A Historic Outback Stop on the Nullarbor

There are few roads in Australia that create a sense of adventure quite like the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor.

Set amongst the vast landscape of Western Australia's Golden Outback, Madura Roadhouse is an iconic stopping point for travellers and riders making the journey across the continent.

Located around 529 kilometres east of Norseman, Madura provides a welcome opportunity to refuel, grab a meal, rest up and take in the incredible landscape before continuing your Nullarbor adventure.

For motorcycle riders, Madura is more than just a place to stop — it's part of one of Australia's great riding experiences.

From Horse Station to Highway Stop

Madura has a fascinating history.

The area was originally settled in the 1870s as Madura Station, established to breed horses for the British Army in India. The station took advantage of the area's relatively favourable conditions compared with the surrounding Nullarbor Plain.

Today, the historic station has given way to a modern roadhouse, but Madura's connection with the early development of Australia's remote east-west routes remains an important part of its story.

The Eyre Highway itself wasn't sealed across its full length until 1976, opening up much easier travel between Western Australia and the eastern states and transforming places such as Madura into important stops for travellers crossing the country.

🏍️ The Madura Pass

One of the highlights for anyone approaching Madura is Madura Pass.

The highway climbs through the pass before reaching the Madura area, providing riders with a spectacular change in scenery and some impressive views across the Roe Plains and towards the Southern Ocean.

The lookout at the top of Madura Pass is well worth a stop.

After hundreds of kilometres of relatively open Nullarbor country, seeing the landscape spread out below you is a reminder of just how vast this part of Australia really is.

📸 Rider tip: Stop at the lookout, stretch the legs and grab a photo before continuing down towards the roadhouse.

Things to See & Do

🏍️ Ride the Eyre Highway

The journey to Madura is every bit as important as the destination.

Long open stretches of road, spectacular skies, changing landscapes and the sheer scale of the Nullarbor make this one of Australia's bucket-list motorcycle rides.

Keep an eye out for wildlife and allow plenty of time for breaks. On a remote ride like this, enjoying the journey is just as important as reaching the next stop.

🌄 Madura Pass Lookout

Make time for the lookout at the top of Madura Pass.

From here you can look across the Roe Plains and towards the Southern Ocean — a spectacular contrast to the seemingly endless landscape encountered along the Nullarbor.

🕳️ The Nullarbor's Underground World

The limestone landscape around Madura is also home to remarkable cave systems.

The Mullamullang Cave system lies to the north-west of Madura and contains extensive passages and underground lakes. The area is particularly significant to experienced cave explorers and speleologists.

The caves are not a casual tourist attraction, so riders should always check current access conditions before considering any visit.

🌌 Experience the Outback

One of the great attractions of stopping at Madura is simply being there.

Away from the lights of Australia's cities, the Nullarbor offers enormous skies, incredible sunsets and some spectacular opportunities for stargazing.

Take a moment to slow down, look around and appreciate the remoteness.

Did You Know?

Madura was originally established as a horse-breeding station in the 1870s, supplying horses for the British Army in India.

It's a pretty remarkable piece of history to discover in the middle of one of Australia's most remote highways.

Today, thousands of travellers pass through Madura each year — but the landscape remains every bit as impressive as it would have been to those early travellers.

📖 Add Madura to Your Great Aussie Pub Feed Passport

If you're taking on the Nullarbor, Golden Outback Madura deserves a place on your Great Aussie Pub Feed route.

Pull in, refuel, grab a feed, take a break and enjoy the hospitality before continuing your journey across one of Australia's most iconic stretches of road.

And don't forget to get your Great Aussie Pub Feed Passport stamped!

Because when you're riding across Australia, the places you stop along the way become just as much a part of the adventure as the road itself.

Every pub has a story. Every ride creates a memory.

🏍️ Ride • Eat • Explore • Support