Cheap Accommodation In Nullarbor, Australia
Crossing the Nullarbor is one of those trips that sits on almost every Australian road tripper’s list, and it’s a lot more affordable than people expect. This isn’t a place of resorts and boutique hotels, it’s a place of roadhouses, wide open sky, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the country. Accommodation in Nullarbor is simple by design, but that works in your favour if you’re travelling on a budget, since there’s very little in the way of pricey extras to tempt you into overspending. Whether you’re breaking up a long drive between South Australia and Western Australia or making a dedicated trip to see the Bunda Cliffs and the whales at the Head of Bight, a comfortable night’s sleep here doesn’t need to cost much at all. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Nullarbor and find the best deal for your dates before you hit the road.
Getting to Nullarbor
There’s really one practical way to reach Nullarbor, and that’s by road, along the Eyre Highway. Most travellers drive their own car, campervan, or motorbike, either heading east from Perth or west from Adelaide, with the crossing itself taking two to three days depending on how many stops you make. Fuel is the main cost to budget for, since distances between roadhouses can stretch past 150 kilometres in places, so it pays to fill up whenever you get the chance rather than waiting until the tank is low. Bus services do run between Adelaide and Perth along this route and stop at some of the roadhouses, which can work out as a cheaper option if you don’t have your own vehicle, though the trip is long and the timetable is limited. There’s no commercial airport servicing Nullarbor itself, so flying in isn’t an option here, this is a destination reached the old-fashioned way, by covering the kilometres yourself.
Best Time to Visit Nullarbor
The cooler months, from May through to September, are the most comfortable time to cross the Nullarbor. Summer temperatures out here regularly climb into the high 30s and beyond, with little shade and long stretches between water stops, so it’s not the easiest time to be on the road. Winter brings mild days and cold nights, and it’s also whale watching season at the Head of Bight, when southern right whales come in close to the cliffs to calve, which is reason enough on its own to time a visit for July or August. Accommodation prices at the roadhouses don’t fluctuate wildly with season the way city hotels do, but rooms can still book out around school holidays when caravan traffic picks up, so it’s worth calling ahead during those peak windows.
Top Attractions in Nullarbor
The Bunda Cliffs are the standout, sheer limestone walls dropping straight into the Great Australian Bight, and there are several free lookout points along the highway where you can pull over and take them in without paying a cent. The Head of Bight lookout, run by the local Aboriginal community, charges a modest entry fee and is worth every dollar during whale season, when you can watch whales from the clifftop boardwalks. The Nullarbor itself holds the title of the longest straight stretch of road in Australia, a 146.6 kilometre stretch with barely a bend in it, and there’s a sign marking it that’s become a popular photo stop for anyone making the crossing. Golfers passing through can also play a hole or two of the Nullarbor Links, the world’s longest golf course, which stretches across roadhouses for well over 1,000 kilometres, with a single hole at most stops along the way.
For Families and Kids
This isn’t a theme park destination, but kids who enjoy wide open spaces, wildlife, and a genuine sense of adventure tend to love the Nullarbor crossing. Many roadhouses have simple playgrounds and grassed areas where children can burn off energy after hours in the car, and the novelty of spotting wombats, emus, and the occasional camel along the roadside keeps younger travellers entertained without costing anything extra. The Head of Bight whale watching platforms are a genuine highlight for families visiting in winter, giving kids a rare chance to see whales from land rather than a boat.
Outdoors and Nature
The Nullarbor is a landscape built for those who appreciate scale and silence. Beyond the cliffs and the coastline, the plain itself is riddled with limestone caves, including Murrawijinie Caves near the Nullarbor Roadhouse, which are free to explore and give a good sense of the karst landscape hidden beneath the surface. Wildlife spotting is easy and free here, with wedge-tailed eagles commonly seen circling the highway and southern right whales drawing crowds each winter. For those interested in geology and remote ecosystems, the Nullarbor is one of the largest single exposures of limestone bedrock on earth, and its stark, treeless plain is unlike anywhere else you’ll drive through in Australia.
