Hi, I'm planning on driving to Perth from Canberra mid-February 2006. I want to travel around the coast line in WA ie. Albany, Margaret River than up to Perth. Trying to map out the trip, where I would stopover etc so if anyone could assist that would be great. I'm planning on doing this solo in my mitsubishi mirage (with air-con) and would obviously go well prepared, but if I were to breakdown or run into any sort of trouble, is there any assistance available across the Nullabor? ie. police, would roadhouses send out someone if I broke down, and is there mobile phone coverage? Any advice appreciated.

Although this is not a journey to undertake lightly, you are in no real danger nowadays travelling across the Nullarbor (except maybe from dying of boredom!) The route is used by the trans-Australia road trains, and, I hear, you pass one every few minutes. You could always flag them down and travel with them to the nearest road house -- which, of course, is likely to be quite some distance! One breakdown won't cost you your life, but it could throw your holiday WAY off schedule!

The main thing is to take LOTS of petrol (gasoline), as there are few places to buy it, and those that do sell it practically require the deed to your house to fill your tank. Oh, and a spare fan belt and TWO spare tyres might be a wise precaution, too.

Finally, do visit the NRMA website for information on driving in the outback. Before you leave, pay their office a visit (in Canberra or Sydney) and pick up some useful brochures.

Albany is a lovely town, but I bet when you get there you won't be able to see it.... your windscreen will be six inches thick with mashed grasshopper!

Good luck!

Sounds like a lesson in Advanced Masochism 101 to me - but to each his own. As Alan says, good luck. BTW, Nullarbor sounds vaguely Aboriginal but is actually Latin - "null arbor", "no trees".

Thanks (i think! . I have been using the NRMA website to try and plan out the trip, and that has been very useful. I have planned an overnight stop in Albany, and then up to Busselton for what will be a much needed rest - a few days on the beach! From what i can gather, i think it will take me 7 days from Canberra to Busselton, around 7 hours driving a day give or take a bit. I was surprised by your comment about the roadtrains - i had heard of them, but i haven't gotten the impression in my research that they are so prolific? And what's with the grasshoppers? Are they particularly bad? Again, from what i read i didn't think 'bugs' would be much of an issue - it was more the kangaroos i was worried about. Kimberley