Ningaloo Reef Archives

Red Bluff near Quobba Station

Red Bluff is 125km north of Carnavon, at the southern end of Ningaloo Marine Park, along the beautiful Australia’s Coral Coast. Red Bluff campground is owned by Quobba Station. The 60km unsealed road (from Quobba Station) is corrugated and can be rough but suitable for 2WDs and off-road caravans.

Red Bluff campground

Facilities at the campground include many rustic long drop toilets with water and soup for washing hands. There are also bins and some shelters and benches around the camp. The sites are scattered around a big area. Whilst the sites are designated, they are not numbered and you can choose your own site. Most sites have beach views. They are quite large, although not quite levelled, which might be an issue for large caravans. We normally use Max Tracks to level the vehicle as we rely on it for our cooking needs.

There are also eco tents, bungalows and beach shacks to suit different needs and preferences. In fact, after staying for one night in our swags, we got a privilege of being upgraded to a beach shack. We decided take on the offer and enjoy shade while still having fantastic beach front views. Here is a short reel, showing how Australian beach shack looks like inside.

The cost is $22 per adult, $10 per child (prices in 2024) per night for camping under the stars. There are campfire pits at each site, which would be nice to use in cooler weather (we were there in April and didn’t have any campfire). The best thing about the campground is “rustic station stay feel” of this place. There is also a small shop and a café which opens at certain hours. The owners do allow dogs on leash, if you want to bring your furry friend.

What to do and see at Red Bluff

Red Bluff is considered a great fishing and surfing spot.

It is also an awesome place for star gazing and photogrpaphy. The sunrise and sunsets over the bluff are sensational. Rocky outcrops and shells add contrast to dark blue waters of mighty ocean.

The best thing about the Red Bluff is, of course, the beach and awesome coastline.

At low tide, receding water creates a few little lagoons and spas, perfect for bathing and soaking in.

You can find many dry corals on the beach. They are simply amazing to admire.

Coastal 4WD track

We took a coastal 4WD track from Red Bluff to Gnaraloo Bay. It was quite an adventure. What started as a clearly marked track turned into a series of puzzles. We came to numerous forks, taking one turn only to find a gate with No Access sign on it. Taking a different track didn’t provide a solution either. The track kept disappearing, turning into a section of rocks. Having crawled over it, we found a track appearing again. Taking the 4WD track we hoped to visit a few attractions along the coast. But it led us nowhere. Short reel about this track is here.

We even had to use a drone once to look for a track and directions.

To make things worse, the weather wasn’t favourable at all. After a couple of hours of driving we did arrive at Gnaraloo Bay, having missed all the attractions on the way, only to find that the entrance to the beach was flooded. The wind was extremely strong to enjoy afternoon tea, so we jumped back into the car and drove back to the camp with tyres full of mud.

Flooded 4WD track from Red Bluff to Gnaraloo Bay

Nevertheless, we enjoyed our 4WDriving trip. As we stopped a few times, I noticed these amazing rock patterns. Some of them looked like Aboriginal paintings.

One looked like a fish, another like a broken pieces of a skeleton :).

Eagle rays at Red Bluff

On the last day of our stay at Red Bluff, as we were packing up and nearly ready to leave, I went to have a last look at the beautiful ocean. Luckily, I did, as I spotted 3 eagle rays swimming very close to the shore. We spent at least half an hour watching them swim along the coast back and forth.

Aerial view of rays swimming close to the shore

They were still there as we were leaving.

Red Bluff near Quobba station beach with eagle rays

Best snorkelling near Coral Bay

Five Fingers Reef, 4,5km south of Coral Bay, offers the best snorkelling experience near Coral Bay. When we were in Ningaloo Reef in April this year (2022), we were told that while the corals in Coral Bay were affected by bleaching, Five Fingers Reef corals were in much better condition. It is a 10-minute drive from Coral Bay over the sand dunes and a 4WD is required to travel along the track which leads you right onto the beach.

Five Fingers Reef is a popular 4WD destination

Interestingly, the name Five Fingers comes from the way the reef looks like. There are five strips (or fingers) of parallel reef running from the beach to around 200 meters offshore. The waters there are very calm and shallow, with lots of corals and other amazing marine life underneath. A great place to visit for a day or a few hours.

The underwater life at Five Fingers Reef is amazing! From a variety of corals, fishes to blue spotted rays, giant clams, sea cucumbers!

Want to see more corals? We have a big library of underwater photos that we took at Cape Range National Park near Exmouth. Did we mention that at Five Fingers you’ll find the best snorkelling near Coral Bay? We are not the only ones thinking that way.

