Bunda Cliffs Lookouts – Nullarbor National Park, South Australia

Spectacular Great Australian Bight Lookouts – But Overnight Camping is No Longer Permitted

The Bunda Cliffs are one of the great natural highlights of crossing the Nullarbor, where the vast limestone landscape suddenly ends in enormous cliffs overlooking the Southern Ocean. Travellers following the Eyre Highway can visit three official Bunda Cliffs lookouts, each providing spectacular views east and west along the Great Australian Bight. In years gone by, informal camping near the cliffs became extremely popular with caravanners, motorhome travellers and four-wheel drivers. Photos of caravans parked above the Southern Ocean are still widely shared online, and some camping directories continue to describe the area as a free camp. However, the rules have changed. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia advises that camping along the Bunda Cliffs is prohibited. The official lookouts are sightseeing stops rather than overnight camping areas (August 2026)

Bunda Cliffs Lookouts Overview

What Are the Bunda Cliffs?

The Bunda Cliffs form one of the most dramatic sections of coastline in Australia. For kilometre after kilometre, the limestone plateau of the Nullarbor ends abruptly at the Southern Ocean, creating a spectacular wall of pale limestone above the deep blue waters of the Great Australian Bight. The scale of the landscape can be difficult to appreciate until you actually stand at one of the designated viewpoints. Looking east or west, the cliff line seems to continue almost endlessly toward the horizon.

The Three Official Bunda Cliffs Lookouts

National Parks SA advises that there are three official Bunda Cliffs lookouts. These locations are signposted and have been selected as appropriate areas for visitors to safely enjoy views along the coastline. The lookouts provide views in both directions along the cliffs and are among the best sightseeing stops on the South Australian section of the Nullarbor crossing.

Can You Camp at the Bunda Cliffs?

No. Camping along the Bunda Cliffs is currently prohibited.

National Parks SA states that camping is prohibited throughout this part of the protected area and specifically warns travellers not to camp along the Bunda Cliffs. This includes locations that may still appear as free camps on older websites, camping apps, maps or traveller reviews.

Why Has Camping Been Prohibited?

The most important reason is cliff instability. The Bunda Cliffs are not a permanently solid platform. Sections of the limestone cliff edge are continually cracking, eroding and collapsing into the Southern Ocean. A location that appears safe from above may actually be undercut beneath the surface. National Parks SA warns that cliff collapses are common and unpredictable, which is why visitors are directed to designated viewing locations.

Don’t Follow Informal Tracks

One of the biggest problems along the Bunda Cliffs has been the creation of unofficial vehicle tracks. Some older tracks have been closed because of cracking and cliff collapses, but visitors sometimes create new tracks around barriers. National Parks SA advises travellers to only drive down tracks where signage indicates that public access is safe. Using informal tracks and camping areas may result in fines.

But My Camping App Says I Can Camp There?

This is where confusion commonly arises.The Bunda Cliffs were once widely promoted among travellers as an extraordinary free camping destination, and numerous photographs, reviews and campsite listings remain online. Some camping directories still categorise individual Bunda Cliffs lookouts as free camps.

Where Can You Camp Instead?

Fortunately, travellers still have several legitimate overnight options when exploring the Nullarbor.

Alternatives include:

• Koonalda Homestead – the designated camping option within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area
• Nullarbor Roadhouse – accommodation and traveller facilities
• Border Village – accommodation near the SA/WA border
• Roadside rest areas along the Eyre Highway – where current signage permits overnight stopping

Koonalda Homestead

For travellers wanting a genuine bush camping experience within the protected Nullarbor landscape, Koonalda Homestead is the authorised option. The campground is reached by an unsealed access road from the Eyre Highway and offers basic unpowered camping near the historic homestead. Bookings should be made before travelling to the campground.

Roadside Rest Areas

National Parks SA also identifies roadside rest stops along the Eyre Highway as alternative places for travellers to stop outside the prohibited Bunda Cliffs camping areas. These are generally very basic and should not be confused with serviced campgrounds. Always read the signs at each rest area before setting up for the night, as conditions and permitted stopping periods can vary.

Whale Watching from the Bunda Cliffs

The Great Australian Bight is one of Australia’s most important areas for southern right whales. National Parks SA recommends visiting between approximately mid-May and late October for the chance to see whales below the cliffs. At the height of the season in July and August, more than 100 whales can sometimes be present in the wider region. Whales with calves may remain in the area for much of the season.

Head of Bight

Travellers particularly interested in whales should also visit the Head of Bight Visitor Centre. Boardwalks lead to purpose-built viewing platforms overlooking the Great Australian Bight, providing one of Australia’s premier land-based whale-watching experiences. The Visitor Centre itself does not provide overnight camping, so plan to stay at an authorised campground, roadhouse or permitted highway rest area.

Mobile Phone Reception

Do not rely on mobile phone reception while exploring the Bunda Cliffs. National Parks SA advises that there is generally no mobile phone coverage within the park, apart from the immediate vicinity of the Head of Bight Visitor Centre and areas adjacent to some roadhouses. Download maps and important travel information before leaving reliable reception.

What Should You Bring?

This is extremely remote country, even when you’re only visiting the lookouts during the day.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months are generally the best time to explore the Nullarbor and Bunda Cliffs. Summer can bring extreme heat, while winter generally offers much more comfortable daytime temperatures. If whale watching is important to you, visit between mid-May and late October. Strong winds can occur at any time of year, so take particular care when walking around exposed lookout areas.

Contact Details

Final Thoughts

The Bunda Cliffs remain one of the absolute highlights of crossing the Nullarbor. Standing at an official lookout and watching the enormous limestone cliffs disappear toward the horizon is an experience that’s difficult to appreciate from photographs alone. But travellers need to be aware that the days of legally free camping beside these cliffs are over. Visit the Bunda Cliffs for the scenery – then camp somewhere authorised. With Koonalda Homestead, roadhouse accommodation and permitted roadside rest areas available elsewhere along the Eyre Highway, there’s no need to risk a fine – or your safety – by camping beside an unstable cliff edge.