Rock from the limestone quarry at Watson is rich in the fossils of sea creatures, indicative of when the Nullabor Plain was the bed of an ancient sea. Maralinga Village is in sand-hill country, as are the minor trial sites Kuli and TM50. However, the other trial sites are situated on an extensive dolomite plain to the north, known as Tietkens Plain. Still further north at about Second Avenue, Tietkens Plain gives way to more sand-hills. The whole area is rich in native flora and fauna.
Birds are plentiful including parrots, hawks and wedge- tailed eagles.
The area was first visited by Tietken, one of the minor explorers, in the 1870's. He built a dwelling on the area now known as Tietkens Plain, and the remains are to be seen north of Roadside near the concrete plinth erected to commemorate Operation Brumby. On the opposite side of the road is one of the two wells dug by Tietken in a vain search for potable water. The other well is nearby, in a south-easterly direction. A feature of the dolomite plain is the presence of depressions or 'soaks' or 'dongas', which are collection areas for rain.