Hi all
Were hoping to go to Perth after a brief stay at the mother in-laws in Melbourne, Has any one traveled by car/camper from Melbourne to Perth or visa versa ,

Hi,

Never done the trip but would really like to know how you get on as it is something that I would love to do.

Good luck and have a great trip.
Julie.

Know some one who did the trip in mid summer, said the heat nearly killed him and they had to stop off and cool down in a safeways some where, he used to come on here under the name fogmeister so try emailing or pm him.

all the best

andy

I have done that journey several times, both ways and by plane, train and automobile (I know, I know, it s a great line for a song )

How long do you have to get there? Several weeks? Take the Great Ocean Road and its extensions to Adelaide, or go up to the winery areas to the east of Albury (forgotten the district) and get a good 20 litre drum of white port and bottle it when you get to Perth. That's a great way to have a get together - nominate several drivers though, the rest of you will get smashed
Top up with good plonk in the Coonawara area prior to Adelaide or Barossa.

You head north for Port Augusta, when you get there turn left and instead of heading straight across to Ceduna (where they roll up the footpaths @ 2000 hours) head down the peninsula and take several days doing that. You will end up in Ceduna anyways.

The trip across the Nullarbor is a hassle. Do you do the 1200km to Norseman in 1 hit or do you break it be staying in crappy accommodation en route. I cannot advise one way or another. They both have their pros and cons. Although with 2 drivers it is a lot easier.

There is lots to see going across the Nullarbor and lots to photograph. If you are game try and camp out @ night after Eucla on the plain off the plateau, but dont park on the parts of the highway designated as RFDS airstrips! Incidentally, that's probably the only time you will legally be able to drive on a rated and functional airstrip. Getting back to the camping bit, make sure you sleep in your car and with any luck you will wake in the early morning and see dingoes circling you car looking for food.

When you get to Norseman, have an overnighter there. Don't get in after 21:00 as they roll up their footpaths about then. Although the all night service stations are a challenge, if you aren't really sharp when backing your car on the concrete in front of the pumps, you may run over one of the local children showing off his cycling skills to his crustacean mates.

Turn left @ Norseman and drive down to Esperance. That is a very pretty stretch of coastline and has some of the clearest and cleanest water I have seen out of the tropics.

Follow the coast along to Albany and wander around there for a day or two. They have a tremedous harbour and if it is the right season you may see whales and their calves lolling around. Go out and see the Whale museum and have a look at the blowholes. It a fairly wild stretch of coast.

From there, keep to the coast and head for Denmark and Margaret River. Divert to Augusta and have a Pint of Whale beer in the Pub and take in the views out the picture window looking south.

Do the usual tourist thing from there and follow the coast road up to Dunsborough, Bussleton, Bunbury and Perth.

If you don't have a week or two, then with 2 drivers you can do the trip non stop in 2 days. Mebourne to Adelaide, turn left to Port Augusta, turn left to Ceduna. Turn right @ Norseman for Kalgoorlie whence you turn left for Perth.
When I came across @ Christmas, there were 4 service stations servicing the Nullarbor. 3 of them were owned by the one family and then, the cost of unleaded was 1.36/litre. The Aborigine owned service station close to Mundrabilla was 10c/litre cheaper. Pack a full 20 litre jerrycan with a funnel and get it filled in Melbourne. Decant that into your tank somewere on the Nullarbor.

Any fruit you buy on this side of Norseman, the WA Q people will confiscate it and you will buy exactly the same brand in the supermarkets from Norseman on.

Having said all that, I am flying across to Perth tomorrow for a couple weeks work.

I'd walk if it meant getting away from the Mother in Law.

I would do it on my hands & Knees & on broken glass, if meant getting away from my mother in law!!!!!

She breaths fire you know. :scared:

Stu