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Cocklebiddy, WA

Nullarbor roadhouse near caves and bird observatory.

Cocklebiddy is a roadhouse with accommodation, a caravan park, a restaurant and service station serving the needs of travellers crossing the Nullarbor Plain. It has very little rainfall and no reliable sources of water. Consequently, although it has huge underground lakes, it relies on saline waters and a desalination plant. The main attractions in the area are the Eyre Bird Observatory, which offers regular courses on birdwatching and is run by Birdlife Australia, and the Cocklebiddy Caves which are considered the longest caves on the planet.

Location

Cocklebiddy is located 1157 km east of Perth and 438 km east of Norseman via the Great Eastern and Eyre Highways. It is 66 km east of Caiguna, 91 km west of Madura and 1,538 km west of Adelaide.

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Origin of Name

No one knows what Cocklebiddy means. It was first applied to an Aboriginal mission which existed in the area. It can reasonably be assumed to be a word from the Mirning Aboriginal language.

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Things to See and Do

Cocklebiddy Caves
Cocklebiddy is famous for the fact that it reputedly has the longest cave in the world - a cave which is over 6 km long. However over 90% of the cave is underwater. In August, 1983 a French team of speleologists set an underground record in the Cocklebiddy Caves  when they made the longest cave dive in the world.
The entrance chamber is over 300 metres long and leads to a  straight tunnel. The website Deep in the Dark explains: "From the entrance lake the first sump is about one kilometre length to the air-filled Rockfall Chamber. Dive gear must be transported over the Rockfall Chamber to the second sump, which is 2.5 kilometers in length. The second sump leads to another chamber named Toad Hall. Dive gear must be carried across Toad Hall to reach the third and final sump, which is 1.8 kilometres in length."
For details of how to get to the caves, which are only 5 km from the settlement, ask at the roadhouse. There is a video of entering the cave at http://deepinthedark.com/cocklebiddy-cave. Clearly it is for experts only. There is also an excellent account of the experience at http://www.divernet.com/cave-diving/p302435-beyond-toad-hall.html.
The caves are not easy to find. They are not really for the casual traveller. They are located 10 km west of Cocklebiddy (there is a parking bay) and then they are 10 km from the Eyre Highway. The sensible way to find them is to ask for specific directions at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.

The Longest Golf Course in the World
Nullarbor Links Golf Course
A very typical Aussie outback joke, the Nullarbor Links Golf Course is the world’s longest golf course with the first hole in Ceduna, South Australia and the 18th hole 1365 km away at Kalgoorlie. Check out the details at http://www.nullarborlinks.com. It is real and can be a lot of fun for committed golfers.

Hole 10: Cocklebiddy Eagle's Nest Par 4 and is 347 metres.
Located at the back of the Cocklebiddy Motel this is a pleasant, uncomplicated Par 4 which is straight, dotted with low lying scrub (you could be unlucky) and, mercifully, has a relatively large astroturf green.

Robbie’s Guide to the Nullarbor Links
Cocklebiddy – Eagle’s Nest
A straight Par 4 of 347 metres. The first 200 metres of the fairway is scattered with small shrubbery, but it is rock free and flat. Short of the green is the best on approach.
The notes on the website explain: "Cocklebiddy lies on the southern edge of Western Australia's vast sheep grazing belt. Within the area are several large scale sheep grazing operations, some larger than a number of European countries. With limited rainfall sparse stocking rates of about 8 to 10 sheep per square kilometre are the norm. During its pioneering years Cocklebiddy was the site of an aboriginal mission. Today, however, all that remains of the mission are its stone foundations. In recent years Cocklebiddy has gained an international reputation as a site for one of the world's largest cave systems. Ten kilometres to the north west of Cocklebiddy Roadhouse lies Cocklebiddy Cave. In 1983 a French caving expedition created history by exploring the cave to an unprecedented distance of 6.4 kilometres. This record was later broken in 1995 by Australian Christopher Brown - bettering the 1983 record by a mere 20 metres. Cocklebiddy cave system is unique in that the cave system extensively penetrates an aquifer that lies 90 metres below the Nullarbor Plain. Within Cocklebiddy cave are a number of vast limestone caverns, rockfalls and saline subterranean lakes that extend for several hundred metres." The tee is called the Bindy after Bindy Seivwright who has been carrying BP fuel across the Nullarbor since 1983.

