Nullarbor Campsites: SA Border to Ceduna
September 18th 2006 12:05
By the time you reach the WA/SA Border you're over halfway to the next town - Ceduna. Make the most of this last 500-plus kms of remote Aussie highway at the best campsites...
WA/SA Border Village - "Village" is a bit of a misleading term for this roadhouse but the campsite has nice shady trees and sandy soil. There is a covered area with a woodfire BBQ. Keep the doors to the toilets and you're tent shut to avoid unwanted visits from snakes.
Lookout (12-13kms from Border Village) - enjoy fantastic views over the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. This is one of the few sheltered lookouts/rest areas so is popular with campers despite the fact that there aren't really any facilities.
Rest Area (80-81kms) left hand side - there is quite a bit of bush to shelter in and a comfy table and chair. It seems to be a favourite spot with motorists needing a dump so watch out for those dodgy looking tissues.
Parking Area (104-106kms) right hand side - there were no official signs to mark this as a parking area but it shouldn't be too hard to find as it is one of the few spots where there is enough bush to camp in. It seemed like it was being "rehabilitated" as there was a big pile of gravel out front. The soil here is soft and sandy and it is much more sheltered here than at the lookout 5kms further.
Nullarbor Hotel/Motel (183-184kms) - popular with caravanners desperate to catch up on their soaps using the satellite TV connection here. Also popular with dingoes which are reputedly bold enough to bite through tents for food. Camp under the trees, it's gravel and you'll need to kick away some dog turds, but it is pleasant enough.
Yalata Rest Area (220kms) - the next 148kms from the Nullarbor Hotel to Nundroo is through Aboriginal land. Stick to rest areas if you must camp here rather than trespassing on Aboriginal land. There is a good one under 40kms from the Nullarbor which will lessen your next day's mileage considerably. It has a table, some trees and a pit toilet with a view just over the fence. There is another rest area some 30-35kms further on the left hand side but it is much more exposed to the road. NOTE! The Yalata Roadhouse has closed indefinitely. I heard this was because the building came from Maralinga and was made of decomposing asbestos.
Nundroo Roadhouse (331-334kms) - Wow! Grass! There's glass in it but who's complaining? Get in early to shower as there are only two. Get more greenery in the roadhouse - fresh steamed brocolli never tasted so good.
Penong (409-412kms) - are we there yet? This campsite is run by a friendly lady with stories of every cyclist that's ever darkened her door. There is a massive shed with a TV and table at one end and nice clean showers toilets. The surface is hard, bright white crushed quartz and is very very hard to drive a tent peg into.
Next stop - Ceduna - where you can choose from at least three Caravan Parks.
WA/SA Border Village - "Village" is a bit of a misleading term for this roadhouse but the campsite has nice shady trees and sandy soil. There is a covered area with a woodfire BBQ. Keep the doors to the toilets and you're tent shut to avoid unwanted visits from snakes.
Camping @ Border Village, Nullarbor, Australia
Lookout (12-13kms from Border Village) - enjoy fantastic views over the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. This is one of the few sheltered lookouts/rest areas so is popular with campers despite the fact that there aren't really any facilities.
Camper goes to toilet @ Nullarbor Lookout
Rest Area (80-81kms) left hand side - there is quite a bit of bush to shelter in and a comfy table and chair. It seems to be a favourite spot with motorists needing a dump so watch out for those dodgy looking tissues.
Parking Area (104-106kms) right hand side - there were no official signs to mark this as a parking area but it shouldn't be too hard to find as it is one of the few spots where there is enough bush to camp in. It seemed like it was being "rehabilitated" as there was a big pile of gravel out front. The soil here is soft and sandy and it is much more sheltered here than at the lookout 5kms further.
EG of unsheltered lookout on Nullarbor
Nullarbor Hotel/Motel (183-184kms) - popular with caravanners desperate to catch up on their soaps using the satellite TV connection here. Also popular with dingoes which are reputedly bold enough to bite through tents for food. Camp under the trees, it's gravel and you'll need to kick away some dog turds, but it is pleasant enough.
Yalata Rest Area (220kms) - the next 148kms from the Nullarbor Hotel to Nundroo is through Aboriginal land. Stick to rest areas if you must camp here rather than trespassing on Aboriginal land. There is a good one under 40kms from the Nullarbor which will lessen your next day's mileage considerably. It has a table, some trees and a pit toilet with a view just over the fence. There is another rest area some 30-35kms further on the left hand side but it is much more exposed to the road. NOTE! The Yalata Roadhouse has closed indefinitely. I heard this was because the building came from Maralinga and was made of decomposing asbestos.
Nundroo Roadhouse (331-334kms) - Wow! Grass! There's glass in it but who's complaining? Get in early to shower as there are only two. Get more greenery in the roadhouse - fresh steamed brocolli never tasted so good.
Penong (409-412kms) - are we there yet? This campsite is run by a friendly lady with stories of every cyclist that's ever darkened her door. There is a massive shed with a TV and table at one end and nice clean showers toilets. The surface is hard, bright white crushed quartz and is very very hard to drive a tent peg into.
Next stop - Ceduna - where you can choose from at least three Caravan Parks.
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