East of Nullarbor Roadhouse

Nullarbor Roadhouse is located 94 kilometres west of Yalata, 187 kilometres east of Border Village, and 201 kilometres east of Eucla. In 1866 E. Alfred Delisser surveyed the Nullarbor Plain and noted a marked absence of trees. Contrary to some popular opinions the word Nullarbor is not of Aboriginal origins. In fact the local people referred to the area as "Oondiri" which is said to mean "the waterless". Delisser derived the term Nullarbor from the Latin "nulla" for no, and "arbor" for tree. Hence the term Nullarbor meaning no trees. In the 1870s and 1880s vast areas of the Nullarbor were leased to sheep graziers with many sheep stations later being incorporated into the vast Fowler's Bay run that stretched from Streaky Bay in the East to areas even further west of Nullarbor Station - a distance of over 400 kilometres! Today just about all that remains are abandoned homesteads. Koonalda homestead is one such abandoned site that the traveller can visit and use as accommodation, or as a base to explore nearby Koonalda cave and other limestone sinkholes within the area.

Treeless Tracts of the Nullarbor

FACILITIES:

Nullarbor Roadhouse has a full range of facilities for the traveller. Within the complex are a motel with licensed restaurant. The Roadhouse also has 4 rooms suitable as basic backpacker accommodation for a fee of $14-00 per night per person. Attached to the Roadhouse is a caravan park with powered sites. The caravan Park is little more than a fenced off area. Pets are permitted if on a leash. Within the roadhouse are toilet and shower blocks. Showers cost $3-00. Laundry facilities are also available with washing machines costing $2-00 and the clothes drier costing $1-00. Nullarbor Roadhouse also sells fuel and take away food.

Mechanical repair facilities are also available. When travelling on the Nullarbor you can expect to pay high prices for fuel and food. Make sure your vehicle is reliable before crossing the Nullarbor as mechanical repairs will be expensive and time consuming - especially if parts have to be freighted in. Transport costs are high this far away from civilisation! Nullarbor Roadhouse is open from 7 am to 11 pm 7 days a week and has EFTPOS facilities available.

THINGS TO DO:

Nullarbor Roadhouse is a staging point for travellers wishing to take in splendid views of the Bunda Cliffs and the Southern Right Whales visiting their winter calving grounds between June and October. Prices for entry to the whale viewing platform are $7-70 for adults, $5-50 for concessions and children under 16 are free. During the non whale watching season entry is by gold coin donation. This money is used to improve the facilities in the area. I would recommend that you don't miss the spectacular views of the Head of Bight at any time of year. For the keen photographer the Bunda cliffs are a must.

Located next to the Roadhouse is an airstrip and during the whale watching season flights are available from $85-00 for a twenty minute flight. 30 minute flights are available for $135-00.

North of Nullarbor Roadhouse are Murrawijinie caves. These limestone caves are open to the public but please take full safety precautions before venturing off the Eyre Highway. 95 kilometres to the west of Nullarbor Roadhouse is the turnoff to the abandoned Koonalda homestead. The abandoned homestead itself is located roughly 20 kilometres north of the Eyre Highway. 10 kilometres further to the north are Koonalda caves. For more information it is recommeded you contact the Ceduna Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on (08) 8625 3144.

The Road Goes on Forever......

  A good time
 Down Under!