Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre – Nullarbor Plain

One of the Best Whale Watching Stops on the Nullarbor

The Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre is one of the must-see attractions when travelling across the Nullarbor Plain. Sitting above the spectacular coastline of the Great Australian Bight, the centre provides visitors with access to clifftop boardwalks and viewing platforms overlooking the Southern Ocean.

While the scenery alone makes the detour worthwhile, Head of Bight is best known as one of Australia’s most remarkable places to see Southern Right Whales. Each winter, whales gather in the sheltered waters below the cliffs to mate, give birth and raise their calves before eventually returning to the Southern Ocean. 

For travellers crossing the Nullarbor by caravan, motorhome, campervan or 4WD, Head of Bight is an easy attraction to include in a road trip and provides a welcome opportunity to get out of the vehicle and experience one of the most dramatic sections of Australia’s southern coastline.

Head of Bight Visitor Information

Whale Watching at Head of Bight

The main reason many travellers visit Head of Bight during winter is to see the enormous Southern Right Whales that gather along this remote coastline. The whales generally begin arriving around May and remain in the area until approximately October. Unlike many whale-watching destinations where visitors need to take a boat trip, the whales at Head of Bight can be observed from purpose-built viewing platforms high above the ocean.

During June and July, many of the whales seen in the area are adults. As the season progresses, mothers and their young calves become an increasingly common sight.

By late August, mothers can often be seen swimming close to the cliffs with calves alongside them. During particularly busy periods, dozens of whales may be visible from the viewing areas.

Whale numbers vary from year to year and even from day to day, so sightings can never be guaranteed. However, the Head of Bight is recognised as one of the most important Southern Right Whale nursery areas and one of Australia’s outstanding land-based whale-watching locations.

Best Time to See the Whales

If seeing whales is the main reason for your visit, July, August and September are generally excellent months to plan a stop at Head of Bight. Earlier in the season you are more likely to see adult whales arriving and socialising, while later in winter mothers and calves become a major attraction. By October, the calves have grown considerably and the whales gradually begin leaving the area for their migration back into the Southern Ocean.

Even outside the main whale season, Head of Bight remains worth visiting for the extraordinary coastal scenery.

The Bunda Cliffs

The whales may receive most of the attention, but the landscape surrounding Head of Bight is every bit as impressive. This is where the immense, almost treeless landscape of the Nullarbor suddenly meets the Southern Ocean. The Bunda Cliffs form a spectacular limestone coastline that extends for hundreds of kilometres along the Great Australian Bight, with sections rising to around 120 metres above the ocean. From the viewing platforms you can look along seemingly endless cliffs disappearing towards the horizon, while far below the Southern Ocean crashes against their base. It is one of the classic sights of a Nullarbor crossing and provides excellent opportunities for landscape and wildlife photography.

Boardwalks and Viewing Platforms

Visitors reach the whale-watching areas using a series of constructed boardwalks and viewing platforms.

The boardwalks make it possible to safely experience the coastline without approaching the unstable cliff edges. Several viewing positions provide different perspectives across the bay and along the cliffs. There is no need to undertake a long or difficult bushwalk to see the whales. This makes Head of Bight particularly convenient for travellers who want to break up a long day of driving across the Nullarbor.

Allow at least one to two hours for your visit, although keen whale watchers and photographers could easily spend considerably longer here when the whales are active.

Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre

The visitor centre provides more than just access to the viewing platforms. Interpretive information helps explain the migration and behaviour of Southern Right Whales and the importance of the surrounding marine environment.

Facilities include:

• Visitor information
• Whale-watching viewing platforms
• Boardwalks
• Car parking
• Caravan parking
• Coach parking
• Toilets
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Shaded picnic area
• Hot and cold drinks
• Snacks and toasted sandwiches
• Souvenirs and gifts
• Aboriginal artworks and artefacts
• First-aid equipment

2026 Opening Hours

During the main whale season from 1 June to 30 October, the Head of Bight Visitor Centre is currently advertised as open:

8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily
Last entry: 4:00 pm

During the off-season from 1 November to 31 May, current advertised hours are:

8:30 am – 4:00 pm daily
Last entry: 3:00 pm

Opening arrangements can change, particularly around public holidays and seasonal whale movements, so travellers should confirm current hours before making a special journey.

