Crossing the Nullarbor is one of Australia's great drives, around 1,200 km between South Australia and Western Australia, much of it dead straight. It's an easy tow if you plan fuel, water and rest stops, respect the quarantine checkpoint, and don't rush it. Here's how to cross comfortably.
Fuel
Roadhouses are spaced out and pricey, top up often and never run low.
Water
Carry your own drinking water; supplies out here are limited and expensive.
Quarantine
A fruit, veg and honey checkpoint at the border, eat or bin it before you arrive.
Stops
Roadhouses and free rest areas break the drive. Plan them, don't wing it.
The Nullarbor crossing
The Nullarbor crossing runs along the Eyre Highway between Ceduna (SA) and Norseman (WA), a sealed, caravan-friendly road of roughly 1,200 km, including the famous 90-mile straight. It's remote but well-travelled, with roadhouses along the way.
"Nullarbor" means "no trees", and long stretches live up to it, big skies, the Bunda Cliffs where the plain meets the Southern Ocean, and not much phone signal. It's straightforward with a caravan; the trick is supplies and pacing, not the driving.
Fuel & distances
Fuel is the thing to plan. Roadhouses are spaced roughly 100-200 km apart and prices climb the more remote they get. Fill up whenever you can rather than gambling on the next one, and remember towing burns more fuel than you're used to.
Know your rig's real towing range and keep a comfortable margin, a headwind across the plain can cut it noticeably. Carrying a modest reserve of fuel is common practice out here, and it takes the stress out of the longer gaps.
Water & supplies
Carry your own drinking water and food for the crossing. Water and groceries at roadhouses are limited and expensive, so stock up in Ceduna or Norseman and top your tanks before you leave town.
Being set up to camp self-sufficiently makes the crossing far more relaxed. You're not reliant on a roadhouse having what you need. A caravan carrying its own water and power can stop where it likes along the way.
Where to stop
Break the drive at roadhouses and free rest areas along the Eyre Highway, many allow an overnight stay, and the Bunda Cliffs lookouts are worth timing for. Don't try to cross in one hit; a couple of nights makes it a highlight, not an endurance test.
Rest areas here are basic but plentiful, and a night on the plain under a huge sky is part of the experience. Our free camping in Australia guide covers finding and using them.
The quarantine checkpoint
There's a quarantine checkpoint at the border (and inspection stations either side) where fruit, vegetables, honey and some plant products can't be brought through. Eat, cook or bin them before you arrive. Don't stock up on fresh produce right before the border.
Check current rules before you go. Quarantine restrictions and inspection points change and differ by direction of travel. Confirm what's allowed with the relevant state quarantine authority before you cross, and plan your shopping around it.
How long it takes
Most people take two to three days to cross comfortably, covering a few hundred kilometres a day with stops. You can do it faster, but towing a van across in one push is tiring and misses the point.
Build in a buffer for weather and fatigue, and swap driving if you can. The plain lulls you, regular breaks at the roadhouses and lookouts keep the crossing safe and enjoyable.
Once you're across, Margaret River and the South West is the reward.
Set up to cross
A van that carries its own water and power and tows efficiently makes the Nullarbor easy. Self-sufficiency means the long gaps between services are a non-issue, and better aerodynamics and weight management stretch your fuel range.
New Age's touring and off-road vans are built for long, remote drives like this. If you're planning the wider trip, the Nullarbor is one leg of the Big Lap, and our off-grid power guide covers carrying your own water and power.
