Western Australia · Australia

Ningaloo

The coral reef by the beach on the northwest coast of Western Australia, where you swim with whale sharks and manta rays, between the Cape Range desert and the Indian Ocean.

Western Australia (Perth)

In the photo: Turquoise Bay, Ningaloo

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Ningaloo Reef runs for about 260 km along the northwest coast of Western Australia, more than 1,100 km north of Perth. It is one of the largest fringing reefs in the world: in many stretches the corals start just a few meters from the sand, and you can swim from the beach out to them. The Ningaloo coast has been a World Heritage site since 2011.

The reef is known for whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, which usually appear between March and July and are seen on boat trips that include swimming. Manta rays, turtles, dolphins and, from July to October, humpback whales also pass along the coast.

Exmouth, to the north, is the base for Cape Range National Park, with limestone gorges and beaches such as Turquoise Bay. Coral Bay, to the south, is a small village on the edge of a shallow bay, where the reef is just a few steps from the sand.

Around it, the landscape is red desert, and the region is hot and dry for much of the year. Distances are large, and flying to Learmonth Airport saves a day of driving.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Exmouth, Coral Bay.

Share: WhatsApp

Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Ningaloo is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Ningaloo

✈ Learmonth Airport (LEA), in Learmonth · 35 km to Exmouth

Learmonth Airport is about 35 km from Exmouth, with flights from Perth. By road, it is about 1,250 km from Perth to Exmouth along the coast, a two-day drive.

Suggested arrival point: Exmouth

Austrália Ocidental · Ningaloo Suggested arrival point

Exmouth

Town at the tip of the Cape Range peninsula on the northwest coast, the main base for the Ningaloo Reef. Boats depart from here to swim with whale sharks and manta rays, and the road leads to Cape Range National Park, with Turquoise Bay and the Yardie Creek gorge. Around town, emus and kangaroos roam the desert, and from the Vlamingh Head lighthouse you can watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Austrália Ocidental · Ningaloo

Coral Bay

Small village on the southern part of the Ningaloo reef, on the edge of a shallow white-sand bay where the corals begin just a few steps from the beach. It has accommodations, some restaurants and the boat operators for manta ray swims, which are in the area year-round, and, in season, whale shark swims. It is about 150 km from Exmouth.

The local experience

Things to do in Ningaloo

Coral Bay · Western Australia · Beach

Bills Bay

A shallow white-sand bay in front of the village of Coral Bay, with corals and fish a few meters from the beach, where you can snorkel without a boat.

Exmouth · Western Australia · Beach

Turquoise Bay

A white-sand beach in Cape Range National Park with the Ningaloo Reef a few meters from the shore, where the current carries snorkelers over the corals.

Coral Bay · Western Australia · Boat trip

Manta ray swim

Boat trip from Coral Bay to swim with manta rays, which live on the Ningaloo Reef year-round, located with the help of aircraft.

Exmouth · Western Australia · Boat trip

Whale shark swim

Boat trip from Exmouth to swim alongside whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef, with planes locating the animals, from March to July.

See 2 more places in Ningaloo

Exmouth · Western Australia · Gorge

Yardie Creek

A gorge of red limestone cliffs in the southern part of Cape Range National Park, with a walking trail and boat trip, home to rock-wallabies.

Exmouth · Western Australia · Lighthouse

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse

A 1912 lighthouse on top of a hill at the tip of the Cape Range peninsula, about 17 km from Exmouth, a viewpoint for the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From March to July for whale sharks; from July to October for humpback whales. Winter, from June to August, has warm dry days and cool nights. Summer is very hot, and from November to April there is a cyclone risk.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four or five days: two or three in Exmouth for the whale shark trip and Cape Range, and one or two in Coral Bay.

Which city to stay in

Exmouth has hotels, resorts, cottages and campgrounds. Coral Bay has few accommodations, concentrated in the village, with high demand in the season. In Cape Range National Park there are beachfront campsites that require booking, and a tent camp.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Ningaloo

When to swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo?

The season is usually from March to July, with boat trips from Exmouth and Coral Bay.

How to get to Ningaloo?

By plane, from Perth to Learmonth Airport near Exmouth, or by car, about 1,250 km along the coast.

Do you need a car in Ningaloo?

Yes, to reach the Cape Range beaches and to travel between Exmouth and Coral Bay. Boat tours pick up at hotels. In Australia you drive on the left.

Can you snorkel from the beach at Ningaloo?

Yes, in many places the reef starts just a few meters from the sand, such as at Turquoise Bay and Coral Bay.

What time zone is Ningaloo in?

Western Australia time, UTC+8, with no daylight saving time.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city

Ningaloo

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.