Exmouth Whale Shark Tours

This excursion provides a day’s journey from Melbourne to discover the breathtaking wonders of the Grampians National Park.

Throughout this tour, you’ll observe a primeval terrain featuring stark mountain ranges and sandstone crests, potentially taking you on a journey through time. An expert guide will be present to offer deep insights into the rural landscape and historical background of the region, enriching your comprehension of the locale.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
• Accom: Accommodation: Kalbarri Backpackers YHA (Dorm – shared bathroom facilities).
• Driving Distance: 575 km.
• Hike Distance: 2km Grade 1-2.

Today, you can explore the majestic Kalbarri National Park. Hike up to Nature’s Window and see the fantastic rock formations. Take the Z Bend trail into Murchinson Gorge for the park’s best views. In the afternoon, head towards Shark Bay and visit a beach made of white cockle shells. Tonight, you will be staying in Monkey Mia.

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.
• Accom: RAC Monkey Mia Resort Backpacker Dorms or similar (shared bathroom facilities).
• Options: Kalbarri Abseiling Z-Bend.
• Driving Distance: 450km.
• Hike Distance: 3km Grade 3-4.

Begin your day with an exciting adventure at Kalbarri National Park by abseiling down the gorge walls with Kalbarri Abseil. No experience is needed as training will be given on-site. All equipment is provided. Guests who are not participating can take photos for you, or you can use your camera. This activity can be arranged during your tour.

This morning, you will witness Australia’s famous wildlife encounter. The Monkey Mia Dolphins swim ashore and are hand-fed in knee-deep water. Afterwards, relax on the stunning coastline and visit the Stromatolites – ancient rock formations created by a single-celled microbe estimated at 3.7 billion years old. Tonight, travel and stay overnight in Coral Bay, located on the edge of the Ningaloo Reef.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
• Accom: Ningaloo Coral Bay Backpacker Dorms or similar (shared bathroom facilities).
• Driving Distance: 580km.
• Hike Distance: 2km Grade 1.

Explore the Ningaloo Reef in Coral Bay. Snorkel in the turquoise water near the beach. Take a tour to explore the offshore reefs. Relax on the beach and enjoy the sun. Later, travel to Exmouth.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Potshot Hotel Resort Backpacker Dorms or similar (shared bathroom facilities).
• Options: Swim with Manta Rays, Snorkel Ningaloo Reef, Glass Bottom Boat Tours. Please note that guests cannot book Whaleshark Swims on this day as they return after the bus has left Coral Bay.
• Driving Distance: 155km Grade 1.

Optional Activities: (pre-booking is recommended)

You can have the opportunity to swim with Manta Rays on the Ningaloo Reef with Coral Bay Ecotours. Please note that snorkelling is available only for competent swimmers.

Coral Bay Ecotours offers a 5-6 hour tour of the Ningaloo Reef. The tour includes all necessary equipment, such as a wetsuit, morning and afternoon tea and a buffet lunch. During the tour, you’ll have the chance to witness the magnificent manta rays in their underwater dance. There will be two snorkelling sessions on the reef where you can admire the diverse marine life, including fish and corals, and the possibility of encountering sea turtles and reef sharks. Additionally, the tour includes visiting the turtle sanctuary, where you can observe turtles coming up for air in the shallows.

With Coral Bay Ecotours, you can experience a Glass Bottom Boat tour on the Ningaloo Reef.

Tour the Ningaloo Reef on Coral Bay Ecotours’ glass bottom boat. See tropical and temperate fish and corals through the glass. Choose from 1, 2, or 3-hour options. The 1-hour tour is only glass viewing. The 2-hour tour includes a glass viewing and a snorkel site. The 3-hour tour provides glass viewing, snorkelling, and a visit to the turtle sanctuary. Watch turtles feeding and coming up for air in the shallows. The skipper can even try to get the turtles under the glass for you. Equipment is included for snorkelling tours.

Guests cannot book Whaleshark Swims on [day 4] due to their return time conflicting with the bus’s scheduled departure from Coral Bay. It is important to note that all optional activities in Coral Bay must be completed by 3:45-4:00 pm at the latest. 

You will explore Cape Range National Park today. The park offers spectacular scenes of limestone ranges, canyons, and pristine beaches spanning 50km. You can explore Turquoise Bay and Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and relax at the Milyering Visitors Center. The tour will conclude in the late afternoon, making it a memorable end to your Perth to Exmouth journey.

The meals provided are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The accommodation is at Potshot Hotel Resort Backpacker Dorms or a similar option, with shared bathroom facilities. You can go on a Whaleshark Swim (March-September) or a Humpback Swim (August-October), but you need to pre-book. The driving distance is 135km, and the hike distance is 1km with a grade of 1-2.

Optional Activities: (pre-booking is recommended)

Exmouth Dive Centre offers the opportunity to swim with Whalesharks and Humpback Whales (seasonal from March to August), specifically for competent snorkelers.

Have an unforgettable day out on the water with Exmouth Dive Centre. Start with a reef snorkel, where you can see coral gardens and fish. You might even see turtles or reef sharks! Then, they’ll search for humpback whales and whale sharks with a spotter plane. Whether or not you can swim with the humpback whales depends on their willingness. If they’re not cooperative, the plane will look for another group. All equipment is provided, including wetsuits if needed. You’ll also get morning and afternoon tea and a buffet lunch.