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Published: February 17th 2014
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Arrived in Ceduna having traveled with friends we had met at a previous C/P Ron & Cheryl.Our intention here is to prepare for the journey across the Great Nullarbor road and into Western Australia. Vehicles and caravans were given the once over in preparation for the journey and the food stuffs were had were checked to ensure we didn't have anything to upset the Quarantine inspectors at the border, even though we still had several hundreds of Ks to go.
Ron had decided to tackle the Nullarbor Links the worlds longest golf course at 1365 Kilometers starting here in Ceduna and finishing in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.Each participating town or roadhouse hosts a hole on the 18 hole par 72 golf course.Along the way you get the chance to see some amazing scenery and a different flavor to your journey. Jackie decided to participate as well while Cheryl and I were to become the caddies, which duties included ball finding,carrying any of the 3 clubs that Ron had purchased from a second hand shop for $3 each and being the official photographer for the whole course.
Ceduna itself has little to offer the traveler other than the usual fishing
Nullarbor
The first tee and hole on the great golf experience opportunities, whale watching in season together with the obligatory museum,perhaps I do the place an injustice and more time spent there may have given me a different perspective.The C/P was well organised, very clean and tidy and situated across the road from the water.Our first night there we were treated to music and song courtesy of a fellow traveler who was well set up with microphone and keyboard asking only a donation in the hat,well we had a ball with most of the camp site occupants together with the site managers joining in which ended up with a bit of dancing and a sing a long, a good night was had by all.
Advice was sought from travelers who had already crossed the Nullarbor from the other direction about road conditions and places to stay, so much is said about this journey we wanted to ensure we missed nothing and enjoyed the trip.We stayed 2 nights in Ceduna before heading off but not before the intrepid golfers played their first hole which in fact was 2 holes the first and the eighteenth.The journey begins.
The first stop on the journey from Ceduna is Penong for the next hole
Nullarbor
The club house Ceduna in the golf course followed by stopping at Nundroo roadhouse for another hole of golf, our first nights stop is at the Nullarbor hotel/motel/roadhouse for more golf and a place to rest overnight.We have witnessed some amazing scenery along this route including the Great Australian Bite seen best from a viewing platform at the visitor center amazing.Our journey took us past some clearly marked aboriginal communities which were well back from the highway and in the bush.
The next part of our journey took us through the SA/WA border and the quarantine checkpoint at which our cars and caravans are searched for prohibited items,we were all good.Just before the border and in sight of the quarantine station was another golf hole to be played,once through the border there remained 2 more holes to be played at Eucla and the Mundrabilla roadhouse before stopping for the night at Madura pass motel and road house and playing another hole of golf.This road house provided a swimming pool and we took advantage of this, meeting other travelers also grateful of the chance to relax in the pool.
Before reaching our next overnight resting place there were 3 more golf holes to
be tackled and by this time the weather had changed to overcast skies and rain,this changed the condition of the greens!! and made playing certainly different.Our resting place for the night was Fraser Ranger Station and another hole to be played.This place is a working station and an oasis in the outback. Surrounded by rolling hills covered in mist and rain, one could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Lake district in the UK or the south of NZ.We would have stayed here for a couple of days had the weather been kinder but we decided to move on to our next hole of golf the following morning but not before an evening meal in the camp kitchen provided by the hosts(at a cost).
We make our way to Norseman for the next two holes of golf but miss the signs for the links so decided to carry on to Kalgoolie/Boulder to the official finish of the golf course knowing there was still 2 holes to play on our return down to the coast.The holes in Kalgoolie are play on a golf course with all the refinements you would expect from an 18 hole course the game
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Second hole in Ceduna officially over we had to celebrate with a drink in the club house.
Kalgoolie is a major mining town like we have seen before however this town boasts a super pit, mining for gold with a huge output of gold per year.Our traveling companions opt for a tour of the mine and it's workings, we opted for a view of this great open cast mine from a viewing platform on the outskirts of town.We stayed 2 days before heading back to Norseman and completing the final 2 holes of golf.and making our way to Esperance back on the coast.
Oh! I nearly forgot along the Nullarbor we drove across the longest straight road in Australia 145.6km (90 miles)with only a few minor inclines and slopes otherwise you could see a long way.There are differing views about driving the Nullarbor road some would say it's featureless and boring and can't wait for the journey to be over,others like our self's found the journey fascinating made all the better for the golf.Although we passed through flat savanna and scrub we saw little wild life apart from a couple of eagles keeping watch from the top of a lonely tree.Were ever
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Ron in full swing we stopped we found the people friendly and helpful, inquiring about our journey and travel plans and seemed pleased we were enjoying our journey in their state.We have had a great trip across the Nullarbor and now look forward to some time on the coast as we head toward Perth but not just yet, lots more to see before then.
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