Julie's Travel Journal: Port Augusta to Eucla

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

Day 3 29^th April
Port Augusta to Eucla

Odometer 14595 temp 12-28

Today, was another early start. We were on the road by 6.45. Our first stop was the Shell service station ($1.54.9). Our first wildlife spotting occurred within a few minutes of leaving the service station, when a fox ran off from the dead roo it was feasting on. Over the next hour we saw a wedge tail eagle, 2 wallabies and an emu beside the road. Apparently the half way point across Australia is Kimba where the Big Galah lives.

The Big Galah, Kimba

It was soon after leaving here that we ran into the first of many behemoths on the road. The truck was so wide it was taking up 1 ½ lanes of the road on a two lane road. Mark was picked up by a radar doing a 122kms/hr in a 110km zone. Mark was treated like a criminal by the local police and received a hefty fine and lost 3 points off his license. Our next fuel stop was Ceduna ($1.54.9). Even though it was early for lunch, being only 11am we decided to have a bite to eat. Not a lot of choices, so we chose Bill’s Chicken n Seafood. Mark had the deep fried butterfish (which was excellent) & chips (which were okay). I had a green salad, potato salad and a small amount of the whole chicken we bought. We were back on the road again by 1150. Over the next few hours the drive was uninspiring, with very little to see. We missed the turnoff for the Head of Bight, as it was not particularly well sign posted. By 1545 we had reached the first of many roads that lead to views of the Great Australian Bight.

The Great Australian Bight from the Nullabor Marine Park

We checked out views at two lookouts over the Bight. One of these was the
Nullabor Marine Park which had amazing views.

It was 5.40 by the time we arrived at Eucla. Thankfully I had booked ahead as it was the last room available. Our room was VERY basic. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and the bathroom was clean with good water pressure in the shower. The door rattled with the breeze (GALE!!) but was rectified by placing a suitcase against it. I convinced Mark to drive down to the telegraph station ruins before it got too dark around a 15 min. drive on a dirt road.

The Telegraph Station at Sunset

Mark refused to walk to the jetty, a 1.5kms walk from the ruins walking in soft sand. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to see it on the way home. On our return to the hotel we stopped at the illuminated cross which is dedicated to all Christians passing by and the John Eyre Memorial.