Nullarbor Plain

The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country immediately north of the Great Australian Bight.

The Nullarbor Plain is the world’s largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about 200,000 km² (77,200 sq miles).

At its widest point the Nullarbor Plain stretches about 1,200 km from east to west between South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA).

The Nullarbor Plain is thought to be a former seabed. The region is also the location of Nullabor Limestone and it has a reputation as a significant karst region.

One theory is that the whole area of the Nullarbor Plain was uplifted by crustal movements, and since then, erosion by wind and rain has smoothed out most topographic features, resulting in the extremely flat terrain across the plain today. The plain is a series of tiers. Each tier is flat and was formed when the sea level was much higher than it is today.

The southern ocean, in areas, blows through many subterranean caves resulting in blow holes up to several hundred metres from the coast. One such area open for public inspection are the Murrawijinie Caves, in South Australia. Most other caves can only be visited and viewed with Department of Environment and Conservation approval.

Vegetation in the area is primarily low saltbush and bluebush scrub. A large part of the Nullarbor Plain is now a National Park.

The Nullarbor is known for extensive meteorite deposits, which are extremely well-preserved in the arid climate. In particular, many meteorites have been discovered around Mundrabilla, some up to several tonnes in weight./p>

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain

‘Crossing the Nullarbor’, for many Australians, is a seminal experience of the ‘Australian Outback’. Stickers bought from roadhouses on the highway show ‘I have crossed the Nullarbor’, and can be seen on vehicles of dubious quality or capacity for long distance travel.

The process of ‘beating the crowds’ on overbooked air services at the time of special sporting events can also see significant numbers of vehicles on the road.