Just north of the Tropic of Capricorn on Western Australia’s northwestern coast, Coral Bay is a barefoot beach vacation hot spot right on the edge of Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World-Heritage Site. Many of the best things to do in Coral Bay revolve around the fringing reef—the largest in the world—including snorkeling, diving, and boat trips out to swim with migrating whale sharks, manta rays, and humpback whales. However, there’s plenty for landlubbers, like camping, 4WD and beach buggy tours, fishing, and scenic walk trails.
The most popular time to visit Coral Bay is between April and October, with school holidays especially busy. Whale shark migration season, which usually starts in March and runs through July, is also popular. Visitors come from far and wide to swim with the gentle giants. Between July and October, you can also see humpback whales. The off-season, November to March, is typically quiet, hot, dry, and windy. However, you can still catch turtles in their nesting or hatching season.
While some beaches and snorkeling spots are only accessible by 4WD, Coral Bay is, for the most part, walkable. So much so that if you don’t fancy the 12-hour drive from Perth, you can fly to Exmouth, take an airport transfer down to Coral Bay, and spend the rest of the time exploring on foot. If that sounds a little dull, fear not; plenty of tours are on offer, including 4WD beach buggy tours, boat trips, and kayaking tours.
Although many of Coral Bay’s most impressive attractions are found under the water—like at Ningaloo Reef, where you'll see whale sharks, dugongs, manta rays, and turtles—the views from above are also special. Top lookout spots are along the coastal walking trails, but if you want to go all out, take a scenic flight to admire the views—where red dirt meets white sand meets turquoise ocean views—and try your hand at spotting humpback whales and whale sharks from the sky.
