Sat, 8th Nov, 2025 Bush camp at Jillbunya Rockhole Rest Area, east of Caiguna to Hearder Hill Rest Area, east of Mundrabilla, WA (Nullarbor golfing)

4am heavy rain fell. Overcast and 11 degree min this morning. More showers of rain as we had breakfast. Nothing showing on the BOM map and the forecast for Cocklebiddy was 0-1mm.

Another shower of rain then Steve went for a walk to check the track. He said it was ok so we packed up and headed out. Misty and low clouds as we continued eastward. Not good for sightseeing caves or playing golf. We had done the advertised caves in 2016 but I see there are more marked on Wikicamps so will have to check them out on a return run.

Passed the turn off into Capstan (Cocklebiddy) Cave in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve just as another heavy downpour hit us.

Into Cocklebiddy Roadhouse where another misty shower passed over as we walked into the road house to find Samantha and Bruce - two rescued Wedge-tailed Eagles that I read about on Wikicamps. I don't remember them being here when we came past in 2016.

More info on the wall.

They have a big cage but we only found one. Hard to see if it is Sam or Bruce as we can’t get close enough to see the ‘eye’ she lost.

We asked in the shop and the chap showed us through the back door that there were two - the other one was on the ground in the grass hence we missed it. It flew up to the branch as we walked back around.

Good mileage sign. Cocklebiddy was originally established as an aboriginal mission in early pioneer times.

The misty rain has stopped and a bit of sunshine is trying to come through so we got out the gold clubs and headed to the tee. Tom posed for a couple of photos to show he was part of the game! Steve lost another ball but found a new one to replace it. Not that we need to as Margaret had given us a bucket of balls with the clubs.

Fran sent through more photos of Sophia - she is such a cute darling.

Back on the road and down the Madura Pass to the Madura Roadhouse. Madura Station was settled in 1876 and bred horses for the British Army (India).

This is a different hole as it goes across the ‘road’. Luckily we don’t hit too far so no cars were in danger though Steve can send a good one down the fairway at times. I lost my ball this time but always carry a spare in my pocket.

Had lunch as more sun is trying to peek through the clouds.

Continued along the Roe Plains with the Hampton Tablelands on the left - nice views.

A big roadtrain passed us with EmerikusLand and butterflies on it. I googled it up. It is a non-profit foundation set up to support bereaved parents who lost a baby. It was established in memory of baby Ermerikus Land and was dedicated to providing ‘cuddle cots’ and memory boxes to hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. The foundation is now closed but it continues to support its mission through its remaining supplies. What a lovely idea. I had joined Sands/Sids after losing Anthony and found a lovely lady in Brisbane who did sketches off the hospital photo we were given of him. She did a beautiful job and he looked so peaceful.

Still have the Tablelands to our left as we pull into Mundrabilla Roadhouse for another hole of golf. The wind is still cold but there is more sun now.

Found this plaque at ground level - different!

Filled up with diesel too for $2.29/L as the others have been $2.43. I bought a ‘We crossed the Nullarbor’ sticker as they didn’t have any magnets saying that. Will stick it onto a magnet for our fridge. Note from the brochure I have - “Australia’s biggest meteorite was discovered nearby, weighing over 10 tonnes.”

Continued on to Hearder Hill Rest Area. Followed a track around to a clearing beside the trees and a fireplace. Someone has left timber though it is wet but the boys reckon they can get a fire going and dry out the logs so we can sit outside for a while longer tonight.

Had a cuppa then Sandy and I went for a walk - tracks going everywhere but we didn’t get lost.

Chatted till it was ‘time’ for drinks and the boys got the fire going. The wind has settled.

Tom called out to another couple who pulled up in the rest area section to come join us by the fire. John and Ann from NSW came over with their dog and we had a great time chatting with the warmth of the fire keeping the coldness at bay. Even had dinner outside as we were enjoying the chat and the fire’s warmth. The stars are out in the clear sky now - even saw a satellite.

We ran out of timber so said good night and headed back to our ‘homes’ at 9pm. It was only 14 degrees inside so would be colder outside.

