Who would have thought that somewhere along the stretch of Nullarbor’s dry plains, one could find a spot of ocean where whales reside for five months a year?

The Head of the Bight is located 20 kilometres to the east of Nullarbor Roadhouse.

Come whale season, pods of 70-tonne Southern Right whales migrate from Antarctica to give birth and raise their young. More than that, they sing, frolic, lop, dive and do somersaults; it’s a marvel for everyone to see it up-close.

You can catch the action from mid-May to late October. For guaranteed mass sightings, though, visit at the height of the season from June to September. In fact, from July to August, you’re sure to see more than a hundred at a time. Even during the transitional months, you’ll be able to find small groups of whale mothers and calves near the coastline, as they are known to stay the whole season.

The Head of Bight is home to other animals as well. A bob of sea lions will often dive for food and take care of their pups. You might even catch a glimpse of a few pods of dolphins. Australian sea birds such as petrels, albatrosses and gannets catch fish and flock together. On land, there are dingoes, wombats, shingled lizards, snakes and the occasional wild camel.

The Head of the Bight visitor centre has a boardwalk that lends you to great views of the beach and of the majestic creatures below. During the whale season, it’s open Mondays through Saturdays and on public holidays, from 8am to 5pm. During the off-season, it’s open from 8:30am to 4pm.

The centre also serves to educate visitors about marine life behaviours, habits and diets. You can check these out to gain a deeper awareness and appreciation for the whales and the other wildlife in the area.

The centre is located at the Bunda Cliffs, which serve as an attraction themselves, stretching and curving unbroken for 200 kilometres. The cliffs are composed of windblown sand on top, grey and brown layers of limestone and crystalline rock in the middle and a white-coloured base known as Wilson Buff Limestone. This base is part of a seabed from when the continent of Australia broke off from Antarctica 65 million years ago.

You can access the centre via a quality-sealed road. Its facilities include toilets, wheel chair ramps, shelters and car parking. Fees range from 5 to 12 AUD per person and 26 AUD for families. If you plan to stay the night, please feel free to contact us about accommodation at Nullarbor Roadhouse.

For more information on whale watching at the Head of the Bight, feel free to contact us. It’ll be our pleasure to advise you on directions and tips for making the most of your trip through the Nullarbor!