Happy Australia Day
As I said in my last post - Between Balladonia and Caiguna is a 146.6 kilometre (91.1 mi) stretch of the highway which is one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world.
The highway is called the Eyre Highway, it's approximately 1,675km (1,040 mile) long and takes about two days to cross.
A few interesting facts regarding the Nullarbor.
The name Nullarbor originated from the Latin terminology nullus arbor meaning ‘no trees’ because quite literally you are lucky to see any surviving tress along this desert plain.
The Nullarbor Plain is home to the earth’s largest piece of limestone.
Another form of transport to cross the Nullarbor is by the Indian Pacific Train. This train runs twice weekly from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide and takes 3 nights to cover the 4352km (2,704 mile) journey.
Even though the Nullarbor has very harsh weather conditions it is home to a surprising amount of animals. Kangaroos, emu’s, wombats and even camels all call the Nullarbor Plain home.
The Nullarbor has up to 100,000 wild camels which were abandoned there after their use in building rail roads.
Some of the scenery along the way.
No camels, kangaroo's or any creature did we see.
So there is more to this tiny place 'than meets the eye'.
Cleaning the windscreen, the road back onto the highway.
Small town of Madura Western Australia.
Madura was settled in 1876 as a place to breed quality cavalry horses for the British Indian Army for use in the Northwest Frontier region of India (now part of Pakistan). The horses were shipped from the coast at Eucla. (Cervantes,
north of Perth, was also used for breeding.) The site was chosen as it
was one of the few with free flowing bore water in the area.
The surrounding area is part of Madura Station currently a sheep station, but was previously used to graze cattle, horses and camels.
Madura Pass lookout, the above 3 photos.
After leaving Balladonia we headed towards Eucla WA. We got about 30 kms
out we decided to look for a 'free park' to sleep the night, found a
good one with a few others already parked there for the night.
Hi Margaret, the land is so, so vast. I wonder what happens in times of emergency?
ReplyDeleteThere is an airstrip on the road in one place. UHF many have in their car so to call for help. Another vehicle travelling well usually help out, take a message to the nearest Roadhouse. It's the unwritten law of the outback of Australia, to help.
DeleteHelicopters can land almost anywhere there.
Cocklebiddy? What an unusual name. Thanks for your pictures of this wide open country. Looks like West Texas!
ReplyDeleteVery unusual name, and I don't know how it got it's name.
DeleteYou are welcome.
you stay safe out in all that flat.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteBut we are home now, I think you forgot :)
Such a large area!
ReplyDeleteVery large Linda, and if you think back or go back through my posts you might realize how big our country is.
DeleteLong way , but as the house the you wear to piggyback , you can always stop to rest , in the section that suits you .
ReplyDeleteKisses
That's the beauty of having a caravan, stop most anywhere one wishes for the night.
Deletethank you for your visit and comment on my blog that makes me happy! your post and your photos are good, I feel like traveling too!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome :)
DeleteWell come along and travel with me through my photos ..
Happy Australia Day - Margaret and Shanks.
ReplyDeletePretty bare countryside - with nothing really to see - you'd think at least one bloody kangaroo, emu or "feral camel" might break the monotonous drive in a STRAIGHT line for 146.6 kms! Certainly not a drive to do at night, unless you were fully rested, or if tired during the day.
Great choice of Australian of the year, General Morrison (ret), I met him at my nephew's wedding. Young Brett had been his ADC in Canberra. A real no nonsense man as the Defense Force found out.
I bet David Flint and Tony Abbott choked on their cucumber sandwiches when they heard his last part of his acceptance speech. I cheered to "The Rafters" !!!!
Cool day here, with some early rain for Australia day - may interfere with the usual BBQ celebrations.
Great post
Cheers
Colin
Don't forget the lamb chops and throw some great Tassie Shrimps on the "Barby".
DeleteCheers
Colin
PS: I wish it would rain down there - the fire fighters etc. to have
a day with families.
Thank you Colin, and I hope you had a good Australia Day..
DeleteOne would think we would have seen some kind of creature on that trip, but NO, not one.
Trucks do travel at night across there, but not us.
General Morrison deserves to be Australian of the Year, sometimes it must be hard to choose.
No rain here as yet. Fire on the West Coast has flared up and people have been asked to leave...oh dear!
Rain tonight is forecast, so hoping.
Always nice to see a new places !!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos !!
Greetings
Thanks Ela.
DeleteI always admire your big country and continent. Have a nice day
ReplyDeleteThanks Gosia..
DeleteCocklebiddy, what a funny name. It doesn't look like there is anything at all for a very long stretch after Border Village.
ReplyDeleteNot much at all across that Highway Andrew. But then again a few States there is nothing for miles when travelling by car.
DeleteI hope you had a good holiday
ReplyDeleteYes we did thanks..Always nice to be home.
DeleteFirst time I've ever seen the Nullabor. My brother drives across it a lot, but never stops to take photos, in his words, "there's nothing to see."
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of Cocklebiddy. It sounds as if the roadhouse is a fun place.
Really!
DeleteI would have thought you would have seen photos of it before.
Nothing to see for some people and a boring trip. My husband and I enjoy the trip across there is a lot to see in certain areas.
I have never driven across it, the beer fairy did when he was a truck driver but as River's brother said not much to see I think he shares the same idea not much to see so don't take photos, I would have taken lots.
ReplyDeleteMerle ....................
For many people there is nothing to see, for others there is plenty to see as there was for us.
DeleteMy parents did a lot of free parking when they traveled around the country and according to mum there are some amazing places to free park. I would love to travel on the Indian Pacific one day.
ReplyDeleteHeaps of places to free park Jo-Anne in some States, they even have designated areas.
DeleteSchöne Bilder von der Landschaft interessante Reise durch das Land.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
Very different landscape in that part of our country.
DeleteHappy Australia Day! I enjoyed looking at posts from home - even though I was at work all day. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteWell someone has to work! :)
The longest straight road, I would fall asleep!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure several people might fight falling to sleep.
Deleteinteresting place!
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteSuch a vast & open horizon. Australia is such a land of contrast - but we do have a lot of open space.
ReplyDeleteWe sure do have heaps of open space, noticed more when driving around many areas.
DeleteMargaret
ReplyDeleteStill the Tasmanian forests are burning seen on the ABC news, so I checked
the "Tassie Fire Alert" link on the web - MY GOD - you have so many and unchecked - that rain better come soon. It is bloody horrendous for the
pristine forest and countryside of N and the NW of Tassie.
Those poor bloody wonderful fire fighters - the life preservers of the countryside and what many people forget - many are volunteers!
C'mon HUEY send it down on Tassie.
Colin
Today it's trying to rain in some of the fire areas, but news said it won't be enough to put the fires out.
DeleteNZ fire fighters are here along with some from Victoria and ACT.
We had a good rain last night which lasted about 5 minutes, was no help at all.
Gosh I wouldn't like to say how many of the Fire Fighters are Volunteers! Just think of all the wild life that will be killed.
The wide brown land it is....awesome!
ReplyDeleteSure is Lee.
Delete