Protected areas of the Nullarbor Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

The protected areas of the Nullarbor include Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area, Nullarbor National Park and Nullarbor Regional Reserve in the Nullarbor of Outback South Australia. The Nullarbor is characterised to be one of Australia's most loneliest and most isolated areas, but the region has a lot more to offer than what most think.

The national park covers an area of 323 km² (125 sq mi) but the conservation area is 8,942.91 km² (3,452.88 sq mi) while the regional reserve is 19,198.51 km² (7,412.59 sq mi). Together, they make up for about 28,500 km² (11,000 sq mi), making it a very large vast open area.

There are very limited facilities in the protected areas. Bring sufficient water, food and supplies for your visit. Facilities include visitor toilets, showers, two roadhouses and Head of Bight Visitors Centre.

• Nullarbor National Park, Wilderness Protection Area and Regional Reserve, ☏ +61 8 8625 3144 (Ceduna office), [email protected]. (updated Aug 2021)

The Nullarbor is the traditional land of the Mirning Aboriginal people who have strong cultural links with the area.

You are most likely to spot a southern right whale along the South Australian coast. Southern right whales gather along the southern coast to mate and calve between May to October, before returning to sub-Antarctic waters to feed.

29 types of whales recorded in South Australia: the most common are the southern right whale, humpback whale, sperm whale, blue whale and orca whale (killer whale).

• -31.473688131.1130291 Head of the Bight Visitor Centre, Unnamed Road, Yalata. 8AM–5PM. Learn more about the whales that pass by the Nullabor. (updated Feb 2022)

The national park is about 887 km (551 mi) west of the state capital of Adelaide, and about 300 km west of Ceduna along the Eyre Highway.

No fees or permits

Map of Protected areas of the Nullarbor

• Bunda Cliffs. These cliffs stretch the entire park on the edge of the Great Australian Bight. It's particularly viewable when the road get's closer to the bight. (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.667013129.1025611 Omer Beach. Another beach on the Nullabor (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.403627129.8380672 Koonalda Cave (99 km west of Nullabor Roadhouse). Underground cavern that has rock art dating back to around 20,000 years ago and was thought to be abandoned about 19,000 years ago. (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.368333130.8694443 Murrawijinie Caves. (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.450321130.8960634 The Big Whale, Opposite Nullabor Roadhouse. Another one of Australia's big things (updated Sep 2021)

Note for the three lookouts listed below, there aren't any official names for those lookouts, and so Wikivoyage uses what is used on signage. Note that entering these on your GPS won't work.

• -31.575633130.1459275 Lookout 1 (37 km east of Lookout 2, on the Eyre Highway. A sign will just point out having the "lookout icon"). (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.606429129.7766366 Lookout 2 (37 km west of Lookout 1, and 59 km east of Lookout 3 via the Eyre Highway. A sign will just point out having the "lookout icon".). (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.659719129.1311387 Lookout 3 (59 km west of Lookout 2, via the Eyre Highway. A sign will just point out having the "lookout icon".). (updated Sep 2021)

• -31.450122130.8963591 Nullarbor Roadhouse, ☏ +61 8 8625 6271. Roadhouse. (updated Sep 2021)

Camping is permitted in signed locations throughout the park. Collection of firewood within national parks is prohibited: dead wood provides shelter for animals and adds nutrients to the soil.

• -31.449863130.8964771 Nullarbor Roadhouse (Eastern end of the Protected areas of the Nullarbor), ☏ +61 8 8625 6271. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Sep 2021)
• -31.638135129.003432 Border Village Roadhouse, Eyre Hwy, Nullarbor, ☏ +61 8 9039 3474. A small and simple roadhouse which includes fuel – make sure to fill up before heading onwards with your journey otherwise things could go wrong. (updated Feb 2022)

• Medical, fire (including bushfires) and police emergency situations: phone: 000.
• Police phone for non-emergencies: 131 444
• Most of the park is vast, with long distances in between. Sleep well in between, as driving fatigue is never a good idea
• Watch out for wildlife at dawn and dusk and slow down when necessary
• Bring warm clothes in winter. It's colder than what most people think.
• There is no mobile phone coverage in the park except at the Head of Bight Visitors Centre and adjacent to roadhouses.

• Your only choice is to either head west towards Perth via Eucla or head east towards Port Augusta via Ceduna