As an interstate truckie in the latter part of the1960's I crossed the Nullarbor many times both ways, it was all dirt road from Ceduna to Eucla, the W.A side of the border was still being sealed, my prime mover was an A.E.C Mandator, a good truck in its day. The Gurney family lived at Koonalda in those days, a number of the rusty wrecks were worn out old farm vehicle's although a good number were break downs and crashes, not as many there now from how I remember. Same type of grave yard at Nullarbor station except a lot bigger, lots of the casualties were cars going to fast over cattle grids and smashing the sump, chances are if the vehicle was burnt out it would be a VW beetle or a Kombi van. The homestead at Nullarbor Station was just a private home, you could get fuel and they would help with a break down and that was all, Murray Thomas was the manager at that time. I made a point of calling into these places to ask if there was any spare parts or what ever they needed in W.A that I could bring back, it was quite remote in those days and it was good to have "friends' if you needed them. A company called Butterworths had the contract to grade the road in those days, some trips I would have spare tyre's and grader blade cutting edges to leave at pre aranged places. Semi drivers would drive where possible on the opposite side of the road from the direction the wind was blowing so car drivers could see to over take. It was in the Ivy Tanks area where the Wombats lived, heard a lot of bull shit about Wombats and crashes, from my experience take it with a pinch of salt. The road surface in the Ivy Tanks area was sandy and would get very corrugated so could only travel at low speed, some times and during the night the head lights would frighten Quail and they would fly onto the wind screen and get caught in the stone guard, the birds were never hurt and it was easy enough to stop and let them go free. If you had bad luck with punctures and ran out of spare wheels we would then have to mend the punctures. All ways carried plenty of canned food and water in case of a breakdown, only happened once but that is another story. The only Camel I ever saw was a pet owned by George Chick the then owner at Nundroo road house.

Crossed the Nullarbor 3 times in 1973/74 on my 750 suzuki water bottle on the old road. Took it easy, found the trip pretty exciting. Must do the new road one day. I'm 70 and still have a lot of riding to do. Cheers

My boyfriend and I drove across the Nullabour east to west in March 1970 in his 1962 Mini 850. We had to watch out for the bull dust holes after we disappeared into the first one (that was a bit frightening) but other wise we had no trouble until we crossed the border and then ran over a dead wombat (luckily we had a bash plate which saved the motor from damage) the battery was in the boot of the car and it got split in half. Guess who got the job of pushing the car to start it every time we stopped for fuel, that's right little skinny me. I was 18yrs and he was 19.

I was near the nulla roadhouse on the Eyre hwy about 10years ago in my trusty LandRover doing its Max 110 kmph, then from out of now where an XA or XB coup, appears charging up behind me, yeah that's a madmax car for those younger or not Aussie's. The bloody thing had a screaming blown engine as high as the roof & overtook me at warp speed + 10. I'd estimate 250kmph easily. Not long before that a camel ran out in front of me as they do. It's always an adventure. Thanks for sharing yours

When I was 18 in 1975 my boyfriend and I crossed the Nullabour from Adelaide to Perth in an old Morris J2 Van. We broke down once at a remote place next to a broken sign post that said "Screech Howl Creek". A wheelbearing was gone. After some time some guys pulled up to see if we needed help. We were not too far from a small township that had a repair shop and it was agreed I would stay with the van and boyfriend went with the guys on a mission to hopefully track down a new bearing. By some miracle he was able to get one and returned to carry out repairs and we were on our way. Fun times. Remember it was stinking hot the day we headed out of Adelaide and spent a couple of hours in the afternoon nursing a few creme de menthe in an airconditioned pub. No A/C in the van. Really enjoyed your video. Brought back lots of happy memories. 😊👍

I really appreciate your efforts bringing us all such adventures.

remove the guard good to see video of the old track I'm 68, most major highways in WA were just sealed in my lifetime. Even in the Southwest. I never crossed the Nullarbor when it was unsealed. Wife and mates did as kids. When it was in the early 1970s all these Eastern States caravans appeared, looking at us like we were a lost tribe. I did travel Perth to Headland on dirt. Some of the road was a creek bed. Also travelled Newman to Headlnd unsealed. The Brockman Highway in WA was dirt until about 1974. The Outback is serene and activates your soul but that straight road is boring. Last time we crossed it was with wife asleep with our dogs in a Franklin caravan while I drove slowly avoiding wombats at 2 am on Christmas Eve.

