Nullarbor Head of Bight Whale Watching & Wildflower (seasonal) Tour – Adelaide to Perth 5 Days
Head of Bight whales, Eyre Bird Observatory, the 90 Mile Straight, Wave Rock & WA wildflower country
Stand on the towering limestone cliffs at the Head of Bight and watch Southern Right Whales cruise with their calves just metres below you. Then cross the vast, treeless Nullarbor Plain by premium four-wheel drive, all the way from Adelaide to Perth. This 5-day small-group journey crosses the continent the way few travellers ever do: in comfort, with an experienced local guide, and with only 2–4 adults per LandCruiser GXL. It is NOT a bus.
| Duration | 5 days / 4 nights, fully accommodated |
|---|---|
| Start & finish | Starts Adelaide (hotel or airport pickup) – finishes Perth (hotel or airport drop-off) |
| Route | Adelaide – Eyre Peninsula – Pildappa Rock – Streaky Bay – Head of Bight – Murrawijinie Caves – Nullarbor Plain – Border Village – Eucla – Eyre Bird Observatory – 90 Mile Straight – Norseman – Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail – Hyden & Wave Rock – York – Perth |
| Group size | Genuine small group – 2–4 adults per LandCruiser GXL |
| Accommodation | 4 nights ensuite hotel / motel – Streaky Bay, Border Village, Norseman, Hyden |
| Meals | All meals as listed in the itinerary (vegetarian options available) |
| Price | AU$4,688 per person twin share · AU$4,987 single (own room). Combined tour and past passenger discounts apply – please ask |
| Best season | Whales: May–October · Wildflowers: August–October |
For latest Tour dates, see calendar at the Tours page
Tour Highlights
- Head of Bight whale watching – from May to October, Southern Right Whales often calve just metres from shore beneath the Bunda Cliffs of the Great Australian Bight.
- The Nullarbor Plain – cross one of the world’s largest limestone plains. “Nullarbor” comes from the Latin for “no trees”, and once you’re out there you’ll see why.
- Eyre Bird Observatory – a scenic 4WD detour through white dunes to Australia’s first dedicated bird observatory, housed in the restored 1897 Eyre Telegraph Station.
- Eucla Telegraph Station – sand-filled ruins slowly being reclaimed by shifting white dunes, once a vital link in Australia’s telegraph line.
- The 90 Mile Straight – drive Australia’s longest straight road between Balladonia and Caiguna.
- Pildappa Rock and Wave Rock – two spectacular granite “waves”, one on the Eyre Peninsula and Western Australia’s famous 2.7-billion-year-old Wave Rock at Hyden.
- WA wildflower country – in season (August–October) the wheatbelt roadsides burst with everlastings, grevilleas, hakeas and spider orchids.
- Small group, premium four-wheel drive – 2–4 adults per LandCruiser GXL with a professional driver-guide and 30+ years of tour operation behind you.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Adelaide to Streaky Bay via the Eyre Peninsula and Pildappa Rock
We leave Adelaide and head north via Port Wakefield and the Spencer Gulf to Port Augusta, then cross the Eyre Peninsula through Kimba to Minnipa. Here you walk around Pildappa Rock, a remarkable pink granite inselberg whose sweeping, wave-like flared walls rival WA’s Wave Rock. We arrive in the picturesque coastal town of Streaky Bay for a relaxing evening beside the bay.
Overnight Streaky Bay – ensuite hotel accommodation. Meals: L, D
Day 2 – Head of Bight whale watching, Murrawijinie Caves and the Nullarbor to Border Village
This morning you stand on the world-class whale watching cliffs at the Head of Bight. From May to October, Southern Right Whales can often be seen calving just metres from shore beneath towering limestone cliffs – a sight you’ll be telling your mates about for years.
We continue to the Murrawijinie Caves, a huge doline with two fascinating limestone cave systems where hawks and swallows nest. Inside the caves it can be more than 10°C cooler than above ground. Then it’s out across the vast Nullarbor Plain, spotting wildlife along the way, to Border Village on the SA/WA state line.
Overnight Border Village – ensuite accommodation. Meals: B, L, D
Day 3 – Eucla Telegraph Station, Eyre Bird Observatory and the 90 Mile Straight to Norseman
Just over the border we explore the sand-filled remains of the historic Eucla Telegraph Station, once a critical link in Australia’s communication line, as shifting white dunes slowly reclaim it. Here’s a local secret: between the border and Caiguna, locals run on their own unofficial time zone, 45 minutes ahead of Perth.
