Port Augusta

Port Augusta is located 68 kilometres northeast of Iron Knob and 300 kilometres north of Adelaide.

In 1802, the English navigator Matthew Flinders first explored Spencer Gulf's northern waters as far north as Redbanks - near present day Port Augusta. In common with other explorers of the time, Flinders explored the Port Augusta area hoping to penetrate the heart of the Australian continent. At the time such expeditions were mounted with the view of discovering a large navigable river or vast inland sea. Flinders was disappointed on both counts however. The legendary inland sea did in fact once exist, but basically Flinders was 120 million years too late. Having discovered no supplies of fresh water in the Port Augusta area Flinders then departed to complete his epic circumnavigation of the Australian continent.

By 1852 South Australian colonists had settled in Port Augusta and the town soon became a thriving commercial centre and port, serving the needs of pastoralists in the truly vast hinterlands to the north. For a time wool exports were the mainstay of Port Augusta's economy with many London sailing clippers bearing cargoes to English wool mills.

By the 1870s wheat had overtaken wool as Port Augusta's chief export. Early promises of a thriving wheat industry proved illusory however. Rainfall was too unreliable and the area was subject to frequent droughts. The area soon resorted to its previous pastoral activities.

1877 saw the completion of the Overland Telegraph line that linked Australia's eastern states to Perth. In the scheme of things Port Augusta played a crucial role as a major repeater station for the telegraphy network. With the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway in 1917 Port Augusta began to assume the role of a pivotal transport hub.

Today Port Augusta's unique geographic position sees it as a major service centre for travellers and freight trucks crossing the Nullarbor. In many respects Port Augusta is also the southern gateway to the Northern Territory. Travellers heading north can do so via the Stuart Highway. An alternate means of transport is to take a more leisurely journey via the "Ghan" rail service which was extended from Alice Springs to Darwin in 2003.

During the construction of the Ghan's extension to Darwin, Port Augusta played a major support role in the development of this landmark project. Just for the record, the Australian Government originally committed itself to completing the Adelaide to Darwin rail link in 1913. It finally opened 91 years later, in 2004.

Since February 2004 the Ghan has run as a regular service - today operated by Journey Beyond - linking Adelaide through to Alice Springs, and beyond to Darwin. From the traveler's viewpoint this railway project certainly was a long time coming, but it has been well worth the wait. The newly extended "Ghan" railway line has proven itself to be one of the world's great train journeys. Journey Beyond also operates the Indian Pacific train service which runs from Sydney and Adeaide, through to Port Augusta, and across the Nullarbor to the Western Australian Goldfieds and Perth. The Indian Pacific runs regular services across the Nullarbor, and we reckon that's definitely travelling the Nullarbor in fine style!

Port Augusta Accommodation

Port Augusta is well served by numerous hotels, motels and caravan parks.

On the western side of Port Augusta is the Standpipe Golf Motor Inn at 3/5 Daw Street - phone (08) 8642 4033. Also on the western side is Comfort Inn & Suites Augusta Westside at 3 Loudon Road - phone (08) 8642 2488. Motel Poinsettia is at 24 Burgoyne Street - phone (08) 8642 2411.

Both of the caravan parks below are on the western side of Spencer Gulf. Discovery Parks - Port Augusta is on the corner of Highway One and Stokes Terrace, with a swimming pool, playground and barbecues - phone (08) 8647 2700. The Shoreline Caravan Park is on Gardiner Avenue, right next to Spencer Gulf - phone (08) 8642 2965.

Port Augusta Shopping Facilities

Port Augusta's main shopping district is located on Tassie Street and Commercial Road. Both Coles and Woolworths supermarkets can be found in the area.

EFTPOS and banking facilities are readily available within Port Augusta.

Transport

Stateliner coaches link Port Augusta with Adelaide and with Eyre Peninsula towns such as Port Lincoln, Streaky Bay and Ceduna. In Port Augusta they stop at the Puma service station on Highway One, and the Wadlata Outback Centre is the Stateliner agent. For timetables and bookings see stateliner.com.au or phone 1300 851 345.

Fuel and Mechanical Repairs

Port Augusta is well served with an abundance of Roadhouses and fuel outlets on both the eastern and western approaches to town. A favoured rest stop for freight trucks crossing the Nullarbor is the BP Truckstop at 7 Augusta Highway, on the eastern side of Port Augusta. It is open 24 hours, with meals, takeaway food and showers.

