Day 10 and 11 - Long roads with no end

We start our nearly 1800km stage early in the morning in Esperance towards Port Lincoln on National Highway 1.

For the next 200km, all we saw were roads, trees, and shrubs, until a small town called Norseman appeared out of nowhere. From there, we continued on National Highway A1, across the Nullarbor Plain.

What followed were endless plains, a lot of asphalt, blazing hot sunshine, and even more trees and shrubs. No cell reception. Occasionally, we came across a kangaroo. After a total of 400km and 4 hours of driving, we reached a small caravan park with a gas station in the middle of nowhere. While refueling, the sun burned on our skin with all its might, and we looked for a somewhat shady spot to stretch our legs.

But after a few minutes of a break, the journey continued. We embarked on the longest straight road in all of Australia, spanning 146km. If it weren't for an approaching storm, one wouldn't need to hold the steering wheel tight. Darker and darker clouds surrounded us, and in the distance, bright lightning bolts almost struck the ground vertically.

Following the storm came rain, and we were getting closer to the thunderstorm. As we finally emerged from the rain, there was a slight smell of fire in the air and very fine smoke lingering. If there was a fire, it wasn't nearby. Luckily!

Just as the weather cleared up slightly, another storm approached. The day was slowly coming to an end. Just as the twilight began and we approached the lightning again, we crossed the first time zone, followed immediately by the border between Western Australia and South Australia.

When daylight finally left us completely, we set up our lonely overnight camp in a parking lot in the prairie. Almost bright flashes of lightning surrounded us, but suddenly the storm subsided, and as the clouds cleared, we were able to enjoy a crystal-clear night sky flooded with stars.

Daily distance: approx. 950km

After a short night, many more hours and kilometers of driving through endless tree and bush landscapes followed.

After about 220km, we arrived at the Head of the Bight in the middle of the Nullarbor National Park, a lookout point for whale watching. Unfortunately, you can only see whales there between May and October when they raise their calves. Nevertheless, you have a beautiful view of cliffs and the sea.

Just before Ceduna (another 290km later), the Nullarbor Plain ends, and civilization welcomes us back. At the border of Ceduna, the first larger town in South Australia, we had to stop at a quarantine station and give away all our fruits and vegetables, as they are not allowed to be taken from the west to the south. In Ceduna, you can also admire Australia's largest wind turbine.

After another endless 400km drive, we finally reached Port Lincoln and a campground with a great view right by the sea.