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Other Attractions in the Area

Eyre Bird Observatory
The Eyre Bird Observatory is located 49 km south of Cocklebiddy Roadhouse down a sandy track which is edged by thick mallee scrub and is only accessible by 4WD. It is located in the old Eyre Telegraph Station which was built in 1897.

It was developed in 1976 when the Western Australian Government created the Nuytsland Nature Reserve, a 400,000 ha nature reserve. The Eyre Telegraph Station was one of the few buildings in the area. The Royal Australian Ornithologists Union saw the building as an ideal wildlife bird observatory. Today the telegraph station has been restored and it houses both a Post Office Museum (recalling the telegraphic history of the building) and the Eyre Bird Observatory. Surrounded by mallee scrub the observatory has studied the birdlife of the area for decades and has recorded over 230 different species including rare migratory birds like red-necked stints and ruddy turnstones which travel over 10,000 km from Siberia.

The observatory was opened in 1978 and has facilities for overnight basic accommodation and camping. It is possible for drivers of 2WD vehicles to be collected from the Cocklebiddy roadhouse by the wardens at the observatory. Telephone the observatory: (08) 9039 3450 for more details. All necessary information is available on their website: http://www.birdlife.org.au/visit-us/observatories/eyre

Twilight Cove
South of Cocklebiddy, and only accessible by 4WD (ask at the roadhouse for directions), is Twilight Cove, one of the many highlights of the Great Australian Bight. Here the cliffs are up to 80 m high. They were produced by marine sediments laid down over millions of years when ancient, shallow seas flooded the Eucla Basin.

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History

* Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by members of the Mirning Aboriginal language group.

* In 1627 the Dutch explorer Peter Nuyts, sailing from Batavia in the Gulden Zeepaerdt, was the first European to sail along the coast although he did not land. He chartered the coast from Albany to Ceduna

* In 1841 Edward John Eyre, accompanied by an Aboriginal guide named Wylie, passed through the area on his journey across the Nullarbor Plain. The Eyre Bird Observatory is located in an area known as Eyre's Sand Patch where Eyre and Wylie found water as they passed through the area.

* In 1877 the first Eyre Telegraph Station was built.

* In 1897 the current Eyre Telegraph Station was opened. It remained an important part of the nation's communication network until it was closed in 1927.

* In 1961 the vast Arubiddy Station covering 3,144 square kilometres was established north of Caiguna. It has no natural water and has to rely on bore water which rises from depths of over 150 m.

* In 1978 the Eyre Bird Observatory was opened.

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Visitor Information

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse (Wedgetail Inn), Eyre Highway, Cocklebiddy, tel: (08) 9039 3462.  If you don't succeed with this number try (07) 9039 3403.

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Accommodation

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse (Wedgetail Inn), Eyre Highway, Cocklebiddy, tel: (08) 9039 3462. If you don't succeed with this number try (07) 9039 3403.

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Eating

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse (Wedgetail Inn), Eyre Highway, Cocklebiddy, tel: (08) 9039 3462. If you don't succeed with this number try (07) 9039 3403.

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Useful Websites

Travellers wanting detailed information should check out http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/towns/cocklebiddy.html

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6 suggestions
  • Christian contacts.

    I am assuming this succinct message relates to the image at the top of the entry.
    Aussie Towns

    Arthur and kathy mergler
  • Hi there,
    Thanks for your information on Cocklebiddy. Just a bit disappointed that you don’t initially name
    Christopher Brown a local South Australian as holding the record for the longest underwater cave dive at Cocklebiddy – instead you name the French team first & Brown’s feat is buried in the text later. Very informatve article nevertheless.

    Harvey Lewis
  • hi Troy glad 2 c u on the ABC report will b travelling over 2 W/A about may june 2021 will call in bring bottle of red beet 4 your wife Dave the BUDGIE collector from TASSIE hope u have a boomer trade in the future C U IN 2021 TASSIE CALLING Dave

    david boxall
  • How much will it cost to stay here for 1 night in June 2023?

    Mary Olsen
  • Years and years ago my now wheelchair bound hubby bought a cap there. But it’s very old now but he loves it, he was a long distance truck driver and this cap is so worn but not the embroidered name, would you be able to send me one new one by my paying it online please.
    His name is Peter Godwin. If I sent picture would you be able to tell me if you have it or similar please,
    Thank you kind regards
    Aldina Godwin

    Aldina Godwin