Oh how I remember crossing the Nullarbor back in '73 (across from Perth) and '75 (back to Perth). Dirt roads, LOTS of bulldust holes and OH the adventure of it all!! Thank you for the memories .........

Thank you for sharing your ride. It made me nostalgic and little melancholic. I travelled the old Eyre Highway in 1969 on my way to becoming a mining brat. A mum, 3 kids, a dog, 4 jerry cans and 2 water barrels in an HJ Holden wagon. Four amazing days of mum constantly doing the maths to see if we'd make it to the next fuel bowser. Bull dust, pot holes the size of a VW Beetle and the road trains roaring past leaving us lost in a red cloud. It was an exciting adventure for kids - terrifying for mum who'd never driven more than 20km's before she left Sydney determined to make a better life in Karratha - in those days the miners were flown in by the company, the families had to find their own way. No commercial flights and no FIFO. Can you believe that amazing woman drove back 4 years later?!

Didn't realise how much history there was in that region. The drone shots are stunning!

Great video mate , highlight of my day :-)) . Yeah , I remember you saving that mongrel some years ago !

Good to see the old Nullarbor road again,I first went across in 1971 and was all dirt from Eucla to Penong,it took all day do 300 miles.

Poor bloody dingo, geez they have a tough life. That one looked fairly healthy and active, so probably been there only a day or two. I've always felt sorry for dingoes how they struggle and get baited and shot. My empathy probably started back in the early eighties when I saw the thinnest most starving rib-caged bugger ever, trotting along just off the dirt road out at Boulia, Qld.

After 40 years riding I hung up my helmet a few years back. I salute your skills, endurance and sublime insanity in undertaking such adventures. Long may you stay upright and gather no moss. Cheers.

I wish these videos were 2 hours long! I love watching your adventures Steve

I did that run in 1979/80 and it was dry as dry could be, this was the 2nd and 3rd year of the border run talk about bring back old memories it’s changed so much from then to now that’s for sure. Many of the lookouts never existed back then.

Looks like beautiful country, especially the lightly wooded bit at the beginning.

My very pregnant wife and I crossed the Nulubar in a EH Holden in 1974 in the wet. As a pair of Canadians we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Great video

Always look forward to seeing your adventures! Thanks for sharing!

I’d never get anywhere, I’d be stopping to look at every wrecked car 😂

Love the old building, love the old junk yards and love the old roads. Great video. 👍

Fantastic video Steve, thanks for sharing. I remember the dingo episode like yesterday.

Excellent Steve!! It looks like you struck relatively calm but cool conditions heading across east! Hate that clay mud!!

Looks like another great trip there Steve. Thanks for sharing, always enjoy your videos

My mum did that crossing in 1963 at the age of 20 with one of her girlfriends in a FJ that shit itself half way and a trucky spent 2 days camped on the side road with them to fix the car!

Great video Steve. I’ve never heard of the border run. Well guess where I’m off to next year awesome thanks for sharing ride safe

Great video Steve , I met an older gentleman when I was racing pushbikes in Victoria in the 90's,, he was in his 80's then and he travelled the nullabor to kalgoorlie for work when he was a young man with his father in their car , he talked about fixing punctures and camping out. it was quite a trip then and looks like still an adventure ! looking forward to the next video!

Outstanding Steve and Tom - thanks! This vast brown, ancient land - puts some perspective on the day to day trivialities.

Fantastic video, really glad this popped up on my feed

Thanks Steve, gives me some new alternatives for crossing the Nullabor.

It seems longer then 5 years since we saw that dingo. Reading the comments there is already quite a few stories of the nullarbor 👍 Cheers 4 sharing sir.

Good work getting though all those wet tracks. Tough riding there.