Warroora Coastal Reserves

Warroora Coastal Reserves are part of the Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) Coastal Reserves, adjacent to and part of World Heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park that stretch for 220 kilometres.

You can get there via Minilya-Exmouth Road (from the north or from the south). 2WD can get you to the Warroora station and 14 Mile beach camp, but to get to all other campgrounds you would need a 4WD as the road is not only corrugated but also can be soft, rocky and with slopes in some places.

Warroora Coastal reserves are managed by DPAW and can be booked online. There are 11 campgrounds to choose from – some only have a few sites and others are bigger and more popular. There are no amenities at any of the campgrounds. You are required to bring a chemical toilet to this place (which can also be hired at the Warroora station). Dogs are allowed.

For $8 per adult ($3 per child) you get a permission to camp on a beautiful coast with access to some amazing corals only a short driving distance away. If you don’t want to be cramped like sardines in one of the caravan parks in the close-by Coral Bay, camping in nature might be the way to go. It certainly is for us!

Stopping on the way to enjoy the scenery and little things

Black Moon Cliff

We stayed at Black Moon Cliff, which is 6km south of Warroora station, a small campground, tucked behind the dunes. The campground has only 10 sites, all quite large – some closer to the beach and some behind the second dune.

The coastline at Black Moon Cliff looked quite beautiful with rugged outcrops, although the beach had a lot of weeds at the time we visited (April 2022).

Natural beauty at Warroora Coast

Undeniably the sunsets and sunrises were sensational! Every evening I was awe struck when seeing how the colours and patterns of the sky changed with every second as the sun went down.

Every evening the setting sun painted the sky differently. No sunset is the same.

As the sun was going down on one side above the ocean, the moon was rising up on the opposite side. Just watching sun and moon can be so therapeutic!

Watching the sun emerge from the horizon in the morning was an equally delightful and exciting experience. New day! What will it bring?

If you are into bird watching, Warroora Coast is abundant in wildlife. Spotting it though, requires patience and sometimes it is a matter of luck.

There are also many wildflowers in the region even outside of wildflower season. We visited this place in April and were still a few wildflowers there.

There are also plenty of dragon flies in Warroora Coastal reserves which can be tricky to photograph unless they land somewhere. One ended up in our caravan :).

Lagoon

Lagoon campground is further 6km south from Black Moon Cliff along the Ningaloo Coast. This campground is one of the larger ones (with 20 sites). The road there from the Warroora station is quite rocky, with a couple of hills and rock holes, so you definitely need a 4WD. But once you get to the Lagoon you are rewarded with a fantastic swimming beach. We actually liked the Lagoon better than the Black Moon Cliff campground, where we were based, and we spent a relaxing day at the Lagoon, soaking up experiences and memories.

Maggies

Maggies campground was a pleasant surprise for us. We would have missed going there, if we didn’t hear about it from someone whom we met while travelling. So, we are passing on the information together with our own experience and memories of this place.

Maggies is a small campground (with only 6 sites), a short detour from the coastal dirt road in the Warroora Reserves. It is tucked away behind the hills and dunes and there are a few slopes and one-way sections of the road there. We wouldn’t have thought of pulling anything there but actually saw a few caravans at Maggies. 4WD is still a must to get there.

The best thing about this campground was corals and other marine life, as well as rocky formations along the beach.

The underwater world at Maggies is amazing. Giant clams, Brain corals, Sea urchins, Blue Chromis are only some of the wonderful marine creatures you can see there.

To sum up, Warroora Coastal Reserves did not disappoint. Without a doubt, it is the place to visit again.

Best snorkelling sites at Cape Range

Snorkelling at North Kurrajong in Cape Range National Park — North Kurrajong at Cape Range

Looking for the best snorkelling sites at Cape Range? Keep reading. We always loved Cape Range, so travelling there again (the previous trip was in April 2021) was not something unusual. This time we stayed at a different campground and found a new snorkelling spot in addition to our favourite ones.

Oyster Stacks – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #1

There are 3 most popular snorkelling sites in Cape Range National park. Oyster Stacks is one of them. It has always been our favourite. Firstly, the outside reef is only 300m from the shore, so there is a big concentration of corals and other marine life. Secondly, there is hardly any current, so it is quite safe for children and inexperienced swimmers when the water is calm. Thirdly, the corals start right from the beach. So long as you care careful when entering the water because of the sharp rocks, you are straight in a paradise. We must emphasise that you should snorkel only during medium or high tides to avoid damaging corals. The first part of the day is normally the best for snorkeling as there is often some wind in the afternoon.