Local Culture and Heritage
The Nullarbor has long been significant to the Mirning people, the traditional custodians of this coastline, and the Head of Bight site is managed with their involvement, offering visitors some insight into the cultural importance of the whales and the coastline itself. The old telegraph station ruins at Eucla are a reminder of the region’s more recent European history, when the line connecting the east and west coasts of Australia ran straight through this remote stretch, and the crumbling stone remains, now partly swallowed by sand dunes, are free to wander through and photograph. The roadhouses themselves have their own history too, many established decades ago purely to support the handful of travellers brave enough to attempt the crossing, and that pioneering, self-sufficient spirit still shapes the character of the place today.
Eating in Nullarbor
Dining options along the Nullarbor are straightforward, and that’s part of the appeal for budget travellers. Every roadhouse has a café or dining room serving hearty, no-fuss meals, think burgers, steaks, parmigianas, and generous cooked breakfasts, priced to feed hungry drivers rather than impress critics. Packing your own food is common practice out here and worth doing to keep costs down, especially since roadhouse prices reflect how far supplies have to travel to reach them. A esky stocked with sandwiches, fruit, and snacks will save you a good amount over the course of the crossing, while still allowing you to treat yourself to a cooked meal or a milkshake at a roadhouse stop along the way. Best value comes from sticking to the daily specials boards at each roadhouse, which usually offer the most food for the least money.
Accommodation Options in Nullarbor
Accommodation along the Nullarbor is centred entirely around its roadhouses, and while choices are limited compared to a city, they’re reliable, clean, and reasonably priced for what you get.
Budget & Cheapest Options
Powered and unpowered camping sites are available at most roadhouses along the route and are by far the cheapest way to spend a night on the Nullarbor. Facilities are basic but functional, with shared bathrooms and sometimes a camp kitchen, and they suit anyone travelling with a tent, swag, or campervan who wants to keep costs to a minimum.
Pub & Hotel Accommodation
Several roadhouses double as the local pub, offering simple motel-style rooms attached to the bar and dining room. These rooms are typically small but comfortable, with the convenience of having food and fuel right on your doorstep, and they represent the backbone of affordable accommodation across the Nullarbor.
Family Accommodation
Family-sized rooms and cabins are available at a number of the larger roadhouses, offering a bit more space than a standard motel room without a big jump in price. These are worth booking ahead during school holidays, since family rooms are limited in number and tend to go first.
Long-Stay Accommodation
For those taking a slower approach to the crossing, some roadhouses offer discounted rates for multi-night stays, which suits travellers who want to base themselves in one spot for a few days to explore the surrounding cliffs, caves, and whale watching sites rather than pushing straight through.
Shopping
Don’t expect boutiques or markets out here, shopping along the Nullarbor is limited to the general stores attached to each roadhouse, stocking fuel, groceries, basic supplies, and a selection of souvenirs and postcards for those wanting a memento of the crossing. It’s worth picking up any essentials you’re low on whenever you pass through a larger roadhouse like Nullarbor Roadhouse or Eucla, since smaller stops further along may have a narrower range of stock.
Nightlife and Free Fun
Evening entertainment on the Nullarbor is refreshingly simple: a cold drink at the roadhouse bar, a hot meal, and then stepping outside to look up at one of the clearest, most star-filled skies you’ll see anywhere in Australia. With minimal light pollution across the entire plain, stargazing here costs nothing and rewards patience, particularly on a clear, moonless night. Swapping stories with fellow travellers at the bar is practically a tradition of the Nullarbor crossing, and it costs nothing but the price of your own drink.
Suggested Budget Itinerary
A realistic day on the Nullarbor might start with an early departure from your roadhouse, coffee and a quick breakfast before getting back on the highway while the air is still cool. Mid-morning, pull off at one of the free Bunda Cliffs lookouts for photos and a short walk along the boardwalk, then continue on to the Head of Bight if you’re travelling in winter, allowing an hour or two for whale watching. Break for a packed lunch at a rest area rather than a roadhouse to save a few dollars, then push on to your next overnight stop, timing your arrival with enough daylight left to explore any nearby caves or lookouts before settling in. Finish the day with a simple roadhouse dinner, a drink at the bar if there is one, and a walk outside afterwards to take in the night sky before an early night ready for the next leg of the crossing.