Snorkel the Ningaloo Reef

Located just off the coast of the Cape Range National Park, the Ningaloo Reef is a 300-kilometer-long coral barrier reef that is listed as a World Heritage Area.

It is recognized as one of the most biologically diverse marine environments globally and is the closest coral barrier reef to a landmass in the world. Visitors can walk straight off the beach and snorkel over superb coral gardens teeming with colourful fish only metres from the shore, an extraordinary experience found nowhere else in Australia.

The Ningaloo Reef offers visitors the chance to experience beautiful coral gardens teeming with marine life. Snorkelling is the most popular way to explore the reef, and many of the best snorkelling spots are located just a short distance from either Exmouth or Coral Bay and are free to access. Visitors can expect to see a variety of tropical fish species, including parrotfish, Moorish idols, and butterflyfish. The best time to visit the Ningaloo Reef is between March and June and September to November, when the water is clearest, and the weather is mild. During these months, visitors can experience the best snorkelling conditions, and the reef is less crowded.

Cape Range National Park is located around 50 kilometres from Exmouth and can be reached by car or by tour bus. Visitors can take a flight to Learmonth Airport (36 km from Exmouth), and from there, hire a car or join a bus tour to visit the park. Tourists are advised to check for alerts and road/park closures before commencing their travel on www.emergency.wa.gov.au