Snorkerlling at Oyster Stacks at Cape Range National park — Oyster Stacks beach

Aerial view of Oyster Stacks at Cape Range National Park — Oyster Stacks beach

Apart from the corals, Oyster Stacks beach is also known for its beautiful green crabs. This time we also saw a marine snail (I didn’t even know that such creatures exist!)

South Mandu – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #2

Shhhh… This is a secret spot. We found it was as good for snorkelling as the famous 3 sites in Cape Range National Park, however, it is not advertised anywhere (probably, due to proximity of the privately owned camping ground there). When we arrived in the morning, we had the beach all to ourselves!

South Mandu at Cape Range National Park — South Mandu

Beautiful beach at Cape Range National Park — South Mandu

The corals are very dense here, only a short distance away from the shore and those few meters before you reach the corals are just pure delight – sandy floor with turquoise clear water.

Best snorkerlling site at Cape Range National Park

There is also a “therapeutic” corner, if you go to the right from the snorkelling site. Here there is a patch of red nicely water polished pebbles, which are very pleasant to hold. We spent a good half hour just sitting there – watching the waves and listening to the hissing sound of the water as it was drawn back while passing through the segregation of pebbles. It is an ideal place to de-stress and let any worries melt away. The only downside is 500m walk from the carpark. Although, if you are not into snorkelling, you can have some fun swimming and surfing on the beach right near the carpark.

Turquoise Bay – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #3

Turquoise Bay is the highlight of the Cape Range National Park. It has many times been ranked as one of Australia’s top beaches. With white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, amazing corals and other marine life it is an idyllic place. No wonder that it attracts a lot of tourists especially during the peak season (around Easter school holidays). We like to snorkel in Turquoise Bay Drift snorkel area, where the current takes you across corals and all you need to be concerned about is to exit before you reach the sand bar. Due to strong currents, formed by opening in the outer reef, snorkelling at Turquoise Bay is not recommended for inexperienced swimmers.

Try to get to Turquoise Bay early in the morning. Afterwards the tide comes in, claiming the beach and everyone is forced to move behind the fence to save their belongings 😊.

Camping at Cape Range

Located within the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage area, 70km km from Exmouth, Cape Range National Park has a few basic campgrounds only meters away from the beach. In April 2021 we stayed at Tulki beach and exactly a year later we based ourselves at North Kurrajong, from where we explored beautiful beaches.

North Kurrajong campground

It is a new campground (an addition to Kurrajong which is a short distance away), only steps away from the beach.

I was surprised that for a small campground (for 10 sites) there were 3 clean and nicely maintained non-flushing toilets.

There is also a large undercover picnic area with a few tables and a smaller but very popular sunset view undercover table from where we watched the sun going down over the ocean every night.

Watching sun go down from the sunset view undercover picnic table at North Kurrajong

The campground is accessible via a 2WD short drive from Yardie Creek Road. For $11 per person per night (children are $3 each), it is a great value for a prime location. We had very sweet memories of camping at Cape Range (not to mention amazing corals and fishes we have seen, the pictures of which I posted separately).

Watching sunrise, sunset and moon

When we camp in the bush, we don’t mind getting up early to see how the sun greets the day and sends the first rays of light into the sky before it is even visible above the horizon.

Jupiter and Venus still shining in the morning

When the sun is rising above the ranges in Cape Range National Park, the opposite side – the beach – is still in its “blue hour” colour. It is quiet and peaceful – a perfect opportunity to spot something interesting.

The magical golden hour.

Looking at the moon and taking pictures of it can be quite fascinating….

And when the sun goes down, it is a great opportunity to try your luck fishing from the beach. North Kurrajong is a recreational zone, so fishing is allowed there.

While the boys are fishing, I am taking pictures of the night sky.

How massive these termite nests are! On the way from Exmouth along Minilya Exmouth Road.

Are you ready to look at the corals and fishes now?

Corals and marine life at Ningaloo

Are you planning a trip that includes viewing corals and marine life at Ningaloo? Let us take you on a virtual journey, so you know what to expect. Snorkerlling at Cape Range, looking at the beautiful corals and watching colourful fishes swim by, is like immersing yourself into another world – a mesmerising world of wonder, beauty, tranquillity and amazement.

Equipped with a new underwater camera and a drone we headed to to Cape Range in April 2022, choosing to stay at North Kurrajong campground for 4 nights while exploring the best snorkelling sites in Cape Range National Park. We had perfect weather during the full 3 days, which we spent at Oyster Stacks, Turquoise Bay and South Mandu.

