Ningaloo Reef
A World Heritage Site
Ningaloo Reef is located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia. It extends from the top of North West Cape along the coast for 260km , past Coral Bay. It is situated between tropical and temperate waters in the Indo Pacific region which is renowned for the highest biodiversity in the world’s oceans.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the longest fringing coral reef in the world. A fringing reef is distinguished from the other types of reef (barrier, platform and atolls) by the fact that it is separated from the shore by narrow, shallow lagoons. These lagoons are the perfect location for you to explore the reefs 250 species of coral and over 500 species of reef fish.
Ningaloo Reef is home to the Whale shark, Humpback Whales, Manta Rays, Dugongs and much more. We are even lucky enough to have six of the world’s seven sea turtles swim in our waters and three of these species nesting on our beaches.
Ningaloo Coast – A UNESCO World Heritage Treasure
On 29 June 2011, the Ningaloo Coast was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its extraordinary natural beauty and ecological significance. Stretching along Australia’s Coral Coast, Ningaloo is one of the most pristine and biologically diverse marine environments in the world. The contrast between the reef and the rugged Cape Range landscape makes this area truly unique.
A Place of Global Importance
The Ningaloo Coast earned its World Heritage status based on two key criteria:
Criterion (vii) – Exceptional Natural Beauty & Large-Scale Marine Life Aggregations
- Ningaloo’s stunning underwater landscapes are teeming with marine life, set against the dramatic, arid terrain of the Cape Range.
- The reef is home to the world’s largest documented aggregation of Whale Sharks, with 300-500 individuals gathering annually following the mass coral spawning.
- Seasonal nutrient upwelling drives a peak in marine productivity, attracting an abundance of fish species, manta rays, turtles, dugongs, dolphins, and humpback whales.
Criterion (x) – Rich Biodiversity & Marine Conservation Significance
- The Ningaloo Reef supports a remarkable diversity of more than 300 coral species, over 700 reef fish species, 650 mollusc species, 600 crustacean species and over 1,000 marine algae species.
- The reef is located at the meeting point of tropical and temperate waters, creating an ecological hotspot with an impressive variety of sponges, echinoderms, and marine turtles.
- With an estimated 10,000 marine turtle nests annually, Ningaloo plays a critical role in global turtle conservation.
A Dual World Heritage Region
Ningaloo Reef isn’t the only natural wonder in Australia’s Coral Coast—to the south lies the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, making this region one of the few in the world to boast two UNESCO-listed sites. These protected environments showcase Australia’s rare and diverse marine ecosystems, offering visitors the opportunity to explore one of the last great ocean wilderness areas on the planet.
At Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours, we are proud to operate in this globally significant marine sanctuary, offering visitors the chance to experience and learn about one of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems firsthand.
Plan your Ningaloo adventure today and explore the wonders of this World Heritage-listed paradise!
Why do Whale Sharks visit Ningaloo Reef?
Every year from March/April to July/August following the mass spawning of coral, the world’s biggest fish congregates in the Ningaloo Marine Park. Visitors from all over the world now head to the Ningaloo Reef during whale shark season to experience the exhilaration of snorkelling with them.
The coral spawning at Ningaloo Reef provides whale sharks with an abundant supply of plankton and tropical krill, with unique current systems off WA helping to keep this food supply close to the coast, where the sharks are easily accessible to observers. This makes it one of the most predictable and accessible places in the world to encounter a Whale shark.
