Friday 8th April 2011
Day 8 - Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse - 296kms.

It was a warm night, only needed a sheet. Woke to a fine, warm sunny morning. We pack up camp and set off at 8:57am. The wind was up and starting to blow.

We stopped at the BP Roadhouse on the outskirts of Ceduna heading towards Perth. First thing was to empty the shitter, it is the only dump point that we can use. The second thing is we filled up with fuel and then headed towards Penong and the 3rd hole. The wind had built up to gale force and the top soil was blowing across the road and at some stages you could not see the road, it was like pea soup fog. We arrived at Penong and found the 3rd hole and then onto Nundroo and finally onto Nullarbor Roadhouse for 5th hole.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s).
  • Hole 3 is called Windmills at Penong and it is a par 4 260 meters. With the wind blowing around 50 to 70kph, we took photos and got my scorecard stamped and headed off to the 4th hole.
  • Hole 4 is called Wombat Hole at Nundroo and it is a par 5 520 meters. With the wind still blowing like buggery, we tried to take a photo and got my scorecard stamped.


  • Hole 5 is here at the Nullarbor Roadhouse, we will try and play that hole in the morning.
Today was the first time that our rig was physically buffered by gale force winds and I was still able to cruise along about 85kph and a little faster, without feeling unsafe. It was also the first time that I occasionally felt the fiver on the back. Overall, I was very happy the way the fiver towed in these atrocious conditions.

We stopped at the Nullarbor sign and then got to the Nullarbor Roadhouse at 1:45pm and setup camp and unhitched. We then left the fiver at camp and drove to the Head of the Bight, the dunes and the Bunda cliffs were absolutely awesome. Photos will come, when I get time.

Tomorrow, we will probably loose Internet reception, while we head on to Border Village-Hole 6, Eucla Beach-Hole 7, Mundrabilia-Hole 8, Madura-Hole 9 staying overnight at Madura Roadhouse
Sunday, Cocklebiddy-Hole 10, Caiguna-Hole 11, Balladonia Hole 12, Fraser Range-Hole 13 staying overnight at Fraser Range
Monday should have Internet reception again.

The dust storm caused by 70kph Northerlies.

Marg.

Me.

The Bunda Cliffs.

The Dunes.

Our camp at Nullarbor Roadhouse.

Saturday 9th April 2011
Day 9 - Nullarbor Roadhouse to Madura - 373kms.

It was a cool night, I used both my blankets before dawn. Woke to a cool and overcast with some patched of drizzle. The wind was up and starting to blow. We pack up camp and just before leaving I played my 3rd hole which was the 5th hole of the Nullarbor Links, to date I have not played 2 holes due to the gale force conditions. See below for in depth description on the Dingo's Den Par 5 538 meters. After the golf we departed about 9:14am, thanks Harry Hema for being so accurate.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s).

  • Hole 5 is called Dingo's Den at Nullarbor Roadhouse an unbelieveable Par 5 538 meters. We were buggered by the time, we arrived at the tee, the green is next to the Caravan Park and you guessed it the tee is 538 meter due North (away from CP). After seeing 2 rabbits on our way to the tee, we finally got there. After my photo beside the sign, it was time to play, now 538 m is a long way to play but by now, the wind was probably about 20kph and directly in our face. I unleashed my monstrous drive, it went about 20 feet, again I must be winging it, after some excellent stroke play I am about halfway to the green and on 5 strokes, looking real good. I finally made it past the green and managed to on the green for 11 after visiting various rabbit holes and various other wildlife. Luckily, my putting is my strength and after 4 putts from 15 feet, I sink it for a score of 15. Another brilliant round.
  • Hole 6 is called Border Kangaroo at Border Village and it is a tidy par 3 160 meters. BUT it is cut amongst scrub upto 3 meters high and the fairway is only 10 meters wide. So after consulting with my caddie, Marg, we decided that I would lose too many balls, so we ate lunch and then went through Quarantine checkpoint. No Dramas.
    I got my scorecard stamped.
  • Hole 7 is called Nullarbor Nymph at Eucla and it is a par 4 315 meters. At the Roadhouse I asked for directions, the guy behind the desk told me that it is down the road turn right, then left and then 4kms away, you can't miss it. As I have missed a few holes, we couldn't be stuffed going out of our way to find it.
    I got my scorecard stamped.
  • Hole 8 is called Watering Hole at Mundrabilia Roadhouse and it is a par 4 330 meters. The flies were about and the urge to play every hole has well and truly left me, so we took the photo and got my scorecard stamped and drove onto Madura.
  • Hole 9 is called Brumby's Run at Madura Pass Roadhouse and it is a par 3 125 meters. I didn't feel like playing hole, so we took the photo and got my scorecard stamped and walked back to camp and had happy hour with Chris and Jenny.
  • Hole 10 is at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, we will stop and get my scorecard stamped, but if I hit a ball, we will have to wait and see.
  • After the 3 holes that I have played, I am 36 or 22 over par. Not bad for a hack.