The Ningaloo Reef contains over 250 species of coral and over 500 species of fish. While we did take more than 1 thousand underwater pictures trying to capture everything we saw, obviously we did not see all of the species but we did see a fair bit of them.

Kids got quite comfortable diving in to see corals closer

Disclaimer: We are no expert on corals. When researching the names of the corals we found some of the names a bit confusing and repeating. The information presented here is based on our limited understanding and knowledge at the time of writing.

Corals

Staghorn (branching) corals

They come in different colours and sizes and are quite abundant in Ningaloo Reef. They are one of the faster growing corals with growth from 10-20 cm per year.

Finger corals

Acropora humilis (Finger Coral) is a species of corals in the family Staghorn corals.

Porites corals

Porites are small polyp stony (SPS) corals.

Boulder coral bombies

Boulder coral bombies are quite big (as the name suggests) – they can grow up to 2 meters in diameter. They are also very slow growing colonies that are hundreds of years old.

Cabbage (leaf) corals

Cabbage corals are hardy soft corals. They are mostly browning in colour but can be colourful if they grow in shallow water where they get enough sunlight.

Plate Montipora coral

Leaf plate Montipora, also known as vase coral or plating Montipora, is a type of small polyp stony coral.

Sea stars

Most sea stars have 5 arms, although some can grow as many as 50 arms. Together with sea urchins and sea cucumbers they are not classified as fish, but rather belong to a group of marine creatures called Echinoderms (meaning having “spiny skin”). Did you know that sea stars have amazing capacity for regeneration and are able to regrow from fragments of their body? Sea stars can live up 35 years and only in salt water. There are about 2000 species of Sea Stars, of which we have only seen 2.

Fishes and clams

Clown fish and anemone

Colourful clownfish can often be seen hiding amongst the tentacles of anemones where they are protected from predators. A coating of mucus protect clownfish from the stinging cells of the anemone. The clownfish in return provides the anemone nutrients in the form of waste. Such is a symbiotic relationship between two living organisms. They are often seen together in underwater world. Picture taken at South Mandu, Cape Range NP.

Giant clam

Giant clams can grow up to 1.2meters. Microscopic algae live in the fleshy mantle inside the clam’s shell contributing to its decorative patterns. The clam closes up when protection required (as it is the case here).

Green Moon Wrasse

Green Moon Wrasse fish changes its colour with growth. That’s reason that despite the “green” in its name, it’s mostly purple in colour here.

Blue spotted ray

Bluespotted Fantail Ray is a shy creature living on the ocean floor, often found in shallow waters and lagoons. Its length is about 70cm, including the tail. It is quite a common marine creature in Ningaloo Reef.

Bluespotted Fantail Ray in Turquoise Bay

Some more colourful tropical fishes

Western buffalo bream and black spotted dart

Blowholes at Point Quobba

An impressive natural phenomenon.

We always used Carnavon as a convenient stopover (and cheap too – the prices of food are the same as you would get in Perth). One of the things I always wanted to see were the blowholes at Point Quobba.

Blow holes are created by the force of the water gushing through the holes in the rocks. Known also in geology as marine geyser, blowhole is formed as sea caves grow inwards and upwards emerging at the surface. When there is enough pressure (normally during high tides and in windy conditions) the water rushes through the caves and then erupts like a volcano, sometimes up to 20 meters high. It is an awe-inspiring sight to behold.

Blowholes at Point Quobba near Carnavon - an impressive explosion of water — An impressive marine geyser!

It is best to view blowholes at high tides, although take care when approaching blowholes, because it is Mother Nature in its raw and fierce form – the stunning swells can also be dangerous.

Here is the view we’ve got in September 2020. It was in the afternoon (presumably, during high tide).

Blowholes at Point Quobba near Carnavon at high tide — Blowholes at high tide

And this is what we saw this in April 2021, in the morning, when it was quiet (probably, low tide).

Blowholes at Point Quobba near Carnavon at low tide — Blowholes at low tide

You can find these blowholes at Point Quobba, 75 km north of Carnavon along Australia’s Coral Coast.

Best snorkelling and camping at Cape Range National Park

We have been looking for best snorkelling and camping at Cape Range National Park for quite a while. Having stayed at various caravan parks in and around Exmouth, this time we decided to stay in Cape Range National Park itself. Not only we were closer to the best beaches where we could see corals and other marine life. In addition, we were also staying just meters from the beach with only a few fellow campers. It is quite a different experience compared to overfull (as it is the case during Easter holiday break) caravan parks. It is all about being closer to nature. Every night we enjoyed sitting outside of our caravan, gazing into the Milky Way up in the sky. We spent time reflecting on how incredibly vast and enormous the universe is, of which we know so little. It is the desire to know, to experience “real life” that drives us to stay in those pristine, unique and often wild places, so rich in natural beauty, geological history and biologically diverse.