Near Cocklebiddy we turn south towards the coast on a scenic 4WD detour to the Eyre Bird Observatory, Australia’s first dedicated bird observatory, set up in the beautifully restored 1897 Eyre Telegraph Station. Nestled between shimmering white dunes and woodland, this isolated outpost gives you a real feel for the lives of the early telegraph operators. There’s time to explore the museum, walk to the beach and enjoy the birdlife – honeyeaters, parrots, wrens and raptors are often seen around the station and dunes.
We then travel west across the limestone plains through Madura, Cocklebiddy and Caiguna and along the famous 90 Mile Straight, Australia’s longest straight road, to the historic gold-mining town of Norseman, gateway to WA’s southern goldfields.
Overnight Norseman – ensuite motel accommodation. Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 – Norseman to Hyden via the Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail and Wave Rock
Distance: approx. 460 km (including 4WD detour)
Leaving Norseman, we travel west through classic goldfields country and join the Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail, a remote outback route through some 300 km of pristine eucalypt woodland, salmon gums and granite outcrops. With interpretive stops along the way, it’s a peaceful contrast to the highway and a chance for wildlife, photography and quiet reflection in one of Australia’s last great untouched woodlands.
Through salmon gum woodlands and rich wheatbelt country we reach Hyden late in the afternoon and one of Western Australia’s most iconic natural wonders: Wave Rock. This striking 15-metre-high granite wave, formed over 2.7 billion years, curves like an ocean swell frozen in time. Nearby are Hippo’s Yawn, the gnamma holes, walking trails and, in season, everlastings, grevilleas and orchids.
Overnight Hyden – ensuite hotel accommodation. Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 – Hyden to Perth via wildflower country and York
Enjoy more time at Wave Rock this morning, then travel west through Hyden’s rolling wheatbelt into classic WA wildflower country via Corrigin. In season (August–October) the roadsides burst with pink, yellow and white everlastings, grevilleas, hakeas and delicate spider orchids. We stop in historic York, WA’s first inland settlement, with its beautifully restored Victorian and Federation buildings, before arriving in Perth this afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
Meals: B, L
What’s Included
- 4 nights ensuite hotel / motel accommodation
- All meals as listed (vegetarian options available)
- Premium small-group four-wheel drive travel – 2–4 adults per LandCruiser GXL
- Professional, experienced driver-guide
- National Park entry fees
- Head of Bight whale watching (seasonal)
- Murrawijinie Caves and Nullarbor highlights
- Eyre Bird Observatory and Eyre Telegraph Station visit
- Pildappa Rock, Wave Rock and wildflower country
- Airport or hotel pickup in Adelaide and drop-off in Perth
Contributions from every tour support Outback Kids and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see whales at the Head of Bight?
Southern Right Whales visit the Head of Bight from about May to October, when they come in close to the cliffs to calve. Sightings are common in season but, like all wildlife, never guaranteed.
Will I see wildflowers on this tour?
The WA wildflower season runs from about August to October, when the wheatbelt between Hyden and Perth is at its best. On earlier departures you’ll still see Wave Rock, the woodlands and the Nullarbor, but fewer flowers.
How many people are on the tour?
It’s a genuine small group: 2–4 adults per LandCruiser GXL, never a bus. Families and private groups can be catered for – please ask.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts in Adelaide with pickup from your hotel or the airport, and finishes in Perth with drop-off at your hotel or the airport. Flights to Adelaide and from Perth aren’t included.
How far do we travel?
Around 2,700 km from Adelaide to Perth over five days, in a comfortable premium four-wheel drive with regular stops along the way.
What is the accommodation like?
All four nights are in ensuite hotel or motel rooms at Streaky Bay, Border Village, Norseman and Hyden. Twin share and single (own room) prices are available.
Do you cater for special diets?
Yes. Vegetarian options are available and we do our best to cater for other dietary needs – please let us know when you book.
Are there discounts?
Yes. Combined tour and past passenger discounts apply – please ask when you enquire or book.
More Nullarbor, Whale Watching and Western Australia Tours
- Nullarbor Whale Watching Tours – Head of Bight tours from Adelaide, Perth and Kalgoorlie
- Whale Watching South Australia Tours
- Western Australia Tours
- Perth, Adelaide or Alice Springs Tours from Broome
- Lake Eyre with Wilpena Pound ex Adelaide 4 days
Compare them all on our Outback Tours Australia page.