Protected areas of the Nullarbor

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.

Understand

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), DEWEPOnlineBookings@sa.gov.au. (updated Aug 2021)

History

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

Flora and fauna

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).

Visitor information centre

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

Get in

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.

Fees and permits

No fees or permits

See

• 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)
• 1 Omer Beach. Another beach on the Nullabor (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 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)
• 3 Murrawijinie Caves. (updated Sep 2021)
• 4 The Big Whale, Opposite Nullabor Roadhouse. Another one of Australia's big things (updated Sep 2021)

Lookouts

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.

• 5 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)
• 6 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)
• 7 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)

Eat

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

Sleep

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.

• 1 Nullarbor Roadhouse (Eastern end of the Protected areas of the Nullarbor), ☏ +61 8 8625 6271. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 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)

Stay safe

• 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.

Go next

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