2026 Entry Fees

Current advertised admission prices during whale season are (August 26):

Reduced admission prices apply during the off-season. Prices and opening arrangements can change, so check the current information before travelling.

Can You Take a Caravan to Head of Bight?

Yes. The Head of Bight Visitor Centre provides caravan parking, making it suitable for people travelling across the Nullarbor with caravans, motorhomes and campervans.

This is particularly useful because many visitors incorporate Head of Bight into their day’s travel rather than establishing camp before visiting. As always when towing across the Nullarbor, allow plenty of time and avoid rushing. Strong winds can occur along this exposed section of coastline and conditions can change quickly.

Can You Camp at Head of Bight?

No camping is available at the Head of Bight Visitor Centre.

Travellers should plan to continue to an established campground, roadhouse or permitted roadside camping area after visiting.

Camping is also prohibited within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area, including along the Bunda Cliffs. The cliff edges are unstable and can collapse without warning, so vehicles and campers should never attempt to camp close to the cliff edge. One of the most convenient nearby options is Nullarbor Roadhouse, which provides accommodation and camping facilities along the Eyre Highway.

Pets at Head of Bight

Travellers crossing the Nullarbor with dogs need to be aware that pets are not permitted inside the Visitor Centre or on the whale-watching boardwalk.

Dogs must remain appropriately secured outside the restricted areas. Water for pets is available at the centre. Because temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly, particularly on sunny days, travellers with pets should plan their visit carefully and check current pet arrangements with the centre before arriving.

Photography Tips

Head of Bight is an outstanding location for both wildlife and landscape photography. A camera with a telephoto or zoom lens is useful for photographing whales, although the animals can sometimes approach surprisingly close to the cliffs. Binoculars are also worth carrying, particularly when whales are further offshore.

Don’t concentrate entirely on the whales. The enormous limestone cliffs, turquoise water and almost completely treeless Nullarbor landscape provide some of the most distinctive scenery anywhere along the Adelaide-to-Perth road journey.

Allow Plenty of Time

One mistake when crossing the Nullarbor is treating Head of Bight as a quick roadside lookout. It deserves considerably more time. Even if you only intend to spend an hour here, an active group of whales can quickly change your plans. Watching a mother and calf travelling beneath the cliffs is the sort of experience that encourages visitors to stay much longer than expected.

If your itinerary allows, give yourself at least one to two hours rather than trying to squeeze the visit into an already long driving day.

Is Head of Bight Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Head of Bight is one of the standout attractions of a Nullarbor crossing.

During whale season, the opportunity to watch Southern Right Whales and their calves from the cliffs is extraordinary. Outside whale season, the sheer scale of the Bunda Cliffs and Great Australian Bight still makes the visit worthwhile. For caravan and camping travellers, it also provides a welcome break from the long distances of the Eyre Highway. After hours of driving across the vast Nullarbor landscape, walking out onto the boardwalk and suddenly seeing the immense Southern Ocean below is an unforgettable contrast. If you are crossing the Nullarbor Plain between June and October, the Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre should be near the top of your list of places to stop.

Head of Bight – Quick Tips

• Visit between July and September for an excellent chance of seeing whales.
• Allow at least one to two hours.
• Bring binoculars and a camera.
• Wear warm clothing during winter – the coastline is very exposed.
• Keep children supervised around coastal areas.
• Caravan parking is available.
• There is no camping at the Visitor Centre.
• Dogs cannot enter the Visitor Centre or whale-watching boardwalk.
• Do not camp near the Bunda Cliffs.
• Check current opening hours and whale activity before travelling.

Plan Your Nullarbor Crossing

The Head of Bight is much more than a place to stretch your legs on the drive across Australia. It is where two of the Nullarbor’s greatest attractions come together – the enormous cliffs of the Great Australian Bight and the annual migration of Southern Right Whales.

Whether you are crossing the Nullarbor in a caravan, motorhome, campervan or 4WD, make time for this detour. Few places demonstrate the sheer scale and remoteness of Australia’s southern coastline quite like the Head of Bight.