Ningaloo Reef Whale Watching

Whale watching on Ningaloo Reef means humpback whales from a boat out of Coral Bay, or a full-day swim with whale sharks and humpbacks from Coral Bay or Exmouth. Cruises are 2.5 to 3-hour trips and swims fill most of a day. The season changes from trip to trip, so each section below gives the months stated on the trip page, and the things to do in Ningaloo Reef guide covers everything else on the reef.

Whale watching cruises from Coral Bay

Coral Bay whale watching cruises keep you dry. The 3-hour whale watching cruise leaves from Peoples Shopping Village on Robinson Street at 10.30am or 11am on a spacious, multi-level vessel with room to move between viewing spots. Champagne, finger food, tea and coffee are served on board, and humpbacks pass along this coast from June to October, surfacing, blowing and sometimes breaching close to the boat.

The 2.5-hour whale watching cruise is a smaller boat, a 10m Naiad that sits low to the water for a view from close to the surface. A local family operator runs it from the Coral Bay boat ramp on Monck Head Drive, and the crew also watch for dolphins, turtles, dugongs and rays between whale sightings.

Swim with whale sharks and humpbacks from Coral Bay

A swim trip puts you in the water instead of on deck. The full-day whale shark swim safari is a 9-hour day from Coral Bay: it starts with a snorkel at a reef site where turtles, stingrays and reef sharks pass over the coral, then the crew motor out to the outer reef to find whale sharks. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea, a photography package and a glass of champagne are included.

The full-day humpback whale swim safari runs on the same 7.30am start from Peoples Shopping Village. It fits two reef snorkels around the whale search, and when humpbacks are found on their migration the group rotates through the water in small numbers with a guide. More in-water trips are listed on the swim with whales on Ningaloo Reef page.

Whale watching and whale shark swims from Exmouth

Exmouth has its own full-day boat trips. The whale shark swim on a powerboat runs in August, September and October only. It collects guests from their Exmouth accommodation from 7.45am, spends a 7-hour day on the water with a maximum of 20 participants, and includes snorkelling gear, kayak and paddleboard equipment, lunch and a glass of sparkling wine.

The September to November whale sharks and whales tour leaves from Kennedy Street seven days a week on a 65-foot, two-storey vessel. A spotter plane helps find wildlife, snorkellers can swim with whale sharks and manta rays when sightings and conditions allow, and the crew offer swims with eligible humpback whales. For more boats on that side of the cape, see whale watching in Exmouth, or browse whale watching in regional Western Australia.

Choosing between a cruise and a swim

Length is the first difference. A cruise is a 2.5 or 3-hour outing, so it fits around a morning snorkel or a Coral Bay lunch, while the swim trips take most of a day and include two or more stops on the reef as well as the whale search.

The second difference is how close you get. A cruise watches whales from the deck or from a low boat, and a swim trip adds time in the water with a guide when an animal is found. Sightings and conditions decide whether the swim happens, and weather can cancel a boat day, in which case the operator contacts you to reschedule or refund.

Food and comfort vary as well. The 3-hour cruise serves champagne and finger food, the swim safaris serve lunch and tea, and the Exmouth tour provides a smorgasbord lunch. Bring warm clothes for the boat even on a sunny day.

When to go whale watching on Ningaloo Reef

Humpback whales pass Ningaloo on their migration, and the Coral Bay 3-hour cruise lists them from June to October. The Exmouth powerboat swim runs August to October, and the whale sharks and whales tour runs from September to late November. Tourism Western Australia notes that the whale shark and humpback seasons overlap from August, when swimmers can sometimes meet manta rays, humpbacks and whale sharks on the same outing.

Sources give different start dates for the whale shark season, so check the trip page for the dates that apply when you travel. Whale watching is also available well beyond Western Australia, and the national whale watching in Australia page lists the other regions, while the Ningaloo Reef page covers what to do on the reef when you're not on a boat.

Frequently asked questions

When is whale season on Ningaloo Reef?

Humpback whales pass Ningaloo Reef from June to October according to the Coral Bay 3-hour whale watching cruise, and the whale shark and humpback seasons overlap from August. The Exmouth whale shark swims run August to October and September to late November, so the season on each trip page decides your dates.

Can you swim with whales on Ningaloo Reef?

Yes. Full-day swim trips run from Coral Bay and Exmouth, and the in-water time is with a guide in small groups. Whether a swim happens depends on sightings and conditions on the day.

How long are whale watching cruises on Ningaloo Reef?

Whale watching cruises from Coral Bay are a 2.5-hour trip on a 10m Naiad or a 3-hour trip on a multi-level vessel. Swim trips are full-day outings, run as 7 to 9-hour days.

Where do Ningaloo Reef whale watching cruises leave from?

The 3-hour whale watching cruise leaves from Peoples Shopping Village on Robinson Street in Coral Bay. The 2.5-hour cruise leaves from the Coral Bay boat ramp on Monck Head Drive.

Can you see whale sharks on a Ningaloo Reef whale watching tour?

Yes, on the swim trips. A full-day whale shark swim safari from Coral Bay heads to the outer reef to find whale sharks, and the Exmouth whale shark swims run in the second half of the year. The Coral Bay whale watching cruises focus on humpback whales.

What should you wear for whale watching on Ningaloo Reef?

Wear warm layers and sun protection for a Coral Bay whale watching cruise, plus non-slip shoes on the 2.5-hour cruise. For swim trips, bring swimwear and a towel, and the operator supplies snorkelling gear and wetsuits.

Pick the cruise or swim that matches the month you're visiting, then check the departure town: Coral Bay for the cruises, Coral Bay or Exmouth for the swims.