nullarbor straight road

Photo credit, Many consider crossing the Nullarbor Plain a long and boring trek that should be travelled as quickly as possible. Spanning 1660 kilometres from the east to west coast of Australia, it is the centrepiece of the Nullarbor Plain; a sandy, flat, treeless desert region. Slight bends aside, the motorway boasts a 31-mile dead straight stretch from … Nullarbor East To West – 90 Mile Straight, Balladonia, Norseman The Nullarbor Plain stretches across the bottom of Australia. The Nullarbor Plain road’s official name is actually the Eyre Highway. The longest stretch of dead straight road – 1675 kilometres – anywhere in the world… straight across the Nullarboring Plain (as my ten-year-old son calls it). Want healthy goodies + wellness inspiration sent straight to your inbox? The line operated for about 50 years before being superseded, and remnants of it remain visible. Other places of interest along the way include Newman and Afghan Rocks near Balladonia, the Eyre Bird Observatory, the famous Cocklebiddy Cave, the view from Madora Pass, whale watching at the head of the bight, several sink holes and blowhole, to mention just a few. The most iconic stretch of Eyre Highway is the 90 Mile Straight. Stop 1: See sculptures at Lake Ballard. (function() { All Rights Reserved. Our muscles felt sore from the hours of sitting, prompting us to get out of the car at least every hour or two for a quick stretch. 4hr | 415km. It then travels along the Southern Bight, and eventually turns inland into WA’s bushland. Here’s Why, PODCAST | How To Start Eating With Intention with Cassandra Bodzak, The Ultimate Guide To Protein (A Dietitian Explains), Best Free Guided Meditations To Get You Zen & Thriving, Importance Of Amino Acids And Food Sources, 6 Best Instagram Accounts To Follow For Fitness Inspiration In 2016, Yin Yoga For The Liver & Gall Bladder Meridians, How To Prioritise Your Health When You’re Short On Time, Chinese Cupping: How It Works and Why You Should Try It. Photo credit, Eastern end of the Nullarbor Plain. From August 1897 to 1898, Henri Gilbert walked thousands of kilometres in 40 degree heat to become the first non-indigenous person to cross the Nullarbor on foot. } Australian wildlife crossing sign. forms: { The camels came courtesy of the Afghans who brought them out during the gold rush days of the 1800’s. As you can see, Eucla Roadhouse, 40 minutes east of Mundrabilla, is one of the more modern … The Nullarbor Plain, like the Sahara, has a rich history of attempted crossings. Eucla. With no hills or lakes to obstruct, the highway was laid down as a straight road that runs for 1,675 km from Port Augusta in the east to Norseman in the west, and includes what is said to be the longest straight stretch of road in the world Australia: 145.6 kilometres, between the small roadhouse communities of Balladonia and Caiguna (the longest straight road in the world is Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia, which is 162 miles long). By now, you knew that Nullarbor hosts Australia's longest straight road. 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Along the way are various scenic sights such as the spectacular Bunda Cliffs, which drop vertically for 100 metres or more off the plain into the Southern Ocean waters of the Great Australian Bight. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { One man drives across the vast and barren landscape of Australia’s Nullarbor Plain, which has the longest stretch of straight road in the world. Photo credit, A section of the Eyre Highway as viewed from an airplane. Local flora and fauna. With road train and sign for an emergency airstrip for the Flying Doctors of. Photo credit, Sources: Wikipedia / Mike on Bike / www.cmca.net.au. Crossing the Nullarbor, for many Australians, has become the quintessential experience of the "Australian Outback". Crossing the Nullarbor is a pilgrimage of sorts; the long straight road that connects the east to the west is one that everyone should take on. © Amusing Planet, 2021. Have you travelled the Nullarbor, or are you planning to? https://atravellersfootsteps.com/driving-across-the-nullarbor Mundrabilla: Another … Seeking payback, he goes after the old codger. Panorama of a straight road through the nullarbor of Australia. Because of its remoteness, some sections of the Highway serve as emergency airstrips for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. If you’ve got a day to … We camped at the Balladonia Roadhouse for one night before we headed for the Nullarbor Plain, the longest straight road in Australia. Day trip to Lake Ballard. Drive from Caiguna Roadhouse 65 kilometres (40 miles)… That’s Eyre Highway, the road that connects