Caiguna, Western Australia – Nullarbor Travel Guide

The 90 Mile Straight, Caiguna Blowhole and a Classic Eyre Highway Roadhouse Stop

Tiny, remote and surrounded by an enormous expanse of country, Caiguna is one of the classic roadhouse settlements encountered while crossing the Nullarbor Plain. Located on the Eyre Highway approximately 372 kilometres east of Norseman, Caiguna provides an important opportunity to refuel, eat, rest and find accommodation before continuing across Western Australia’s remote south-east. Caiguna is best known as the eastern end of the legendary 90 Mile Straight – the extraordinary 146.6-kilometre section of the Eyre Highway running between Caiguna and Balladonia without a bend. There is also more to see than many travellers realise, including the unusual Caiguna Blowhole, Nullarbor Links golf hole and several reminders of the extraordinary history of travelling across this isolated part of Australia.

Caiguna Overview

Location
Eyre Highway, Western Australia

Postcode
6443

Distance from Norseman
Approximately 372 km

Fuel
Yes – Caiguna Roadhouse

Accommodation
Yes

Caravan Park
Yes – basic roadhouse camping

Meals
Available at the roadhouse

Famous For
90 Mile Straight

Attraction
Caiguna Blowhole

Golf
Nullarbor Links

Roadhouse
(08) 9039 3459

Where is Caiguna?

Caiguna is located on the Eyre Highway in south-eastern Western Australia. It sits approximately 372 kilometres east of Norseman and is the second major roadhouse stop encountered when travelling east after Balladonia. There isn’t really a conventional town centre. Modern Caiguna revolves around the roadhouse, motel, caravan facilities and services required by people travelling the Eyre Highway. Its isolation is exactly what makes it such a memorable part of a Nullarbor road trip.

The 90 Mile Straight

Caiguna is famous for marking one end of Australia’s legendary 90 Mile Straight.

Despite the traditional name, the straight measures approximately 146.6 kilometres – about 91 miles – between the Caiguna and Balladonia area. The famous road sign makes an almost compulsory Nullarbor photograph, particularly for travellers completing the crossing for the first time. The road may be straight, but don’t allow the apparently easy driving conditions to encourage you to travel for too long without stopping. Monotonous highway driving can contribute significantly to fatigue.

Driver Fatigue: The 90 Mile Straight can be surprisingly tiring. Take regular breaks, change drivers where possible and never continue driving when you’re struggling to stay alert.

Caiguna Blowhole

One of Caiguna’s most unusual attractions is the Caiguna Blowhole, located approximately 5 kilometres west of the roadhouse. Unlike a coastal blowhole where waves force water and air through a rock opening, Caiguna Blowhole is connected to the extensive underground limestone cave and cavity systems beneath the Nullarbor. Changes in atmospheric pressure can cause air to move through the underground system and emerge from the opening at the surface. When conditions are right, visitors can actually feel the earth appearing to breathe as air moves through the opening.

Don’t Be Disappointed: The Caiguna Blowhole doesn’t constantly blow. Whether you feel air movement depends on atmospheric conditions and pressure differences within the underground cave system.

Caiguna Roadhouse

The roadhouse is effectively the centre of Caiguna and provides the services most travellers need before continuing across the Nullarbor.

Services include:

• Fuel
• Motel accommodation
• Caravan and camping facilities
• Meals
• Drinks and snacks
• Basic traveller supplies

Even if you’re not staying overnight, Caiguna is a sensible place to take a proper break, stretch your legs and check your fuel before continuing.

Camping at Caiguna

Basic caravan and camping accommodation is available as part of the Caiguna Roadhouse complex. This is remote roadhouse camping rather than a  destination holiday park, making it particularly suitable for travellers who simply want somewhere convenient to stop overnight before continuing their journey. Caravans, campervans and motorhomes regularly use the roadhouse as an overnight stop. Because facilities and tariffs at remote roadhouses can change, contact Caiguna directly for current site prices and availability.

Nullarbor Links Golf

Caiguna is also part of the famous Nullarbor Links, the enormous golf course stretching across the Nullarbor between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie. Rather than having all 18 holes together, the course places individual holes at towns and roadhouses along the journey. Caiguna hosts one of these holes, allowing keen travellers to turn their Nullarbor crossing into what must be one of Australia’s most unusual rounds of golf.

