Exmouth & Coral Coast

For many, Ningaloo Reef is the main attraction of a holiday to Exmouth and the Coral Coast. The world’s largest fringing reef sprawls for 260 kilometres, curving along the shoreline from Exmouth down to Coral Bay – and is easily accessible from both towns.

This underwater world is filled with rich corals and seagrass, which are home to tropical fish, manta rays, turtles and dugongs. Most famously, though, Ningaloo Reef is frequented by majestic whale sharks – the biggest fish on the planet. If you plan your holiday between March and June, you’re likely to see these gentle giants gliding through the water. Alternatively, you could visit between July and November to watch humpback whales.

There are loads of activities on offer at Ningaloo Reef, too. You can take your pick from dozens of snorkelling and diving excursions, as well as glass-bottomed boat tours, sunset cruises, and fishing trips.

You’ll encounter some gorgeous beaches on your Coral Coast holiday, as this place is well-known for its powdery sands, gentle waters and fantastic wildlife.

Monkey Mia is one of the most famous. In Shark Bay Marine Park, this lovely beach is visited by wild dolphins every day, who have been swimming to the shore here for more than 50 years. Shark Bay is also home to the beautiful Shell Beach which, as the name suggests, is made up of billions of tiny shells – and the water is impossibly clear.

Further north, Cape Range National Park boasts some spectacular beaches. Families love Osprey Bay, whose calm waters ideal for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. You might also spot some local animals, like echidnas and kangaroos. But Turquoise Bay is the highlight of Cape Range. This postcard-worthy spot has sugary shores and crystalline waters, and is regularly voted as one of the best beaches in Australia.

The Coral Coast covers a huge portion of Western Australia, so there’s an endless list of things to do. In the north, Cape Range National Park features rust-coloured cliffs and canyons, ideal for hiking. And the impressive Kalbarri National Park is also worth a visit. Spanning a whopping 186,000 hectares, this place serves up dramatic gorges, coastal cliffs and rolling meadows.

Or perhaps you want to venture further south, towards Perth? Nambung National Park is loved for its shifting sand dunes and sweeping beaches. But seeing the limestone Pinnacles, which rise out of the ground like huge teeth, is sure to be the highlight.

If you want to witness the Coral Coast transform into a carpet of colour, plan your holiday between late-June and late-September, when the wildflowers bloom. In Cataby, you can stroll along the Everlastings Wildflower Trail. Or you could visit Lesueur National Park to see more than 820 species of wildflower, some of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

There’s never a bad time to visit Western Australia’s Coral Coast – but the best time to go varies, depending on how you want to spend your holiday. The weather is warm all year round, with spring and summer being the sunniest seasons. Generally speaking, between September and February, you can expect temperatures to range from 28°C to 37°C. 

But there’s more to consider than the weather. If you’re keen to see Western Australia’s famous whale sharks, you’ll need to book your Exmouth holiday between March and June. Or, if you want to spot humpback whales in the wild, visit between July and November. This is also the perfect time to see wildflowers, which bloom along the coast from the end of June until late-September.