Top things to do at Ningaloo Reef

Things to do in Ningaloo Reef start in the water: snorkelling over World Heritage-listed coral, swimming with whale sharks and humpback whales in season, paddling into sheltered lagoons and watching for turtles. Trips run from Exmouth and Coral Bay on Western Australia's Coral Coast, and Cape Range National Park gives you a day on dry land when you want one. The sections below sort the Ningaloo Reef tours by what you'll be doing, with the departure points and seasons that decide when each one works.

Snorkelling and kayaking on Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo is a fringing reef, so the coral starts close to shore and a guided snorkel is the easiest way in. From Exmouth, a full-day snorkel adventure takes a 45-minute drive along the coast to Turquoise Bay, adds a second snorkel spot and stops for morning tea and a picnic lunch on the beach. It runs through the year, leaving at 7am from October to April and 8am from May to September.

To paddle instead, the half-day turtle, kayak and snorkel tour heads into the Bundegi Sanctuary Zone at the northern end of the reef, with a start time that moves daily with the tide. Coral Bay suits a boat day, and the 3-hour snorkel cruise along its southern coastline watches for turtles, dugongs, rays and reef sharks. The rest of the reef trips are on the Ningaloo Reef activities page.

Swimming with whale sharks and humpback whales

The swim with whales on Ningaloo Reef page covers the in-water trips, and each one has its own season, so read the dates before you book. From Coral Bay, the full-day whale shark swim safari is a 9-hour trip that leaves at 7.30am, starts with a reef snorkel and then heads to the outer reef to find whale sharks. The full-day humpback whale swim safari adds small-group swims when humpbacks are found on their migration.

From Exmouth, the September to November whale sharks and whales tour runs a 65-foot, two-storey vessel with a spotter plane, and offers swims with eligible humpback whales. A powerboat whale shark swim also runs from Exmouth in August, September and October only.

Whale watching cruises from Coral Bay

Whale watching on Ningaloo Reef includes cruises that keep you dry. The 2.5-hour cruise uses a 10m Naiad that sits low to the water, while the 3-hour cruise uses a multi-level vessel with champagne and finger food. Humpbacks pass this coast from June to October.

Cape Range National Park and night trips

The Cape Range National Park one-day trek is an 8-hour guided walk from Exmouth with lunch, park fees and a dip in the Ningaloo lagoon. The Range to Reef safari adds Charles Knife Gorge, Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, a snorkel, and a wildlife cruise through Yardie Creek Gorge.

After dark, the 4-hour turtle watching and stargazing tour in Jurabi Coastal Park starts at sunset with drinks and light snacks and gives you a chance to see turtles nesting.

Exmouth or Coral Bay: choosing a base

Exmouth trips often include return transfers from your accommodation, while Coral Bay trips meet at Peoples Shopping Village on Robinson Street or the Coral Bay boat ramp. Flights from Perth land at Learmonth Airport, and Coral Bay is about 116km from there, a 90-minute drive.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Ningaloo Reef?

Ningaloo Reef suits different trips at different times of year. Reef snorkelling and kayak tours from Exmouth run through the year, humpback whale watching cruises from Coral Bay run from June to October, and the Exmouth whale shark swims run August to October and September to late November. Check the season on the trip page for the animal you want to see.

How do you get to Ningaloo Reef?

Fly from Perth to Learmonth Airport, which serves Exmouth, or drive the Coral Coast Highway, about 1,200km from Perth to Exmouth. Coral Bay is about 116km from Learmonth Airport, a 90-minute drive, and most Exmouth tours include pick-up from your accommodation.

Where should you stay for Ningaloo Reef tours?

Ningaloo Reef trips leave from Exmouth and Coral Bay, so either town works. Exmouth trips often include return transfers from your accommodation, while Coral Bay trips meet at Peoples Shopping Village or the boat ramp, so the town you stay in decides which departures are easiest.

Is Ningaloo Reef worth visiting?

Ningaloo Reef is worth the trip for the snorkelling alone, because the World Heritage-listed coral sits close to shore in places such as Coral Bay. It also has whale shark and humpback seasons, sheltered lagoons for kayaking, Cape Range National Park and turtle watching at night.

Is it safe to swim at Ningaloo Reef?

Guided snorkel and swim trips on Ningaloo Reef are led by professional guides who brief the group and stay in the water with it, and operators supply snorkelling gear plus wetsuits or stinger suits when the season needs them. Reef sharks are among the marine life seen at some snorkel sites, and operators can cancel or reschedule a trip when conditions are unsuitable.

Can you swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef?

Yes. Whale shark swims on Ningaloo Reef run from Exmouth and Coral Bay, including a full-day swim safari from Coral Bay and powerboat and spotter-plane trips from Exmouth in the second half of the year. Each trip has its own season, so the dates on the trip page decide when you can go.

Choose your Ningaloo Reef trip by the season you're travelling in, book it on its trip page, and fill the days around it with a half-day paddle or a Cape Range walk.