19/9/12

We left Ceduna and drove towards Streaky Bay. On the way we stopped firstly at Smokey Bay. There we met a couple from Ormiston in Brisbane and chatted with them for a while. We had a drive around town and were surprised to find a sign that stated the town was established in 1978. Our next stop was at Perlubie Beach/Landing, a fishing settlement with a beachside camping area for $5.00 a night.

We left there and drove the short distance to our planned destination of Streaky Bay. We stopped at a beachside park and had lunch before driving to the caravan park and booking in. The caravan park is right on the beach and looks straight out onto Streaky Bay. After setting up I took the fishing rods off the roof of the car for the first time and sat on the beach and fished all afternoon. The tally at the end of the day was no fish and 5 cans of Emu Export Lager.

We bought fish and chips for tea at the Pelicans Retreat Family Restaurant in the caravan park. After tea Mary-Anne and I had a double ice cream cone each for dessert. What a great life!!!

 

 Smoky Bay

 

 The people of Smoky Bay really obey

council signs

 

 Perlubie Beach

 

 Perlubie beach

 

 Perlubie Beach camping area

 

 Streaky Bay Caravan Park is right on the beach

 

 We are camped about 20 mtrs from the beach

at Streaky Bay

 

 Michael fishing at Streaky Bay

 

 Streaky Bay beach

 

Pelicans waiting expectantly near the fish cleaning hut

18/9/12

We were not in a great hurry to leave Penong as we only had 74kms to travel today to get to Ceduna. Just out of town we had to stop at the Quarantine Checkpoint. The people were good and after a cursory check of our fridges we were on our way again. We stopped at the Visitor Information Centre and got a list of Caravan Parks. Mary-Anne and I bought stickers that confirmed 'We had crossed the Nullarbor'. We tried two parks before deciding on the Big 4 Ceduna Caravan Park.

After setting up we went for a drive through town. It is a very tidy town with lots of flowers and some beautiful Norfolk Island pines. We drove out to Thevenard and we stopped at Pinky Point to have a close look at Murat Bay and the nearby wharf. We followed the coast line back to Ceduna and the caravan park. We decided to use the camp kitchen tonight to cook tea but unfortunately so did about 20 others. We did meet an interesting chap called Andrew who came over for a few drinks after tea. There were a few flashes of lightning and some light rain during the evening but it did not spoil our night.

 Thevenard Port

 

 The tiny lighthouse at Pinky Point, Thevenard

 

 Ceduna Beach from Puckridge Boat Ramp

 

Lovely gardens in Ceduna main street



17/9/12

We left the 222km Peg Rest Area at 8.45am and drove west for 10kms and took the turnoff to the Head of the Bight whale watching area. We paid the local tribe $10.00 grog money each for the privilege. We walked the extensive boardwalk to the top of the cliffs and, with the aid of binoculars, we could see at least 14 mother whales and babies. They were southern right whales and they have been coming to the head of the bight to give birth for thousands of years. It was a very moving experience.

After the whale watching we drove to the Yalata Roadhouse where we were going to have lunch but it was closed down. We drove another few kilometres to the Yalata East Rest Area and had lunch there.

After lunch we crossed the Dingo Fence which is the longest fence in the world. It stretches 5614kms from South Australia through New South Wales to North Queensland and finishes near Stanthorpe.

We stopped at Nundoo Roadhouse and refuelled before continuing on and stopping for the night at the Penong Caravan Park.

 

 The Head of the Bight Visitor Centre

 

 A whale at the Head of the Bight

 

The extensive ramp leading down to the

viewing platform at the Head of the Bight

 

 A mother and calf

 

 The whales look like logs on top of the water

 

 The Great Australian Bight Marine Park

 

Lunch at Yalata East Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

Camping at the Penong Caravan Park

16/9/12

It was fairly cloudy this morning and we were on the road by 8.38am. We drove 12kms to the Mundrabilla Roadhouse. We stopped for photos but not for fuel. Then we drove through beautiful flat country with a low mountain range to our left until the road took a very sweeping left turn towards the range. Then we headed up the Eucla Pass.

We stopped at the Eucla Roadhouse for fuel and walked behind the buildings to take in the view to the coast and the old Eucla Telegraph Office. Then we drove to the memorial called the Travellers Cross and the Eyre Memorial. Edmund John Eyre camped near Eucla in 1841 during his epic crossing of the Nullarbor. Then we drove back down the Range and went to see the Old Eucla Telegraph Station. All the timber work has gone but the stone walls are still intact. Sand has been blown from the surrounding sand hills and has almost covered the building.