History of Caiguna

Caiguna is a relatively modern settlement compared with some of the historic telegraph stations and pastoral settlements of the Nullarbor. The settlement was established in the early 1960s, when improved road travel across the Nullarbor was becoming increasingly important. The Shire of Dundas records Caiguna as being established in 1963 to assist the increasing traffic associated with the Commonwealth Games held in Perth. Today its purpose remains much the same – providing a vital stopping point for travellers crossing one of Australia’s most remote highways.

John Baxter Memorial

The wider Caiguna region also has connections with explorer Edward John Eyre’s 1841 journey across southern Australia. John Baxter was travelling with Eyre’s expedition when he was killed during the crossing in April 1841. A memorial to Baxter is located in the wider Caiguna area, providing a sobering reminder of just how difficult and dangerous crossing this country was long before the Eyre Highway existed. Travellers planning to seek out remote historic sites should obtain current local directions before leaving the highway.

Central Western Time

One of the quirks of travelling this section of the Nullarbor is Central Western Time, sometimes informally called Eucla Time. This unofficial local time zone is used by some communities and businesses along the south-eastern Western Australian section of the Eyre Highway. It sits 45 minutes ahead of Western Australian Standard Time.

When travelling across the Nullarbor, always check the local time used by your next roadhouse rather than assuming your phone has adjusted correctly.

Time Zone Tip: Timekeeping can become surprisingly confusing around the WA–SA end of the Nullarbor. Check locally if you need to arrive before a kitchen, reception or service closes.

Wildlife Around Caiguna

The apparently empty landscape surrounding Caiguna supports plenty of wildlife. Kangaroos, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and other animals may be encountered around the highway, particularly around dawn and dusk. These are also the times when wildlife poses the greatest driving risk, so reduce speed and remain alert.

Wildlife Warning: Avoid unnecessary driving around dawn, dusk and after dark. Animal strikes can be particularly serious in remote areas where vehicle recovery and repairs may be hundreds of kilometres away.

Fuel at Caiguna

Fuel is available at Caiguna Roadhouse and is one of the main reasons the settlement is so important to Nullarbor travellers. When towing a caravan, remember that strong headwinds can dramatically increase fuel consumption. Keep a comfortable reserve rather than trying to stretch your tank to the next roadhouse.

Nullarbor Fuel Rule
Don’t unnecessarily pass a reliable fuel stop.
Distances are long and headwinds can substantially increase consumption.

Mobile Phone Reception

Mobile coverage across the Nullarbor is inconsistent and should never be relied upon as your only means of communication. Where reception is available around a roadhouse, use the opportunity to download maps, check weather and road information and confirm your next accommodation or fuel stop. Offline maps are strongly recommended before leaving the major towns at either end of the Nullarbor.

How Far is Caiguna from Other Nullarbor Stops?

Caiguna is positioned between Balladonia and Cocklebiddy, making it a natural rest point on the western half of the Nullarbor crossing.

What Should You Bring?

Caiguna has essential services, but you are still travelling through extremely remote country. Carry:

Best Time to Visit Caiguna

Caiguna can be visited throughout the year, but the cooler months are generally the most comfortable for a Nullarbor road trip.

Autumn, winter and spring usually provide more pleasant daytime driving conditions, although winter nights can become cold.

Summer temperatures can be considerably hotter, increasing the importance of carrying plenty of water and keeping your vehicle in good condition.

Whatever the season, check road and weather conditions before beginning a long day’s drive.

Is Caiguna Worth Stopping At?

Definitely. Even if you’re not staying overnight, Caiguna makes a logical rest and fuel stop while crossing the Nullarbor. The 90 Mile Straight sign is one of the classic Nullarbor photo opportunities, while the nearby Caiguna Blowhole provides an interesting glimpse into the enormous limestone cave systems hidden beneath the apparently featureless landscape. More importantly, stopping gives the driver a chance to get out of the vehicle, walk around, eat something and reset before continuing along the Eyre Highway.

Contact Details

Final Thoughts

Caiguna isn’t a town in the conventional sense. There are no busy shopping streets, supermarkets or suburban neighbourhoods. Instead, it is a tiny remote settlement built around one of the things that makes crossing the Nullarbor possible – a dependable place for travellers to stop, refuel, eat and rest. Its position at the end of the 146.6-kilometre 90 Mile Straight gives Caiguna a special place in Australian road-trip folklore, while the nearby blowhole demonstrates that there is much more beneath the Nullarbor landscape than first meets the eye.

Whether you’re staying overnight or simply filling the tank and photographing the 90 Mile Straight sign, Caiguna is one of those tiny places that becomes a memorable part of the Nullarbor experience.