What is the best time to cross the Nullarbor?
Any monthAutumn and spring are the sweet spots, and winter brings the whales.
Any month, with March, April, October and November the sweet spots. At Eucla and Ceduna, the weather stations we use for the crossing, summer days average 25 to 29°C, winter days 18 to 19°C, and it is dry all year, with no month above 38mm of rain. June to October is whale season at the Head of Bight, when southern right whales calve close enough to the cliffs to watch from land. Our crossings take ten days, with a night camped out on the plain itself, from $2,219 Perth to Adelaide or from $2,450 Adelaide to Perth.
Checked on 28 October 2026.
The Nullarbor is about 200,000 square kilometres of limestone between Western Australia and South Australia, and its weather is gentler than its reputation. Rain is light in every month, so the choice is between warm summer days, mild spring and autumn, and the whale season in winter.
The Nullarbor month by month
| Month | Eucla day / night | Ceduna day / night | Rain, Eucla / Ceduna | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C / 17°C | 29°C / 15°C | 16mm / 13mm | The warmest month. Long days and warm nights |
| February | 26°C / 17°C | 28°C / 15°C | 19mm / 14mm | Summer days, warm evenings at camp |
| March | 25°C / 16°C | 27°C / 13°C | 23mm / 16mm | A sweet spot. Warm and dry |
| April | 24°C / 14°C | 24°C / 11°C | 26mm / 20mm | A sweet spot. Mild days, comfortable nights |
| May | 21°C / 11°C | 21°C / 8°C | 30mm / 32mm | Mild days. Cooler nights for the swag |
| June | 19°C / 8°C | 18°C / 6°C | 31mm / 36mm | Whale season starts at the Head of Bight |
| July | 18°C / 7°C | 18°C / 6°C | 25mm / 38mm | The coolest month. Whales, and mild days on the road |
| August | 19°C / 8°C | 19°C / 6°C | 26mm / 34mm | Whale season, days warming up |
| September | 22°C / 9°C | 22°C / 8°C | 22mm / 25mm | Whales still in, and spring arriving |
| October | 23°C / 11°C | 24°C / 10°C | 19mm / 25mm | A sweet spot. The last of the whale season |
| November | 24°C / 14°C | 26°C / 12°C | 20mm / 19mm | A sweet spot. Warm days, mild nights |
| December | 25°C / 15°C | 28°C / 14°C | 18mm / 20mm | Summer starts. The longest days |
Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Eucla (station 011003, 105 years of records) and Ceduna (station 018012, 85 years of records).
What each season is for
Autumn. March to May
- March and April are sweet spots24 to 27°C by day and 11 to 16°C at night.
- By May it is 21°C by day, with nights of 8 to 11°C.
Winter. June to August
- Whale seasonfrom June to October southern right whales calve at the Head of Bight, close enough to the cliffs to watch from land.
- 18 to 19°C by day, comfortable for long days on the road.
- Nights drop to 6 to 8°Cso a warm sleeping bag matters. Eastbound you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow.
- Rain is still light: 25 to 38mm a month.
Spring. September to November
- The whales stay into Octoberwhile the days warm from 22°C to 26°C.
- October and November are sweet spotswarm days, mild nights and 19 to 25mm of rain a month.
Summer. December to February
- 25 to 29°C by dayat Eucla and Ceduna, with warm nights of 14 to 17°C, the easiest of the year for sleeping out.
- The longest days for the drive and the coast.
- Two nights at Lucky Bayin both directions, with white sand, clear water and kangaroos on the beach.
So when would we go?
- March, April, October or Novemberif you can pick freely: warm days and mild nights.
- June to Octoberfor the whales at the Head of Bight.
- December to Februaryfor the warmest nights in a swag and the longest days.
- Any month for the night on the plain itselfcamped out with nothing around you for a very long way.
The crossings
Both crossings take ten days, one way, with a guide driving an air-conditioned 4WD mini bus. Night four in both directions is bush camping on the Nullarbor, and every other night has showers and toilets. There is more on where each night falls on our how long does it take to cross the Nullarbor page, and on what is included on what is included on a Nullarbor crossing.
| Trip | Length | Starts and finishes | Meals | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Day Perth to Adelaide Tour | 10 days, 9 nights | Perth / Adelaide | Nine breakfasts, four lunches and eight dinners. Vegetarians are catered for. | $3000 |
| 10 Day Adelaide to Perth Tour | 10 days, 9 nights | Adelaide / Perth | All meals from day 1 lunch to day 10 breakfast — 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners, including a barbecue at Coodlie Park. Vegetarians catered for. | $3000 |
Both sleep in swags, with groups of 21 at most. Prices update on their own.
People also ask
- How long does it take to cross the Nullarbor?
- What is included on a Nullarbor crossing?
- How do you cross the Nullarbor, and is it worth doing?
- When is the best time to visit Esperance and Lucky Bay?
Where this comes from. Temperatures and rainfall are Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Eucla, station 011003, from 105 years of records, and Ceduna, station 018012, from 85 years of records. The whale season at the Head of Bight is as given on our Nullarbor crossing page. Trip lengths, where each trip sleeps, meals and prices are each trip's own details as held on its page here, and prices update on their own.