Crossing the Nullarbor: The Complete Guide

Crossing the Nullarbor is one of Australia's great road trips: about 1,200 kilometres of the Eyre Highway between Norseman in Western Australia and Ceduna in South Australia, with the treeless Nullarbor Plain, the Bunda Cliffs and the Great Australian Bight along the way. The road is sealed the whole way and an ordinary family car will manage it — but the distances between help are long, so it pays to plan. This page puts everything you need in one place, with links to the detail.

The Nullarbor at a glance

The route

The Nullarbor crossing proper runs from Norseman to Ceduna. There are no towns in between — just roadhouses, plus the small settlements at Eucla and Border Village on the state border. Either side, most people drive the Goldfields (Perth, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie) or Esperance in the west, and the Eyre Peninsula to Port Augusta and Adelaide in the east.

Day-by-day plans: Perth to Adelaide, Melbourne to Perth and Sydney to Perth. For distances from every capital city, use the Western Australia and Eastern Australia trip planners.

How long does it take?

Norseman to Ceduna takes two long days at the very least, but three is far more comfortable and leaves time for the Bunda Cliffs and the Head of Bight. Perth to Adelaide is about four long driving days at a minimum; five or six is a relaxed pace. Common overnight stops are Cocklebiddy and Nullarbor Roadhouse (three days), or Mundrabilla (two days). How many days to cross the Nullarbor has sample plans.

Fuel

There are 13 fuel stops between Norseman and Ceduna, from 12 to 191 kilometres apart. The three longest gaps are Norseman to Balladonia (191 km), Border Village to Nullarbor Roadhouse (186 km) and Balladonia to Caiguna (182 km). Fill up whenever you pass fuel, expect to pay more than in the cities, and if you might drive after dark remember that heading east there's no 24-hour fuel between Norseman and Madura. The fuel stops and distances page has every stop, the gaps and which ones sell fuel around the clock.

Quarantine

Heading west you'll be checked at the WA border beside Border Village; heading east, at Ceduna. The simple rule: don't carry fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or honey across either border. Shop for the crossing, not the week. The quarantine rules page lists exactly what each state allows.

Time zones

Clocks change twice. Western Australia runs on Western time; from just east of Caiguna to Border Village the roadhouses keep their own unofficial Central Western (“Eucla”) time, 45 minutes ahead of Perth; and South Australia runs on Central time, with daylight saving in summer. Heading east in summer you lose two and a half hours. Your phone won't switch to Eucla time, so check roadhouse hours carefully in that stretch — see Nullarbor time zones.

Driving safely

• Don't drive at dawn, dusk or night. Kangaroos, wombats, emus, camels and stock are most active then, and hitting one is one of the most common ways a crossing ends early.
• Rest before you're tired. Long, flat, straight roads like the 90 Mile Straight are hard on concentration. Stop often and share the driving.
• Give road trains and wide loads room. Big trucks use the highway day and night. Wide loads are preceded by pilot cars with “Wide Load” signs — be ready to slow down and move over. Only overtake where you can see well ahead.
• Carry a full spare and know how to change it. A tow truck or replacement tyre can be a long way off.
• Watch for the airstrips. Some wide sections of the highway are Royal Flying Doctor Service emergency airstrips, with runway markings painted on the road.

Phones, water and emergencies

Mobile coverage is patchy: expect signal near the roadhouses and long stretches with none in between. Telstra reaches further than other networks. Carry more drinking water than you think you need — at least several litres per person — plus food, in case you break down in the heat. For emergencies call 000. For side trips off the highway, a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is worth considering. See phone coverage and emergencies.

Accommodation

Most roadhouses have motel rooms and caravan sites, and there are camping areas along the highway. Rooms on the remote stretch between Norseman and Border Village can fill up with travellers and work crews, so book well ahead where possible — especially in school holidays and the whale season. Phone numbers are on each town page. Camping or towing? See free camps and rest areas and towing a caravan.

When to go

You can cross at any time of year. Summer can bring days well over 40°C, so carry extra water and plan for the heat; winter nights are cold. Between June and October, Southern Right Whales calve below the cliffs at the Head of Bight — for many people the highlight of the trip. See best time to cross for month-by-month weather and live forecasts.

What to see on the way

• The Bunda Cliffs — limestone cliffs up to 120 metres high along the Great Australian Bight, with lookouts off the highway.
• Head of Bight — Southern Right Whales, June to October.
• The 90 Mile Straight — Australia's longest straight road.
• Nullarbor Links — the world's longest golf course, one hole at a time along the highway.
• Eucla — the old telegraph station in the sand dunes.
• Cactus Beach — the famous surf break near Penong.
• Edward John Eyre and Wylie — the story of the first European crossing in 1841.

Common questions

How long is the Nullarbor crossing?

About 1,206 km on the Eyre Highway from Norseman to Ceduna, and about 2,700 km from Perth to Adelaide.

Is the road sealed? Do I need a 4WD?

The Eyre Highway is sealed the whole way, and an ordinary car is fine. You only need a 4WD for tracks off the highway.

Where's the longest stretch without fuel?

Norseman to Balladonia, 191 km. If your vehicle can't comfortably do 250 km on a tank with a margin to spare, carry a jerry can. See fuel stops.

Can I cross in an electric car?

Yes, but it takes more planning than a petrol or diesel car. See EV charging on the Nullarbor.

Can I take fruit across the border?

Not fresh fruit, in either direction. See the quarantine rules.

Distances, fuel hours and rules on this site were checked in September and October 2026. Roadhouses change hands and hours change often out here, so phone ahead before relying on them. Spotted something out of date? Please let us know.