Head of Bight

At the Head of Bight, the Bunda Cliffs curve around the northernmost point of the Great Australian Bight, and the sheltered water below has become the most important calving ground for southern right whales in Australia. From June to October, dozens of females arrive to give birth and nurse, and because the water is deep close to the cliffs, they can be watched from boardwalks and platforms directly above, sometimes only a few dozen metres out. The site is managed by the local Aboriginal communities, with an interpretive centre and staff counting the whales daily. Outside the season, the cliffs and the enormous dune system to the east remain, but the whales are gone.

What you actually see

• The whales below the cliffs - mothers and calves close inshore from June to October.
• The boardwalks - platforms built along the clifftop for viewing.
• The Bunda Cliffs - the limestone wall curving away east and west.
• The interpretive centre - the community-run visitor facility and whale counts.

When to go

June to October, with peak numbers usually in August; outside that window there is little to see and the centre may close. Mornings are calmer. Whale counts are published daily, so checking before driving out is worthwhile.

Honest expectations

Entry is charged and the site is remote, hundreds of kilometres from any town. Outside the whale season it is a cliff view for a fee. Wind is severe and the platforms are exposed. Binoculars help considerably.

Nearby

Nullarbor Roadhouse is the nearest fuel; Ceduna lies far east.