Crossing the Nullarbor: Our 1200km Adventure

We decided to take on the famous stretch across the Nullarbor, covering the 1200km between Ceduna in South Australia and Norseman in Western Australia. It took us just two nights! While you can easily stretch it out to explore more along the way, we were eager to kick off our WA adventure.

One of the highlights of this journey is the abundance of free camps along the way. If you’re planning your trip, WikiCamps will become your best friend—read the reviews for the most up-to-date info on spots. We ended up staying at Rushys Balcony and Nuytsland Nature Reserve, both offering unique spots to rest.

The key to crossing the Nullarbor is to keep your fuel tank full. With long stretches between stops, you’ll want to top up at every opportunity. We also carried a backup jerry can—a smart move, considering some servos can run out of diesel. Our total fuel cost from Ceduna to Norseman came in at $610AUD, but fuel prices vary a lot. The most expensive spot we filled up was Cocklebiddy at $2.57AUD per litre, and the cheapest was Ceduna at $1.96AUD per litre. To get the best prices, we used PetrolSpy, which helped us plan where to refuel.

If you’re relying on your phone for communication or entertainment, get ready for some patchy service. Telstra coverage comes and goes, with hours of blackouts punctuated by brief moments of 3G and, occasionally, 4G at roadhouses. We were lucky to have Starlink with us, which provided enough signal to keep us connected when we needed it.

Don’t forget the quarantine checkpoint when crossing from SA into WA. Make sure you cook up any fresh produce before you get there, or be prepared to hand it over. We've added a handy link with all the up-to-date info on what’s permitted at state borders—definitely worth checking out!

With such a long drive ahead, keeping little ones entertained is key. We had Evan glued to offline YouTube Kids and Netflix shows, along with a snack stash that could rival a vending machine! Pro tip: download everything before you hit the road—there are plenty of black spots along the way.

Here’s a tip from our experience: Apple Maps might lead you astray! It tried to reroute us on a scenic detour that would have added five hours to our trip. It was still showing a road closure from a previous accident that had been cleared a week earlier. We found Google Maps to be much more up to date, so it’s worth double-checking your route before you head off.

Crossing the Nullarbor was definitely an experience we won’t forget. From the stunning outback views to the sense of adventure on the open road, it’s a journey like no other. If you’re planning to take on this epic drive, be prepared, stay fuelled, and enjoy the ride!