Driving Across the Nullarbor Plain – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain by road is one of Australia’s great driving adventures. The Eyre Highway stretches across an enormous and sparsely populated landscape between Ceduna in South Australia and Norseman in Western Australia, passing remote roadhouses, spectacular coastal cliffs and some of the longest stretches of open road you’re ever likely to encounter. The drive isn’t particularly difficult when conditions are good, and the Eyre Highway itself is sealed. But the distances, limited services and isolation mean it deserves more preparation than an ordinary road trip. Whether you’re travelling by car, campervan, motorhome or towing a caravan, here’s what you should think about before setting off across the Nullarbor.

How Long Does It Take to Cross the Nullarbor?

The journey between Ceduna and Norseman is roughly 1,200 kilometres, depending on your exact route and stops. Although it is technically possible to cover the distance quickly, there’s little reason to rush it. South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Service suggests allowing around two to four days for a safer and more enjoyable crossing. For most travellers, three or four days provides a good balance. It gives you time to stop at the Bunda Cliffs, explore historic sites, take photographs, have proper rest breaks and actually enjoy the experience rather than simply watching kilometres disappear beneath the wheels. Travellers with caravans or motorhomes may prefer even longer.

Plan Your Fuel Stops Before Leaving

Fuel is available across the Nullarbor, but don’t approach fuel planning in the same way you would when travelling between major Australian towns. Roadhouses are separated by considerable distances and fuel can be more expensive than in metropolitan areas. Opening hours and fuel availability can also change.

Before leaving, work out:

• Your vehicle’s normal fuel consumption

• Your approximate range on a full tank

• How towing affects your fuel consumption

• Where you intend to refuel

• A backup fuel stop if your preferred stop isn’t available

Strong headwinds can noticeably increase consumption, particularly when towing a caravan.

A sensible rule on the Nullarbor is don’t unnecessarily drive past available fuel when your tank is getting low. Main Roads WA recommends carrying extra fuel when travelling long distances and notes that fuel stops in remote areas can be hundreds of kilometres apart. If carrying additional fuel, make sure it is stored in an approved container and transported safely.

Where Can You Buy Fuel?

Roadhouses along the Eyre Highway provide the essential service network for travellers crossing the Nullarbor. Depending on your direction of travel, the major stopping points include places such as:

Ceduna – Penong – Nundroo – Yalata – Nullarbor Roadhouse – Border Village – Eucla – Mundrabilla – Madura – Cocklebiddy – Caiguna – Balladonia – Norseman.

Not every stop offers exactly the same services, so check ahead rather than assuming you’ll find fuel, meals, accommodation, mechanical assistance and supplies at every location.

It’s also worth filling up before leaving Ceduna or Norseman, particularly if you’re towing.

Accommodation Across the Nullarbor

One of the advantages of the Nullarbor crossing is that you don’t necessarily have to camp.

Several of the major roadhouses offer combinations of:

• Motel rooms

• Caravan sites

• Powered sites

• Unpowered sites

• Meals

• Fuel

• Toilets and showers

During busy travel periods, it’s worth booking motel rooms and caravan sites ahead rather than assuming something will be available when you arrive. If you’re travelling with a caravan or camper, you’ll also find rest areas and camping opportunities along the route, but always check current signs and local restrictions before setting up for the night.

Importantly, camping along the Bunda Cliffs is not permitted. The cliff edge is unstable and collapses can occur without warning. Within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area, official advice currently identifies Koonalda Homestead as the camping option, with bookings required.

Don’t Underestimate Water

Carry significantly more drinking water than you expect to use. Don’t assume that every roadside stop will have potable water available. Water is a valuable resource in this part of Australia and availability can be limited. Main Roads WA recommends allowing at least three litres of drinking water per person per day, plus additional water for emergencies or a vehicle breakdown. For a Nullarbor crossing, having several days’ reserve water is a sensible precaution.

Take Extra Food and Supplies

The roadhouses provide meals and basic supplies, but you’re travelling through an extremely remote part of Australia. Pack enough food to cope comfortably if your journey is delayed. Main Roads WA recommends carrying enough food and water to last two to three days beyond your intended travel time when travelling in remote areas. A basic supply might include drinking water, non-perishable food, snacks, medications, sunscreen, a first-aid kit and anything else you couldn’t comfortably go without for several days.

Prepare Your Vehicle

A breakdown in suburban Australia is inconvenient. A breakdown hundreds of kilometres from a major town can become much more serious. Have your vehicle serviced before undertaking the crossing, particularly if it hasn’t been checked recently. 

Pay attention to:

Tyres: Check condition, pressure and tread, including the spare.

Cooling system: Inspect coolant levels, radiator hoses and the overall condition of the cooling system.

Oil and fluids: Check engine oil, brake fluid and other essential fluids.

Battery: An ageing battery isn’t something you want to discover halfway across the Nullarbor.

Spare tyre: Make sure you actually have one, it’s inflated and you have the equipment needed to change it.

Main Roads WA also suggests considering useful spares such as coolant, oil, fuses, radiator hoses and fan belts, along with a tool kit and first-aid kit.

Towing a Caravan

The Nullarbor is enormously popular with caravanners, but towing introduces a few extra considerations. Before departure, check your tyres, wheel bearings, brakes, coupling, safety chains, electrical connections and lights. Loads should be properly distributed and secured. Remember that towing can substantially increase fuel consumption, particularly into a strong headwind. In Western Australia, the maximum legal speed for a vehicle towing a caravan or trailer is 100 km/h, even where the posted limit for other vehicles may be higher. And don’t feel pressured to maintain the maximum speed. Drive at a speed appropriate for your vehicle, load, weather and road conditions.

