Last Updated on 22 January 2026 by Ariana Svenson
The Ningaloo Reef Exmouth is one of the most spectacular marine areas in the world; plus it is fringed by the rich red colors of the incredible Cape Range National Park.
Ningaloo Reef is not only the world’s largest fringing reef but also a World Heritage Site. The reef spans the Ningaloo Coast and, in some parts, lies only a few hundred meters from the beach—it really is one of the jewels of Western Australia’s crown.
When thinking of fantastic reef systems in Australia, of course, most people think of the Great Barrier Reef. Even though the Great Barrier Reef is stunning, Ningaloo Coral Reef should also be considered in a similar regard. Unlike parts of the Great Barrier Reef that are suffering from bleaching, Ningaloo is thriving. See amazing coral gardens and diverse ocean life underneath the crystal clear waters.
We realize that things change all the time, and so it’s really important to us that we provide the most up to date information possible! That’s why we go through our pages annually making sure they are as current as possible. As always, if you notice something that’s not quite right, please let us know in the comments!
The word ‘Ningaloo‘ is an Aboriginal word that means a ‘promontory’ which is a headland of elevated land (or the Northwest Capes!) Yinikutira, also recorded as the Jinigudira, are the traditional Aboriginal owners of the Country along the Ningaloo Coast around the Exmouth Peninsula in Western Australia now referred to as the Cape Range National Park
We respect and pay tribute to our First Nations people, the custodians of this beautiful land in which we live and love. We believe that through acknowledgement and learning together we can heal country.
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Where is Ningaloo Reef Located?
When we first visited Exmouth, it got a little confusing. For example, which areas should be referred to as the Ningaloo Coast and which parts are Cape Range National Park?
Ningaloo Reef is often included in lists of “things to do in Exmouth,” but it is actually quite some distance from Exmouth. Both are spectacular natural attractions and part of Ningaloo National Park.
Ningaloo is part of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site that spans 300km of coastline, including Ningaloo Reef and the Cape Range Peninsula.
All sites mentioned in this article are part of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, but if you’re planning to visit Cape Range National Park, make sure you read our Cape Range National Park guide.
The Best Time to Visit Ningaloo Reef National Park
The best time to visit Ningaloo Reef really depends on what you want to see and do.
Generally, the peak season runs from late March to October, when the weather is dry and sightings are at their best. If swimming with Whale Sharks is on your bucket list, April to July is the best time. However, Humpback Whale sightings peak from June to August.
If you visit in September or October, there are fewer crowds, but there’s still nice weather to enjoy a bit of beach time. There really is no ‘bad time to visit’. There’s plenty of marine life to spot all year round! Make sure you read our Exmouth beaches guide for full details!
Here are the top things to do at Ningaloo Reef on a map so you can get your bearings. I’ve also included the locations of nearby places like Exmouth and Coral Bay.
The Top Things to Do at Ningaloo Reef: Beaches and Snorkelling + Must-Sees
Ningaloo Marine Park spans the Ningaloo Coast up the Northwest Cape. The main things to do here are to snorkel in the crystal clear waters and enjoy the sandy beaches.
Here are the top things to do in the Ningaloo Reef area!
1. Visit Milyering Discovery Centre
We highly recommend making Milyering Visitor Centre your first stop when visiting the Ningaloo Coast area.
The friendly staff is also very knowledgeable about Ningaloo Reef and the adjacent Cape Range National Park area.
If you plan on doing some Ningaloo Reef snorkeling, they can give you information about tides and currents – check out the blackboard outside! Also, there is a shop that has a great selection of snorkeling gear should you need to pick up anything last minute. Don’t forget reef-friendly sunscreen!
Important Safety Information about Ningaloo Reef
Most places around Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, including the popular Turquoise Bay and Oyster Stacks, can experience very strong currents and/or large ocean swells. Always read the posted signs and visit the discovery centre to inquire about conditions before getting in the water.
Never, ever snorkel or swim alone. Please know your level of snorkelling experience, and always ensure you have a partner with you. Also, be aware of large waves that may push you into the rocky shoreline.
Appropriate footwear must be worn! The Ningaloo Coast beaches are covered with broken coral, shells, and sharp slippery rocks. Make sure you take precautions.
2. Snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef
Since Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing reef, Ningaloo Reef snorkelling opportunities abound. Also, being one of the world’s largest coral reefs means there are many species of coral, fish, and marine life to take in.
The benefit of it being a fringing reef is that you can snorkel right from the shore.
