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Guide to Ningaloo Reef

Aboriginal name: Nyinggulu (pronounced Neen-ga-loo)

Welcome
Aboriginal
Getting to Ningaloo Reef
When to visit

Beside the red soils of the Cape Range lies the turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, home to some of the world’s most incredible marine creatures.

Some 1,200km (745mi) north of Perth, the fringing Ningaloo Reef is a sparkling gem in Western Australia’s crown. Right on the coast, the reef is UNESCO World Heritage-listed and offers a slew of outdoor adventures. Ningaloo’s most notable visitors are the whale sharks. This is one of the world’s largest aggregations, making it a great place to swim with them, along with manta rays, turtles or humpback whales during their migration.

Ningaloo/Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves are home to the Baiyungu and Jinigudira people; a culture with strong connections to the ocean, waterways and tidal landscapes of the region. Aboriginal artefact discoveries, including one of the oldest pieces of jewellery in the world, date back over 32,000 years – a testament to how long the Baiyungu and Jinigudira people have called Nyinggulu home. Unleash your sense of adventure and gain a greater understanding of the Ningaloo Coast’s culture-rich landscape with Baiyungu Dreaming tag-along tours.

Traditional name: Nyinggulu (pronounced Neen-ga-loo)
Indigenous Peoples: Baiyungu and Jinigudira people
Traditional languages: Bayungu

There are two main hubs on Ningaloo Reef: Coral Bay and Exmouth. Fly into Learmonth Airport to reach both destinations. You can fly here from all Australian states and territories.

Exmouth is located 36km (22mi) from Learmonth Airport (LEA)
Coral Bay is located 117km (73mi) from Learmonth Airport
Hire cars are available from Learmonth Airport; book ahead to avoid missing out
Bus, shuttle and taxi services are available from the airport to Exmouth and Coral Bay; pre-booking is advised for these services

The best way to get around the region is by car. Alternatively, join a guided tour, which may arrange transport to and from your accommodation.

Ningaloo Reef has enjoyable weather and opportunity to swim with wildlife all year round, but if you’re eager to swim with the reef’s most famous visitors – the whale sharks – it’s best to plan your trip between March and July.

High season: Dry season (August to December)
Low season: Wet season (May to June)
Don’t miss: Whale shark season (late March to late July) – you can even swim alongside them on a tour

Top things to do at Ningaloo Reef

Yardie Creek, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Join a guided kayak or snorkel tour

Exploring the reef with a guide means you’ll learn more and experience it safely. Slide off your kayak or step off the beach, snorkelling through coral gardens meeting turtles, Nemo fish, and maybe baby reef sharks and rays.

Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia © Tourism Australia

Swim with the world’s biggest fish

Between about March and July each year, Ningaloo reef is perhaps the best place in the world to see whale sharks. Jump from a boat into the blue to come face to face with these harmless giants as they effortlessly glide by.

Ningaloo Ecology Cruises, Exmouth, Western Australia © Blue Crust Productions

Hop aboard a glass bottom boat

Board a glass bottom boat to see the reef without getting wet. Vessels are designed for ease of embarkation and are suitable for children, with safety equipment provided. Some tours have snorkelling options, and all include commentary.

Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef, WA © Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef

Luxuriate beside the reef at Sal Salis

For a Ningaloo experience like no other, treat yourself to a stay at Sal Salis, an eco-luxe safari camp beside the reef and inside the national park. Enjoy gourmet dining, guided reef tours, gorge hikes and full nature immersion during your visit.

Humpback whale, Live Ningaloo, Exmouth, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Swim with (or watch) humpback whales

Between July and October annually, some 40,000 humpback whales migrate past Ningaloo on their way south. Several licensed operators offer swims with them, and being underwater with these curious, magnificent animals is unforgettable.

Cape Range National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Explore Cape Range National Park

Cape Range National Park holds land treasures, too. Drive up to Charles Knife Canyon for the views and the dramatic gullies. On the opposite side of the Cape, try the Mandu Mandu gorge hike, looking out for shy rock wallabies along the way.

Coral Bay, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Take in the reef from the air

There’s no better way to appreciate the colours and majesty of Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range’s canyons than from the air. See red dirt meeting white sands and the turquoise lagoon. You may spot turtles, manta rays, whales and dugongs.

Manta Rays, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Snorkel with manta rays in Coral Bay

The hamlet of Coral Bay is famous for manta rays, with tours all year. Follow your guide off the boat, peering down as the harmless and gentle mantas materialise into view, flying underwater and cavorting to impress each other.

Fly Fishing Frontiers, Exmouth, Western Australia © Joshua Hutchins

Try marine fly fishing

Fly fishing is not just for freshwaters, and there’s nowhere better to try marine fly-fishing than Ningaloo Reef. Catch a bone fish or permit in the calm waters of Exmouth Gulf, or head out to sea in pursuit of mighty sail fish.

Yardie Creek Gorge, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Cruise through Yardie Creek Gorge

Join a one-hour boat trip up Yardie Creek and into the gorge system. Learn about local European and Indigenous history, see ospreys and egrets, and spot black-footed rock wallabies that cling to sheer cliffs.