Driving to Perth Fuel/ Accomodation Guide

[tonyci]

Hi I am planning to travel along the Eyre highway to Perth in a weeks time.
I am having trouble finding a decent webb link with distances between fuel and accomodation places.
Does anybody know of any good links. Not sure if I need to book places to stay ahead of time or wing it.
Cheers
Tony

[isuzurover]

Fuel is available at the roadhouses: (from East-West)

Nullarbor
Border Village
Eucla (best campsite on the Nullarbor)
Mundrabilla (cheap(er) fuel)
Madura
Cocklebiddy
Caiguna
Balladonia (expensive fuel - nice campground though)
Norseman

Accomodation is available there as well - usually either a campsite or donga-style accomodation. There are also roadside camp sites with varying levels of facilities, plus a few places a bit of a drive off the track. We have never booked, but we have always camped).

[87County]

here you go...

Nullarbor Net - Travel Guide Australia (http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/)

Attraction - Tourism Western Australia (http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Nullarbor_Plain/9029901)

a very pleasant drive - give yourself a week or so

did it last February - no issues except the tyres didn't last when we went off road (Caiguna to Esperance via Israelite Bay)

we didn't use any of the accommodation

[Davo]

February? Wasn't it a bit hot? (Or were you still thawing out after NSW? :p)

[Michael2]

The last cheap fuel heading west will be at Penong, 73km west of Ceduna.

The road house accom books up late on the day, as people arrive.

I've found roadside camp spots pretty good.

Only once were things (almost) booked out, that was at Eucla, where our late arrival coincided with the annual golf tournament.

[tonyci]

Michael2 how unlucky can one get? , hitting a golf tournament Eucla.
Tony

[Michael2]

Michael2 how unlucky can one get? , hitting a golf tournament Eucla.
Tony

I know, they have a population of 3, and there were hundreds there!

Eucla's equivalent to the Birdsville Races.

[87County]

February? Wasn't it a bit hot? (Or were you still thawing out after NSW? :p)

Depends on how you strike it, it was a freezing night near Condingup with the southerly wind but we had pleasant weather each day each way really. If the winds are from the desert it can be hot but if they're from the south it's quite good.

[87County]

Michael2 how unlucky can one get? , hitting a golf tournament Eucla.
Tony

The golf course goes the whole way (across the Nullabor) , one hole at every fuel stop.

Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course (http://www.nullarborlinks.com/)

If you are into podcasts this is worth dowloading and listening to each section as you travel it.

Crossing the Nullarbor - ABC West Coast SA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au/eyre/nullarbor/'section=audio)

If you have the time to talk/listen to the locals you'll meet some very interesting characters

[Chookie]

Hi I am planning to travel along the Eyre highway to Perth in a weeks time.
I am having trouble finding a decent webb link with distances between fuel and accomodation places.
Does anybody know of any good links. Not sure if I need to book places to stay ahead of time or wing it.
Cheers
Tony

What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Motel accommodation is very slim pickings and pretty low standard. and most roadhouse caravan parks are just a gravel carpark. Penong Caravan Park was OK. Free camps are good - Jilla Rockhole near Mundribilla is OK and there is a good one just east of Madura Pass (both have Long Drops to keep the women folk happier). Madura Pass caravan park looks impressive but I haven't stayed there. I can highly recommend the Fraser Range Station Caravan Park near Balladonia.
As with most places, get yourself set up before the 3pm Grey Nomad migration halts for the evening ;) or you may miss out on a "good" spot.
All fuel stops are well spaced but seem to alternate between expensive and less expensive so my suggestion is to fuel up at Penong and then fuel up at every second roadhouse to save yourself between 10 -15 c/L.
You may be in for some wicked headwinds so make allowance for that in you fuel consumption especially if you are towing something - we had 60-70 km/h head winds this time of year which really slows you down (relative air speed of 150km/h when you are doing 80Km/h road speed).
Don't fuel up at the BP in Norseman but turn left at the intersection and the Caltex 300m down the road will usually save you another 10c/L.
Definetly stop in at the Head of the Bight at this time of year to see the whales - lots of them right in close.
Great trip and great road.
Cheers
Chookie
'98 300Tdi Disco

[tonyci]

Thanks Chookie
Good tips, I will be in a 110 so head winds will impact fuel consumption.
Was hoping for motel style accommodation (to save unpacking/ packing tent when in transit), but happy to camp.
Whales sound like an added bonus.
Cheers
Tony

[BMKal]

Depending on the timing of your trip across, keep an eye out for a white D4 travelling in the opposite direction. We will be travelling from Kalgoorlie across the paddock and eventually across to Tassie, leaving in just over a week.