Western Australia to Southern Australia via the Nullarbor Plain, a flat and treeless, giant bed of limestone 200,000 square kilometres in area. Once Eyre had proved that a link between South Australia and Western Australia was possible, efforts to connect them via telegraph began. Crossing the Nullarbor near 90 mile straight. As a school kid I envisioned it as a cross between the Great Sandy Desert and the Sahara desert, with giant sand hills and no civilisation for thousands of kilometres. The Nullarbor Plain lives up to its name, from the Latin for "no trees." Join our mailing list to get them direct to your inbox. } on: function(evt, cb) { There is nothing but signs for kangaroos, camels, wallabies, and of course countless trees and bushes. You will also encounter the Dingo fence, claimed to be the longest fence in the world, that runs beside the Eyre Highway for a short distance. A sport utility vehicle like a Chevrolet Equinox or Ford Expedition is built to handle rough terrain with ease and will manage these rough patches, but pack an emergency car kit just in case. Most importantly, you’ll need a dependable vehicle, and an emergency car kit is essential. Home of Australia's holistic health collective. The Eyre Highway also has the longest straight road in the country with 146km of dead straight bitumen that is called the 90 Mile Straight. } It's FREE! Eyre Highway can be best described as a long and lonely road. This section lies almost entirely on the Nullarbor Plain. It is a dead straight track for a distance of 477 KM. These airstrips are signposted and have runway "piano keys" painted on the road, and turnaround bays for small aircraft. Lots of native Australian wildlife consisting of kangaroos, wombats, emus, rabbits, wedge tail eagles and camels. And there’s a lot more to the Nullarbor than a drive across the land of no trees – epic coastlines, quirky pubs and colourful characters await. The world's longest straight railway track runs across the Nullarbor Plain. Caiguna: The town at the other end of the almost 150km straight stretch. Your email address will not be published. (Inspired by the Google Street View car) Since 1976, the Eyre Highway is a fully sealed road and in many places runs alongside the original gravel track which was pushed through this vast outback region back in the 1940s. The region is a spectacle to behold, and thanks to modern technology, with proper planning you can can see it all safely and comfortably. Sure enough when we pulled into the parking bay our water and food parcel were there, clearly marked (to us) behind a tree. Now that you know the facts, it is time to start planning: At 146.6km long, it’s the longest straight stretch of road in Australia (and amongst the most boring), with the sign worthy of a photo break. Photo credit. The most iconic stretch of Eyre Highway is the 90 Mile Straight. He endured much hardship, apparently describing the plain as “a hideous anomaly, a blot on the face of Nature, the sort of place one gets into in bad dreams”, and survived the year-long expedition by eating lizards and wringing moisture from roots. Share your tips and experiences in the comment section below. Straight Road Through The Nullarbor Dessert Of Australia At Sunset, South Australia, Australia Stock Image - Image of beautiful, green: 162170989 Stock Photos Editorial A set of road signs just west of the Nullarbor Roadhouse, South Australia, warning of camels, wombats and kangaroos crossing the Eyre Highway for the next 96 km in a westerly direction. It was a special night for all of us and that same local greeted us with open arms and entertained us with fascinating stories of his home. The name ‘Nullarbor Plain’ exudes a certain air of mystery and compel. Because of its length and geography, travelling across the Nullarbor Plain on Eyre Highway is the quintessential outback road trip. The plain spans two Australian states, broken only by the Eyre Highway that is the main part of an Adelaide to Perth road trip. It then crosses the top of the Eyre Peninsula as it continues eastwards for 470 kilometres (290 mi), before reaching Port Augusta. The Nullarbor Plain, with the longest stretch of straight road in Australia, is something you learn about in primary school geography and is famous in Aussie folklore. Travelling across the Nullarbor Plain on Eyre Highway is the most Australian road trip you can take. The Nullarbor is ninety miles long and as we had been warned prior, there is nothing there. Eyre’s successful crossing inspired many to follow his footsteps, including Arthur Charles Jeston Richardson, who became the first cyclist to cross the Nullarbor Plain in 31 days in 1896 and Henri Gilbert, the first person to walk