Coral Bay: Reef, Bays and Marine Park

Coral Bay is located in the heart of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. Ningaloo Reef lies just metres offshore, and Coral Bay borders the Maud Sanctuary Zone. The town is also the main starting point for exploring Ningaloo Marine Park. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the different options on and in the water: swimming and snorkelling are possible in protected bays, the Kayak Trail leads to designated buoy sites, and several tour options depart from Coral Bay.

Coast, kayaking and snorkelling

You can swim and snorkel from the shore in the protected waters of Bill’s Bay and Paradise Beach. These activities directly at the two beaches are complemented by a kayak route with its own stopping points. The Coral Bay Kayak Trail has four sites with designated buoys for securing kayaks. They are in the Maud Sanctuary Zone and between 300 metres and 1.8 kilometres from shore. These details give you specific guidance on the buoy sites without confusing them with a walking distance or the length of the trail.

Wildlife watching at different times of year

About a 20-minute walk north of Bill’s Bay, you can watch up to 200 reef sharks gathering in the shallow waters from October to March. If this sighting is important to your trip planning, take note of the stated period; the walking time is approximate, and the number of animals can reach this maximum. Manta rays are also found near Coral Bay in Ningaloo Lagoon, within Ningaloo Reef, at depths of less than 10 metres. The wildlife details differ: for reef sharks, the beach area and season are specified; for manta rays, the lagoon and water depth are given.

Boat tours and walks on land

Several operators offer tours departing from Coral Bay to swim with whale sharks, as well as trips to view the reef from a glass-bottom boat. The tour types have different focuses: one centres on swimming with whale sharks, while the other offers views of the reef from a boat. Operators and specific schedules may vary, so check the latest information if you are planning one of these tours.

You can also explore the area on foot. Coral Bay’s walking trails pass through parks and unspoilt beaches, by rock pools and areas where sea turtles nest. This means you can include walks on land in your plans when weighing up water-based activities and exploring on foot. French’s Shack is part of the town’s history: it was the first building within the Coral Bay settlement.

Getting there and getting around

The nearest airport with scheduled services is Learmonth Airport, about a 90-minute drive north of Coral Bay. The drive from Perth is approximately 1,200 kilometres and takes around 12 hours. Driving times are estimates; the actual duration depends on road and traffic conditions. The Coral Bay boat ramp is about 2.5 kilometres south of town. Visitors can launch and retrieve boats there to access Ningaloo Marine Park.

Discover more destinations: Carnarvon.

For the main travel overview: Shire of Carnarvon.