Australia - Ningaloo Coast

...Majestic marine life (whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins, turtles), stunning coral, deserted islands, spectacular sunsets...

The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site on the north west coast of Australia along the East Indian Ocean.  The area is well renowned for the reef that fringes the coast for 260 km. It is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef and the only reef positioned so close to land.  This makes exploring the coral and associated marine life relatively easy.

One of the main draw cards for visitors to the area, including us, is swimming with whale sharks, which are present from March to August.  Snorkelling alongside these massive, graceful giants exceeded our expectations and was a very special and magical experience.

The area does have more on offer than just the whale sharks, including humpback whales migrating along the coast from August to September.  Year round you can find manta rays, dugongs, sea snakes, and a plethora of other fish. There are also several deserted islands not too far out with fantastic snorkelling opportunities (Muiron Islands, Outer Islands).  The other big highlight of the area is the Cape Range National Park, which has secluded white sand beaches as well as several hiking trails with spectacular views over the range, canyons, and reef.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Itinerary

• Swim with the whale sharks (March-August)
  
• Charter a private catamaran (with or without skipper) to visit several deserted islands, snorkel amongst beautiful soft coral, and watch out for amazing marine life (manta rays, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, fish, sea snakes) 
  
• Spend at least one full day exploring the beaches and hiking trails in Cape Range National Park.
  
• Base yourself in Exmouth for a range of accommodation options and easy access to Cape Range National Park.  Make sure to have at least one dinner at Whalers, which has amazing, fresh seafood. There’s also several pubs and 2 microbreweries (Froth Craft Brewery, Whalebone Brewing Company).
  

Timing

• We planned our visit for June in order to coincide with the whale shark season (March-August), but avoid the crowds traveling around Easter and the July school holidays.  The weather in June is also starting to get cooler, which makes hiking possible.