Snorkelling tours are a great way to explore the area! If you are not a confident Snorkeler, why not join a tour such as this half day kayak and snorkel tour or guided snorkel adventure?
4. Ningaloo Reef Diving
While Ningaloo is famous for its shore snorkelling, it’s also an incredible diving destination. You’ll find vibrant coral walls, sponge gardens, swim-through caves, and encounters with reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and even dugongs if you’re lucky.
Popular dive sites include Lighthouse Bay, Navy Pier (considered one of the top shore dives in the world), and Muiron Islands, a short boat trip away.
Dive tours run from both Exmouth and Coral Bay, and local operators cater to all levels – from intro dives to advanced excursions. You can also hire gear or do a refresher course if it’s been a while. Our top recommendations include this Muiron Island diving tour and this double dive tour with lunch.
5. See Ningaloo Reef from High Above
To truly appreciate the scale and beauty of Ningaloo Reef, seeing it from the air is a must. Scenic flights will give you panoramic views of the reef’s clear waters and beautiful coastline!
It’s a surreal and breathtaking experience, especially when you fly low over Turquoise Bay or follow the coastline towards Cape Range National Park.
Flights depart from both Exmouth and Coral Bay, with options for short 20-minute scenic flights or longer, tailored aerial tours. It’s not the cheapest experience on the coast—but if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime view, this is it.
6. Relax on Turquoise Bay – the Ningaloo Coast
Perhaps the most popular and stunning beach along the Ningaloo Coast is Turquoise Bay. Its name is from the stunningly blue turquoise waters that meet the white sand beach. Don’t just take our word for it. Turquoise Bay, Ningaloo Reef, was rated the 2nd best beach in the South Pacific and the 6th best beach in the world overall!
Besides being stunningly beautiful, it is a great spot for snorkeling as the Ningaloo Reef Exmouth is located just meters offshore. This protected area is great for spotting all kinds of marine life like turtles, reef sharks, vibrant fish, and different coral formations.
The Ningaloo Reef and Turquoise Bay in particular are a favourite among many divers and snorkellers.
However, be warned! Turquoise Bay is a drift snorkelling spot. This means that you will get in the water at one end of the beach and be carried by the strong current to the other end. This is not the place to learn to snorkel. If you are not a confident swimmer and experienced snorkeler, try Lakeside Beach instead.
7. Osprey Bay
Osprey Bay is located approximately 15 minutes south of Turquoise Bay. It is another visually stunning, paradise-like beach. With calmer waters, it is great for stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, and even a relaxing swim.
There is even a government-operated campground. Depending on the time of year, the campground can be full. Make sure to make your reservations online in advance.
8. Oyster Stacks
Although not as picture-perfect as Turquoise Bay or Osprey Bay, the Oyster Stacks offer some great snorkelling opportunities. This area is a marine sanctuary zone, and the Oyster Stacks are five little islands that emerge from the reef’s water.
This is the narrow section of the lagoon. Because of that, the Oyster Stacks area has a high concentration of marine life. However, with Oyster stacks being the narrowest section of the lagoon along the Ningaloo Coast, you should only snorkel during high tide.
There has to be sufficient water over the reef to be able to snorkel successfully. The best place to check the tide tables is by visiting Milyering Discovery Centre.
9. Lakeside Beach
Lakeside Beach is listed as one of the best snorkelling areas for families in the Ningaloo Coral Reef, WA, area. Unfortunately, the roads were closed due to heavy rain, and we never got to snorkel at Lakeside.
In addition, if you are travelling with little kids, there are still some barriers to an easy snorkel. To get to the snorkelling zone from the car park, it is a 400-metre walk south along the beach to the marked entry point.
You then snorkel out in a northerly direction for 150 metres before returning to your original entry point. 150 metres of swimming is still quite substantial for a small child!
Because this is a sanctuary zone, fishing is not allowed in this area, which makes for plenty of large reef fish to see.
10. Tantabiddi Boat Ramp
If you are doing any Ningaloo Reef tours, your tour will depart from the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp. Whether it is a Ningaloo Reef snorkelling tour, swim alongside Whale Sharks, seeing Humpback Whales on their annual migration, taking a glass-bottom boat out, or any other Ningaloo Coast tour, this is the place you will start from.
11. Spot the SS Mildura Wrec
If you look carefully, you can see the wreck of the SS Mildura in the picture
Resting 80 metres from the shore, what remains of the shipwrecked SS Mildura can be viewed from the Lighthouse Bay coast.
