Cocklebiddy roadhouse, Western Australia: Accommodation or fuel stop?

The Cocklebiddy roadhouse, Western Australia, offers accommodation. But it is best used as a Nullarbor fuel stop. Unless you’ve got special access to the Eyre Bird Observatory or Cocklebiddy Cave, that is.

Cocklebiddy, Western Australia, is just a Nullarbor fuel stop for most who pass through on the Eyre Highway. Coming east from Norseman on the epic drive from Perth to Adelaide, the Cocklebiddy roadhouse is the third after Fraser Range, Balladonia and Caiguna.

Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).

Cocklebiddy, Western Australia: Wedgetail Inn roadhouse accommodation

Cocklebiddy started life as an Aboriginal mission, but now it’s a Nullarbor Plain roadhouse surrounded by karst limestone and enormous sheep stations. There is accommodation available at Cocklebiddy – the motel is called the Wedgetail Inn and there are camping and caravan sites attached.

But it’s not the best accommodation stop on the Nullarbor. You’re better off pushing on towards Eucla or Border Village if you’re heading towards Ceduna and Port Augusta in South Australia. If coming the other way towards Kalgoorlie or Esperance, then Balladonia, Fraser Range and Norseman offer better places to stay.

How to book your Cocklebiddy accommodation

If you do want to stay in Cocklebiddy, then you need to book accommodation by phone on +61 8 9039 3462 – the Wedgetail Inn has no website.

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse on the Nullarbor Links golf course — The Cocklebiddy roadhouse in Western Australia hosts one of the holes on the Nullarbor Links – the longest golf course in the world. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Cocklebiddy is, therefore, mainly a fuel stop. You can also play a hole of the Nullarbor Links – the world’s longest golf course – while you’re here.

Cocklebiddy roadhouse attractions: Eyre Bird Observatory

However, there are two attractions in Cocklebiddy, Western Australia. If you’ve got a 4WD, you can head 49km south down the bumpy track to the Eyre Bird Observatory.

Part of the Nuytsland Nature Reserve, this former telegraph station in the sweeping sand dunes hosts bird appreciation programmes run by Birdlife Australia. There’s little point going to the Eyre Bird Observatory unless on one of Birdlife Australia’s residential courses, however.

Cocklebiddy Cave, Western Australia

The other thing to do in Cocklebiddy is visit the Cocklebiddy Cave. At one point, this cave held the world record for cave diving distance – a 1983 expedition went 6,250 metres inside. By some measurement, it’s the longest cave in the world.

The entrance of the Cocklebiddy Cave is a collapsed sinkhole, but ordinary members of the public cannot go inside as there is too much unstable rock for it to be safe. Besides, most of the cave is underwater.

You can still view the entrance to the Cocklebiddy Cave, however. The unsignposted turn-off is 12km west of Cocklebiddy roadhouse, and the cave is around 10km up the track. The track is usually safe for conventional two wheel drive vehicles.