Coral Bay

If you’re planning on travelling up or down Western Australia’s coastline, one of the most accessible and abundant sections of the Ningaloo Reef can be found around the town of Coral Bay. Living up to its name, there’s a stunning array of coral to be discovered in the waters here, with large sections of reef within a short distance of the shore. If you enjoy donning a mask and fins, the snorkelling here is brilliant — and one of the area’s major drawcards.

While tiny, the town of Coral Bay has its own unique charm and character with just enough in the way of facilities to keep you going. Conveniently, the majority of facilities in town are within a short stroll of each other, with the bakery, supermarket, tourist information centre, pub, caravan parks and beach all within a five-minute walk. With everything at your doorstep, it’s the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the picturesque scenery. For those who love to laze about, sun-drenched days and a carefree lifestyle are what it’s all about at Coral Bay.

Should you wish to dive in and explore the World-Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, the tourist information shop is your gateway to the many tours operating out of the bay. Manta Rays, dugongs, turtles — even whale sharks are all within reach from Coral Bay, so be sure to peruse what’s available while in town. You’ll also find a whole host of water-oriented equipment hire, even dune buggy tours… the list of what is available here is extensive.

The amazing coastal scenery is not confined to town, and for those who savour the untamed regions of the world, sand-based tracks can be found up and down the coast. For those who love nothing more than getting away from the masses, these lesser-known stretches of coast will be just the thing. If you have a four-wheel drive, it will be put to good use here with a staggering list of jaw-dropping attractions to be uncovered.

Without further ado, the following list of free things to see and do in the greater Coral Bay area is mesmerising and a highlight of anyone’s venture up or down the west coast of Australia.

Located right in the heart of town, Bills Bay is an astoundingly beautiful part of the world. In truth, many beaches along the coast of Coral Bay could claim to be as good as Bills, but the fact that it’s so close to all the amenities of town makes it the go-to beach for many. The shoreline is quite shallow for the first twenty metres or so, making this a great family beach, with marine life spotting in the ultra-clear water proving to be great fun for the kids.

Indeed, the marine life within Coral Bay is fantastic, as it’s protected under the Maud Sanctuary zone. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:30 pm, the park ranger hands out pellets to anyone who would like to feed wild fish. The spangled emperor (north west snapper) is a large species, and here, they are so tame that they will swim right up to your ankles during feeding. It’s a thrilling experience that all ages can enjoy and is completely free.

It doesn’t end there though, as the snorkelling is also fantastic. The left-hand (southern) end of Bills Bay features the sandy bend of Purdy Point. Dive approximately 200 metres further south around the sandy bend and swim directly out from the shore until you find large masses of coral and abundant fish. You can then swim north with the current, parallel to the beach and back into Bills Bay, taking in magical coral and abundant marine life on the way.

Keep an eye out for the glass-bottom tour boats taking passengers out to see ‘Ayers Rock’, one of the largest living brain corals in the Southern Hemisphere. The good news is it’s about 220 metres from the shore off Purdy Point, placing it within reach of strong swimmers.

Above all, the best thing about Bills Bay is that it’s across the road from the main caravan park of town, making this beach within walking distance of ‘home’ for many travellers.

Some of the most azure waters you’ll find in this section of coast can be found at South Paradise Beach, and the best part is, it’s only a short drive south of town via sealed roads. You’ll find the crowd numbers much lower here than at Bills Bay and, as a bonus, the beach is also dog-friendly. Taking in impressive views, the pontoons of the boat ramp are a quick and easy vantage point with mesmerising scenery to be absorbed when the sun is shining. The snorkelling is also good here, with stunning coral and marine life found a mere thirty metres offshore.

From the boat ramp, stroll for about 400 metres south along the coastline, and you’ll come across Monks Head. The views from here are as good as any in Western Australia — and that is saying something. For those who love to escape the crowds, you’ll find a small secluded beach on the far side of this mini headland that has azure waters stretching as far as the eye can see. Even better — you’ll more than likely have this one all to yourself.

For those who love their low-range four-wheel driving, there’s a myriad of sand tracks with awesome coastal views further south of Paradise Beach. The tracks follow the coast, ending up at Five Finger Reef. As this beach is 4WD access only, crowd numbers are usually low. The snorkelling around the five reefs is shallow and full of marine life, making it perfect for all ages and abilities.

To get to Five Finger Reef, make your way to Paradise Beach and follow the signs. With awe-inspiring scenery to enjoy of the Ningaloo Reef and the coastal dunes, you’ll be gob-smacked at the beauty of this region as you drive along this pristine sandy stretch.

From Five Finger Reef, you can continue another 1.5 kilometres further south, which will bring you to the Turtle Cliffs. Here, there’s a very good chance of seeing multiple turtles feeding in the waters below the clifftops. They’re here pretty much all year round, as they call these cliffs home.

Note: The tracks and beaches south of Paradise Beach are very soft and will test out those not accustomed to off-roading. You’ll need to let your tyres down to around 15psi to float on top of the tracks, with a high clearance four-wheel-drive recommended. Once back on the black top, there’s a self-serve petrol station where you can air up your tyres again. You’ll find it at the end of Monks Head Drive, just south of town. Look for it on the way to South Paradise Beach and ensure it is operational before you go if you’re planning to use it.

If you’d like to find your own patch of paradise off the beaten track, the Oyster Bridge is another amazing destination that those with a four-wheel drive will adore. Located north of the town of Coral Bay, this oyster-clad rock formation may be the destination, but the overall sensation of getting to the Oyster Bridge for most will be just as good as the destination itself. The sand tracks are soft around these parts, with a few dunes thrown in for good measure to put your vehicle through its paces.

Much like the scenery down at Five Finger Reef, the word pristine doesn’t do this section of coastline justice. Without anyone else around to interrupt the views, it simply doesn’t get any better.

About one kilometre north of the Oyster Bridge is another destination worth seeing called The Lagoon. The beach here and its mini reef form a small bay, and it’s yet another great place to soak up the amazing coastal views.

Note: The tracks north of Coral Bay are a bit of a rabbit warren, making the Oyster Bridge and Lagoon a little tricky to find. The information centre in town has a free mud map of the area detailing how to get to these destinations. Much like the south side of Coral Bay, the tracks on the north side are soft in parts and will suit experienced four-wheel drivers. A high clearance vehicle is recommended, dropping tyre pressures down to around 15psi.