Nullarbor Net
Nullarbor Roadhouse
East of Nullarbor Roadhouse
Nullarbor Roadhouse is located 94 kilometres west of Yalata, 186 kilometres east of Border Village, and 198 kilometres east of Eucla.
Nullarbor Roadhouse Accommodation and Facilities
Nullarbor Roadhouse has close to a full range of facilities for travelers. Nullarbor Roadhouse sells premium unleaded, unleaded, diesel and Avgas, with 24-hour fuel from a self-serve kiosk. Also sold onsite are take away foods, and I've crossed the Nullarbor memorabilia. Within the complex are motel rooms (ensuite and family units), cabins, powered and unpowered camp sites, a restaurant and a bar, and pet-friendly accommodation is available. Nullarbor Roadhouse also provides travelers with laundry facilities that include washing machines and clothes driers. The shop is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm, the bar from 11.30 am to 9 pm and the restaurant from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. Nullarbor Net recommends Nullarbor Roadhouse and Motel as an overnight stop.
Prices and rates change often out here, so we no longer list them on this page — please phone ahead for current rates. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
The Nullarbor is a remote area and when traveling you can expect to pay high prices for accommodation, 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! Please note Nullarbor Roadhouse DOES NOT have mechanical repair facilities available. Nullarbor Roadhouse is RAA listed for towing. Nullarbor Roadhouse can be contacted on (08) 8625 6271.
Please note that Motel Rooms are fitted with ensuite facilities.
Family Rooms do not have en suite facilities. Some rooms are pet-friendly, but there are only a few, so book ahead if you are travelling with a pet.
For further enquiries please contact (08) 8625 6271. Travellers should note the most current and uptodate accommodation prices can be found on the www.NullarborRoadhouse.com.au website.
Nullarbor Station: How the Roadhouse Began
Nullarbor Roadhouse started life as a sideline on Nullarbor Station, a sheep station on the plain. In 1947 Coral and Elwyn "Scobie" Beattie moved from Penong to Nullarbor Station as station hands. They extended the station's timber and iron building with stone and cement, using old dingo traps and scrap iron to strengthen it.
In 1954 the Beatties were made managers of the station, and soon after they set up a shop selling petrol, food and water to travellers on the dirt road across the plain. The petrol came in 44-gallon drums from Fowlers Bay and was hand-pumped into a gallon measure, then poured into each vehicle. The shop also sold tinned food, cigarettes, biscuits, lollies and cordial. The Beatties left Nullarbor in 1960, but the business they started is still going as Nullarbor Roadhouse. Coral later told the family's story in her book Our Life at Nullarbor.
The road past the station stayed unsealed for years - the last stretch of the Eyre Highway, from Penong to the WA border, wasn't sealed until September 1976. Today the roadhouse has a scale model of the old station and garage, and murals telling the Nullarbor's story. The Nullarbor Links hole at the roadhouse, Dingo's Den, is dedicated to Coral and Scobie Beattie.
How the Nullarbor Got Its Name
In 1866 Edmund 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 Mirning 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 traveler 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
For more about the plain itself - its caves, fossils and meteorites - see The Nullarbor: Anything But Plain.
Attractions near Nullarbor Roadhouse
Southern Right Whales
Nullarbor Roadhouse is a staging point for travelers wishing to take in splendid views of the Bunda Cliffs and Southern Right Whales when visiting their winter calving grounds - generally between June and October. An entry fee applies at the Head of Bight all year round. For keen photographers the Bunda cliffs are a must and Nullarbor Net recommends that you don't miss the spectacular views at the Head of Bight - whatever the time of year.
Whale Watching and Charter Flights
Located next to the Roadhouse is the Nullarbor airstrip. From late June to late September, Chinta Air bases an aircraft at Nullarbor Roadhouse for scenic flights over the Head of the Great Australian Bight. Spectacular aerial views of the Bunda cliffs and nearby sand dune complexes can be expected. Between June and September you can almost be guaranteed observing quite a large number of Southern Right Whales in their winter calving grounds. For further enquiries Chinta Air can be contacted by telephoning (08) 8625 9051 or emailing info@chinta.com.au.
Stunning Clifftop Scenery
West
of Nullarbor Roadhouse travelers can find some of Australia's
best cliff top scenery. As some viewing locations are better than
others we recommend you ask Nullarbor Roadhouse for advice, particularly
if time is an issue. For those of you who are on a camping tour
of Australia there are lots of areas between Nullarbor Roadhouse
and Border Village which offer free camping - that is if you can
endure sleeping under the stars! In summer daily maximum temperatures
can reach over 40 degrees so take plenty of water.
