The Ningaloo Coastline, stretching along Western Australia’s remote northwest, is a place where the outback meets the ocean and explodes with marine life. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed area is home to the Ningaloo Reef, one of the longest fringing coral reefs in the world, and is one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet.
What sets Ningaloo apart from other reefs is just how accessible it is. Armed with just a snorkel, you can quite simply step off the beach and into this crystal-clear underwater world. You’ll immediately be surrounded by vibrant coral gardens, colorful fish, and potentially even larger marine life like graceful manta rays and turtles. We recommend Turquoise Bay, it’s known for a gentle current that allows you to drift over the reef with minimal effort, making it a snorkeler’s paradise.
But the real magic of Ningaloo happens between March and July, when the world’s largest fish, the Whale Shark, visits these waters. Swimming alongside these gentle giants in a natural environment is an incredibly rare opportunity but one that comes with serious responsibility.
Despite their size, whale sharks are gentle creatures, and tours from Exmouth and Coral Bay offer the chance to get up close and personal in a way that’s both safe and respectful of these magnificent animals.
Beyond the reef, Cape Range National Park, which runs parallel to the coast, offers a stunning contrast to the vibrant underwater life. Here, limestone ranges, deep canyons, and pristine beaches create a rugged landscape. Hiking through the park, you’ll find yourself surrounded by red rock gorges and sweeping views of the ocean, and the chance to spot kangaroos, emus, and an array of birds throughout the trek.
Yardie Creek, is well worth a visit, the deep red gorge plunges into a calm, deep blue creek. You can explore this stunning area by boat or kayak, and as you paddle through the gorge, watch out for the occasional saltwater crocodile basking on the banks. So no, you can’t swim in it.
While we explored Ningaloo we used Coral Bay, a small seaside town as our base. Everything here revolves directly around the ocean, the best advice we have is to chat to the locals in the small restuarants and cafe’s, they are always eager to share their favorite spots and super welcoming!
If you head north you’ll find, Exmouth offers a slightly larger hub with more amenities but retains that lauthentic laid-back, coastal charm that surrounds so much of Australia. From here, you can arrange tours to swim with whale sharks, manta rays, and even humpback whales, which migrate through the area later in the year.
The Ningaloo Coastline is a destination that offers the best of both worlds—thrilling encounters with marine life and the serene, untouched beauty of the Australian outback. It’s a place where you can disconnect from the mania of everyday life and reconnect with the ocean.
