When people think of snorkeling or diving in Australia, they usually think of the Great Barrier Reef first. But there's a place a lot of travelers find at least as impressive: Ningaloo Reef.
This huge coral reef lies on Australia's West Coast, between Exmouth and Coral Bay, and is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. What makes Ningaloo Reef special is that in many places you can reach it straight from the beach. At the Great Barrier Reef you often need a boat trip. Here you can be swimming among colorful coral, tropical fish, turtles and even reef sharks within minutes.
For a lot of travelers, Ningaloo Reef is the highlight of a road trip along Australia's West Coast.
What makes Ningaloo Reef special?
Ningaloo Reef stretches for more than 260 kilometers and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. It's one of the largest and best-preserved coral reefs in the world.
What sets Ningaloo apart is how easy it is to get to. In many spots you just put on your snorkel, walk into the water and you're right in the middle of the marine life.
Ningaloo is also a lot quieter than many other well-known reef destinations. Crystal-clear water, beautiful beaches and relatively few visitors add up to a relaxed atmosphere that suits a road trip through Western Australia perfectly.
Exmouth or Coral Bay?
The two main bases for visiting Ningaloo Reef are Exmouth and Coral Bay.
Exmouth is the biggest town in the region and sits at the northern end of the reef. From here you can get to Cape Range National Park, great snorkeling spots and most of the tours. Almost all whale shark, manta ray and humpback whale tours leave from Exmouth. The town itself is a lot of fun too, with nice cafés, restaurants and a few pubs. It's the ideal place to stay for 2 to 5 nights.
Coral Bay is about 150 kilometers south of Exmouth and feels a lot smaller and quieter. The big advantage of Coral Bay is that the reef is literally on your doorstep. You walk off the beach into the water and you're snorkeling over coral right away.
Personally, I think Coral Bay is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Australia. I spent several days here on my West Coast road trip. White sand, turquoise water and a reef within walking distance make it a fantastic spot. In the evening, round off your day with a bite to eat or a drink at Bill's Bar.
Snorkeling at Ningaloo Reef
For a lot of travelers, snorkeling is the reason to come to Ningaloo Reef.
The clear water usually means great visibility, and there's an amazing amount of marine life. On a snorkel you might see:
- Turtles
- Stingrays
- Reef sharks
- Parrotfish
- Lionfish
- Big schools of tropical fish
Well-known snorkeling spots include Turquoise Bay, Oyster Stacks and Lakeside in Cape Range National Park.
Turquoise Bay
Turquoise Bay often makes the list of Australia's most beautiful beaches. The water is an almost unreal shade of blue, and there's gorgeous coral just off the beach.
Don't miss the famous drift snorkel here. You let the current carry you along gently while you take in the reef below.
Swimming with whale sharks
Maybe the most incredible thing you can do at Ningaloo Reef is swim with whale sharks. From around March through August, these gentle giants pass through the waters of Ningaloo. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are completely harmless to people.
For many travelers, this is a true bucket-list experience and one of the most impressive wildlife encounters you can have in Australia. The tours aren't cheap, but almost everyone who goes says it's worth every dollar.
Traveling outside whale shark season? No worries, there's still plenty to do.
Between May and November you'll often see manta rays, and from about June to October thousands of humpback whales migrate along the coast of Western Australia. During that time, several whale watching tours run out of Exmouth.
Cape Range National Park
A visit to Ningaloo Reef usually goes hand in hand with a visit to Cape Range National Park. The park lies right next to the reef and is all rugged gorges, red rock and spectacular coastline. One of the best-known spots is Yardie Creek, where you can hike or take a boat trip between the steep cliffs. That mix of ocean and outback makes Cape Range National Park unique in Australia.
The park is about a 45-minute drive from Exmouth. You don't need a 4WD for the main sights in the park. The more remote spots, though, are off-limits in a campervan, so for those you'll need to rent a 4WD or book a tour. Ningaloo Safari Tours and Exmouth Adventure Co are two companies that run them.
Camping with a campervan at Ningaloo Reef
If you're traveling through Australia by campervan, Ningaloo Reef is a fantastic place to go.
Exmouth has several campgrounds and holiday parks with good facilities. Cape Range National Park also has a few beautiful campgrounds right on the beach, and they're some of the best campervan spots in Australia. Waking up to an ocean view and walking straight into the water to snorkel is just a normal morning here.
Keep in mind that the campgrounds in Cape Range National Park are very popular and often book up months ahead. It's also a good idea to check beforehand which campgrounds you can reach with a campervan.
How much time do you need for Ningaloo Reef?
That depends a bit on where you want to go. Exmouth is a fantastic place where you can easily spend 2 to 5 days, depending on how much time you have on your Western Australia road trip. If you want to see Coral Bay as well, 2 to 3 days in Exmouth is enough, followed by 2 days in Coral Bay.
That gives you enough time to snorkel, explore Cape Range National Park and do a tour or two.
