In many ways, the Nullarbor is Australia’s ultimate family road trip. It captures so much of what Australia is celebrated for; nowhere else are wildlife and landscapes equal parts heavenly and hostile. It’s also a destination where it pays to be prepared – this part of Australia is the genuine Wild West! So, below, we’ve put together a short guide to help prepare you for the journey ahead.
Preparatory planning
With so many natural sights to see and hours to manage driving, planning a rough itinerary is the best way to help you navigate the adventure while seeing as much as you can. This way, you can plan your accommodation and book ahead, or if you’re camping, you can book your campsites in advance.
Second to planning your itinerary is investing in domestic travel insurance that will keep you covered should anything happen. While you’re staying in your own car (most likely), this is even more important than during trips with flights because there is a lot that can go wrong with your vehicle. There are many different terrains, weather conditions and wildlife you’ll encounter along the journey, and navigating new territory increases the driving risk and the necessity for travel insurance.
Check your vehicle
It’s one thing to feel ready to cross the Nullarbor; it’s another to know your vehicle is ready. The Nullarbor’s remoteness is its greatest appeal and gravest danger; breaking down without another vehicle in sight is an experience you want to avoid at all costs.
Take the right precautions to get your car Nullarbor-ready, like having it thoroughly serviced, consider getting new tires and repairing every niggling issue you’ve been putting off. If you plan to stray from the bitumen in a 4WD or a caravan, you should also load up with essential safety gear.
Also, be honest with yourself about whether your beloved vehicle is the right one to make this trip. You don’t need to be a driving enthusiast to know a Land Cruiser will fare better than a Golf in this environment. If you need to hire the right vehicle, while it might be an upfront expense, it’ll pan out much cheaper than costly repairs and rescue in the Nullarbor.
Pack smart
Next to making sure your vehicle is good to go, fuelling up on enough of the correct supplies is the next task. It’s easy to stuff your boot with things you think you might need, only to touch these things once when you’re looking for something else. Pack smart, and you’ll never feel out of your depth in any situation.
Start with water; at least 10 litres per person. Next, food: enough dry and canned food to feed your family consistently for three to four days. Even though there are fuel stops along the way, carry your own just in case.
If you’re planning on setting up camp instead of stopping in at motels, pack any essential camping item, including warm blankets. Finally, consider entertainment when travelling with kids, such as music playlists, a deck of cards, maybe a Nintendo Switch or two (depending on how well the backseat passengers share). The Nullarbor is dead straight like the horizon; boredom will strike at least one family member, so be prepared.
Which time of year is best?
It all boils down to personal preference. The Nullarbor has a desert climate, which keeps things simple; temperatures range from oppressive summer days to bone-cold winter evenings. If this is your first time driving the Nullarbor, your family might prefer the milder winter days. Just make sure to pack warm layers for after sunset.
The benefit of crossing in the summer is the swimming. The Nullarbor is littered with beaches to suit every water activity, from surfing to fishing to diving and odds are you’ll score a stretch all to yourself.
A few gems to visit along the Nullarbor
Here’s where things can get tricky, in a good way. You’re spoilt for choice navigating the Nullarbor; every highway detour promises natural delights. How many places you visit will depend on the time you have available. And while it’s great to be spontaneous (a memorable road trip demands at least a little of this ingredient), it’s also great to have a few places in mind.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Cactus Beach
You’ll struggle to find a better camping spot in Australia, let alone anywhere else. Cactus Beach is renowned for great surfing, great fishing and great white sharks. Don’t let the locals put you off visiting though; nearby Port Le Hunte has a shark-netted swimming area.
Like everywhere else you stay on this trip, the dawn and dusk will leave you speechless. There’s something magnificent about looking out past the waves and realising that only water separates you from Antarctica.
Bunda Cliffs
A theme of every Nullarbor road trip: long. Which is the Bunda Cliffs in a nutshell. The longest line of sea cliffs in the world, no less. While an aerial view does this stretch true justice (and gives true meaning to the name Australian Bite), its abrupt beauty still holds when you reach it by car.
Just make sure the cliffs are safe to visit. Parts have eroded and collapsed over time, so check in with South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Services beforehand.
Nullarbor Roadhouse
I mean, how can this not be part of your itinerary? Yes, there are roadhouses scattered along this highway, but if you only have time for one, make it the Nullarbor Roadhouse. It’s just so Australian.
It’s also wonderful. Hospitable staff (to balance the sometimes inhospitable weather), delicious food, and a bar with a pool table. After hours on the road, it’ll be exactly what the whole family needs.
Explore the Nullarbor on your Next Aussie Family Road Trip
There are family road trips, and then there is crossing the Nullarbor. Vast and unapologetic, it will test your family (and your vehicle) far more than the annual camping trip down the coast during school holidays. Like any road trip, preparation will pay off in spades. You will hit a snag or two; the Nullarbor is too raw to grant unblemished passage. But it will be worth the bumps. And it will be a trip you remember for a lifetime, for all the right reasons.
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