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Our tips for crossing the Nullarbor from South Australia to Western Australia

Writer's picture: CzechAusOutCzechAusOut

The Nullarbor crossing seems to have a bit of a reputation of being a challenging road trip, however in our experience, we feel that this is an exaggeration. Sure, it is a long, mostly barren trip, but with the right preparation it can become an enjoyable, easy drive. The road is wide and in great condition and there are plenty of places along the way to stop, rest, refuel and sight see. So, if you are looking to cross from SA to WA via the Nullarbor, below are some tips to help make your road trip and border crossing, the best possible.



Australia's longest straight road


Stock up on groceries

Be sure to pull into a major town to stock up your pantry and fridge before hitting the road as grocery prices along the way can be a little high. If you know roughly how long it will take you to cross the border, be sure to plan what you need in terms of fresh produce and try not to overstock as you could end up throwing it out at the WA border.


Fill up your water tanks

One thing we noticed on the way is that water fill points are few and far between. Luckily we filled up all of our tanks prior to departure which managed to get us through ans we recommend you do the same. Fill up your tanks or if you don’t have a large tank capacity, it would be worth buying some spare large bottles or tanks from the supermarket.


Fuel prices

There are plenty of fuel stops along the way, but the prices can vary A LOT. We noticed prices from around $2 to upwards of $2.90 when we crossed. So be sure to top up whenever the prices are in the lower range to help you avoid needing to cough up later down the track.


CzechAusOut at the Nullarbor Roadhouse


Cook pre-prepared meals

Along with you recommendation for stocking up on groceries, we recommend to plan your meals and pre-cook all of the raw produce prior to crossing the border as cooked foods are allowed, but a lot of raw produce will need to be chucked out. The day before we crossed the border, we cooked up everything we could to avoid wastage.


Gift plants to people in SA

Another thing that can’t go across the border with you is plants. WA has strict regulations when it comes to produce and plants/soil crossing the border so to avoid having to throw your plants out, perhaps you can gift them to someone in SA. Better to see them go to a nice home, than the bottom of a bin!


No mobile phone service

Be prepared for no cell service for the majority of the road trip. For us, this was actually a nice change, but it can prove to be difficult if you do not have an alternative solution. As we have the Starlink satellite internet, we were able to connect on working days and overnight stops, but for those that do not have another solution, be sure to download music, podcasts, movies etc before departing so you have something to listen to along the way or at night. Or, just use it as a good excuse to unplug for a few days.





Download offline maps

No cell service also means that using your mobile map apps won’t be possible. We use Google maps which has a feature where you can download sections of maps to your phone and use them when you are offline. Whilst the road across is very well signposted and mostly along the same road, it is handy to have maps with you in the odd occasion you might veer from the planned road or need to know exactly how far the next fuel stop or overnight camp is.


Dog precautions

If you are travelling with a furry friend, be sure to pick up a muzzle and special tic collar (speak to your vet) as WA have some heavily baited areas and a tic problem that the standard monthly chews won’t help with.


Drive carefully and rest often

Nullarbor is Latin for ‘No trees’ so much of the drive will be flat, somewhat boring plains, so make sure you stay alert and rest when needed along the way. There are plenty of rest stops so don’t push yourself too hard.



The Nullarbor Roadhouse is a must-see


Enjoy it

Stop in at the historic Roadhouse, camp on the edge of Australia at the Bunda Cliffs and soak up the vast barren landscape or play a round on the world’s longest golf course along the way. Make the most of this unique trip!



Sunset at the Bunda Cliffs

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