Whale Watching on the Nullarbor – Best Places and Times to See Whales

Where to See Southern Right Whales Along the Great Australian Bight

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain is already one of Australia’s great road trips, but travel during winter and early spring and you may witness something even more memorable – southern right whales swimming beneath the towering cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. Every year southern right whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to the protected waters along Australia’s southern coastline. The waters of the Great Australian Bight are particularly important because whales come here to mate, give birth and raise their calves. For travellers crossing the Nullarbor, this creates some exceptional land-based whale watching opportunities. In fact, the Head of the Bight is regarded as one of Australia’s premier places to see southern right whales, with whales sometimes swimming remarkably close to the coastline.

When is Whale Season on the Nullarbor?

The general whale-watching season along the Nullarbor and Great Australian Bight runs from around May until October. Southern right whales begin arriving from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters during May. Numbers increase as winter progresses, with the most reliable viewing generally occurring between June and September.

May
Whales begin arriving along the Great Australian Bight.

June
Numbers increase and sightings become much more reliable.

July
Peak whale season with large numbers gathering near the coast.

August
One of the very best months, particularly for mothers and calves.

September
Still an excellent month with mothers and growing calves often present.

October
Whales gradually begin departing for their southern feeding grounds.

Best Time: If seeing whales is one of the main reasons for your Nullarbor trip, plan your crossing for July or August. South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Service identifies August as the prime month for whale viewing at the Head of the Bight.

1. Head of the Bight – The Best Whale Watching on the Nullarbor

If you only stop at one place to look for whales while crossing the Nullarbor, make it the Head of the Bight. Located approximately 20 kilometres south-east of Nullarbor Roadhouse, the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre provides purpose-built boardwalks and viewing platforms overlooking the spectacular coastline. The location is particularly special because the sheltered waters beneath the cliffs form an important southern right whale breeding and nursery area. Unlike many whale-watching destinations where you need to take a boat trip, whale watching here is done from the land. During the peak season whales can sometimes be seen remarkably close to the cliffs.

How Many Whales Can You See?

Whale numbers vary from year to year, but during the height of the season the spectacle can be extraordinary. South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Service advises that during July and August more than 100 whales can sometimes be in the Head of the Bight area at one time.

Whales accompanied by calves often remain in the area for much of the season, making the Head of the Bight particularly important as a nursery.

What Will You See?

Southern right whales are the stars of the show. These enormous whales migrate north from colder southern waters each year to breed and give birth.

From the viewing platforms you may see whales:

• Swimming slowly beneath the cliffs
• Breaching
• Slapping their tails
• Rolling on the surface
• Lifting their heads from the water
• Mating and socialising
• Mothers swimming alongside calves
• Calves practising swimming and surfacing

Humpback whales can also pass through the broader region during their migrations, although the southern right whale is the species most strongly associated with the Head of the Bight.

When Can You See Whale Calves?

If your particular goal is to see mothers with young calves, later in the winter season can be especially rewarding.

During June and July many of the whales visible around the Head of the Bight are adults. By late August, mothers can commonly be seen swimming beneath the cliffs with young calves beside them. The calves remain with their mothers while they grow stronger before beginning the long migration back towards southern feeding grounds later in the year.

Best Time for Calves: Try late August into September if seeing southern right whale mothers with calves is high on your Nullarbor wish list.

2. Bunda Cliffs

The magnificent Bunda Cliffs stretch for around 200 kilometres along the edge of the Great Australian Bight and provide some of the most dramatic scenery anywhere on the Nullarbor.

There are three official Bunda Cliffs lookouts within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area. During whale season it is possible to spot southern right whales from these elevated viewpoints. Whale sightings here are less predictable than at the Head of the Bight, so think of a whale sighting as an added bonus to the spectacular coastal scenery.

Cliff Safety: Only use the designated Bunda Cliffs lookouts. The cliff edge is unstable and continually eroding. Camping along the Bunda Cliffs is prohibited, and visitors should never approach an unprotected cliff edge.

3. Fowlers Bay

Fowlers Bay, west of Ceduna, is another excellent whale-watching destination and makes a particularly good stop if you are approaching or leaving the Nullarbor from the South Australian side. Southern right whales gather along this coastline between approximately May and October, using the protected waters for breeding and calving. The added advantage of Fowlers Bay is that you can combine whale watching with coastal camping, fishing, beach driving and exploring the spectacular surrounding sand dunes.

Camping & Whales: Fowlers Bay Conservation Park has designated bush camping areas, making it a particularly attractive overnight stop during the May–October whale season.

4. Eucla and the Western End of the Bight

Whales can also be seen around the Eucla and Western Australian side of the Great Australian Bight. Southern right whales occupy the broader Bight during winter, and coastal viewpoints can occasionally provide sightings. Eucla makes an excellent base for exploring this western section of the Nullarbor coast. Local accommodation operators report southern right whale activity from May through October, with June, July and August among the better months. However, if whale watching is your main priority, the purpose-built facilities and concentration of whales at the Head of the Bight remain the standout option.

Best Nullarbor Whale-Watching Locations

Head of the Bight
The premier Nullarbor whale-watching destination. Purpose-built viewing platforms and excellent chances of southern right whales.

Fowlers Bay
Excellent whale country with the added advantages of camping, fishing and coastal scenery.

Bunda Cliffs
Spectacular viewpoints where whales may occasionally be spotted during the winter migration season.

Eucla
A useful western Nullarbor base with opportunities to see whales along the Great Australian Bight coastline.

Head of the Bight Visitor Centre

The Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre provides access to the main viewing platforms and boardwalks. The boardwalks lead to viewing areas overlooking both the whale nursery waters and the spectacular Bunda Cliffs. The centre is located off the Eyre Highway near Nullarbor Roadhouse. The access road to the visitor centre is sealed, making this one of the easiest major attractions to visit during a Nullarbor crossing.

What Time of Day is Best?

There isn’t a strict time of day when the whales suddenly become more active. Because southern right whales may remain in the Head of the Bight nursery area for extended periods, you can potentially see them throughout the day. For land-based viewing, good light, calmer weather and clear visibility can make a major difference. If your itinerary allows it, avoid rushing your visit and give yourself plenty of time at the viewing platforms.

What Should You Bring?

Whale watching from the Nullarbor cliffs is exposed to Southern Ocean weather, so come prepared.

Photography Tip: Bring binoculars even if you have a good camera. They make it much easier to scan the enormous expanse of ocean for blows, tails and surface activity before concentrating your camera on a particular whale.

Plan Your Nullarbor Crossing Around the Whales

If you have flexibility with your travel dates, July and August are arguably two of the best months to cross the Nullarbor. Temperatures are generally much more comfortable than summer, and you have the added opportunity to experience the annual southern right whale gathering. A particularly good eastbound itinerary is to spend time around Eucla and the Bunda Cliffs, continue to the Head of the Bight for your main whale-watching stop, and then explore Fowlers Bay before continuing towards Penong and Ceduna. Westbound travellers can simply reverse the route, using Fowlers Bay as an introduction to the whale coast before reaching the spectacular Head of the Bight and Bunda Cliffs.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of reasons to cross the Nullarbor – the enormous landscapes, remote roadhouses, Bunda Cliffs, wildlife and the simple experience of driving across one of Australia’s great open spaces. But travelling during whale season adds something genuinely special. For the best chance of seeing whales, aim for July or August and make the Head of the Bight your priority. With southern right whales gathering below some of Australia’s most spectacular sea cliffs, it is one of those rare wildlife experiences where the journey to get there is almost as memorable as the animals themselves.