14 February 2022 by admin

Cover photo: Shoal of fish at Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia

Exmouth is a playground for adventure lovers. Whether on land, sea or air, there’s a unique experience waiting here for you when you arrive. To get the best out of your next Exmouth adventure, we recommend booking a tour with one of our local tour operators. There’s no better way to discover some of Exmouth’s hidden gems.

If you’re up for an adventure of a lifetime, read on to find out more about the must-do tours in Exmouth and Ningaloo. 

Swim with the whale sharks in Ningaloo  

Swimming with whale sharks has to be high up on your adventure to-do list, and if not, it should be! Sharing the ocean with the largest fish in the sea is a breathtaking and unforgettable experience. Western Australia is one of a handful of places in the world where you can see and swim with whale sharks. So, you would be mad not to don your snorkel and flippers and give it a go the next time you visit Exmouth. Swimming with whale sharks is one of those ultimate bucket-list experiences you will be talking about for years to come. And it will probably make your family and friends a bit jealous too!

If you’re thinking of booking a whale shark tour, look for a reputable tour operator who conducts tours responsibly.  We have several local tour operators in the area, one of which is based here at the Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Park – Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours. Bookings can be made directly on the tour operator’s website.

Whale sharks arrive in Ningaloo to feed between March and July. They normally stay in the area until late August/early September. But March and April tend to be the best months for sightings. Just something to think about when timing your next Exmouth trip.

Take a whale watching tour

Ningaloo is famous for its whale shark interactions. But there’s another gentle giant of the ocean that calls Ningaloo home for a few months every year. Between June and October, around 40,000 humpback whales migrate to the pristine waters of Ningaloo.

Booking a tour with a licensed operator will allow you to observe these gentle ocean giants in their natural environment. Join a whale watching cruise and see these majestic creatures from the comfort of a boat. If you’d prefer a more interactive experience, book a humpback whale swimming tour for a unique encounter with these giants of the deep. Like swimming with whale sharks, it’s an exhilarating experience.

While swimming with whale shark tours suit everyone of all swimming abilities, you’ll need to be a confident swimmer if you want to swim with humpback whales.

Whale watching tours run from Exmouth and Coral Bay. Humpback whale tours take place from August to October in Exmouth. The season usually starts a month earlier in Coral Bay.

Scuba dive the underwater world of Ningaloo

With 260 km of pristine coral reefs at your disposal, Exmouth is home to some of the best diving spots in Australia. Local tour operators offer a range of underwater tours across Ningaloo Reef and will take you to the premier diving sites the area has to offer. Whether you’re a novice diver or more experienced, there’s a tour to suit diving enthusiasts of every level.

Diving the crystal-clear waters of Ningaloo Reef, you’ll enjoy an undersea adventure like no other. Manta rays, turtles, dolphins, sharks, dugongs, and an abundance of tropical fish call these pristine waters home. It’s an exciting location to dive, and you never know what species of marine life you’re going to bump into!

If you have time, we highly recommend taking a day trip to the magical Muiron Islands to experience the tropical waters of the uninhabited north and south islands. Located around 15 km off the Exmouth coast, it’s an underwater paradise teeming with marine life and a world-class diving spot.

Read more about the best dive sites in the Ningaloo Marine Park.

Enjoy a relaxing cruise through Yardie Creek

Just as Ningaloo Reef attracts water lovers to Exmouth, Cape Range National Park is a big drawcard for lovers of rugged landscapes, limestone ranges and deep canyons. The park, one of the best in the whole of Australia, spans over 50,000 hectares and is a haven for native wildlife and flora and fauna.

A boat tour through Yardie Creek is a unique opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery of the National Park. Relax as you cruise up the gorge for an hour and take in the surrounding scenic views and unique flora and fauna. You’ll learn about the local wildlife that calls Cape Range National Park home, including the rare black-footed rock wallaby, which likes to hide in the cracks of the gorges. It’s an entertaining and informative tour for the whole family. Catch the boat, affectionately known as “Yardi”, at Yardie Creek jetty. Head to Yardie Creek Boat Tours to find out more.

Take to the air and get a bird’s eye view of Ningaloo

The vastness of the spectacular Ningaloo Reef comes into its own when you view it from the air. Book a scenic flight with a local aviation specialist to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible colours of the world’s largest fringing reef. Spot migrating whale sharks and humpback whales (depending on the time of year) and marvel at the rugged red gorges as you fly over the canyons of Cape Range National Park.

If you’re the adventurous type, take to the skies in a microlight aircraft to see Exmouth and Ningaloo in a whole new light. Fly like a bird and enjoy a completely different perspective of the unique and picturesque world-famous reef. It’s the ultimate way to see the UNESCO world heritage site in all its glory.

There is so much to see and do in our stunning part of Western Australia. We’ve got tours and attractions galore. Start by reading more about the many fabulous things to see and do in Exmouth and Ningaloo. Then visit the Ningaloo Visitor Centre, opposite Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort, for more information about local tours.