CORAL BAY – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

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Whale sharks make an early splash at Ningaloo Reef

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100 Best Towns In Australia #62 Coral Bay, WA

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If you need a quick fix of a traditional seaside holiday, snow-white sand and topaz waters beckon you to Coral Bay. Situated on the southern tip of Ningaloo Marine Park, locals overlook the kind of warm, cheerful view that sensibly named ‘Coral Bay’ suggests.

WHERE TO STAY
Spend the holiday in style at The Ningaloo Reef Resort and your every need will be met. Views of the outer reef and Coral Bay will keep you happily gazing out the balcony night after night.
In case you want a more down-to-earth kind of accommodation a list of holiday houses is available on the Coral Bay website.

WHAT TO DO
Keep walking along the cosy one-street town and you’ll end up directly on the white sand of Ningaloo Marine Park. Coral Bay’s Main Beach is where you can soak up the sun or splash around in an area protected by a unique reef.
The beach has so much natural oceanic beauty that you’ll be busy for hours. The harmless whale shark invites you into its natural environment to play and tumble through the water. The sheer energy of these gentle giants is sure to take you by surprise. Go snorkeling or take a scuba diving lesson to get a closer look at the underwater environment. If you aren’t up for getting your hair wet, hire a glass bottomed canoe for a cool $8-20.
A leisurely 20 minutes north of Main Beach is Point Maude, where you can watch Manta Rays swim in the warm ocean.
Take a tour around the area to spot dugongs, turtles, whales, whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays and different shades of coral. The best tours are in glass-bottomed boats for equal viewing, so you don’t need to elbow the guy next to you for the best sights.

WHEN TO TRAVEL
Do not miss the opportunity to see whale sharks in the area between April and June.
The tropical climate of Western Australia means that the summer temperature soars to an uncomfortable level, though most accommodation types are air-conditioned and the beach is always close-by.

TRANSPORT
Located 1200km north of Perth, there are three ways to get to Coral Bay. Accessible from both north and south via the Manilya-Exmouth road offers travellers the attractive road trip option into the area.
A two-hour flight from Perth on board Skywest airlines brings passengers into Exmouth’s Learmont Airport. Hire a car or organise transport for the 75-minute drive to sunny Coral Bay.

For more information on Coral Bay, go to: http://www.coralbay.org/