It is not uncommon for cold cloudy rain, but it is when the wind blows from the hot inland interior, that the temperatures soar across the glaring white limestone plains. It is after the flooding rains that the “Plains” rollout the carpet of wildflowers, although grass fires struck by lightning, are also common, turning the “Plains” black. Many parts of the limestone plain is bordered by deep rich loam to the west and the red deserts of the “Centre”. At the head of the “Bight”, at its eastern edge, are vast coastal dunes that roll across the land, forming a rampart against the Southern Ocean.
 

One of the great mysteries of the Nullarbor is found far beneath the desolate flat surface. Here are found vast subterranean cave systems which support rivers, lakes and caverns, that stretch for kilometres. This vast subterranean world holds mummified and fossilised remains of animals from times long past. Due to their isolation and inaccessibility, many of the caverns and tunnels remaining unexplored and unmapped to this day. The Aboriginal “Dreaming” legends tell of a great snake called “Ganba” or “Jeedara” who lived in the subterranean labyrinth. The sounds of his breathing can be heard in the strange gurgling which sometimes emanate from the subterranean blow holes of the plains.

There is evidence of ancient tribes that date back some 24,000 years into a time when places such as the Koonalda caves were prized for their permanent water and their deposits of flint stone used in the making of ancient tools.

To travel across the “Nullarbor” is a journey into a timeless and unforgettable land. For some Australian’s, it is something that they want to do once in their lifetime.