Great Australian Bight Marine Park

Stretching along the dramatic southern coast, the Great Australian Bight Marine Park is a remote and wild expanse of azure waters, towering limestone cliffs, and one of the most significant whale nurseries on the planet. This is a place where the raw power of the Southern Ocean meets ancient geology, offering travellers a profound sense of isolation and a front-row seat to nature's grandest spectacles. The park protects a pristine marine environment that is as important for conservation as it is awe-inspiring for visitors.

Highlights & What to See

• Southern Right Whale viewing – between June and October, these gentle giants migrate to the Bight to calve, and you can watch them from the clifftop lookouts near the Head of the Bight (a short drive west of the park boundary).
• The Head of the Bight – a spectacular viewing platform perched on the Bunda Cliffs, offering a vertiginous panorama of the ocean and, in season, dozens of whales breaching just offshore.
• Bunda Cliffs – the longest uninterrupted line of sea cliffs in the world, stretching nearly 200 km; stop at the various lookouts along the Eyre Highway to appreciate their sheer scale.
• Great Australian Bight Wilderness Protection Area – a land-based reserve adjacent to the marine park, protecting fragile coastal mallee habitat and offering short walks to the cliff edge.
• Pelagic birdlife – albatrosses, petrels, and gannets soar on the updrafts, making this a top spot for birdwatchers.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most travellers visit the marine park as a day trip or an overnight stop while driving the Eyre Highway between Ceduna and Eucla. To fully appreciate the whale watching and cliff scenery, allow at least half a day at the Head of the Bight (especially during the whale season). If you're a keen birder or photographer, consider staying two nights at nearby Nullarbor Roadhouse or the more comfortable accommodation in Ceduna (two hours east) to catch the golden light at sunrise and sunset over the cliffs.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Ceduna – the gateway town on the eastern edge of the park, with a good visitor centre, seafood (try the oysters), and supplies for the Nullarbor crossing.
• Nullarbor Plain – the vast, treeless limestone karst that stretches inland; combine the marine park with a stop at the Nullarbor Roadhouse to experience the otherworldly interior.
• Eucla – a tiny settlement near the Western Australian border, with the ruins of the old telegraph station and a museum.
• Yalata – an Indigenous community on the edge of the park; check locally for guided cultural tours that explore the coastal dunes and middens.
• Kings Canyon – if you're continuing north from the Bight, this iconic sandstone gorge in Watarrka National Park makes a dramatic contrast to the marine environment.

Please check official sources for current details.