I know I will never get to Australia ,but thanks to you Steve ,and Nerb1 and Mark from Biker Bits ,I get to see your amazing country.

My mates dad inspired me to travel with his stories of driving the Nullarbor before it was sealed in a Kombi with a basic setup and 2 trail bikes inside.

Great content Steve, look forward to more!

Great vid,me missus and I just spent 6weeks visiting AUS int the FNQ using trains ,boats ,planes and a ute,wonderful time we had,the vastness of AUS is really brought home to the viewer on your travels,well done sir.

Great Aussie adventure vid 👍

My favourite you tube Channel. Thanks Steve 👍

Fantastic video Guys really close in the tent tipi

The big wide flat land. Emphasis on flat. It blew my mind to be out there a couple of years ago. Took the boy and the wagon and headed West. Nice images fellas. Safe travels.

Did that west east trip many times when it was dirt from the WA border almost to Ceduna and your are right it was a very wide road enough to comfortably park 4 trucks across it. There were many of those water tank stops on the road where travellers could replenish their water supply. It was also pretty bad when it was wet.

Hi folks ..The Nullabor my first time over it 1960 … last time 1971 …the new road in western Aussie was not long open . The South Aussie side was still and adventure ,but did each time in summer so it was not hard just boring and B …. Y hot .. yer 45 and above all the way ..learnt don’t tackle these trips with retreads .😢

Thanks Great Video 👍👍

Another epic video 👍

Awesome adventure! It's making me itchy to get back on the adventure bike soon :)

Enjoyed those backing tracks, nice work 👍

I got the same woodstove in my kitchen like in the Koonalda homestead. That oven door looks brand new!

My dad did this crossing in 1963 in a VW Beetle to go up to the NT and sell encyclopedias with a group of other salesmen. He said the road was that wide it was basically just a braid of tracks you had to follow as best you could, and at night you'd get mesmerised by the taillights of the car in front of you.

I wish I could do a run like you do. It’s a long way from Annaheim Saskatchewan Canada to where you are. I’m looking forward to your next video 🍻

Another great video. I really enjoy your style of vlogging and your adventures. It all looks a lot of fun - even the difficult bits. A bit out of my league for now. I am definitely still at the grasshopper level 😆

Closed roads are usually fun.

I spent 2 years working on nullabour with macmahon building new highway, spent many times exploring the many off track, was great time in my life.

I worked for a bloke back in the 70/s who drove a Leyland Comet East West, on the old road, he had some horror stories to tell about bulldust holes,emus, wombats, kangaroos and camels. Driving a Comet would be hairy enough without the added attraction of the wildlife and on road features.

that mud looks like bloody hard work

Your missus will be waiting a while for the milk for her tea. lol. What a cliff hanger ending to the video. Man, i hope i don't see Dingo bones in that pit in the next episode. Keep up the adventures:-)

Bloke with the DR's got the idea. The one on the BMW is just a masochist.

Cheers Steve 🤙

Giday Steve, yeah back in the day... My Dad, Mum, bother and myself drove across the old Hwy back in 1969 (i was about 6.5yrs). We were in a Datsun 1000 station wagon! Our car had been sea shipped down from Christmas Island (my birth place) on top of a load of Phosphate in one of the holds on a ship call theTriadic. My dad was (is still i guess) a Ham radio operator and had a radio 'rig' setup in the car and ariels on the roof rack, and that gear was our comms kit... Back in the day...

The Bight has quite the view. I got that buildup on my tires in the snow once In my VW bug into the bank I went.

That was good timing. I sent the google maps link to my brother who is driving over to WA today. So now he is on his way to the car graveyard. Thanks.

10👍/10👍 Retirement is such hard work, , , , best left to the old dogs ehh?😉

u forgot the bread :( boss lady told you to go back poor fella hehehe

Cheers another great vid Steve 👍. Have they come up with a date and place for the next desert raid ? Thanks mate.

