And we are going to make the most of it.
The Eyre Highway - is the main road that connects South Australia with the south of West Australia. It runs for 1668kms from Port Augusta in the east to Norseman in the west.
The Nullarbor Plain - is the world's largest single piece of limestone and covers an area of around 20,000 square kilometres. When limestone interacts with underground water it dissolves to form a 'karst' landscape - an amalgamation of caves, underground channels and a rough bumpy ground surface.
The Nullarbor hides much of it's beauty. Beneath the surface of this huge park is a vast cave system, much of it unexplored. Passages run for kilometres linking huge underground caverns. But we have no intentions of going into or even near any of these caves. Our adventures continue on the surface only.
Tuesday 9th September
Today we are heading 53 kms south to the third hole on The Nullarbor Links, Silver Lake at Kambalda,
then a further 65 kms to Norseman to complete two more holes, four and five, Ngadju and Golden Horse.
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| We just have to hit it between these trees - OK! |
Next stop will be another 123 kms to Fraser Range to complete the sixth hole, the Sheep's Back, before we find a spot to camp for the night.
Fraser Range Station
On the edge the Nullarbor you are confronted by a range of scenic granite hills, Fraser Range, surrounded by the world's largest eucalyptus hardwood forest. Not at all what we were expecting of the Nullarbor.
At Fraser Range Station we were lucky enough to see an emu with 7 of her babies, they were about 30 centimetres high and so cute. We also saw a kangaroo with a joey and a large black snake. We were so excited as we have hardly seen any animals on this whole trip.
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| Mumma Emu and her babies |
We went on to the next hole, #7 Skylab, and they had a large piece of space junk, probably a replica, on the roof of the roadhouse.
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| How is this for a fairway! |
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| These spider holes were all over this hole - YUKK! |
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| Do you think this is a real piece of space junk? |
We free camped at Afghan Rock rest stop and it was quite warm so Laurie didn't even attempt a fire.
Wednesday 10th September
16 weeks on the road today - YEAH!
This morning we reached the sign that told us were starting "the longest straight stretch of road in Australia at 146.6kms"
The stretch of road between Caiguna Roadhouse and Balladonia Roadhouse was originally known as the 90-mile straight (now the 146.6km straight, just doesn't sound the same).
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| People came from everywhere to watch these two master golfers |
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| Hey I made Par! |
Then on to hole #8 - 90 Mile Straight, hole #9 - Eagles Nest and hole #10 - Brumby's Run, before stopping at another free camp at Jilah Rockhole, again no fire!!
Thursday 11th September
Today saw us playing another 3 holes, numbers #11 Watering Hole, #12 Nullabor Nymphs
and #13 Border Kangaroo
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| This is the 'border kangaroo' |
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| I can't push the tee in! |
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| It won't go in anywhere! |
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| Finally I got the tee in, now just to hit it. |
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| Here I go! Whack!! |
before pulling into the Nullarbor Roadhouse caravan park, as we all needed a shower after two nights free camping, even though we had to pay $1.00 for 5 minutes for it, on top of the caravan park fee!
It wasn't' all driving and golfing today, we had a few stops along the way
Eucla Telegraph Station Ruins
Opened in 1877, the Eucla Telegraph Station helped link WA with the rest of the Australia and the world, sending 11,000 messages annually. The first message sent to Perth , 8 December 1877 stated " Eucla line opened. Hurrah"
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| Jude and Laurie in the ruins |
SA and WA Border Marker - photo opportunity, of course
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| Helen and Jeff at the border |
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| Laurie and Jude at the border |
The Bunda Cliffs - extend for around 200kms along the Great Australian Bite near its northern extremity and are close to the Nullarbor Plain in a very sparsely settled area of Australia.
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| The stunning Bunda Cliffs looking west |
The cliffs which are some 60 to 120 metres high and sheer, can be viewed from several viewing points along the Eyre Highway, where the plains just seem to drop into the pounding Southern Ocean.
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| What can I say!!!! |
The Bunda Cliffs stretch in an unbroken natural rampart for over 200kms from Twin Rocks, Head of the Bite to the Merdayerrah Sandpatch.
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| The stunning Bunda Cliffs looking east |
We stopped at every opportunity to view these majestic cliffs.
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