Ningaloo Western Australia
The eco-adventure capital of WA, offering an extraordinary and unique travel experience within a UNESCO World Heritage Listed area.
At a Glance
The Ningaloo Reef stretching for 260 kilometres off the Ningaloo Coast is the largest fringing reef on the planet! Not only that, it is also situated very close to the coast, making it easily accessible by just swimming from the shore. It is just as amazing as the Great Barrier Reef, a paradise for divers and snorkelers! The area boasts an incredible variety of exotic marine life from fish, turtles, rays, dugong to the gentle whale shark, which you can swim along with.
Other than the Ningaloo Reef, the Ningaloo Coast also offer many other forms of exciting activities. During the right season, you will be able to see the extraordinary endangered species of turtles coming up to the shore to lay their eggs. The Ningaloo Coast is also known for its beautiful gorge, deep canyons and the rugged limestone ranges. The Cape Range National Park is home to a few of these magnificent gorges where you will be able to see beautiful wildflowers and plenty of wildlife.
The best way to book Ningaloo
Where is Ningaloo?
Ningaloo is 1200 kilometres north of Perth.
Ningaloo encompasses a huge heritage-listed area along the East Indian Ocean in the northwestern part of Western Australia. Off the coast lies Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing coral reef in Australia. One of the best ways to get to Ningaloo is to hire a car from Perth Airport, or flying to Learmonth Airport, which is 94.1km from Ningaloo.
Things to see in Ningaloo
Ningaloo Reef
Part of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park, the Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef in the world, stretching 260 kilometres along the Ningaloo Coast, teeming with more than 500 species of fish and other marine lives such as turtles, humpback whales, manta rays as well as the gentle whale shark. So put your snorkel on and start exploring this underwater paradise! Explore the Ningaloo Coral Reef with Exmouth Boat & Kayak Hire.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Whale Shark Tours
Ningaloo Coast is one of the few places in the world where you can have a breathtaking and thrilling experience of swimming along the magnificent and friendly whale shark. You will marvel at how stunning and enormous these creatures are compared to you. The whale shark is not the only attraction here either, there will also be humpback whales and countless other fishes of different colours swimming under the beautiful waves. Explore Whale Shark Tours with WA Holiday Guide.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Cape Range National Park
It is known to many that the gorges in Western Australia are one of the most stunning ones in the world. Cape Range National Park on the west side of Exmouth are full of such gorges. From rocky limestone walls, profoundly deep canyons to pristine beaches, there is no lack in the diversity of landscapes here. The national park is also full of wildlife and wildflowers that will come blooming in during winter.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Turquoise Bay
The Turquoise Bay is one of the best beaches in the whole of Australia, in fact, it is often rated the top beach in Western Australia by visitors. Located near the town of Exmouth, the Turquoise Bay is a perfect place for you if you want to explore the beautiful seascape of the Ningaloo Reef, full with beautiful corals of different colours and the many fishes that calls the reef home.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
What's the weather like?
The Ningaloo Coast has a hot ‘semi-arid’ climate where winters are mild while summers are hot. There are not regular wet and dry season, but it is more likely to rain from mid-summer to early winter. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 37°C with an average minimum temperature of 24°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 25°C with an average minimum temperature of 12°C.
Get to know Ningaloo's history
Prior to European settlement, the Ningaloo Coast were inhabited by the Yamatji people for a long time. In fact, the name ‘ningaloo’ came from the Wajarri language meaning ‘deepwater’. The first European to document a landing on the area was the Dutch Captain Williem Janz on board the Mauritius in 1618, about 150 years before Captain James Cook.
Despite the early discovery, the rate of settlement were slow in the next 300 years, with only a small number of sheep stations operating there. The town of Exmouth was only officially established in 1967 to support military actions. Today, the area houses several major parks and reserves, is listed as a World Heritage Site, and relies upon tourism to support the economy.
Looking for visitor and tourist information, maps and brochures, booking assistance and local expert tips in Ningaloo? Check out the Ningaloo Visitor Centre!