Ningaloo Reef
Location
Ningaloo Reef is located on the mid north coast of Western Australia and is the largest and most accessible Australian coral reef which borders the North West Cape, running along for more than 260 km. It is approximately 1200 km north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. The best way to access this beautiful coral coast is from Exmouth in the North and Coral Bay in the South of the North West Cape. The best way to get to Ningaloo Reef is to get a daily flight from Sydney Airport to Learmonth Airport, located South of Exmouth and on the peninsula so you can go experience the great wonder of Ningaloo Reef.
Co-ordinates: 22ºS, 113ºE
Ningaloo Reef is located on the mid north coast of Western Australia and is the largest and most accessible Australian coral reef which borders the North West Cape, running along for more than 260 km. It is approximately 1200 km north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. The best way to access this beautiful coral coast is from Exmouth in the North and Coral Bay in the South of the North West Cape. The best way to get to Ningaloo Reef is to get a daily flight from Sydney Airport to Learmonth Airport, located South of Exmouth and on the peninsula so you can go experience the great wonder of Ningaloo Reef.
Co-ordinates: 22ºS, 113ºE
Why should you visit Ningaloo Reef?
Ningaloo Reef is one of the last healthy major coral reefs in the world. It is essentially an undamaged barrier reef protecting a shallow white sandy lagoon of tropical water. It has gained a name as one of the Earth’s last ocean paradises. The coral reef is reachable by stepping off the beach and is home to more than 500 species of tropical fish and 220 species of coral making up the Ningaloo Reef which is protected by the Marine Park. There are many unique features about the Ningaloo Reef such as the various species of marine life such as the whale sharks, fish, manta rays and different types of coral.
The fringing reef continues for 260 km and is located very close to land making it a unique landform. The Ningaloo Reef has a variety of connecting habitats and landforms of fringing coral reefs, soft sediment lagoons, mangroves, sea grass beds and coastal dunes that make up a biodiverse ecosystem. They are many things that you can get up to at Ningaloo Reef such as snorkelling and discovering the different kinds of marine life, you could also go scuba diving with the whale sharks or just go swimming in the waters of Ningaloo which is knee deep, allowing all the various kinds of fish to swim between your legs, so this is why you should go and visit the Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the last healthy major coral reefs in the world. It is essentially an undamaged barrier reef protecting a shallow white sandy lagoon of tropical water. It has gained a name as one of the Earth’s last ocean paradises. The coral reef is reachable by stepping off the beach and is home to more than 500 species of tropical fish and 220 species of coral making up the Ningaloo Reef which is protected by the Marine Park. There are many unique features about the Ningaloo Reef such as the various species of marine life such as the whale sharks, fish, manta rays and different types of coral.
The fringing reef continues for 260 km and is located very close to land making it a unique landform. The Ningaloo Reef has a variety of connecting habitats and landforms of fringing coral reefs, soft sediment lagoons, mangroves, sea grass beds and coastal dunes that make up a biodiverse ecosystem. They are many things that you can get up to at Ningaloo Reef such as snorkelling and discovering the different kinds of marine life, you could also go scuba diving with the whale sharks or just go swimming in the waters of Ningaloo which is knee deep, allowing all the various kinds of fish to swim between your legs, so this is why you should go and visit the Ningaloo Reef.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to go and explore the great wonders of the Ningaloo Reef is in Autumn and Winter which is from March to September on the Western Australian Coral Coast because during this time is when the whale sharks visit the waters of Ningaloo on their annual coastal expedition. You can also experience the extraordinary coral sprawning which is the reef’s annual breeding ritual and at the time the tide is calmer and the water is warmer. The climate and weather conditions in Ningaloo is fantastic, as it does not have a wet season meaning that it is warm and dry all year around. Daytime temperatures in the Summer range from 30-40 degrees and a winters day is around 25 degrees Celsius. Also, the water temperatures differ between 20-28 degrees. So Ningaloo is a perfect place to go for beach weather and beautiful sunshine.
The best time to go and explore the great wonders of the Ningaloo Reef is in Autumn and Winter which is from March to September on the Western Australian Coral Coast because during this time is when the whale sharks visit the waters of Ningaloo on their annual coastal expedition. You can also experience the extraordinary coral sprawning which is the reef’s annual breeding ritual and at the time the tide is calmer and the water is warmer. The climate and weather conditions in Ningaloo is fantastic, as it does not have a wet season meaning that it is warm and dry all year around. Daytime temperatures in the Summer range from 30-40 degrees and a winters day is around 25 degrees Celsius. Also, the water temperatures differ between 20-28 degrees. So Ningaloo is a perfect place to go for beach weather and beautiful sunshine.
What types of flora and fauna will you see at Ningaloo Reef?
Ningaloo is has a diverse ecosystem of many different types of flora and fauna. You will expect to see many different flora and fauna at Ningaloo Reef such as coral spawning in March-April, turtles nesting in October-February, Whale Sharks in March-July, Manta Rays all year around, Dugongs in March-July, Marine turtles all year around, humpback whales in June-October and Reef Sharks all year around. You would also expect to see a variety of tropical fish that swim around in warm waters of Ningaloo as well as sea grass and hard and soft corals. You could experience the underwater marine life of Ningaloo through going snorkelling and scuba diving at diving sites such as Guillvers, Blizzard Range, The Labyrinth and The Fish Pit and all these places are all located around the Ningaloo Reef. You will not be disappointed when you go to the Ningaloo Reef because there will be plenty to see there such as its diverse ecosystem of beautiful flora and fauna.
Some interesting Facts about Ningaloo Reef:
Ningaloo is has a diverse ecosystem of many different types of flora and fauna. You will expect to see many different flora and fauna at Ningaloo Reef such as coral spawning in March-April, turtles nesting in October-February, Whale Sharks in March-July, Manta Rays all year around, Dugongs in March-July, Marine turtles all year around, humpback whales in June-October and Reef Sharks all year around. You would also expect to see a variety of tropical fish that swim around in warm waters of Ningaloo as well as sea grass and hard and soft corals. You could experience the underwater marine life of Ningaloo through going snorkelling and scuba diving at diving sites such as Guillvers, Blizzard Range, The Labyrinth and The Fish Pit and all these places are all located around the Ningaloo Reef. You will not be disappointed when you go to the Ningaloo Reef because there will be plenty to see there such as its diverse ecosystem of beautiful flora and fauna.
Some interesting Facts about Ningaloo Reef:
- The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage site that was listed in 2011 due to its unique biodiversity and has gained recognition as Australia’s most prestigious heritage site
- The Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef that is located very close to land
- The Ningaloo Marine Park protects the 260km Ningaloo Reef and it became the Ningaloo Marine Park in 1987
- The Ningaloo Reef is famous around the world for its whale sharks and one of the world’s first places where you can go swimming with them
- Ningaloo is recorded to have had around 320 days of sunshine every year with its beautiful weather conditions
Bibliography:
Image of Map - Sourced from: https://maps.google.com.au/
Image in the background - sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark
Image of the sun icon - sourced from: http://imgkid.com/sunny-icon-png.shtm
Panorama Image - sourced from: http://www.australiascoralcoast.com/tours-activities/water-sports/snorkelling
Last Image of turtle - sourced from: http://www.australiascoralcoast.com/tours-activities/water-sports/coral-coast-and-exmouth-diving
Image of Reef - sourced from: http://www.danielhutchings.com/page12.htm
Image of whale shark - sorced from: http://www.amazingtravelbook.com/ningaloo-reef/