Just remembered the road was bloody rough through the Native Reserve …. Huge pot holes bull dust all the way only some 35 kilometres I think but boy oh boy bloody rough

If any viewers are thinking of doing this run keep in mind that there is also a magnificent shearing shed at Koonalda, worth a look. Koonalda is looked after by the SA parks mob, and in reality a fee (minimal) for stays is payable at the Ceduna Tourist centre. It is also possible to leave the highway at the border (when heading east) and travel the old Eyre Hwy to Koonalda, a trip which is in my bucket list.

I get a numb bum and neck ache just watching you on those long boring never ending straight roads .

Blew a tyre on my Cortina, just before Ivy Tanks, back in 74, and did not want to continue without a spare. I got a replacement tyre there, a second hand KLEBER for $50 bucks!! Shit, I was only earning $78 a week back in 74, but what can you do!

Great vid. Intrigued by the speedo which seems to take signal from the rear wheel as it indicates you moving while clearly bogged in the first minute of the clip…..

So the SA Department of Environment and Water no longer using Koonalda Homestead as a base? Pity if true, it was fun place to visit/camp when working remotely. Nearby Koonalda Cave, a massive sinkhole, is also spectacular to visit although entry is subject to a permit to protect Aboriginal heritage.

🍻

👍👍👍👊😎

. . I often wondered if old mate Dingo made it out ? 😳 -2.5C . . . Fark thats cold !

I'm sure it's been said before, but either remove or elevate the front guard to stop the wheel locking?

Good stuff. Enjoying your ride. BUT …. Did you rescue the dingo or did you get eaten?

I went to Phillip Island from Perth on a bike once. WA riders were the best. Crossing the SA border a bunch of undisciplined knobs joined the trip. Hazardous types. My family is from there so I'm not bagging all SA types. Just a bad batch maybe.

Way back, my wife and I on a visit from Thailand to my brother in Adelaide did The Nullabour run on a coach trip. Starting at 0800 and arriving at 2230. All day without a beer as it was banned on coaches. And at the stops, they refused to sell me one. The coach driver said 'No worries mate. I want a beer. We'll get one when we arrive." The bloody bar was closed when we did arrive. The next morning I at least got a flight to spot the Great Right whales. Though we didn't spot any. The return trip was more interesting but an eye-opener as to the way the indigenous population was being treated. Shameful.

Reminds me of travelling over 1000 KMs on a similar road through the Beni District, Ribetalta to Rurrenebaque and then over the death road to La Paz in Bolivia.....a totally lawless area....

interested to know the sound track & band.. lovely music but the link doesn't do anything

@5:30 not bad going if you ride like grannies. lol

The moment of realization that low tech bikes can often be the better option.

Remember doing the Border Run on a W.A. registered 79 Moto Guzzi S.P 1000 around that time! It was most likely with a couple of members of the B.M.W.club of W.A,who,I think went by the nicknames Bear and Goldie(?) reflected by ownership of BMW R90/S? Wonder if their still around? Don't ride that much anymore although I still have a 2001 BMW R1200C Independant! Thanks for the memories of the old Eyre Highway. Dave; formerly known as 'Life' be out of it??

Did u get the dog out?

Who let the dog out

You are a practical, problem-solving guy Steve, so why do you stubbornly keep that low front mudguard? Repeating the same mistake again and again but expecting a different outcome is a definition of.......... Sent with much respect anyway (to the guy with a dry sense of humour) - love your videos🕊

I thought Dingoes don’t bark?

At the start you were better off riding beside the track not on it. Only an Aussie could call this a highway but it is an off the road highway.

The worst thing you can do is go off the track in this country when its wet. Car or bike. Trap for novices

Looks just like Club Med Puckapunyal. 🇦🇺👎🍺

At 5:55 when you could clearly see the ROAD COSED sign you should have turned around and gone back! You've given us mental patients on bikes a bad name.

First like first comment Happy bunny!!!!!

This years Border Run (from Queensland) was the most miserable yet, and I've done quite a few. Ferocious head winds and freezing cold, but it was worth it with the conversations had with (BMW) riders from WA that I used to knock around when I lived there in the 70's. Looking forward to the next instalment.