Murrawijinie Caves
North of Nullarbor Roadhouse are the Murrawijinie caves. These limestone caves are open to the public but please take full safety precautions before venturing off the Eyre Highway. Reliable vehicles are necessary and the access road is a fairly rough track. The track is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles, however those of you with brand new vehicles might prefer take in other attractions! It is also recommended you ask Roadhouse staff for precise directions. Situated 10 kilometres north of Nullarbor Roadhouse the site is marked by a large sign. Here visitors will find a large doline - a collapsed cave, along with 2 more caves typical of the Nullarbor's Karst topography. Caves 2 and 3 are the most interesting with Hawks and Swallows using the caves as nesting sites. Temperatures inside the caves can be over 10 degrees cooler than above ground temperatures - especially during summer. Another warning - beware of snakes and be aware that entering caves is not without risk.
Koonalda Homestead
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. For more information it is recommended you contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service office in Ceduna on (08) 8625 3144.
Nullarbor Wildlife
Travelers will occasionally see wild camels roaming the Nullarbor. Always on the move, and particularly during the summer months, herds of wild camels can be seen making tracks from the desert interior to cooler coastal areas. Herds can range from just a few individuals up to 40 or more animals. Pictured below are some specimens of Camelus Dromedarius - otherwise known as the One Humped Camel.
Wild Camels On The Nullarbor
Dingos can also occasionally be seen scavenging for food. If you come across Dingos don't feed them as they are wild creatures and best left to themselves. Whilst on the Nullarbor we've seen Dingos attempting to steal travelers running footware. No doubt such shoes are tasty, but if you value your runners don't leave them about! If I were a dingo I think I'd prefer a can of Pal anyway!
A Dingo near Nullarbor Roadhouse
Nullarbor Net Travel Tips
TRAVEL TIP: When crossing the Nullarbor and points further east or west it is always advisable to check on the opening hours of your next proposed refueling point. This is particularly true if your vehicle has a small fuel tank with limited range. And don't forget to take sufficient drinking water for yourself and any potential radiator problems that your vehicle may have.
The Road Goes on Forever......
Cycling across the Nullarbor is not without its hazards. In particular cyclists are advised to beware of cycling at night and to treat semi trailers with the caution they deserve. For those of you who are seriously into long distance cycling Nullarbor Net recommends you view the Australian Bicycle Camping Fact Sheets site by clicking on the link below. Written by a hard core cyclist, for hard core cyclists, this site offers plenty of practical advice on how to avoid perishing of thirst, how to keep your carbohydrate intake up, how to avoid hazards like semi trailers, and more importantly what to do when the inevitable tyre puncture occurs!
For an alternative guide to riding around Australia check out the guys at The Riders of Oz. The Riders of Oz website has some useful tips for crossing the Nullarbor, everything you need to know about crossing the Nullarbor on your bike - and a couple of entertaining videos.
Nullarbor Roadhouse: common questions
Is fuel available 24 hours at Nullarbor Roadhouse?
Yes - 24-hour fuel from a self-serve kiosk: premium unleaded, unleaded, diesel and Avgas. The shop is open 7 am to 9 pm. See fuel stops.
Does Nullarbor Roadhouse have a caravan park?
Yes - powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites, with hot showers, toilets and a laundry.
What accommodation is there at Nullarbor Roadhouse?
Standard motel rooms with ensuites, and budget motel rooms with shared bathrooms that suit families and groups. Book at nullarborroadhouse.com.au or phone (08) 8625 6271. The restaurant is open 5.30 pm to 8 pm.
Can I bring my dog to Nullarbor Roadhouse?
Some rooms are pet-friendly, but there are only a few - book ahead if you are travelling with a pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Nullarbor Roadhouse?
We don't list prices because they change often. Current rates are on the roadhouse's own website.
How far is Nullarbor Roadhouse from the Head of Bight?
The Head of Bight whale lookout is about 24 km east. From late June to late September, Chinta Air runs scenic flights from the airstrip next to the roadhouse.
Where is Nullarbor Roadhouse?
On the Eyre Highway in SA, 186 km east of Border Village and 94 km west of Yalata. About 1,630 km by road from Perth (via Coolgardie and Norseman) and about 1,070 km from Adelaide.
When did Nullarbor Roadhouse start?
It grew out of Nullarbor Station. Coral and Elwyn "Scobie" Beattie, made station managers in 1954, soon started selling petrol, food and water to passing travellers - the petrol was hand-pumped from 44-gallon drums. See how the roadhouse began.
Checked with the businesses' own websites in October 2026. Hours and facilities can change, so phone ahead before relying on them. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Planning your crossing? Complete crossing guide · The Bunda Cliffs · Fuel stops and distances · How many days to cross · Help and support on the way