Exmouth Travelers Recommend

Exmouth is home to Ningaloo Marine Park, a UNESCO-listed area teeming with sea life. In addition to hundreds of species of coral and tropical fish, there are sea turtles, dugongs, dolphins, and manta rays. But it’s the whale sharks and migrating humpbacks that draw most visitors. Here are some ways to enjoy it all in just one day.

Morning: Snorkel with Whale Sharks or Dolphins

Set off from the tropical turquoise waters of Exmouth Gulf for a wildlife adventure cruise on a powerboat or catamaran. The crew, sometimes helped by a spotter plane, will know where to find whale sharks, so you can swim alongside the animals but at a safe distance. These 13- to 60-foot-long (4- to 18-meter) filter feeders are world’s largest fish and are drawn to the area’s plankton-rich waters from March to August. On the off-season, go looking for dolphins and manatee-like dugong instead.

Afternoon: Explore by Kayak or Glass-Bottom Boat

If you didn’t opt for a full-day tour, get into the water this afternoon with a scuba diving guide who can show certified divers the best sites on the reef. Alternatively, take a half-day tour by kayak or glass-bottom boat to observe marine life. The placid, crystal-clear lagoons around Bundegi Beach and Tantabiddi are both ideal places to try both kayaking and snorkeling, and many tour operators allow you to do both. You can learn basic skills and rely on a guide’s expertise to help you spot turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, mantas, and more. 

Night: Search for Wildlife at Sunset

Spend your evening admiring some of the many animals who travel through the area’s waters. From August through October, you can look for Humpback whales on a sunset cruise that offers as chance to see these gentle giants—and their calves—breaching and bubble-net feeding. You can also take a sightseeing flight to spot whales, whale sharks, or other sea creatures from above. Alternatively, take a scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view of Ningaloo Reef or head to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, a historic monument at the northernmost tip of the Cape Range that offers stunning views.

The UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Marine Park and adjacent Cape Range National Park are Exmouth’s claim to fame. With a coral reef so close to the mainland, wildlife sightings are pretty much guaranteed, even if you miss the whale sharks—aka the largest fish in the sea. Here are some options for a 3-day stay.

Day 1: Marine Sanctuaries

With so many offerings around Exmouth, it’s impossible to go wrong, whether you spend a few hours or a full day on the water. If you have your own snorkeling gear, set off to Turquoise Bay and its coral gardens at the Cape Range. Ningaloo’s fringe reef is home to more than 500 fish species, and drift snorkeling is popular here, with easy access from the shore. 

Kayaking tours are suitable for adventurers with all levels of experience, and scuba guides know the best spots for certified divers and novices alike. Cruise out to the Tantabiddi or Bundegi sanctuary zone from Exmouth Gulf and get a view of Vlamingh Head Lighthouse from the water, or check out the Mildura Wreck or the Muiron Islands.

Day 2: A Whale (Shark) of a Time

Whale sharks are the star of Exmouth. From April to August, these slow-moving filter feeders visit the Ningaloo Reef to eat plankton attracted by spawning coral. Don’t pass up the opportunity to swim within safe proximity.

If it’s late in the season, you’re still in luck. Manta rays and migrating humpback whales hang around from August to November—this is one of the few places in the world where you can both observe them from the deck of a boat and snorkel in their natural habitat.

Day 3: More Ningaloo Adventures

On your last day, step aboard a luxury vessel for a chartered exploration tailored to the interests of your private party. A smaller boat delivers you to exclusive snorkel or dive sites that bigger groups can’t reach, away from the crowds. Or, if you’re an experienced angler or scuba diver, rent a lightweight dinghy and head out from Tantabiddi Beach for a self-guided tour of the reef.

Alternatively, book a multi-day excursion to the far reaches of Ningaloo Reef. Some tours include wreck sites and pristine beaches rarely visited by other tourists. Snorkel among manta rays and reef sharks, and savor sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

Exmouth is the hub of the World Heritage–listed Ningaloo Coast, home to the world’s largest fringing reef and numerous wildlife sanctuaries. Two marine giants—whale sharks and humpback whales—are the highlight here, along with activities like sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Here are some ways to spend two days in Exmouth.

Day 1: Whale Sharks and Humpbacks Galore

**Morning:**Start your day with the gentle giants of the sea. In warm months, you’ll be able to see whale sharks and humpbacks; in winter you can still look out for dolphins and dugong. Day trips by on sailboat or sightseeing ship often include snorkeling expeditions and activities like stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. 

**Afternoon:**Head out to the nearly 200-mile-long (320-kilometer) coral reef, which supports some 500 species of tropical fish. Ningaloo’s sheltered lagoons, including the wildlife-rich Bundegi Sanctuary, boast crystal-clear but relatively water ideal for novice snorkelers and kayakers. 

**Night:**See tail slaps and breaching behavior on a whale-watching cruise at sunset, or stroll along the sand to admire the sunset. You can also head to Cape Range National Park’s Turquoise Bay or Sandy Bay and look for dolphins and dugongs as well as loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles.

Day 2: Scuba or Snorkel Getaway

**Morning:**Charter a private boat and plan your own itinerary so that you can explore the coral reefs of Ningaloo Marine Park at your own pace. Get the VIP treatment from a full crew, or go unguided if you’re already a strong snorkeler or a certified diver. 

**Afternoon:**The waters around the uninhabited Muiron Islands are also full of coral. Book a guide to show you the area’s best snorkeling and scuba diving sites, and look for potato cod, manta rays, and pilot whales. You can also explore the Mildura Wreck, a cattle transport that foundered on nearby reefs in 1907.

**Night:**Spend your last night on an overnight boat trip so that you can spend the entire evening alongside migrating whales, stingrays, moray eels, and octopus and enjoy more diving or snorkeling in the morning. Most excursions include catered meals and depart from nearby Coral Bay.