G’day, mate! If you’re cruising along the Stuart Highway and suddenly find yourself wondering whether you’ve stumbled into the set of Mad Max, no worries – you’ve probably just hit the SA/NT border crossing rest area.

This little oasis in the outback sits smack bang on the invisible line between South Australia and the Northern Territory, about 400 clicks north of Coober Pedy.

As you roll up, you’ll spot a whopping great sign declaring “Welcome to the Northern Territory” on one side and “Welcome to South Australia” on the other. It’s like being in two places at once, which is pretty bonza if you ask me.

The rest area’s got all the basics a weary traveler needs. There’s a decent dunny (that’s Aussie for toilet, for you non-locals), some shaded picnic tables for a quick sanga, and enough parking space to fit a road train or two. If you’re lucky, you might even score a selfie with a curious kangaroo or emu wandering by.

Now, here’s a top tip: bring your own tucker and water. This isn’t exactly the place to grab a gourmet meal or a cold tinnie. It’s more of a BYO situation, if you catch my drift.

A couple of road trains thunder past, kicking up dust and making you feel tiny in comparison. You watch them disappear into the shimmering heat haze, heading towards Alice Springs or Adelaide, depending on which way they’re pointed.

Back at your vehicle, you notice a few other travellers milling about. There’s a grey nomad couple checking their map, looking a bit confused. You wander over for a yarn.
“G’day folks, you alright there? You’re not lost, are ya?” you ask with a friendly grin.

The old fella looks up, relief washing over his face. “Too right, we might be! We were headed for Coffs Harbour, but I reckon we’ve gone off course somewhere. You wouldn’t happen to know if we’re on the right track, would ya?”

You chuckle and pull out your own map. “No worries, mate. Let’s have a squiz and get you sorted.”

As you help the couple find their bearings, you can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie. Out here in the vast Outback, everyone looks out for each other. It’s part of what makes travelling in this sunburnt country so special.

So, there you have it, cobber. The SA/NT border crossing rest area – not exactly the Sydney Opera House, but a fair dinkum Aussie experience all the same.