Mundrabilla, Western Australia – Nullarbor Travel Guide

Historic Pastoral Country, Nullarbor Hospitality and a Welcome Eyre Highway Stop

Set beneath the dramatic Hampton Tablelands on the vast Roe Plains, Mundrabilla is one of the classic roadhouse settlements encountered while crossing the Western Australian section of the Nullarbor. Located on the Eyre Highway between Eucla and Madura, Mundrabilla provides an important place to refuel, eat, rest and spend the night during the long journey across southern Australia. Although tiny by conventional town standards, Mundrabilla has a surprisingly interesting history. The nearby pastoral station dates back to 1872, when pioneering settlers arrived after an extraordinary journey across remote country with around 1,500 sheep. Today, the settlement is centred around Mundrabilla Roadhouse, with fuel, food, motel rooms, caravan sites, camping, a licensed bar and even a hole on the famous Nullarbor Links golf course. For Nullarbor travellers, Mundrabilla is a very useful place to slow down, enjoy a proper meal and take a break before tackling the next long section of the Eyre Highway.

Where is Mundrabilla?

Mundrabilla is located on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia, between Eucla to the east and Madura to the west. It sits on the enormous Roe Plains, a strip of relatively flat country running between the Hampton Tablelands and the Great Australian Bight coastline. The plains extend for around 250 km from Eucla toward Twilight Cove and are approximately 40 km wide in places. The escarpment rising behind Mundrabilla gives this section of the Nullarbor a noticeably different appearance from the seemingly endless flat landscape encountered elsewhere.

Road Trip Tip: Mundrabilla is a good place for a proper break rather than a quick fuel stop. Have something to eat, stretch your legs and give yourself time away from the wheel before continuing across the Nullarbor.

What is Mundrabilla Like?

Don’t expect a conventional country town when you arrive at Mundrabilla. There isn’t a large shopping centre, suburban streets or a traditional main street. Instead, the modern traveller settlement revolves around Mundrabilla Roadhouse. The surrounding landscape remains dominated by enormous pastoral properties, open plains and the Hampton escarpment. Its isolation is a major part of the experience. After hours on the Eyre Highway, the sight of the roadhouse, fuel pumps and accommodation can be extremely welcome.

A Brief History of Mundrabilla

Mundrabilla has one of the more interesting pastoral histories along the Nullarbor. In 1872, Thomas and William Kennedy, together with William McGill, travelled approximately 1,200 km from Albany with around 1,500 sheep in search of suitable grazing country. Their original intention was to reach country around Eucla, but the enormous journey, difficult terrain, exhausted livestock and need for reliable water forced them to reconsider. At Mundrabilla they discovered suitable grazing country and sufficient water for their stock, and Mundrabilla Station was established. The station survived the enormous challenges of operating in such an isolated environment and remains a working cattle station today. The modern Mundrabilla Roadhouse was established in 1972 to serve the increasing number of travellers using the Eyre Highway.

The Roe Plains

Mundrabilla lies on the Roe Plains, one of the distinctive landscapes encountered on the Western Australian side of the Nullarbor. The plains are named after John Septimus Roe, Western Australia’s first Surveyor General. They form a long, relatively narrow strip of country between the Hampton Tablelands and the coastline. The higher escarpment running parallel to the highway provides an impressive backdrop as you travel through the area. Historically, the Roe Plains were also a source of sandalwood that was exported to Asian markets.

Mundrabilla Roadhouse

The heart of modern Mundrabilla is the Mundrabilla Roadhouse.

Current facilities include:

• Fuel
• 24-hour after-hours fuel
• Convenience shop
• Restaurant
• Takeaway food
• Licensed bar
• Beer garden
• Motel accommodation
• Family accommodation
• Pet-friendly motel rooms
• Powered caravan sites
• Unpowered sites
• Showers and amenities
• EV charging
• Truck parking

For travellers who have spent several hours on the highway, it provides almost everything needed to refuel both the vehicle and its occupants.

Opening Hours

Mundrabilla Roadhouse currently advertises opening hours of 6:00am to 9:00pm every day. The kitchen serves its all-day menu between 6:00am and 8:30pm. These times are advertised in the local Central Standard Western Time used by the roadhouse.

Fuel at Mundrabilla

Mundrabilla is an important Nullarbor refuelling stop. The roadhouse sells diesel, ULP 91 and AdBlue. Importantly, fuel is available 24 hours a day. Outside normal roadhouse hours, travellers can use an automated payment terminal accepting major debit and credit cards. Shell, Fleet and Motorpass fuel cards are accepted during normal roadhouse hours. Fuel prices in remote Australia can change substantially between deliveries, so the roadhouse recommends calling for the latest price rather than relying on older online information.

24-Hour Fuel
After-hours self-service fuel is available at Mundrabilla.
Major debit and credit cards are accepted at the after-hours terminal.

Camping at Mundrabilla

Mundrabilla Roadhouse operates a spacious caravan park, making the settlement an excellent overnight stop for caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers and campers.

Camping options include:

• Powered drive-through sites
• Unpowered drive-through sites
• Shadier unpowered sites beneath trees
• Shared amenities
• Access to restaurant and bar
• Beer garden

Advance bookings for caravan sites are welcome but aren’t necessarily essential. The roadhouse advises that there is generally plenty of room for travellers arriving on the day, although all accommodation remains subject to availability. During particularly busy holiday periods, calling ahead remains sensible.

Motel Accommodation

Travellers who would rather sleep indoors can choose from several motel-room configurations.

Options include:

• Double rooms
• Twin rooms
• Single rooms
• Family accommodation
• Pet-friendly rooms

Motel rooms have ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, bar fridges and tea and coffee facilities. Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi is also currently provided in motel rooms. Check-in is from 2:00pm, with check-out before 10:00am.