    Apart from the golf today, or lack there of, we did stop along the Great Australia Bight and took photos of the dunes and the Bunda Cliffs, they truly are beautiful. We did cross the SA/WA border and was checked at the Quarantine station, the lady checked the van's fridge/Freezer and cupboards and the fridge in the car. All passed. The traffic was extremely light, we stop at each roadhouse and top up with fuel, I will give you a summary of all our Nullarbor fuel stops when we rest at Norseman. The wind today was about 20kph Southerly maybe a little more, some of the photos will show Marg's hair being blown everywhere.

    Tomorrow, we have lost Internet reception, and head on to Cocklebiddy-Hole 10, Caiguna-Hole 11, Balladonia Hole 12 probably stay at Balladonia.
    Monday play Fraser Range-Hole 13 on the way to Norseman, where we are staying for 3 nights.

    Are we there yet? Nope....

    A tad windy.

    I jumped and took this photo.

    Another scenery shot.

    Great views.

    Our camp at Madura.

    Sunday 10th April 2011
    Day 10 - Madura to Fraser Range Station - 426kms.

    It was a cool night, I used both my blankets before dawn then throw off the blankets and used my sleeping bag as a blanket. I was snug as a bug. Woke to a cool and overcast with no drizzle. Got up about 6:45am and used the amenities shower, good pressure and heat. Overall, a very good shower. We pack up camp and set off at 8:25am.

    We stopped at the Madura Pass Lookout about 1km outside of Madura CP and the views were spectacular. Continued on our way to Cocklebiddy, then onto Caiguna. This was the start of the 146.6kms straight road, the scenery across the Nullarbor was interesting. The scrubbery on the plains plus some emus on the side of the road watching us, the wedge tail eagle sitting on a dead roo watched us go by, all kept you from getting bored. Onto Balladonia, we were going to stay here, but there was no internet reception and we were told that there was internet reception at Fraser Range Station, which was 90 kms further on, so we pressed on. We arrived at Fraser Range Station about 2:15pm and booked a site and also booked a tour of the station for $40 per head. We setup camp and inquired about the Internet, there isn't any unless you have satellite Internet. We were out of luck.

    We arrived at the office at 3:30pm for the tour of the station, there were 4 of us (me, Marg, Hans and Hans' wife (I can't print her name)) and Geoff our guide and driver. For starter's Frange Range Station is 160 x 25 kilomters (a fair size) about 400,000 hectares. Geoff took us to the golf tee, so I took a photo as it was a very long way away,then around the caravan park then we crossed over the Eyre highway. The property is 20kms south of the highway and 140kms north of the highway. On the north side of there is the largest forest of its type in the world, I forgot what type it was. Geoff drove us to some brillant vistas and finished at the obselete Telstra Microwave Tower at 529 meters the view of the sunset was just brillant. As we drove up the dirt road to the tower, there were 3 roos just sitting there watching us. As you may note, the wildlife do a lot of sitting watching us.
    Geoff had taken a picnic table and left it next to the tower, so his customers can sit and watch the sunsets, he also brings 2 drinks per customer and cheese and bikkies. When you book, you place your order of drinks, I had 2 cans of carlton Mid and Marg had 2 glasses of white wine. We arrived back at camp about 6:30pm in the dark. Geoff said that it was Ok to light the camp fire, so we did. Marg and I had toasted hot cross buns cooked on the fire. After a few minutes we had aprox 10 campers sitting around the fire having a chat and a drink, naturally, Marg and I had the prime seats, as we lit the fire, we sat upwind of the fire, so we didn't get any smoke. We had a late night, I think that we were in bed about 7:30pm. we were buggered.

