Ningaloo Reef

Join this 5 to 6 hour Marine Eco Safari aboard the Kurni-Ku, custom built to specifically navigate around the Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. It is the perfect way to experience one of the few places in the world with a resident population of Manta Rays all year round! Your tour begins at 8:00 AM at the Coral Bay Ecotours office (unless otherwise informed), followed by a short bus transfer to the jetty to board the vessel. Then you will head out for your first reef snorkel experience in Bills Bay, where you may encounter numerous fish, reef sharks, and other marine species and the beautiful coral gardens. After morning tea you will visit the sea turtle sanctuary where you can observe turtles feeding and surfacing for air. You will then head to Bateman’s Bay, where, with the assistance of a spotter plane, there is the opportunity to snorkel with Manta Rays. On the return home, you will stop for an afternoon snorkel.

Snorkel or dive with manta rays on a full-day tour to Ningaloo Reef. Take a boat trip to the best snorkeling and diving spots in the area and enjoy a buffet lunch on board. Meet your guide at the dive shop and get kitted out with all the equipment you need for the day. Then, head down to the jetty on the bus to begin your adventure. Snorkel or dive at 2 different sites on the Ningaloo Reef. See a variety of tropical fish, possibly turtles, sharks, and beautiful coral structures. In between the 2 dives/snorkels, head out into Batemans Bay, a sandy bottom bay, and send out a spotter plane in search of manta rays. If you find mantas, you will have the opportunity to snorkel with them. Once you have completed the manta ray interaction portion of the day, cruise around the bay in search of other marine animals while the crew prepares lunch. Enjoy a buffet-style lunch on board and accommodate any dietary requirements. After lunch, head back over to the Ningaloo Reef and enter the water for your final in-water activity. Then, head back to the jetty and finish the day back at the shop.

Start your adventure in Perth and journey north into Western Australia's wild beauty. Hike to Nature’s Window, abseil a gorge, and explore World Heritage-listed Shark Bay. Meet dolphins at Monkey Mia, snorkel the Ningaloo Reef, spot marine life, and unwind at Coral Bay and Exmouth’s stunning coastlines. Day 1: Perth – Kalbarri Begin your adventure with a guided tour through the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park. Enjoy a seaside lunch in Jurien Bay, then journey along Indian Ocean Drive with scenic coastal views. Stop at the iconic Pink Lake near Geraldton (conditions permitting), before arriving in the seaside town of Kalbarri for the night. Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accomm: Kalbarri Pelicans Nest Private (ensuite) / YHA Shared (shared bathroom) or similar Drive: 575km | Hike: 2km (Grade 1-2) Day 2: Kalbarri – Monkey Mia Catch sunrise at Nature’s Window or Kalbarri Skywalk. Explore Murchison Gorge and Z-Bend in Kalbarri NP, bursting with wildflowers in spring. After lunch by the river mouth, travel to Monkey Mia with comfort stops en route. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accomm: RAC Monkey Mia Resort Private (ensuite) / Backpackers Shared or similar Options: Z-Bend Abseiling Drive: 450km | Hike: 3km (Grade 3) Day 3: Monkey Mia – Coral Bay Meet the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, relax by the beach, or grab a coffee. Visit Eagle Bluff and stroll the Shell Beach. After lunch, head to Coral Bay, right on the Ningaloo Reef. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accomm: Ningaloo Coral Bay Lodge Private / Backpackers Shared or similar Drive: 580km | Hike: 2km (Grade 1) Day 4: Coral Bay – Exmouth Enjoy free time on the Ningaloo Reef—snorkel, stroll, or join an optional manta ray swim. In the evening, travel to Exmouth for a two-night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accomm: Potshot Hotel Private (ensuite) / Backpackers Shared or similar Options: Manta Ray Swim, Snorkel, Glass Bottom Boat Drive: 155km | Grade: 1 Day 5: Exmouth Explore Cape Range NP with its limestone ranges, canyons, and pristine beaches. Relax or snorkel at Turquoise Bay. Afternoon free to explore Exmouth or unwind by the pool. Optional whale shark/humpback swim (seasonal, pre-book). Sunset visit to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accomm: Potshot Hotel Private / Backpackers Shared or similar Options: Whale Shark (Mar–Sep) / Humpback (Aug–Oct) Swim Drive: 135km | Hike: 1km (Grade 1–2) Day 6: Exmouth – Geraldton Stop in Carnarvon and visit seasonal banana/mango plantations. Lunch on the Carnarvon waterfront, with photo stops at Murchison River and Billabong. Final group dinner (own expense) in Geraldton. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accomm: Geraldton Private Rooms / Backpackers Shared or similar Drive: 840km Day 7: Geraldton – Perth Visit the HMAS Sydney Memorial and walk the Green Head coastal trail. See the Stromatolites at Lake Thetis, and enjoy views at Lancelin Sand Dunes Lookout before returning to Perth around 6:00pm. Meals: Breakfast Drive: 465km | Grade: 1–3

