Eyre Highway: driving 146km (91mi) without any turn
Eyre Highway links Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. It features what is said to be the longest straight stretch of road in the country: 146.6 kilometres (91.1 mi) without any turns. It’s one of the longest roads in Australia.
Where does the Eyre Highway start and finish?
This lonely road is completely paved. It's 1,664 km (1,034 miles) long and connects the south of Western Australia with South Australia. This relatively well-maintained sealed road starts at Norseman (a town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia) and ends in Port Augusta (the seventh most populous city in South Australia). It can be navigated by a conventional vehicle. It’s named after the European explorer Edward John Eyre.
What is the longest straight stretch of road in Australia?
The highway features one of the longest straight stretches of road in the world: 146.6 kilometres (91.1 mi) without any turns, between the small roadhouse communities of Balladonia and Caiguna.
When was the Eyre Highway sealed?
It is one of Australia’s epic self-drive adventures. The highway was constructed between July 1941 and June 1942. Initially, it was little more than a rough track, but it was gradually sealed over the next thirty years. The last unsealed section of the Eyre Highway was finally sealed in 1976.
Is the Eyre Highway remote?
The Eyre Highway is a long and lonely road. While in the East you can find some towns, the western part is almost devoid of life. Because of its remoteness, some sections of the road serve as emergency airstrips for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to ensure the safety of traveling vehicles. These airstrips are signposted, have runway "piano keys" painted on the road, and turnaround bays for small aircraft. The trip can be done in a conventional vehicle, and services are spaced such that you should not need to carry fuel. Not all service stations are open 24 hours, so if you are not traveling during daylight hours, you will need to plan accordingly.
Is the Eyre Highway Safe?
The loneliness, remoteness, and driver fatigue cause a high incidence of fatalities and accidents. To mitigate this, some locations have started a program to provide free coffee to encourage drivers to take a break or rest on long journeys. At the same time, several signals across the road encourage drivers to take a break from driving. There are no sheer cliff-sides to contend with, nor are there hairpin turns along this road. In other words, it’s rather plain and boring, a sort of long and lonely road in the middle of nowhere - that is, until you take into consideration how many wild animals exist in southern Australia. The wildlife in the region, which includes kangaroos, emus, and camels, is known to cause serious damage to cars. Dawn and dusk are the most dangerous times to drive on the highway, as animals frequently attempt to cross the road.
How long does it take to cross the Eyre Highway?
Driving the road will take between 2 and 3 days. For much of its length, it can be described as a long and lonely road. It’s said to be one of Australia’s greatest road trips where you’ll learn more about Australia’s pioneering history and experience the real outback.