The Israelite Plain, which is encompassed in the reserve’s southwest, features stunning beaches, dunes, sandplains, and coastal lagoons, including the famous Israelite Bay.

The reserve is home to many species of flora and fauna. The western ground parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris) has been found in the area. The reserve was established in 1969 and is named after the Nuyts cadastral division in which it is located. The name is derived from the infamous Pieter Nuyts, the highest-ranking member of the Dutch East India Company aboard ‘t Gulden Zeepaert, which mapped the southwestern Australian coast. The reserve experiences a mild Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool winters newline.