the aweventurer guide to ningaloo reef
australia is known for its beauty and adventure; rugged landscapes, perfect beaches, bountiful coral reefs. head to the tip of western australia and you’ll find a stretch of coast that offers all of this and more. close to the town of exmouth, ningaloo reef and its surrounding coastlines and national parks are a hub of adventure and relaxation. here’s a list of amazing sights and activities that can be found in this beautiful blend of land and sea.
image credit: Australia’s coral coast
Snorkel around one of the largest reefs in the world
a world heritage site, the 260km stretch of the ningaloo reef is home to hundreds of unique species of coral and marine life. snorkelling is a must when you get to ningaloo, and thankfully the reef is super accessible for beginners who prefer to stay close to the shoreline. there's a great selection of beaches and bays, with dense coral reefs accessible straight from the shore. apart from over 500 species of fish, you’ll also bump into rays, turtles, dolphins and even whale sharks, depending on how far out you venture. also, if you’re keen to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, be sure to check out our next activity.
Swim up close with dolphins and whale-sharks
venture out past the shoreline and you’ll discover more of what ningaloo has to offer, being home to some of the most spectacular marine life in the world. there are a handful of tour companies that will take you out past the reef, where you can dive and swim next to dolphins, rays, whale sharks and humpbacks. In particular, the whale shark activity around ningaloo makes it one of the best places in the world to see these enormous creatures up close. Whale shark tours are popular, and once you swim up to these sometimes 15 metre long creatures, you’ll see what makes the experience so sought after.
Soak up the sun at Turquoise Bay and other beautiful beaches
once you’ve finished snorkelling for the day, it helps that you’ll be coming back to some of the most jaw dropping beaches you can lay your eyes on. turquoise bay is a stunner in the cape ranges park, and the most popular beach. As the name suggests, you’ll find an extensive stretch of the deepest, most vibrant turquoise water, lapping against perfect white sand. The other bays are just as pretty too. osprey bay is close to the bush, and makes a nice kayaking and snorkelling spot, with a number of walks nearby. sandy bay is a highlight as well, and if you’re seeking out some waves, you can head up to dunes beach at the northern tip off the coast. There's plenty to discover as you swim, sip and snorkel along ningaloo’s picturesque coastline.
Explore the rugged landscape of Cape Range
the rugged scenery of the cape ranges probably isn’t something you’d expect to find so close to Ningaloo’s calm, exotic beaches. at over 50,000 hectares, you’ll be treated to some beautiful hikes and spectacular views over the rocky canyons and bushland. the walk at mandu mandu gorge is short, at 3km, and will take you to a view that stretches all the way back to the coastline. on the other side of the coast is charles knife canyon, a very impressive expanse of rising cliffs and deep valleys, soaked in deep reds and dark greens reminiscent of an old western. there’s an abundance of wildlife to see here too, and as you wander throughout the park you may catch a glimpse of a wandering emu, or red kangaroo. although some of the park is more of a drive away from the coast, it's definitely worth the trip.
Cruise or Kayak through Yardie Creek Gorge
a spectacular display of the australian landscape, navigating the calm waters of the yardie creek gorge, at the south end of the cape range, will no doubt be a memorable experience. the rocky walls of this gorge rise steeply on either side of the twisting creek, and you can snake around the cliffs for miles by kayak or boat. there’s a guided boat tour that will let you sit back and take in the sights at a leisurely place, and you’ll also learn about local wildlife and the indigenous background and history of the area. xhoose to take out a kayak, solo or with a partner, for a more adventurous trip through the gorge, dwarfed by the cliffs above.
Take in the Sunset at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
at the northern tip, past the cape ranges, you’ll find a unique, panoramic view of the coast at vlamingh Head Lighthouse. close to the town of exmouth, this lighthouse started its operations in 1912, and is now popular for its amazing vantage point to watch both the sunrise and sunset. It’s quite unique in this sense, as it's rare to find a place that provides a view of the sun both rising and setting over the ocean. In the morning, you might see a whale breaching in the distance, and at night you can see a spectacular display of stars if it’s clear enough.
Camp on the shore at Sal Salis
adventure in style at the unique and exotic accommodation that is sal salis camping grounds. this is the perfect place if you want to be close to the best beaches along the reef, as it's only a ten minute drive to turquoise bay and close to other great snorkelling and sun baking spots as well. but what makes this particular accommodation so special are the luxurious tents set up right on the shoreline, with views looking out onto the ocean. they’re not your average tent either, providing more comfort and luxury than meets the eye. you can take in the view outside the tent each morning and watch for whales on the horizon, plus you may even be visited by a few kangaroos!
Take the whole scene in from above
if you want to truly get a sense of ningaloo’s scale and beauty, a scenic flight is a breathtaking way to take in the landscape of the reef and its surrounds. there's a number of places to take a scenic flight, which usually last an hour, and allow you to view the full breadth of the reef, and to see the cape ranges in all their glory too. since the water around the reef is so clear, it also makes for a good chance of spotting whales and other marine life from above. experiencing this unique blend of land and see from the air will be truly memorable, and most flights allow an open door tour, making for some great picture opportunities as well.
the blue escape with brinkley davies
from $550.00
april 2 - april 5, 2022
once in a lifetime. bucket list. awe-inspiring. humbling. these are just a few of the words used to describe the experience of swimming with whale sharks. in australia, we are lucky enough to have a haven of waters where they live, on the coast of Western Australia. the paradise is ningaloo reef, and we will be swimming with whale sharks, turtles, manta rays and electric-hued tropical fish. even luckier, this trip will be hosted by real-life mermaid brinkley davies, a marine biologist and free-diver who inspires the heck out of everyone she meets. brinkley will be our guide on this transformative travel adventure to a place that she loves most. under her sunny guidance and marine-life expertise, you’ll see the reef through her eyes, learning about the aquatic life you get up close and personal with.
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