Join us for a half-day sea kayak and snorkel Turtle Tour adventure in the wildlife-rich Bundegi Sanctuary Zone, in amazing Exmouth Gulf, amongst the northern stretches of World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. On our Turtle Tour, look for turtles in the shallows from your kayak; rays, baby reef sharks, and birds including osprey are also commonly seen. Take the opportunity to snorkel from your kayak amongst the sheltered coral gardens and enjoy the colorful fish life. With pickup from your Exmouth accommodation, you are starting 15 minutes before the tour start time on the day. The tour start time varies daily to work around the high tide, giving us the best wildlife viewing opportunities. You will then take the short 15-minute drive to the tour departure point; along the way, your guide will fill you in on some of the interesting local history and points of interest. Once you arrive at the kayak launch area, you will be kitted out with all the equipment you'll need, and your guide will give you a paddle and safety briefing. It's time to paddle along the coast in this wildlife hotspot, looking for turtles, rays, schools of fish, and baby reef sharks from your kayak. Kayaking is a super fun way to explore Ningaloo! Your guide will be with the group at all times, to point out wildlife, answer any questions, and lend a helping hand when needed. Depending on the day, you may head out for a snorkel from your kayak shortly after launching; or you may kayak along the coast spotting wildlife, and then take a short break on the beach to stretch the legs, and enjoy a snack before snorkeling. Either way, once you slide into the water to snorkel amongst the coral formations, you'll be amazed by the incredible marine life at our snorkel site. Towards the end of the tour you will paddle back to the launch site, and after loading the kayaks back on the trailer, begin the return journey to your accommodation. Your guide will farewell you with some memories to last a lifetime, and a promise to have photos of your kayak and snorkel Turtle Tour adventure uploaded as soon as possible.

Do you love snorkelling as much as we do? Or are you a novice snorkeller and would like professional guidance to enjoy the wonders of Ningaloo’s underwater world in a safe and inclusive manner? Our Ningaloo Reef Snorkel Adventure is a full day (7 hour) land-based tour, exploring some of Ningaloo’s best shore-based snorkel sites (a shore-based snorkel site is where you walk off the beach to enter the water, as opposed to entering the water from a boat or kayak). On this tour you will visit Turquoise Bay along with one other site – Oyster Stacks or Lakeside - your guide will choose, based on the conditions on the day. Depending on the time of year, your day begins at either 7am (October 1 to April 30) or 8am (May 1 to September 30). Our expert guides will collect you from your accommodation and tell you all about the incredible Ningaloo Coast during the 45-minute drive to our first snorkel site. Your guides will plan the day based around the weather and tide forecast, to give you the best experience possible of shore-based snorkelling on Ningaloo Reef. Upon arrival at your first snorkel site for the day, your guide will help to kit you out with all the necessary equipment: fitting you with a snorkel, mask and fins, wetsuit or long-sleeve sun shirt, and flotation aids if required. Before entering the water, your guide will give you a thorough briefing on how to use your equipment safely and effectively, information on local conditions, hazards and minimal-impact snorkelling. It’s then time to slip beneath the surface and marvel at the incredible diversity of coral and marine life that Ningaloo Reef supports! Your expert guide will be in the water with you to ensure your safety and point out things of interest. If you have never snorkelled with a guide before, you’ll be surprised at how much more you see with a pair of trained eyes by your side. During the day you will enjoy morning tea and a picnic lunch. Your guides can answer any other questions you may have about this incredible world heritage-listed area. In the afternoon you’ll make the return journey to Exmouth town. Your guide will farewell you at your accommodation with a commitment to have the photos of your snorkel adventure uploaded for you to enjoy as soon as possible. No snorkelling experience is necessary; our friendly guides will be with you every step of the way. However you will need at least an average level of fitness and basic level of swimming ability to enjoy this tour.

Snorkel or dive with manta rays on a half-day tour to Ningaloo Reef. Take a boat trip to the best snorkelling and diving spots in the area and enjoy morning tea on board. Meet your guide at the dive shop and get kitted out with all the equipment you need for the day. We then head to the reef for our first in water activity, if you are snorkelling we will spend 40 minutes snorkelling the reef and if you are diving (extra cost) then you will have a guided dive of 45-50 minutes. Once we have finished our first in water activity we will provide morning tea and head to the area where we typically find manta rays. At this point our spotter plane heads up in the air in search of one of our resident mantas! If the plane finds one, we will get the opportunity to snorkel with them! We will spend as much time as possible with the mantas and once finished we will slowly cruise around the bay in search of other wildlife we can spot from the boat. We will then head back to the jetty for approximately 1:30pm where our buses will take you back to town to finish the day.