across Australia, crossed the Nullarbor Plain on foot, with no support team or stock. The Flinders Ranges is a unique part of the world. "Australia's Longest Straight Road, 145.6 km," a sign announces. The first European to cross the Plain was English explorer Edward John Eyre in June 1841. { Best time to explore the Nullarbor Plain. For comprehensive on-line travel guide to driving across the Nullarbor … Madura: A stop famous for the natural blowholes of the Madura Pass scenic lookout, and a sprawling sheep station. Eyre Highway is an asphalted highway in Australia, with a length of 1.675km (1,041mi), linking Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. This road crosses the Nullarbor, a limestone cleft that covers 77,000 square miles. 1hr 28min sped up into 5 minutes.Boards of Canada - Julie and Candy.Apple iPhone 4. It is signposted, so it’s well worth getting out of the car for a photo at this point! Did you also know that Nullarbor hosts the World's longest straight railway track? 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Also be prepared to camp one or two nights at either a campsite or roadside motel. So when considering what to bring, food, extra clothing and lots of water is essential. The word Nullarbor comes from the Latin ‘Nullus’ and ‘Arbor’ meaning ‘no trees.’ The Aboriginal word for this plain is ‘Oondiri’ meaning ‘the waterless.’ The average annual rainfall for the area is about 8 inches. While much of Eyre Highway is smooth sailing, some parts – especially near Norseman – have been given one and two star safety ratings. While in the East you still find some towns like Kimba, Wudinna and Ceduna, the western three quarters is almost devoid of life. Located between Balladonia and Caiguna, it runs for 146 kilometres without turning, and is considered the longest straight section of road in all of Australia. In 1877, after two years of labour, the first messages were sent on the new telegraph line, boosted by eight repeater stations along the way. Nullarbor Cliffs, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia. It was a long straight road with not much scenery but the winds weren’t too bad. {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Online Nullarbor Travel Guide. Eyre Highway is the only sealed road linking the states of Western Australia and South Australia, running east from Norseman in Western Australia for 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) across the Nullarbor Plain to Ceduna, South Australia. Balladonia: A simple roadhouse stop found at the start of Australia’s longest stretch of straight road. The Australian outback is 6.5 million square kilometres consisting of sand, rocks and the legendary Eyre Highway. Long straight roads (the straightest section is around 146km/91mi). With no hills or lakes to obstruct, the highway was laid down as a straight road that runs for 1,675 km from Port Augusta in the east to Norseman in the west, and includes what is said to be the longest straight stretch of road in the world Australia: 145.6 kilometres, between the small roadhouse communities of Balladonia and Caiguna (the longest straight road in the world is Highway 10 in Saudi … The section of road between Balladonia and Caiguna stretches for 146.6 kilometres (91.1 miles) without turning. Although petrol stations are plentiful along the highway, bringing extra fuel is a good idea if you`re planning on branching off on roads less travelled. Australia’s longest straight road on the Nullarbor road trip. This is how Eyre Highway looks, for most of the distance. Photo credit, The spectacular Bunda Cliff (more pictures here). Get a round-up of all our stories published during the past week delivered to your email every Saturday. It had it all. Photo credit, An occasional bend on encounters along the way. Spread throughout the length of the highway at approximately 200 km to 300 km apart are roadhouses providing basic services such as fuel, food, refreshments, accommodation and repairs, but not all are open 24 hours. Want more guidance & goodies to help you live naturally and in epic wellness? It is also known as 300 Mile Straight. Before Eyre Highway was completed in 1942, the area had to be crossed on foot or by bike. I only know of one road in the world that officially advertises its boring-ness: the Eyre Highway across Australia’s Nullarbor Plain includes a stretch called the “90-Mile Straight.” “Australia’s Longest Straight Road, 145.6 km,” a sign announces. Eyre Highway is part of the National Highway route between Perth and Adelaide, and also forms part of Australia's Highway 1. A dependable vehicle, and website in this browser for the next time I.! 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