Coral Coast

North of Perth you’ll find the Coral Coast: more than 680 miles of white beaches, outback desert, laid-back coastal towns and the world’s largest fringing coral reef: World Heritage-listed Ningaloo. You can play with wild dolphins at Monkey Mia, stay at exclusive safari lodge Sal Salis, and swim with the largest fish on earth, the whale shark.

Located 750 miles North of Perth on the Indian Ocean, the Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef of Australiia and home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 species of soft coral and over 500 species of fish, including the huge whale shark. The Ningaloo Marine Park protects a 160 mile fringing reef off Western Australia’s mid north coast. Dive and swim with whale sharks, snorkel through coral lagoons or 4WD red sand dunes in Cape Range National Park. The Indian Ocean Drive from Perth links Ningaloo with the Shark Bay World Heritage area and the enchanting bottlenose dolphins of Monkey Mia.

The seaside city of Geraldton is emerging as a trendy beach escape. Base yourself in the city center where you’ll find cafés, street art and galleries and explore the area’s naturally blessed surrounds, which includes beautiful beaches, Aboriginal driving trails and even a pink lake. Geraldton is also the ideal location to access the Coral Coast’s carpets of wildflowers, which are in full bloom in late winter and early spring.