Exmouth

Home to Ningaloo Reef
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Multi- Day Tours

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Day Tours

Sitting at the top of WA’s Coral Coast, Exmouth is that magic place where you can roll out of bed, stroll into turquoise water, and suddenly find yourself swimming next to a whale shark. It’s wild, remote, and absolutely worth the mission. Think red desert plains on one side and the world-class Ningaloo Reef on the other, all wrapped up in a laid-back coastal town that gets backpackers whispering, “Wait… why didn’t anyone tell me about this sooner?” Exmouth is your launchpad for drift snorkelling at Turquoise Bay, sunset missions through Cape Range National Park, and those bucket list Ningaloo encounters that feel almost unreal until you’re back on land scrolling through your GoPro footage. Whether you’re DIY-ing a road trip or joining a tour crew, this place keeps the planning simple and the adventure high. Once you arrive, it clicks: this is Western Australia at its most untouched, uncrowded, and unforgettable in the most low-key way. Let’s be real: Exmouth isn’t just a stop, it’s a bragging right. And we’ll help you line up the good stuff so you can spend less time Googling and more time living your reef-to-ranges era.
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Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef Highlights

a view point overlooking a white sand beach and clear waters
Coral Bay
Coral Bay, located at the southern end of Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, is a relaxed coastal town known for its easy, walk-in access to fringing coral gardens. At Bill’s Bay, visitors can snorkel straight from the white sandy beach into warm, clear water that remains calm for most of the year, making it popular for families and first-time snorkellers. The area is also well known for manta ray tours, which operate year-round thanks to a resident population nearby. While Coral Bay has a quiet, small-town feel, it can become busy during peak travel periods, so accommodation and tours often need to be booked in advance
Stunning fiery orange sunset over tranquil ocean waters, ideal for dolphin kayaking on the iconic Great Beach Drive at Rainbow Beach.
Cape Range National Park
Cape Range National Park, located near Exmouth in Western Australia, forms part of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and is known for its striking combination of limestone ranges, deep canyons and pristine beaches. Key features include Yardie Creek Gorge, where contrasting red cliffs meet clear blue water. The park supports a variety of wildlife, including kangaroos, emus and black-flanked rock-wallabies. Visitors can explore both 2WD-accessible areas and more remote 4WD tracks, as well as designated camping sites and walking trails. Cape Range offers a blend of rugged outback scenery and turquoise coastline, making it a significant natural highlight of the region.
a humpback whale breaching out of the water at sunset
Humpback whales
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef are key locations in Australia for observing humpback whales during their annual migration from Antarctica to warmer northern waters. Between June and November, thousands of whales travel along the coast, with the sheltered waters of Ningaloo often used as a resting area for mothers and calves. Tours from Exmouth typically operate from August to October, offering the chance to see whales up close, watch breaches from the boat or even join guided in-water encounters where conditions allow. The region is also one of the few places where humpback whale swims are conducted under strict wildlife interaction guidelines.
a mantaray swimming across a reef system on the West Coast of Australia
Mantarays
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef are among Western Australia’s best locations for manta ray encounters, supported by both resident populations, particularly around Coral Bay, and seasonal visitors. Snorkelling and diving with manta rays is possible year-round, with especially good conditions from May to November when they feed on zooplankton and coral spawn. Dedicated marine tours allow swimmers to observe these large, harmless filter feeders in their natural environment. Manta rays form an important part of Ningaloo’s diverse marine ecosystem, which also includes whale sharks, humpback whales and a wide variety of reef species.
an aerial photo of a whale shark swimming in the ocean
Whalesharks
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef provide one of the world’s best opportunities to swim with whale sharks, the planet’s largest fish. These gentle, filter-feeding giants visit the reef from roughly March to August, with the peak season typically between April and July following the annual coral spawning and resulting plankton blooms. Licensed tour operators run boat trips from Exmouth and Coral Bay, giving visitors the chance to snorkel alongside whale sharks, often with multiple in-water encounters. Manta rays are also sometimes seen on these tours. Strict guidelines apply, including maintaining a minimum three-metre distance, and in-water guides assist swimmers to ensure safety and responsible wildlife interaction.
Snorkeller follows sea turtle above vibrant coral reef on a Perth to Exmouth 7-day Ningaloo Reef tour, showcasing marine adventure.
Ningaloo reef
Ningaloo Reef is a 300-kilometre fringing reef along Western Australia’s coastline, known for its rich marine biodiversity and its unusually close distance to shore. This makes it one of the world’s most accessible major reef systems for snorkelling and diving. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ningaloo supports a wide range of species, including whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays and six different types of sea turtles. The reef’s clear waters and varied habitats create an environment where marine life thrives, offering a unique look at one of Australia’s most important coastal ecosystems.
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Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef

FAQ

Exmouth shines from March to October when the days are warm, the water is crystal clear and the Ningaloo Reef is buzzing with life. Whale shark season kicks off around March, humpbacks roll through from July, and winter brings those perfect calm mornings that make sunrise swims way too tempting.

Yes, and it’s one of the biggest bucket list moments in Australia. Whale shark tours run from March to August, and Exmouth is known for having some of the most reliable sightings on the planet. No stress if you’ve never snorkelled before. The crew will brief you, kit you up and hype you up.

Definitely. You’ve got hostels, campsites, shared shuttles, group tours and plenty of low-cost things to do like snorkelling at Turquoise Bay, hiking in Cape Range National Park and spotting wildlife right from the beach. It’s a big adventure vibe without the luxury price tag.

A Campervan gives you the freedom to bounce between beaches, hikes and reef spots at your own pace, but you can still see the best of Exmouth with day tours. Many of the top Ningaloo experiences run with return transfers, so you can ditch the logistics and focus on the fun.

You can fly into Learmonth Airport from Perth or road trip the Coral Coast in a Camper for the full WA experience. The drive takes around 13 hours with plenty of scenic stops along the way. Think turquoise bays, wide open desert and “pull over, I need a photo of this” moments.

This place is a parade of ocean icons. Expect whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, reef sharks, dolphins and technicolor coral gardens. On land, you’ll spot emus, kangaroos and the occasional cheeky goanna wandering through Cape Range.

Three to five days is enough to hit the highlights, but a week gives you space for both adventure days and lazy beach hangs. If your plan includes whale sharks, manta rays and Cape Range, give yourself room to breathe. The Ningaloo coast is not a place you rush.

Turquoise Bay steals the spotlight for snorkelling, followed by Oyster Stacks, Sandy Bay and Town Beach for low-key chill time. Most of the dreamy postcard spots sit inside Cape Range National Park.

call Australian Phone: +61 3 9125 3620 call International Phone: +61 (0)3 9125 3620 call WhatsApp: +61 480 064 975
location_on Peterpans Cairns Esplanade 83A Esplanade Cairns, 4870 Queensland, Australia