Australia's Coral Coast in Western Australia
From Cervantes to Exmouth, there's more than 1000 kilometres of coastal magic to explore. Highlights include the Ningaloo Reef, whale shark, humpback whale and manta ray encounters, The Pinnacles and the famous dolphins of Monkey Mia, just to mention a few.
The whale shark, the earth's largest fish, is a shark by name but not by nature. It eats plankton and krill.
Ningaloo Reef snorkelling and diving
World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef blooms with marine life and colour. You can walk straight off the beach and into a marine wonderland of tropical fish and coral. Because the reef is so accessible, snorkelling is the easiest way to discover its beauty.
Highlights of Ningaloo Reef
- Feel true awe as you glide alongside gentle whale sharks (March to July) or humpback whales (August to November) over the world's largest fringing coral reef, a rare wildlife encounter that will stay with you forever.
- Hang out with the acrobat manta rays of Coral Bay, the aquatic entertainers that work all year round.
- Let the warm current take you on a drift snorkel at Turquoise Bay, where the passing parade of sea life is just metres from the shore.
- To see the wonders of Ningaloo without getting wet, take a glass bottom boat tour from Coral Bay.
Monkey Mia for dolphins and more
At Monkey Mia, which is within UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, dolphins and humans have become great mates. The friendly wild bottlenose dolphins that live in the area arrive at the beach a couple of times a day to feed. Their interactions with people are carefully managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW), to ensure the safety of both dolphins and humans. Admission to the reserve is only a few dollars, so it's a great family activity. Ask the locals about Monkey Mia dolphin feeding times.
There are other Monkey Mia attractions too, such as catching a boat tour to see dugongs, also called 'sea cows'. This area has large meadows of sea grass, where the dugongs love to graze. You might also see turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. From August to November, humpback whales migrate up the coast on the way to their summer breeding grounds. The Hamelin Pool stromatolites are another must-see in the Shark Bay area. They're not strictly creatures, but they are alive. About 3,500 million years ago, these things were everywhere!
National parks
The Western Australia Coral Coast isn't only about marine experiences. It also has spectacular national parks full of ultra-Australian scenery. In Nambung National Park you can see The Pinnacles, ancient desert limestone sculptures created by time and weather.
Kalbarri National Park is another gobsmacker, where wind and wave erosion has created scenic masterpieces of red sandstone formations. Visit the recently opened twin skywalks, projecting 25 metres and 17 metres beyond the Murchison River Gorge Rim, with a panorama of rust-red cliffs rising above the river. This park is also famous for wildflowers, which are at their best in spring and early summer. Kalbarri offers horse riding, canyoning and abseiling adventures. During and just after the rainy season, kayak and canoe safaris are also possible.Â
For powerful images of red earth, white sand and blue water, visit Francois Peron National Park on the shores of Shark Bay. A former sheep station, this conservation area is home to many rare and endangered species. If you look down into the ocean from the cliffs, you can see manta rays, dugong, turtles and sharks swimming in the water below. Bottle Bay and Big Lagoon both have camping grounds. Driving in Francois Peron National Park requires a 4WD vehicle, or you can find a local tour operator.