ASF Nullarbor SIG Exploration

Exploration and the Nullarbor SIG Trip/Activities Register

Are you heading off to the Nullarbor to do some caving and/or research? Would you like to know who is already out there, or is planning to go so you can pick their brains or meet up with them? Do you already have a trip planned, but would like more members to join? Would you like to know who has been out there in the last few years so you can ask them some questions? This is where the Nullarbor Activities Register comes in!

Please note that your newly added trip/activity may take 24-48 hours to appear on the registry list.

If you are a Nullarbor SIG member, please login to view the triplist database (you will be asked for a username and password - please email asf.caves.nsig@gmail.com if you have not been given this information).

Planning a Nullarbor Expedition

Heading out to the Nullarbor - even if you just stick to the one main road - is a serious undertaking. It is a vast, arid area which is sparsely populated and has extremely limited resources available to the public. All food and water needs to be brought in from elsewhere. There are very few places to buy fuel, water and food along the way and those few places that exist are very expensive. If you are crossing state lines you will also need to be aware of import restrictions for fruit and vegetables. If heading away from the main road (as most expeditions do!), we strongly recommend you hire a satellite phone if you don't own one. For more information about what is needed in the Nullarbor and advice on planning and equipment, please have a look at the information below.

Border Quarantine Considerations

If you are travelling to the Nullarbor from the east, you will pass through a WA Quarantine Station at the WA border where you will be required to surrender any 'quarantine-risk material'. Your vehicle may be searched and you will at least have to show the Quarantine Officer the contents of your fridge at a minimum. Please refer to https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/exporting-western-australia/quarantine-information-private-travellers for further information. There is very little food (apart from snacks and take-away) that can be bought from Roadhouses along the Nullarbor.

Most caving groups have at least 1 fridge and regular Nullarbor travellers will each have a fridge in their 4WD vehicles. If you cannot afford 2 fridges or a freezer/fridge combo, we recommend you put your fridge unit in freezer mode, and have a separate esky for use as a fridge. Bottles of water can be frozen and swapped out to use as cold bricks in the 'fridge'. In this way leftover food, cold meats and cheeses can avoid being frozen solid.

Weather Implications

The Nullarbor is a region of great variability in weather. Whilst it is generally hot and dry in summer, low fronts can bring severe rain storms dumping large amounts of rain in a short period of time. This has implications for flooding, impacting on being able to travel on tracks as well as safety implications for caves prone to flooding. Winter is usually much colder with overnight temperatures reaching freezing point at times.

Tracks

Many tracks marked on maps are overgrown and no longer visible, whilst on the other hand new tracks not recorded on maps have been made. Always make sure you have a GPS and check locations if at all unsure. It is highly recommended not to drive on flooded tracks as the potential for bogging and serious damage to the track is great. Most station owners/managers will not give permission to travel on their stations if severe weather is forecast. Always check beforehand. 4WD vehicles with good clearance are recommended as tracks can get quite rough. Whilst 2WD vehicles with good clearance will get you some places, you will have to wait until tracks are completely dry to drive if there is any rain. Caravans and camper trailers are not recommended beyond well maintained tracks.

Terrain

The Nullarbor is primarily made up of ranges of low ridges and swales, with some anomalies. There are sections of lightly wooded areas on top of ridges and large areas of low scrub on the clay pans (swales) in between. This scrub constitutes the grey-green saltbush and the blue-green bluebush. Bluebush is very slow growing and hence has an extremely dense branching system. Driving over bluebush will greatly increase the chance of destroying your tyres and is to be avoided at all costs. Across the ridges and in some of the swales, there are hard, sharp limestone rocks which can be hidden in the scrub. It is safest to stick to tracks where possible. It is also recommended each vehicle take at least two spare tyres, a puncture repair kit, and a good quality air compressor to reinflate tyres after any punctures.

Saltbush
Typical tyre-destroying Nullarbor vegetation

Water

There is no water available to the public on the Nullarbor. All water must be brought in. It is recommended to allow 3-4L per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing purposes. Tinned food can be helpful in this regard, in spite of the extra weight, for it contains its own cooking liquid.

Applying for Permits and Access to Properties

The Nullarbor SIG can help you plan your next trip and put you in contact with the right people. Please email asf.caves.nsig@gmail.com for help with how to get started. Planning should start at least 6 months in advance, so please don't put off contacting landowners or arranging permits until the last minute. We hope to have this information available for SIG members soon via a login on this website.

Cave Diving on the Nullarbor Plain

On the surface it appears to be an arid desert, and yet Nullarbor has some of the most spectacular cave dives in Australia. Even more than a dry caving expedition, the logistics of a Nullarbor diving trip can approach epic proportions. ASF clubs and members have been exploring the underwater caverns of the Nullarbor for decades and have extensive experience in planning diving trips to this remote area. Please visit the Cave Diving Commission of the ASF for more information.