Ceduna to Glendambo via Kingoonya – South Australia (SA)

Heading east across the Nullarbor Plain and then north through Central Australia? Or maybe in the reverse direction?

Google Map of the Short Cut from Ceduna to Glendambo via Kingoonya

View Directions to Glendambo, South Australia in a larger map

Well, you can cut off a lot of kilometres and see some great outback country at the same time by leaving the Eyre Highway a little east of Ceduna and heading up between Lake Everard and Lake Gairdner.

Sturts desert pea flowers abundantly in the arid region landscape around Kingoonya in a good spring.

You’ll pass through the southern tip of Koolgerra Conservation Park on your 389km short cut, then touch Lake Everard and Lake Gairdner National Park, continuing on to brush Lake Gairdner before arriving at Kingoonya.

A small outback town in the process of rising from the dead, Kingoonya is a great place for a spell from driving, with 24 hour fuel, an outback pub and a free camp for the grey nomads and other travelers to park for the night.

Then another 43km east takes you to the Stuart Highway, close to Glendambo.

The Eyre Highway, of course, runs from Pimba, west of Adelaide and Port Augusta in South Australia (SA) to Western Australia (WA), following the coastal cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, meeting the Coolgardie Esperance Highway to the south of Coolgardie. This famous route includes one of Australia’s greatest drives, the Nullarbor Plain.

The Stuart Highway runs from Adelaide in South Australia (SA) to Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT), from the south of Australia to the north via Coober Pedy, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek in Central Australia.

The Stuart Highway and the railway line roughly follow the route surveyed by the great Australian inland explorer, John McDouall Stuart on his expeditions of discovery during 1858-62.

With a rich history dating back to the early days of European settlement, Kingoonya welcomes it’s visitors who are valued for their contribution to the local economy and their participation in outback life.

Kingoonya has a 24/7 fuel outlet with diesel and unleaded.

There’s an outback pub, the Kingoonya Waterhole Hotel, run by Frosty and Maria.

From the pub’s veranda you can watch the Indian Pacific and the Ghan trains roll by.

Sunny and Leesa are about to begin the task of bringing the caravan park back into service. In the mean time there’s a free camp near the public toilets.

Kingoonya boasts Australia’s widest main street, the venue for the annual cricket match, held on the first weekend in November. A big weekend for a small outback town!

Traveling east for a further 43km from Kingoonya takes you to the Stuart Highway, near Glendambo.

Besides it’s history as a railway town, Kingoonya has a rich history in the district’s stations and their homesteads.

Map of the station homesteads of the Kingoonya district.

Maybe you’d like to learn more about the town and district of Kingoonya. The Kingoonya website has great stories and photos from this long established pastoral district and railway town with emphasis on the town’s future.

Something to add to the Kingoonya discussion? Then make a comment below. Always pleased to hear from my readers.

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