The SS Mildura was a cattle steamer that was shipwrecked during the 1907 cyclone. The carpark has some good interpretative information, not just about the wreck but also about the Harold Holt Communications Station.
12. Swim with Whale Sharks
Swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef is one of Australia’s best wildlife experiences. Between March and August, these gentle giants visit the reef’s warm waters, and you can book a licensed tour to snorkel alongside them. Despite their size, whale sharks are slow-moving and totally safe to swim with.
Read our guide to swimming with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth to learn everything you need to know about this!
13. See Humpback Whales
During the annual Humpback Whale migration, over 40,000 whales go past Ningaloo while migrating South.
During this time, there are several tours which give you a chance to view them or even swim alongside them!
14. Discover Ningaloo in a Glass Bottom Boat
This is the perfect option for kids! See the famous Ningaloo turtles, manta rays, colourful fish and more, all from the comfort of a boat – perfect if you’ve decided not to take the kids snorkelling. The crystal-clear waters of the Ningaloo Coast mean visibility is often excellent. Tours are usually 1–2 hours long and include expert commentary.
15. Drift Snorkel at Bills Bay, Coral Bay
If you’re staying near Coral Bay (which is a completely different access from the other beaches here) don’t miss a drift snorkel at Bills Bay. It’s one of the easiest and most accessible spots on the Ningaloo Reef.
You’ll spot everything from parrotfish and angelfish to rays and the occasional reef shark. The reef is only a few metres offshore.
It’s also a fantastic way to see just how alive and healthy the Ningaloo Reef system is – right from the shore.
Ningaloo Reef Tours
There are plenty of Ningaloo Reef tours available – most of which involve marine life spotting! We’ve listed some of the best tours below the things to do above.
If you’re staying in Exmouth without your own wheels, consider this full day Ningaloo Reef tour which also includes the highlights of Cape Range National Park.
There are also some extended tour options such as this Exmouth explorer from Perth which includes a visit to Ningaloo Reef.
Accommodation at Ningaloo Reef
Most accommodation in the area is in nearby Exmouth (read our complete guide to Exmouth accommodation here), which is a great place to base yourself to explore Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park. Coral Bay also has plenty of options for accommodation and easy access to the area. Here are some alternative options.
Sal Salis
The most luxurious accommodation option in Ningaloo National Park is Sal Salis, an eco-friendly safari camp where you can enjoy gourmet dining, daily guided tours, and everything you’ll need to have a perfect trip.
View prices and availability here >>>
Yardie homestead
Located 32 km from Exmouth at the entrance of the Cape Range National Park, Yardie Homestead is not located at Yardie Creek, but further up towards North West Cape. They offer wilderness camping experiences as well as some basic cabins.
View prices and availability >>>
Camping at Ningaloo
There are many campsites up and down the Ningaloo coast. Note that these campsites are located on the edge of the Ningaloo Marine Park (most in the Cape Range National Park area).
For many people, a trip to Ningaloo means a camping holiday. We didn’t do any camping at Ningaloo, but these are the main campgrounds in the area. We’ve got good friends who camp at Osprey Bay each year and rave about it. They get up early in the morning in order to be online when bookings open, and they can get their preferred spot!
Here are the top options to consider:
- Osprey Bay
- Yardie Creek
- North Kurrajong
- Kurrajong
- Ned’s Camp
- Mesa
- Tulki
- North Mandu
Warroora Station Camping
Located about one hour south of Coral Bay, this cattle station is unique and ideal for exploring Ningaloo Reef. You can reach Warroora Station in a 2WD vehicle, but a 4WD vehicle is required to access the beach.
As this is a nature-based campground, there is no power. However, the sites are spacious, each with its own fire pit. There is also a basic camp kitchen, shower, and toilet facilities.
What Do I need to Pack for Ningaloo Reef Exmouth?
These are some of the things that we would pack to visit Ningaloo Reef.
Final Words
There is nothing like the turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Coast. What a truly divine place to spend time!!
We hope that this comprehensive guide has helped you carefully plan your time visiting Ningaloo Reef and understand the distances you need to cover to all the different snorkelling spots.
Remember that even though gorgeous Turquoise Bay, Ningaloo, is picture-perfect, it is not for learner swimmers. We hope you enjoy the Ningaloo Reef, WA, as much as we did!
If you’re planning a trip to Ningaloo Reef, make sure you also read my guide to swimming with Whale Sharks in Ningaloo and your ultimate guide to Cape Range National Park, where you can read about must-visit places in the park and nearby like Charles Knife Canyon!
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