Western Australia | Coral Coast | Ningaloo Reef

The Coral Coast is Western Australia's best-kept secret... until now.

Think whale sharks, turquoise waters, wildflower carpets, pristine private islands and arid outback landscapes.
Get your travel tips from us, the insiders.

Where is the Coral Coast, anyway?

Not familiar with Western Australia? The Coral Coast starts just north of Perth, our capital city.

Use the map to find your way around our backyard.

The Coral Coast Highway

One of Australia’s great scenic drives - Perth to Ningaloo where the road hugs the Indian Ocean coastline.

Until recently, one-way car hire included a substantial ‘relocation’ fee of $1000 AUD on top of your car hire. Now Avis is offering a much cheaper deal with relocation costs for the car between $150 and $250. Pair it with a Qantas flight between Learmonth - Perth airports and you've got yourself an easy holiday on the Coral Coast.

A Fly and Drive Holiday

Discover a combination of amazing attractions and experiences, many found nowhere else on earth.

Learn more

Take this Fly and Drive Holiday

The Coral Coast's 6 Destinations

Kalbarri

The Kalbarri region is a favourite family holiday destination also known for its adventure experiences on the water and land-based attractions. Situated where the Murchison River meets the Indian

Ningaloo

The UNESCO Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area was established in 2011 and is regarded as one of the last great ocean paradises. The area was listed due to its marine and terrestrial (land) properties

Indian Ocean Drive

Starting from Cervantes spanning north, the Indian Ocean Drive (road extension off Perth's Yanchep suburb) offers a scenic journey to the coastal towns of Cervantes , Jurien Bay , Green Head , Leeman

Shark Bay

A wonderland of world-class natural attractions, the Shark Bay World Heritage Area was the first location in Western Australia to receive UNESCO status in 1991. The area meets four of the ten required

Western Australia Wildflowers Coalseam pink yellow everlasting carpet

Wildflower Country

Wildflowers bloom on Australia's Coral Coast all year round, but between July and October you’ll see some of the most stunning displays in the State, when blankets of brilliant wildflowers colour the

Geraldton

Shallow Snorkelling at Geraldton's Northern Beaches. Video: Chris Lewis The City of Geraldton has established itself as a trendy seaside city with the emergence of cold-brew coffee, street-art and

Get the Holiday Guide

Get our FREE 2019 Holiday Planning Guide complete with travel tips, places to visit, tours & attractions plus more.

Read or Download our FREE guide

Whale Shark Season has started!

The 2019 Whale Shark season is underway in Coral Bay & Exmouth on the Ningaloo Reef.

Book your tour today

Tour with a local

The best holiday experiences are on tour, learn about our land and attractions with local guides.

Learn from a Local

Find us on Instagram @australiascoralcoast + #coralcoasthighway

Cheers to us for living together for 3.5 yrs in a caravan and keeping three kids alive.
We’re the travelling family @TripInAVan and we are continuing our www.CoralCoastHighway.com takeover!

@WesternAustralia sure does have the best beaches in the country, in particular #OspreyBay in the #CapeRangeNationalPark. Kids fishing and sunsets only 30m from our van's campsite - now that’s bliss! 📍#CoralCoastHighway #AustraliasCoralCoast #WesternAustralia #Australia #JustAnotherDayinWA #SeeAustralia #Roadtrip #Ningaloo

🤩 Look out 🤩
We’re @TripInAVan and this week we are taking over the @AustraliasCoralCoast Insta account.
We are a full time travelling family of 5 currently exploring the wonderful #CoralCoastHighway #Exmouth - you’re one helluva place and here we are parked up with our tribe watching the sun rise over #CharlesKnifeGorge. What a spectacular site and the perfect way to start the day! 📍#CoralCoastHighway #AustraliasCoralCoast #WesternAustralia #Australia #JustAnotherDayinWA #SeeAustralia #Roadtrip #Ningaloo

Sunday's are for Vitamin Sea.
@elizabethjayne.__ enjoying a moment with a #MonkeyMia dolphin 🐬
#australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #westernaustralia #australia #seeaustralia #justanotherdayinwa #sharkbay #dolphin #denham

All a girl needs is a bike, a boardwalk & a brilliant sunrise 🌅
@jade_m_rose enjoys waking up with a #bikeride along the Irwin River in @DongaraPortDenison. 🚲
Pick up the Irwin Heritage River trail booklet and take in the unexpected art pieces along the River. 🎨
#coralcoasthighway #australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #australia #justanotherdayinWA #dongara #portdenison #irwinriver

🙏High Five🙏
It's almost the weekend🙏

@alexkyddphoto snaps workmates @jakewiltonphoto and a resident Manta Ray at the @ningaloomarineinteractions "office" in #CoralBay on the #NingalooReef! 😍

#australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #australia #justanotherdayinWA #ningaloo #mantaray

Even on a ❄️ Winter's Day 🧥, a visit to the Pinnacles at Sunset is still pretty fabulous! 📸 @roleyaroundtheworld visiting with friends @unexploredfootsteps 📸
#australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #thepinnacles #exploreparkswa #nambungnationalpark

Kalbarri - town of the true red, white and blue! ❤⚪🔷️ Also home to many #surfing spots including #RedBluff and Jakes Point as @wray.photography found out for himself 🏄‍♂️ #australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #australia #westernaustralia #seeaustralia #justanotherdayinwa #kalbarri #surflife #surflove

HMAS Sydney II Memorial tour guide, Trevor, has got a pretty sweet gig with @cityofgreatergeraldton.
Trevor's in his 70s and volunteers his time to provide visitors with insight and understanding as to why the #HMASSydney Memorial is so important to the #Maritime history of @Australia.

And he's especially good at capturing a stunning #Geraldton sunset. Good on you Trev! 📸 #australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #lovegero #australia #justanotherdayinwa #westisbest

Miles of truly breathtaking secluded beaches, fringed by the #Ningaloo Reef - yup, it's got to be @Warroora_Station. 📸 @saltysummits enjoying the rockpools and sunsets 🌅
#australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #coralcoasthighway #carnarvon #coralbay #exmouth

🔹N I N G A L O O🐟 B L U E S🔹

We are very jealous of @jonathanlendich and @emj_gray enjoying a casual sea kayak on the Ningaloo Reef - look at that glass-off water!

You can do this too - BYO kayak or go on tour with @exmouthadventureco 🐬 #australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #ningalooreef #westisbest #exmouth #ningaloo #coralcoasthighway #seakayak

@tianalea snapped old mate enjoying some Breakfast in Francois Peron National Park in the #SharkBay #WorldHeritage area. 🐜 Fun Fact: Did you know #Echinda don't have teeth? They are a toothless mammal but their long, sticky tongues are fast at collecting up insects 🐛

#australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #seeaustralia @australia @westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #francoisperonnationalpark #UNESCO@ unesco#Denham #MonkeyMia #australia #westernaustralia

Mitchell from @mkz.imagery bringing you the last day of
the takeover, Day 10.
Being the last day of our wonderful adventure we rose early to watch sunrise out at #CharlesKnifeCanyon in Exmouth. Even though our trip had come to an end we knew weʼd be back to do it all over again soon!

Thanks for letting me take you on my journey of the #coralcoasthighway and sharing such a memorable trip with everyone. Any questions feel free to send me a DM - Mitchell signing out ✍️ #australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #exmouth #ningalooreef #caperangenationalpark #exploreparkswa #ningaloo

Good morning @mkz.imagery with you on
Day 9 of this epic adventure along 🚗the Coral Coast Highway 🚙. We spent time in Exmouth's Cape Range National Park and did a hike at Yardie Creek. Later we cooled down at several swimming spots - Sandy Bay, Oyster Stacks and Turquoise Bay to name a few. We finished the day with sunset at Exmouth's iconic Vlaming Head Lighthouse 🌅 #australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #ningalooreef #ningaloo #exploreparkswa

Gʼday Mitchell from @mkz.imagery continuing the #CoralCoastHighway takeover.
Day 7 and 8 was spent seeing all that Coral Bay on the #NingalooReef had to offer. ✨ We ticketed off the bucket list swimming with #WhaleSharks, which was one of the most unforgettable moments ever experienced. ✨

#australiascoralcoast #WhaleShark #coralbay #Ningaloo #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #australia #justanotherdayinWA

@mkz.imagery here on - www.coralcoasthighway.com -
On the morning of Day 6 we left the #UNSECO Shark Bay area and arrived in #Carnarvon.
A little bit strapped for time we spent, the afternoon checking out the Space and Technology Museum and the Cactus Farm before heading out to the #Quobba Blow Holes and swimming at Point Quobba 🕶️🐟👙🐠#australiascoralcoast #coralcoasthighway #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA #australia #ningalooreef

Good morning - @mkz.imagery continuing the journey on the #coralcoasthighway.
Day 6 in the #UNESCO #WorldHeritage Shark Bay Area.
After not seeing water for what seemed like days, we were soon greeted with the beauty that is #ShellBeach.
Near the town of #Denham, we checked out Hamelin Pool Stromatolites and Eagle Bluff Lookout.
We spent a relaxing afternoon swimming at Little Lagoon, which is where we also watched the sunset. 🌅#australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #australia #sharkbay #monkeymia #littlelagoon #exploreparkswa

Hey everyone Mitchell from @mkz.imagery again with another early start on the #CoralCoastHighway.

