of an anti climax.

That evening we all visited the “Outback Burger and Grill” for a meal before returning to our respective accommodations.

Tomorrow we should be in the Northern Territory.