Termite nest in Cape Range National Park (approximately 2 meters tall)

Camping at Cape Range National Park

So, we booked a site at Tulki Beach, which is the closest to famous Turquoise Beach. At $11 per night per person (the price has changed since then, and it is $15 you can get a wonderful spot only 200 meters away from the beach, shared with 10 other campers. There are no facilities except for a very decent (no smell) drop toilet.

The sunsets and the sunrises you can view at the beach are amazing.

So, is the abundance of wildlife, including insects and birds, which were fascinating to obsesrve.

Being the season of turtle hatching (April) I went out a couple of nights to look for little turtles making their way to the ocean. I wasn’t lucky enough to see them (they say, turtles are directed by the moon light to the water) but I saw something which looked like the trails left by little turtles moving. Or, I could be wrong.

While there are plenty of activities, including great walk and hiking trails to enjoy in Cape Range National Park, we spent 3 full days at the beaches. We took full advantage of the hot and sunny weather, leaving the walks and hikes for the cooler and overcast days (that was the plan). After all, to see corals and marine life was our main agenda in Cape Range.

Snorkelling sites

Oyster Stacks

Our favourite beach for snorkelling is Oyster Stacks. In my opinion, it is the best snorkelling place. Only a few meters away from the car park, you can find yourself a spot for a picnic and then step into the water. There is only a slight drift and no strong current or waves. The bay is protected by the outer reef which is the closest to the shore in this part. So it is quite safe for inexperienced swimmers and snorkellers. Probably, the only downside of this beach is rocky shoreline (wear beach shoes unless you are using fins – or use both), But once you step into the water you are in a paradise. Oyster Stacks should only be snorkelled at medium or high tide when there is sufficient water over the coral reefs to avoid damaging these delicate organisms.

The abundance of the corals and marine life you see is awe-inspiring. I spent hours trying to take a good shot of these crabs.

My regret was not having a professional underwater camera to make a record of all the beauty we have seen (yet another reason to visit this place again!). However, I managed to take a few nice shots of the fishes, star fish, stingray and even a baby reef shark!

Turquoise Beach

Turquoise Beach has been voted Western Australia’s top beach by Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice. It is very popular (so get there early to get a spot) due to its white sandy shores, crystal clear turquoise water and easy access to corals (only meters away from the shore). There are two places to snorkel in Turquoise Bay – Drift Snorkel area (our choice) and Bay Snorkel area. Entering the waters at the southern end of the beach, let the current take you over the reef while you relax and enjoy viewing beautiful corals and marine life. There are moderate/strong currents at Turquoise Bay area due to a break in the reef further out, so it is important to exist the water before you reach the sandbar.

Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay beach is great for a picnic and after snorkelling experience. While it does have some corals, it is best known for white sandbar and knee-deep water around it which is excellent for kids playing and swimming. This is what our kids enjoyed after they’ve had enough of snorkelling.

Well, our plan to do some hiking to explore the rest of the national park did not materialise due to the Tropical Cyclone Seroja which caused closure of Cape Range Park where we stayed and forced us to change our plans and leave sooner (April 2021).

Packing up before the cyclone arrived. We were one of the last campers to leave.

Instead of going back home, we decided to travel further up north-east to continue our adventures in an uplanned itenary. We ended up going to Karijini and Millstream Chichester National Park.

And, yes, we went back to Cape Range again, exactly one year later. We discovered yet another wonderful snorkelling spot, which is a hidden gem.

Category: Ningaloo Reef

Red Bluff near Quobba Station

Red Bluff campground

What to do and see at Red Bluff

Coastal 4WD track

Eagle rays at Red Bluff

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Best snorkelling near Coral Bay

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Warroora Coastal Reserves

Black Moon Cliff

Natural beauty at Warroora Coast

Lagoon

Maggies

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Best snorkelling sites at Cape Range

Oyster Stacks – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #1

South Mandu – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #2

Turquoise Bay – best snorkelling site at Cape Range #3

Camping at Cape Range

Watching sunrise, sunset and moon

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Corals and marine life at Ningaloo

Corals

Sea stars

Fishes and clams

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Blowholes at Point Quobba

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Best snorkelling and camping at Cape Range National Park

Camping at Cape Range National Park