The Coral Coast & Ningaloo
North of Perth, WA's Coral Coast unfurls a run of natural wonders along the Indian Ocean — the eerie Pinnacles, the gorges of Kalbarri, the dolphins and stromatolites of World Heritage Shark Bay, and the crowning glory: Ningaloo Reef, where you can swim with whale sharks straight off the beach. Here's how to explore one of Australia's great coastlines.
Swim with whale sharks
World Heritage Ningaloo Reef is the Coral Coast's masterpiece — a 260 km fringing reef you can snorkel straight off the beach, alive with coral, turtles, manta rays and reef fish. Its headline act is the chance to swim beside whale sharks (roughly mid-March to July/August), the world's largest fish, with humpback whale swims following from about August to October. Base at Exmouth or Coral Bay, and add the red gorges of Cape Range National Park. See our WA tours.
Pinnacles, Kalbarri & Shark Bay
The journey north is a highlight reel. Just 2 hours from Perth, the Pinnacles raise thousands of limestone spires from golden sand in Nambung National Park. Further on, Kalbarri pairs river gorges (Nature's Window and the vertigo-inducing Skywalk) with sea cliffs. Then comes World Heritage Shark Bay — the wild dolphins of Monkey Mia, the ancient stromatolites of Hamelin Pool, and the shell-white curve of Shell Beach. Each is worth a stop.
Road trip or fly
The Coral Coast is a classic self-drive — pace it over several days, as Ningaloo is a long haul (around 13 hours' driving from Perth). To focus on the reef, fly into Exmouth instead and dive straight in. Time whale-shark swims for autumn to winter, book tours ahead, and carry water and fuel on the long, remote stretches. See our best time to visit guide.
The Coral Coast & Ningaloo: your questions
Yes — Ningaloo Reef, off Exmouth and Coral Bay, is one of the few places on Earth where you can reliably swim alongside whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Licensed operators run day trips during the season, which runs roughly mid-March to July/August, when these gentle giants gather. From around August to October, you can also swim with humpback whales. It's a genuine bucket-list experience — book ahead.
Ningaloo is a World Heritage-listed fringing reef stretching some 260 km along WA's Coral Coast — remarkably, you can snorkel straight off the beach into coral gardens teeming with fish, turtles, manta rays and reef sharks. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, it hugs the shore, making it wonderfully accessible. Base at Exmouth or Coral Bay, and pair reef time with the rugged gorges of Cape Range National Park.
The Pinnacles are thousands of eerie limestone spires rising from golden sand in Nambung National Park near Cervantes, about a 2-hour drive north of Perth. Wander or drive the loop among these natural sculptures — otherworldly at sunrise, sunset or under a full moon. They're an easy day trip from Perth or a classic first stop on a Coral Coast road trip heading north. See our things to do in WA.
World Heritage-listed Shark Bay is a wonderland of nature. At Monkey Mia, wild bottlenose dolphins come into the shallows most mornings under ranger supervision. Nearby, marvel at the ancient living stromatolites of Hamelin Pool, the billions of tiny shells of Shell Beach, and the red cliffs of Francois Peron National Park meeting turquoise sea. It's a highlight of any Coral Coast journey.
The Coral Coast runs north from Perth up the Indian Ocean Drive and North West Coastal Highway. It's a classic self-drive road trip — the Pinnacles are 2 hours out, Kalbarri around 6, Shark Bay/Monkey Mia about 9, and Exmouth/Ningaloo roughly 13 hours (best broken over several days). Alternatively, fly into Exmouth (Learmonth) to reach Ningaloo quickly. See our getting around guide.