The Tour: The tour begins with pick-up from your Exmouth accommodation starting just before 8am. We then take the journey into Cape Range National Park. Depending on the launch site for the day, this may take 40 - 50mins. Upon arrival at the launch site, you will get fitted out with all the gear needed for the day, acquainted with your kayak, and your guide will give a safety briefing before heading out for the day. Sea kayaking is a fantastic way to explore the sheltered lagoons and beautiful beaches of Ningaloo: you can paddle into paradise and leave the crowds behind. Along the way you'll look for turtles, rays, schools of fish, and coral life from your kayak. You may even see dugong and dolphins. Enjoy the contrasting scenery of reef and range that this UNESCO World Heritage-listed area offers - all from the best seat in the house. Snorkelling is included in this tour, and depending on the day this may be shore-based snorkelling (where we pull the kayaks up on the beach and swim a short distance from shore), kayak-based snorkelling (where we tie off to a mooring buoy or drop an anchor and slide over the side of our kayaks), or a combination of both! The paddling and snorkelling are complimented with stops on the beach for morning tea and lunch, which are prepared fresh by your guide. We aim to provide healthy and delicious food; specific dietary requirements can be catered for with ample notice. Your guide will choose the tour destination on the day to give you the best experience, depending on prevailing environmental factors such as wind speed and direction, tidal movement and swell conditions. We usually explore the lagoon areas between Ned's Camp and Lakeside or between Osprey Bay and Pilgramunna. No prior sea kayaking experience is necessary, our friendly guides will be with you every step of the way. You will need at least an average level of fitness to enjoy this tour. Please note that we don't normally visit Turquoise Bay on this tour as it is a beach that many visitors to Ningaloo will visit independently. If you would like to visit Turquoise Bay on a guided tour, you may be interested in our Ningaloo In A Day Tour.

Your tour begins when we pick you up from your Exmouth accommodation just before 7am (October to March), or 11am (April to September). We then take the half hour drive around the NW Cape to the Tantabiddi boat ramp. Along the way your guide will fill you in on the unique human and natural history of this World Heritage-listed area, point out flora and fauna, and share stories about their experiences living and working in Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef. Upon arrival, you'll be kitted out with all of the necessary equipment, and following a kayaking and safety briefing, paddle your double sit-on-top kayak out to the Tantabiddi Sanctuary zone, a trip of approximately 30 minutes, where you'll enjoy spotting beautiful corals under your kayak. Once you are in the sanctuary zone, your guide will tie your kayak off to a dedicated 'kayak-only' mooring, and following a snorkel and safety briefing, you'll slide over the side of your kayak to enjoy the wonders below. Look out for huge porite coral 'bombie' formations, which are hundreds of years old; stunning blue/purple staghorn coral gardens; and colourful parrot fish and butterfly fish. With over 300 species of coral, and 500 species of fish calling Ningaloo Reef home, there's always something different and amazing to see. Your guide will be by your side every step of the way to point out marine life, take photos to share with you, and ensure that you are having the best experience possible. When it's time to re-enter your kayak your guide will be there to lend a hand if necessary - don't worry - there's a few different techniques and tricks to getting back in easily, and most people find it much easier than anticipated. You'll then take the 30 minute paddle back to shore to dry off, load your kayak back on the trailer, and make the return journey to Exmouth town. You guide will farewell you at your accommodation with a promise to have the photos of your adventure uploaded for you to enjoy as soon as possible.

Day 1: Perth to Kalbarri Journey up the Coral Coast, where the adventure begins in the desert. Stop at Nambung National Park to explore The Pinnacles, eerie limestone spires rising from the sand. Continue to Geraldton, famed for rock lobster, pearls, and shipwrecks. If time allows, visit the seasonal Pink Lake before overnighting in Kalbarri. Day 2: Kalbarri National Park to Shark Bay Marvel at the dramatic landscapes of Kalbarri National Park, where the Murchison River carves deep gorges lined with red river gums. Soak in breathtaking views from Nature’s Window and Z-Bend lookouts, or for thrill-seekers, try abseiling. End the day in Denham, the gateway to Shark Bay. Day 3: Shark Bay to Coral Bay Be captivated by Monkey Mia’s marine wonders, where seagrass meadows attract turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, and dugongs. Then, witness Hamelin Pool’s 3-billion-year-old Stromatolites—living fossils forming a carpet beside the sea. Wrap up the day watching the sunset in Coral Bay. Day 4: Coral Bay Explore the underwater paradise of Ningaloo Reef, home to 250 coral species and 500 fish species. Snorkel just metres from shore or opt for a boat tour (extra cost) to swim with turtles and manta rays. Spend the night in Exmouth. Day 5: Exmouth to Cape Range National Park Choose between an unforgettable swim with whale sharks (extra cost) or exploring Cape Range National Park, where rugged limestone ranges meet deep canyons and pristine beaches. Spot native wildlife like emus, kangaroos, and bustards. Cool off at Turquoise Bay before soaking in a spectacular sunset at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Day 6: Exmouth to Northbrook Farm Head south, watching the changing outback scenery. Stop in Carnarvon, known for supplying Western Australia with seafood and fresh produce. Arrive at Northbrook Farm near Northampton, where you’ll experience authentic country life—feed animals, play farm-hand, and listen to local stories under the stars. Day 7: Northbrook to Perth In Geraldton, visit the HMAS Sydney Memorial, St Francis Xavier Cathedral, and Point Moore Lighthouse. Pause at Greenough Wildlife and Bird Park, a sanctuary for rescued animals, where you can get up close to dingos, emus, orphaned kangaroo joeys, saltwater crocodiles, lizards, and snakes. Before returning to Perth in the early evening, visit the stunning white dunes of the Coral Coast, capture final selfies, and swap contacts with fellow travellers—until the next adventure!