Roofrack will be loaded with tent / swag etc so easy to spot. We'll be camping overnight in free roadside stops - as others have said, most of the campgrounds that you pay for are nothing flash (unless you want the luxury of not having to cook for yourself).

If you're on the road at the same time as us, you'll probably have a tail wind. Murphy's law has always meant that I get a head wind when I'm crossing the paddock.

Will definitely be stopping in at the head of the Bight with the camera - so far have never seemed to time it right to catch any whales down there, though have seen them east of Esperance on a couple of occasions (and we get them swimming right up close to the shiploader on Cockatoo Island at the right time of the year).

Enjoy the trip - it's the best time of the year to be doing it, especially if you're camping out.

[tonyci]

Cheers BMKal
Not sure of the exact date we will leave.
We will be in a grey 110.
Cheers
Tony

[LandyAndy]

Depending on the timing of your trip across, keep an eye out for a white D4 travelling in the opposite direction. We will be travelling from Kalgoorlie across the paddock and eventually across to Tassie, leaving in just over a week.

Roofrack will be loaded with tent / swag etc so easy to spot. We'll be camping overnight in free roadside stops - as others have said, most of the campgrounds that you pay for are nothing flash (unless you want the luxury of not having to cook for yourself).

If you're on the road at the same time as us, you'll probably have a tail wind. Murphy's law has always meant that I get a head wind when I'm crossing the paddock.

Will definitely be stopping in at the head of the Bight with the camera - so far have never seemed to time it right to catch any whales down there, though have seen them east of Esperance on a couple of occasions (and we get them swimming right up close to the shiploader on Cockatoo Island at the right time of the year).

Enjoy the trip - it's the best time of the year to be doing it, especially if you're camping out.

Are you escorting the Rebels home Brian????
Andrew

[gavinwibrow]

I drove back west last week. If you are looking for an unreal country cook, call in for dinner at Gawler Ranges Motel/Caravan Park about 200 km east of Ceduna - best food I've had in months (apart from SWAMBO). All advice in this post agreed with.

[Michael2]

Thanks Chookie
Good tips, I will be in a 110 so head winds will impact fuel consumption.
Was hoping for motel style accommodation (to save unpacking/ packing tent when in transit), but happy to camp.
Whales sound like an added bonus.
Cheers
Tony

Hi Tony,

The last time I drove it (last year) I got from Ceduna to Norseman on one tank (Long Range 150 litre tank) in a 300Tdi 110. My TD5 D2a, also travelling with me, had to pick up fuel at the WA Border (standard 90 litre tank).

I was hoping for better economy and a tail wind on the way home, but copped a head wind and I needed to put in a few extra litres at Penong to make Ceduna. Fuel consumption rose to 11.5 litres per 100. Where there aren't many trees, it's a bit hard to gauge wind speed. I suppose if I'd slowed from 105kph to 95kph I could have realised better fuel economy. I didn't feel too bad though after speaking with a guy in a Diesel Patrol, who was towing a very very large van. With the head wind he was using over 30 litres per 100km, and his trip was from Perth to QLD. I think it would have been cheaper for him to dump the van and buy a new one at QLD.

[BMKal]

Are you escorting the Rebels home Brian????
Andrew

Could be an interesting trip. :D

I remember a few years back when I was escorting a wide load from the Granites in the NT to Perth via the Nullarbor, we travelled across with the Ulysses MC Club - they were all coming across to their annual gathering which was in Bunbury that year. Met quite a few very interesting people and saw some impressive bikes (didn't know that Honda Leadwings had air conditioning as an option before that, and it was the first time that I'd ever seen a bike using "reverse" gear).

Was a great trip - and I've since bumped into a few of them again in Tassie when I was down there and they had their annual gathering in the North West of the state. A mate of mine from Kalgoorlie who is a Ulysses member was also in Tassie for this, and we met up with a lot of them at a camping ground in our travels around the state. Great bunch of people to spend a bit of time with. ;)