Day 5 we were off towards #MonkeyMia for the dolphin feeding. Even though Monkey Mia is famous for the #dolphins be sure to take a walk along the beach afterwards to check out the amazing landscape surrounding Monkey Mia. 🐬 #australiascoralcoast #justanotherdayinWA #westernaustralia #australia #seeaustralia #sharkbay #unesco #worldheritagearea

Hey everyone here @mkz.imgery continuing the adventure North along the #CoralCoastHighway.
Day 3 and 4 saw us visiting Kalbarri. From the moment you arrive in #Kalbarri you will be blown away by the beautiful Coastline. The Coastal Cliffs is an epic sight to behold, which we followed up with a swim at the pristine #BlueHoles, a protected fish sanctuary brimming with marinelife!
Day 4 we were kept busy out at #KalbarriNationalPark seeing #NaturesWindow and doing the #ZBend Trail. We stopped off on our way back into town for a beautiful sunset at Meanarra Hill lookout. 🐠#australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #australia #justanotherdayinwa #westernaustralia

Mitchell from @mkz.imagery again continuing the journey north on the #CoralCoastHighway 💓

Day 3 saw us stopping into Horrock beach, followed by one of the most unique places in Australia, the highly instaworthy #PinkLake known as #HuttLagoon found in Port Gregory. 💗 #australiascoralcoast #seeaustralia #westernaustralia #australia #kalbarri #geraldton

Latest news from the Coral Coast

Discover RAC Parks & Resorts along the Coral Coast

If you're travelling on the Coral Coast Highway there is so much to see and explore - but where do you stay? RAC Parks & Resorts has the perfect location to base yourself; from the Pinnacles at

QANTAS makes a Ningaloo long weekend easy

Long weekends are perfect for escaping. Whether you're time-poor or not a road trip lover, Ningaloo Reef has just got a whole lot closer. Visitors come from around the world to swim with the awe

What's on in Geraldton this April

This article was originally published on visitgeraldton.com.au If you love live entertainment or heading to music festivals with your mates you need to visit Geraldton next month because there are

The 2019 Whale Shark season has started in Ningaloo

The first Whale Sharks for the 2019 touring season arrived right on schedule, with our spotty friends sighted off the Ningaloo Coast this week. Whale Shark operators use light-aircraft spotter planes

Read all our news

It’s about the journey as much as the destination - follow our Itineraries

While you're here, why not explore the Coral Coast

Paradise Beach

Spectacular beaches are plentiful in Coral Bay and the aptly named Paradise Beach is a well kept secret worth exploring. Providing clear calm waters and gleaming white sand, the uncrowded protected

Quobba and Red Bluff

The spectacular Quobba coast stretching from Point Quobba to Red Bluff is renowned for exceptional fishing, walking, snorkelling and rugged scenery. Be amazed by the fascinating sight of water

The Pinnacles

A visit to Australia’s Nambung National Park and the Pinnacles is a must. The Pinnacles had approximately 653,000 visitors recorded by Parks and Wildlife from during the 2017/2018 financial year,

Kalbarri National Park Z Bend The Loop sunset aerial drone

The Loop and Z Bend

The Loop and Z Bend are sections of the Murchison River aptly named because of the enormous loops and Z bend they have created as they flow through the gorges. Located in the spectacular Kalbarri

Nature's Window

Located just 500 metres from The Loop (or Inyaka Wookai Watju) carpark, Nature’s Window is one of Western Australia’s most iconic natural attractions, formed from layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone. To

Stromatolites of Hamelin Pool

A visit to the remarkable Hamelin Pool stromatolites in Western Australia is a must when holidaying in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area . The Hamelin Pool stromatolites are oldest and largest living

Wildflower Hotspot - Depot Hill

Depot Hill reserve 12kms to the northeast of Mingewnew , an easy five minute drive. Depot Hill is wonderful spot for an abundance of wildflowers, native animals and a picnic on the banks of the river

Wildflower Hotspot - The rare Wreath Flower

The inland towns of Pindar and Mullewa are renowned for stunning wildflowers, including the rare Wreath Leschenaultia flower that blooms along the road and in park lands between August and October .

See every attraction & experience we have on offer

How does that Tour work?

How does a Manta Ray tour work?

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How does a Humpback Whale tour work?

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How does a Whale Shark Tour work?

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View all our Tours in the water

Accommodation by Location

Exmouth

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Coral Bay

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Carnarvon

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Near Ningaloo Accommodation

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Monkey Mia

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Denham + Shark Bay

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