Restaurant and Bar

One of the advantages of spending the night at Mundrabilla rather than a roadside rest area is having a proper meal waiting nearby. The roadhouse restaurant serves home-style cooked meals and an all-day menu, with takeaway also available. There is also a licensed bar where travellers can relax after finishing their day’s driving. The roadhouse advises that staff will do their best to cater for dietary requirements, so ask what options are available when ordering.

The Beer Garden

Mundrabilla’s beer garden is particularly appealing after a long day behind the wheel. There is a lawn area for children and a warm fire during colder weather. Pets are also welcome in the beer garden. It’s a good place to enjoy a meal, meet other travellers and swap stories about the Nullarbor journey.

Are Dogs Allowed?

Yes, Mundrabilla is a good option for travellers with pets. The roadhouse offers pet-friendly motel accommodation, and pets are welcome in the beer garden. If you’re travelling with a dog and want a motel room, mention your pet when booking so staff can allocate suitable accommodation.

Nullarbor Links – The Watering Hole

Mundrabilla is also one of the stops on the famous Nullarbor Links golf course. The local hole is appropriately named The Watering Hole. Players completing the Nullarbor Links can have their scorecard stamped at the roadhouse. Don’t have golf clubs with you? Mundrabilla Roadhouse currently has clubs available for hire. It’s another wonderfully quirky reason to stop and spend a little extra time in Mundrabilla.

Nullarbor Links
The Watering Hole
Mundrabilla’s hole on the world’s longest golf course

EV Charging

Electric vehicle travellers can also recharge at Mundrabilla. The roadhouse currently provides EV charging during normal roadhouse opening hours. Anyone crossing the Nullarbor in an electric vehicle should still plan charging stops carefully and check current charger availability before relying on individual locations.

Exploring Around Mundrabilla

Mundrabilla itself is primarily a traveller and pastoral settlement, so don’t expect a long list of conventional tourist attractions. The attraction is largely the landscape itself.

Look out for:

• The enormous Roe Plains
• The Hampton Tablelands and escarpment
• Historic pastoral country
• Nullarbor wildlife
• Spectacular sunsets
• Exceptionally dark night skies

The isolation and enormous sense of space are precisely what make the area memorable.

Great Australian Bight

The Great Australian Bight lies to the south of Mundrabilla beyond the Roe Plains. While it may look relatively close on a map, access to remote sections of the coastline is very different from visiting the easily accessible Bunda Cliff lookouts farther east. Tracks heading away from the Eyre Highway can be remote, rough and unsuitable for ordinary vehicles. Always obtain current local advice before attempting remote coastal tracks and never assume that a line shown on an online map represents an easy public road.

Remote Track Warning: Don’t attempt remote tracks toward the Great Australian Bight based solely on an online map. Check access, road conditions and vehicle requirements locally before leaving the Eyre Highway.

Wildlife Around Mundrabilla

The seemingly empty landscape around Mundrabilla supports plenty of wildlife.

Travellers may encounter:

• Kangaroos
• Emus
• Wedge-tailed eagles
• Reptiles
• Numerous arid-zone birds

Wildlife can also create a serious driving hazard, particularly around dawn, dusk and after dark. Where possible, complete your driving during daylight hours and use places such as Mundrabilla to stop before fatigue becomes a problem.

Truckies and Long-Distance Drivers

Mundrabilla is also an important stop for professional drivers crossing the Nullarbor. The roadhouse provides large truck parking bays and free shower facilities for truck drivers. Its all-day food menu is also designed to accommodate drivers whose schedules don’t necessarily match conventional breakfast, lunch and dinner times.

Driving West from Mundrabilla

Continue west from Mundrabilla and the Eyre Highway leads toward Madura.

Beyond Madura, the major roadhouse stops include:

• Cocklebiddy
• Caiguna
• Balladonia
• Norseman

Distances remain substantial, so continue to plan fuel, food and overnight stops carefully.

Driving East from Mundrabilla

Heading east takes you toward Eucla and Border Village. Eucla is particularly worth allowing time to explore because of its historic Telegraph Station ruins, white sand dunes and Great Australian Bight views. At Border Village, eastbound travellers cross from Western Australia into South Australia before continuing toward the Bunda Cliffs and Nullarbor Roadhouse.

What Should You Carry?

Despite the good facilities at Mundrabilla, you’re still travelling through one of Australia’s most remote regions. Carry:

Best Time to Visit Mundrabilla

The cooler months are generally the most comfortable time to travel through Mundrabilla and across the Nullarbor. Autumn, winter and spring usually provide more pleasant daytime conditions for long-distance driving and exploring. Winter nights can become surprisingly cold, so carry warm clothing even if daytime temperatures are comfortable. Summer can be extremely hot and exposed, making adequate drinking water and a well-maintained vehicle especially important.

Mundrabilla Contact Details

Is Mundrabilla Worth Stopping At?

Definitely.

Mundrabilla may not have a long list of conventional tourist attractions, but that’s not really the point. This is a genuine Nullarbor stop surrounded by historic pastoral country, enormous open plains and the dramatic Hampton escarpment. The roadhouse provides everything most travellers need – 24-hour fuel, good food, motel accommodation, caravan camping, showers, a bar and somewhere comfortable to unwind. Add more than 150 years of pastoral history and the quirky Watering Hole on the Nullarbor Links and Mundrabilla has plenty of character of its own. 

If your itinerary allows, stay the night rather than simply filling the tank. Have a meal, enjoy the beer garden, watch the sunset over the Roe Plains and continue your Nullarbor journey refreshed the following morning.