Photo: Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0
Stretching across the vast Nullarbor Plain, the Eyre Highway is one of Australia’s most epic road trips, connecting the goldfields of Western Australia to South Australia. This legendary route offers a true outback adventure, with endless horizons, quirky roadhouses, and the chance to spot southern right whales from the Bunda Cliffs. For international travellers, it’s a bucket-list drive that delivers raw, unfiltered Australian landscape and a profound sense of isolation.
Highlights & What to See
- Nullarbor Plain – The world’s largest limestone karst landscape, with vast treeless plains and dramatic limestone cliffs plunging into the Southern Ocean.
- Bunda Cliffs – Stunning 60–90-metre-high cliffs along the Great Australian Bight, offering whale-watching from May to October.
- Head of Bight – A protected calving ground for southern right whales, with a boardwalk and interpretive centre.
- Eucla & the Old Telegraph Station – A historic settlement with a fascinating museum and the ruins of the original telegraph station half-buried in sand dunes.
- Madura Pass – A scenic lookout over the Roe Plains, where the escarpment meets the coastal plain.
- Cocklebiddy Cave – One of the Nullarbor’s famous limestone caves, accessible for experienced cavers (permit required).
Suggested Time to Spend
Most travellers allow 2–3 days to drive the full 1,200 km from Norseman (WA) to Ceduna (SA), including overnight stops at roadhouses like Madura, Eucla, or Nullarbor Roadhouse. To fully appreciate the landscape and take in whale-watching, add an extra day. The drive can be done in a single long day, but that misses the experience — break it into manageable 300–400 km legs with time to explore the cliffs and historic sites.
Nearby Areas Worth Combining
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – A 4–5 hour drive north from the Eyre Highway via the Stuart Highway, offering the iconic red rock monolith and domes.
- Coober Pedy – An underground opal-mining town about 3 hours north of the highway, famous for its dugout homes and lunar landscape.
- Great Australian Bight Marine Park – Stretching along the coast, this park protects the whale nursery and offers coastal walks.
- Ceduna – The eastern gateway to the Eyre Highway, with excellent seafood (particularly oysters) and Aboriginal cultural tours.
- Norseman – The western start point, with a historic pub and access to the goldfields around Kalgoorlie.
Please check official sources for current details.
Note: opening hours, prices and booking requirements change often — please check official sources for current details.
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Image credits
- Uluru — Ek2030372672 / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Coober Pedy — qwesy qwesy / CC BY 3.0
- Kings Canyon — Zoharby / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Watarrka National Park — Jorge Lascar / CC BY 2.0
- Stuart Highway — Murray Foubister / CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ayers Rock Resort — Menphrad at English Wikipedia / Public domain