    The following is today's hole by hole description of how I 'tamed' the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s). Ok, I have wimped out about playing every hole.

  • Hole 10 is called Eagle's Nest at Cocklebiddy and it is a par 4 347 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

  • Hole 11 is called 90 Mile Straight at Caiguna and it is a par 4 310 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

  • Hole 12 is called Skylab at Balladonia Roadhouse and it is a par 3 175 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

  • Hole 13 is called Sheep's Back at Fraser Range Station and it is a par 3 141 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

  • Tomorrow, we should have Internet reception as we will be staying at Norseman for 3 nights.

    Getting closer.

    90 Mile Straight bit.

    Not a curve to be seen.

    The local wildlife.

    A view of the station property.

    Sunset on our station tour.

    Marg loves camp fires.

    Fraser Range Station CP.

    I was being watched. They were georgeous.

    Monday 11th April 2011
    Day 11 - Fraser Range to Norseman - 104kms.

    It was a cold night, I used my sleeping bag as a blanket. I was snug as a bug. Woke to a cool and sunny morning. Took a few photos of the camp in the early morning. Marg was ready to leave early so we did, about 7:45am. We planned to get to Norseman about 9;15 and go direct to the Tourist Centre. If we were too early then we will stay at the Tourist Centre carpark and log onto the Internet.
    As it turned out we had a nice tail breeze and stopped at a rest area about 50kms from Norseman, as we were in no hurry, I sat on 80kph and only one car passed us, as usual, there is bugger all traffic. We did get a nice bit of rain, which cleared the dust off our rig.
    We arrived at the Tourist Centre, discussed where we could fossick and paid for a permit, I also got my scorecard stamped. We arrived at the Gateway Caravan Park and our site was free, so at 9:47am, we set up camp for 3 nights.

    After we were organised we drove out to the permit fossicking site, to make sure that we could find it. No probs, we found it and easily found some agate. Next we drove to downtown Norseman, where we had lunch. Marg had a toasted Ham and cheese and I had a hamburger with the lot. It was yumma.
    We walked the Main street and checked out the shops, they were probably 5 shops open, not a real thriving metropolis. After lunch, we annoyed the Tourist Centre lady, Evelyn, and asked where the other gem sites are and we visited them. Tomorrow, we will fossick in earnest.

    Earlier in the day, I tried to setup our satellite dish, but after 30 minutes, gave up as I thought that the trees were the problem. As there was noone beside us, I shifted the dish into the clear and it all worked, so I moved it to our site and all worked beautiful. I still have my Foxtel and VAST. It was weird watching the Victorian shows 2 hours earlier, like watching Channel 7 news and expecting dinner, but it was only 4pm. Weird stuff.

    The following is today's hole by hole description of how I 'tamed' the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s). Ok, I have wimped out about playing every hole.

  • Hole 14 is called Golden Hose at Norseman and it is a par 4 436 meters. We got my scorecard stamped.

  • Hole 15 is called Ngadju at Norseman and it is a par 4 354 meters. We got my scorecard stamped.

  • Tomorrow, fossicking around Norseman.

    No photos taken today.



    Cost of Diesel over the Nullarbor.

    Date of trip Location Diesel per litre
    8th April 2011 Ceduna, SA. $1.579
    8th April 2011 Nundroo, SA. $1.599
    8th April 2011 Nullarbor RH, SA. $2.049
    9th April 2011 Border Village, SA. $1.981
    9th April 2011 Madura, WA. $2.000
    10th April 2011 Caigana, WA. $1.964
    10th April 2011 Balladonia, WA. $1.936
    13th April 2011 Norseman, WA. $1.649

    *2011 - Index page*

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    In Norseman.