Fri, 7th Nov, 2025 72hr Rest Area, Norseman to Bush camp at Jillbunya Rockhole Rest Area, east of Caiguna, WA (Nullarbor golfing)

Shower of rain during the night. 14 degrees min in the camper with blue sky and a few clouds this morning.

Packed up and headed onto the Eyre Highway to head east.

It was 12-22 April 2016 when we first came across and we loved all the caves, blowholes and golf spots along the way. We have Tom and Sandy this time so won’t be doing too much exploring but they are happy to play the golf holes - well Sandy is. Tom isn’t sure as he is left-handed.

Good smooth road for a change after all the road-train affected roads we have been on.

Pulled off to have a cuppa at Newman Rocks where we had camped on the way over. The dirt track was full of wet pot holes so Tom & Sandy waited while we checked it out. Decided not to stop here. Back on the bitumen - another view as the greenery changed to lower shrubs.

Continued on to Balladonia Roadhouse for a cuppa and play the golf hole here. I am sure I took a photo of this old boiler on the way over. The sign needs redoing.

Sandy was the winner of this hole. We all agreed to not keeping a score! Steve lots his ball into a tree on the first hit but he then found 3 to replace it in the bushes. I forgot to get a photo of me having a hit.

Lots of trucks and the fuel was cheap, $2.27/L compared to the roadhouses further on so we topped up. Into the roadhouse to pay and check out the museum. Still the same so I didn’t take any photos. Cute friends near the playground.

Still grey clouds and a few spits of rain as we passed the old Telegraph Station at Balladonia Rock. Looks like it is in need of roof repairs at least. It is now private property so no access. Info off Wikicamps - “Because the salt was affecting the Overland Telegraph line from Albany to Ceduna, a new telegraph station was built in 1896 at Balladonia Rock. The large rock area also provided a catchment area for their water supply. Seven acres was excised from Balladonia Station, and when the repeater station ceased being used in the 1920s it reverted to Balladonia Station once again. It was used as a fuel station in the 50s for a short while until the Roadhouse was built 26km to the west.”

Pulled off for a photo at the west end of the 90 Mile Straight. The stickers are nearly blocking out the words.

Pulled off into a rest area for lunch. Still cool and the flies are very annoying so we ate inside.

Continued on the straight road though it has rises and dips.

Passed the turn off into Woorlba Station. The Skylap debris landed on this station somewhere.

The trees have thinned out as we head towards Caiguna. We can see along way over the grass plain. No wildlife about.

At Baxter Rest Area I saw on Wikicamps there was a blow hole here - we didn’t have that app when we came across in 2016. Very handy, though I like the old version better than the new one. We followed tracks into the bush and eventually found the blow hole which wasn’t blowing unfortunately.

Back to the main rest area section for lunch. Steve found this pile of rocks where people are leaving their ‘calling cards’.

Continued eastward on the ‘straight’. Saw our first roo but it was dead by roadside then a wedge-tail eagle, they are so slow at taking off so you have to slow down when you see them.

Spotted some bustards (plain turkeys) - I just got a photo of them on either side of the green shrubs.

East end sign. Time for another photo. Sky clearing up.

Into Caiguna Roadhouse for the next hole of golf. Sandy did the best again.

Got some texts from Annalise and Fran with photos of the kids having fun.

Better look out for the wildlife.

We will change our clocks to Central Western Time - advance our clocks 45 min so we can adjust. Unfortunately that means I have missed afternoon coffee time! Another 45 min when we reach the border too.

20km on we pulled into a roadside rest area that didn’t look very good. It was called Jillbunya Rockhole so Steve went for a walk along the dirt track to see if there were better spots. He found two caravans parked up in cleared areas so we drove along the track and found a spot for us. Tom parked to try and block the wind which is still blowing and cold.

We went for a walk to try and find the ‘rockhole’ or the ‘blowhole’ that is also marked but we couldn’t find either. Back to camp for drinks now we adjusted our clocks. 

Chatted for a while then headed inside for a hot shower and dinner.