The Lap begins

2025 was a year defined by one step forward two steps back. Whether it was with the car or our home renovations, we seemed to stumble upon problem after problem.

But overcame we did and after a year of prepping, saving and problem solving, we finally hit the road. Over the Australia Day long weekend, exactly one year since we picked up the car, we took off on our big lap.

Our first goal was to get out of WA ASAP, aiming for Newman Rocks just before Balladonia. While on our way through the Goldfields I just happened to check the Emergency WA app and found that Erye Highway was closed from Norseman due to a bushfire. Poo.

We decided to head for Norseman anyways and see if we could get some more information, mentally preparing ourselves to have to spend a day in Norseman. Yay….

We hit the road block and told the road worker we were planning on getting to Newman Rocks. He told us the road wasn’t technically closed until Balladonia and because we were self sufficient, he’d let us through.

We were feeling pretty cheeky about getting through the roadblock and getting to drive a near empty highway was surreal.

First camp site!!

We woke up the next morning and the highway was open again so we headed off on our merry way aiming for the border.

While on the drive we decided to see if there were any sites so I found a vague mention of a cave 7km off the highway. The cave was magnificent and totally in its natural state. We grabbed our torches and explored its massive depths.

After this we had cave fever and found mention of a colossal cave near Mundrabilla Roadhouse. As we were driving towards the roadhouse, the rain began and did not stop. As cool as it was to see the Nullarbor in the rain, by the time we got to the roadhouse we were told by a local that the tracks to the cave would be too wet to take and we wouldn’t be able to go.

Disheartened we carried on making camp for the night on the side of the road right by the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight.

The end of the world

We hit Nullarbor Roadhouse early the next day and were greeted by two friendly dingos sussing us out to see if we’d give them some food. We took a couple of snaps, grabbed a coffee and moved on.

Was so hard not to feed this cutie

Our next camp was at the famous surf spot Cactus Beach. It was a sick spot but unfortunately we copped fierce winds all day and night. The highlight of this area was finding and exploring a sea cave.

Sea cave!

We hit Ceduna soon after that and the Nullabor was officially conquered again.

While driving we invented some side quests to keep us entertained while we go, let’s see how many we can keep going.

1. Take a photo with all the “big things”. Big things captured = 4

2. Walk to the end of every coastal town jetty and touch the end. Top of jetties reached = 4

We have also decided we dislike daylight savings. I’m currently writing this at 9pm and it’s STILL light. As people who are usually in bed before 10pm, it definitely doesn’t suit us. We also need to be more vigilant about afternoon sunscreen as a 4pm sun on this side of the country is not the same as a 4pm sun back home (yes by day 3 I am sporting bright red burns).

Alright, until next post!!