Ningaloo Turtle Program/ Cape Conservati

Conservation of Marine Turtles and Their Associated Habitats

Home/About/Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing reef.
Supporting a high diversity of marine life.

Located along the remote north west coast of Western Australia, it is a place of rugged beauty. Where the range meets the reef and red arid dirt meets the turquoise clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

In recognition of its unique values and cultural importance to West Australians, Ningaloo Reef was gazetted as a Marine Park in 1987. In 2011, it was also inscribed on the World Heritage List, acknowledging it as one of the outstanding natural places in the world.

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area incorporates Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park, Learmonth Air Weapons Range and Muiron Islands Marine Management Area.

Wildlife you can see in Ningaloo Marine Park:

  • Whale sharks – March to July
  • Manta Rays – June and October
  • Humpback whales & calves – June to November
  • Marine Turtles – year round (but can be seen nesting from November to March)
  • Marine Turtle Hatchlings – from January each year


The northern gateway to Ningaloo Reef is the small town of Exmouth, located 1270km north of Perth, in Western Australia.  

Exmouth is blessed with a fantastic climate, there is no wet season so it is dry and warm all year round. In the summer months, the daytime temperatures range between the high 30’s and the low 40’s, whilst a typical winter’s day is around 25 degrees Celsius.

Water temperatures vary throughout the year from 18-28 degrees Celsius making for perfect beach weather all year round! Exmouth offers a variety of accommodation to suit all needs including hotels, motels, chalets, self contained apartments, holiday homes, caravan parks and camping and backpacker lodges.

Travel to Exmouth
Qantas provides daily return flights to Learmonth airport, located 35kms south of Exmouth townsite. A shuttle bus transports visitors into town at a small cost.

If you are travelling north to Exmouth along the North West Coastal Highway, travel 152km north of Carnarvon and turn left just past the Exmouth Minilya Roadhouse. From here it is 200km to Exmouth townsite. If you are travelling south to Exmouth turn off the North West Coastal Highway 110km south of Nanutarra roadhouse onto Burkett Road. From here it is 169km to the Exmouth townsite.

For more information on Exmouth and its facilities,
check out the Ningaloo Visitor Centre.