If your vehicle is in need of mechanical repairs Port Augusta is the place to do them. Spare parts are readily available and prices are competitive - certainly when compared to remote areas of the Nullarbor and outback areas of Central Australia. For roadside assistance call the RAA on 13 11 11.

Port Augusta Tourist Information

Wadlata Outback Centre is Port Augusta's main tourist information centre. Within the centre are displays covering such themes as the aboriginal dreamtime, early exploration and European settlement of the Port Augusta region, mining activities in South Australia's far north, the Flinder's Ranges and the outback environment. Wadlata Outback Centre is located on 41 Flinders Terrace - on the south side of the Eyre Highway. For further information phone (08) 8641 9193.

Port Augusta Attractions

Located on the western side of Spencer Gulf is the Water Tower Lookout. Port Augusta's Water Tower Lookout offers sweeping views to the east, overlooking Spencer Gulf and the town centre. Originally built in 1882, the water tower provided Port Augusta's residents with a gravity fed water supply. The Water Tower Lookout is accessed by turning off the Eyre Highway at Bond Street, and the turning left into Mitchell Street. Don't forget to bring your camera.

Port Augusta is also home to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden. For the traveller the Arid Lands Garden displays an unusual mix of native bush and selected plantings of unique desert flora. Native plant enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate Australia's largest collection of Eremophila species. These species of plants are highly adapted to arid areas and are only grown in more temperate areas of australia with great difficulty. The Arid Lands Botanic Garden is at 144 Stuart Highway, on the northwestern side of Port Augusta - phone (08) 8641 9116 for opening hours.

Also located within Port Augusta is The Royal Flying Doctor Service. Port Augusta is a base for the Flying Doctor, which serves the healthcare needs of people living in Australia's outback.

Port Augusta also runs a School of the Air. This educational facility aims to serve the educational needs of outback children. In the School of the Air two way radio communication serving as an all important medium of instruction for outback school children. It is a working school rather than a visitor attraction.

For railway enthusiasts, the Pichi Richi Railway runs historic trains in the Flinders Ranges, many of them steam-hauled. Its Afghan Express is a full-day return trip from Port Augusta Railway Station to the historic town of Quorn, and the half-day Pichi Richi Explorer runs from Quorn.

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.

For those boys who like their toys Pichi Richi historic rail services come highly recommended. For timetables and bookings visit pichirichirailway.org.au or phone 1800 777 245.

Nullarbor Net Travel Tips

If you are driving through Western Australia or South Australia it pays to check on fuel prices. In remote areas such as the Nullarbor prices can be upto 30% dearer than in Australian capital cities. For South Australia, the state government's fuel prices page links to real-time prices for every service station on the RAA app and website - you don't need to be an RAA member. If you will be driving within Western Australia Fuel Watch also has an excellent and regularly updated website covering prices in metropolitan and country areas of the state.

Port Augusta: common questions

Is there 24-hour fuel at Port Augusta?

Yes - the BP Truckstop at 7 Augusta Highway, on the eastern side of town, is open 24 hours, with meals, takeaway food and showers.

What caravan parks are in Port Augusta?

Discovery Parks - Port Augusta, on the corner of Highway One and Stokes Terrace - phone (08) 8647 2700 - and the Shoreline Caravan Park on Gardiner Avenue - phone (08) 8642 2965. Both are on the western side of Spencer Gulf.

Where is the next fuel heading west from Port Augusta?

There is no fuel at Iron Knob. The next fuel on the Eyre Highway is at Kimba, 156 km west, where the Shell roadhouse is open 6 am to 9 pm and has a card-and-note fuel vending pump for after hours.

Where is the tourist information centre in Port Augusta?

The Wadlata Outback Centre at 41 Flinders Terrace - phone (08) 8641 9193. It is also the Stateliner coach agent.

Is there a train from Port Augusta to Quorn?

Yes - the Pichi Richi Railway's Afghan Express runs a full-day return trip from Port Augusta Railway Station to Quorn. Book at pichirichirailway.org.au or on 1800 777 245.

Checked in October 2026 against each business's current listing and the town's community website. Hours and facilities can change, so phone ahead before relying on them. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.