Then we drove back up the range and continued for 12kms to the South Australian border. Yes it is true that I did a couple of star jumps on the South Australian side of the border. I was so glad to be out of 'Woostern' Australia I wanted a beer to celebrate.

The road from Eucla followed the coastline closely for a long time and the scenery was beautiful. There were three lookouts where we could view the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight and the beautiful blue water of the Great Southern Ocean. Each was very spectacular.

 At the first lookout Karen nearly got chased by a very fast moving shiny black snake. Luckily for her she didn't see it and got in the car when she was told. That was the first time in our married life she has done what she was told to do. Good timing Karen!

We continued on and stopped for lunch at the 52km Peg Rest Area. Next we stopped at the Nullarbor Roadhouse to use the toilet only. Karen felt guilty about using their facilities without spending any money so she bought me the world’s dearest paddle pop. I got to eat the paddle pop while getting earbashed for two hours about how dear it was. Life is so great in the wilderness!!!!

After leaving the Nullarbor Roadhouse we continued on and stopped for the night at the 222km Peg Rest Area. That night Mary-Anne amused herself by every now and then reminding Karen about the paddle pop.. I could have strangled her!!!

 

 Mundrabilla Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy

 

 Eucla Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy

 

 The Great Australian Bight view from behind

the Eucla Roadhouse

 

 Travellers Cross, Eucla

 

 Eyre Memorial, Eucla

 

The remains of the Eucla Telegraph Station

 

 The SA/WA Border

Out of WA at LAST!!! 

 The Great Australian Bight with the

Nullarbor National Park in the foreground

 

Lunch at the 52km Peg Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

 The ruggedly beautiful Great Australian Bight

coastline

 

 The Nullarbor National Park

 

More beautiful coastline

 

 

 The Nullarbor Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy

 A Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort truck & rally car

on the Nullarbor!

 

 Our campsite at the 222km Peg Rest Area

 

The 222km Peg Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

14/9/12

Today is our daughter Sandra's 23rd birthday. We had no reception but could not ring her anyway as she was in Canada. Happy birthday San!!!!! We left the rest area at 9.00am and drove through wonderful country until we were surprised to find the Madura Pass and Roadhouse. Nobody told us there was an upper and lower section of the Nullarbor. The view from the lookout was exceptional in all directions. We refuelled at the roadhouse before continuing on to the Carlabeencabba Rockhole Rest Area for lunch. There were no tables and no toilet only an emergency phone but the scenery was great. On our drive today we drove over two RFDS emergency air strips where they land planes on the roadway. Fortunately for us there were no emergencies today and we could drive through without interruption. We stopped at 12.30pm at the Jillah Rockhole Rest Area. It had a toilet and a huge area for camping. We selected one near a fireplace and quickly setup camp before starting to collect firewood. It was so nice here that we decided to spend two nights under the stars. We collected heaps of firewood and had a great fire.

15/9/12

We had a lazy day. I caught up a little on the computer blog. Mary-Anne caught up on naming her photos and Karen collected firewood and cooked a coconut bread. We had another great fire that night.

 The Madura Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy

 

 The view from the Madura Pass lookout

 

 The Nullarbor Plain in the distance at

the Madura Pass lookout

 

 Lunch at Carlabeencabba Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

 Our campsite at Jilla Rockhole Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

 Our huge fireplace

 

 Jillah Rockhole Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

 Jillah Rockhole Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

We had plenty of firewood!



13/9/12

We left the Ten Mile Rocks Rest Area and drove to the Balladonia Roadhouse and refuelled just in case. Balladonia made world headlines in 1979 when debris from the space station Sky Lab crashed back to earth 40kms outside of town. We drove 30kms from Balladonia and stopped at the sign which marks the start of the longest straight stretch of road in Australia. It is 145.6kms or 90 miles without a bend. We drove through country with tall trees and then it transitioned to grass and small shrubs as far as the eye could see in all directions. We had lunch at Baxter Rest Area and we thought we only had another 38kms to travel before we stopped for the night. Unfortunately Camps 5 and our travelling atlas both lied and there was no toilet. So we continued on to Cocklebiddy Roadhouse and then onto the Observatory Turnoff Rest Area. We were surprised to find we had travelled 387.2kms today. This has been one of our biggest days travel since we left home. One good thing was we gained 45 minutes, so we are only 70 minutes behind the East Coast now. We had another fire tonight.

 Balladonia Roadhouse on the Eyre Hwy

 

 The start of The 90 Mile Straight

on the Eyre Hwy

 

 Our lunch stop at Baxter Rest Area

 

 Caiguna Roadhouse at the end of The 90 Mile Straight

 

 Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy

 

 Camping at Observatory Turnoff Rest Area, Eyre Hwy

 

 Our smaller fireplace

 

Observatory Turnoff Rest Area