Road Trains

Road trains are part of life on the Eyre Highway. Some can be extremely long, and they need considerably more distance to accelerate, brake and overtake than a passenger vehicle. Don’t sit unnecessarily close behind one. Apart from reducing your visibility, the truck driver may not be able to see you. If overtaking, wait until you have a long, completely clear stretch of road. Once you’ve passed, don’t immediately cut back in front of the truck. Main Roads WA notes that road trains operating in Western Australia can reach up to 60 metres in length.

Wildlife – Avoid Driving at Dawn and Dusk

Kangaroos, wombats, emus and other wildlife can appear on or beside the highway. The risk is particularly significant around dawn and dusk, when animals are more active and visibility is changing. Where possible, plan your day so you’re parked up before dark. Besides reducing your wildlife risk, daylight driving makes the Nullarbor considerably more enjoyable—you can actually see the landscape you’re crossing.

Fatigue Can Be a Bigger Danger Than the Distance

Long, straight roads can create their own problems. The scenery is spectacular, but sections of the highway can be repetitive, making it easy for fatigue to creep up unnoticed. Take regular breaks and swap drivers where possible. Main Roads WA recommends swapping drivers about every two hours, getting adequate sleep and avoiding long-distance driving while tired.

The famous 90 Mile Straight between Caiguna and Balladonia is Australia’s longest straight stretch of road and runs for approximately 146 kilometres. It’s one of the highlights of the crossing—but also a good reminder that long, straight roads require concentration.

Mobile Phone Coverage Is Limited

Don’t expect continuous mobile coverage across the Nullarbor. Coverage is available around some settlements and roadhouses, but there are substantial areas where your phone may be of little use. Within Nullarbor National Park, South Australian authorities advise that there is generally no mobile coverage except near the Head of Bight Visitor Centre and adjacent to roadhouses. Download maps and important information before travelling. For travellers who regularly venture into remote areas or leave the highway, a satellite phone or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) can provide additional security.

Tell Someone Your Plans

Before setting off, tell a family member or friend your intended route, expected overnight stops and approximately when you expect to arrive. If your plans change significantly, update them when you next have communications. This simple precaution becomes much more important once you’re travelling through remote country.

Check the Weather and Road Conditions

Conditions on the Nullarbor can vary enormously. Summer temperatures can be extreme, while winter mornings and nights can be surprisingly cold. Strong winds can also make driving difficult and dramatically increase fuel consumption for caravans and motorhomes. Before leaving, check current road conditions, weather forecasts, bushfire information and warnings. For the Western Australian section, the Main Roads WA Travel Map provides current information about road closures, incidents, roadworks and rest areas.

What Happens If You Break Down?

If your vehicle breaks down in a remote area, staying with the vehicle is generally much safer than attempting to walk for help. A vehicle is easier for other motorists and emergency services to spot and provides shelter from the elements. Carry sufficient water, food and emergency supplies so that a breakdown remains an inconvenience rather than immediately becoming an emergency. It’s also worth checking your roadside-assistance membership before departure. Some standard policies have limitations on remote towing distances or recovery costs.

Don’t Rely Entirely on Your Phone

Offline maps are useful, but consider carrying a paper map as backup. Save or write down important telephone numbers, accommodation details and fuel stops before departure. A UHF radio can also be useful, particularly for caravanners communicating with other travellers and heavy vehicles, although it shouldn’t be considered a replacement for emergency communications equipment.

Biosecurity at the WA–SA Border

Travellers should also remember that crossing the Nullarbor means crossing a state border. Western Australia and South Australia have biosecurity restrictions controlling certain fruit, vegetables, plants and other agricultural products. Check the current rules before shopping for the journey. It’s much better to plan your food supplies around the restrictions than discover at the quarantine checkpoint that something has to be surrendered.

Make Time for the Attractions

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is treating the Nullarbor as something that simply has to be endured between Adelaide and Perth. There is plenty to see along the way. Allow time for the Head of the Bight, Bunda Cliffs, Old Eucla Telegraph Station, Eucla, the 90 Mile Straight, historic roadhouses, Nullarbor Links golf holes and the extraordinary open landscapes themselves. During the southern right whale migration season, the Head of the Bight can be particularly rewarding. South Australian authorities identify May to October as the general whale-viewing period, with August typically an excellent time to visit.

A Simple Nullarbor Pre-Departure Checklist

Before leaving Ceduna or Norseman, make sure you have:

• A full tank of fuel

• Plenty of drinking water

• Emergency food supplies

• A roadworthy vehicle

• A good spare tyre

• Jack and wheel-changing equipment

• Basic tools and useful spare parts

• First-aid kit

• Any essential medications

• Offline maps

• Phone charger and power bank

• Accommodation or camping plans

• Roadside-assistance details

• Current weather and road-condition information

• Someone who knows your itinerary

Travellers heading further away from the highway should consider additional remote-area equipment and communications.

Take Your Time and Enjoy the Crossing

The Nullarbor isn’t a road trip that needs to be rushed.

For many travellers, crossing it becomes one of the most memorable parts of an Australian road journey. There’s something special about watching the landscape stretch endlessly toward the horizon, stopping at an isolated roadhouse hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major town, standing above the Great Australian Bight and watching the sun disappear into an enormous outback sky. Prepare properly, keep your fuel tank comfortably topped up, carry plenty of water, avoid driving tired and give yourself enough time to stop along the way. The Nullarbor may be remote, but that’s precisely what makes driving across it such an extraordinary experience.