From Exmouth ~150 km
Coral Bay, the other end of the reef
Coral Bay is the only place south of Exmouth that can be reached and left in the same day without the day becoming a driving exercise. It is about 150 km away, and the reef you have been swimming on at Exmouth continues past it rather than stopping at the park boundary.
The route from Exmouth
- Distance from Exmouth
- ~150 km
- Direction
- south
Source: Shire of Exmouth: Coral Bay distance (PDF). Distances vary by starting point and route.
150 km, on the road south
Coral Bay is about 150 km south of Exmouth. The road out of town is the one that carries you south past the turn-offs to the cape, and from there it is a straight run rather than a series of decisions.
That figure is the whole argument for the trip. It is short enough that nobody has to commit a night to it, and long enough that the vehicle matters: a two-wheel-drive campervan does this road without drama, which is not true of every road on this coast. There is no depot at Coral Bay, so the vehicle comes from the cape, and campervan hire from Exmouth is where the categories and dates are listed.
The return leg is the part people underestimate
Using the approximate one-way figure of 150 km, a return trip is roughly 300 km. The actual distance depends on your starting point and route; allow plenty of time for both driving and enjoying the coast.
Three hundred kilometres, and half of them are the same scenery twice. The middle of the day is the part you came for. If the plan includes a long snorkel, a slow lunch and a look at the bay from the north end, the return leg lands in the late afternoon, which is when the light starts going and the drive stops being the easy part of the day.
| Leg | Distance |
|---|---|
| Exmouth to Coral Bay | about 150 km |
| Coral Bay back to Exmouth | about 150 km |
| Return total | about 300 km |
What changes at the park boundary
The sealed road reaches the Yardie Creek crossing. WA Parks lists campgrounds south of the crossing that require four-wheel drive access; check park access and entry requirements for your planned visit.
The reef does not stop at the same line. Ningaloo is Australia's largest fringing reef, and the section at Coral Bay is part of the same system that runs against Cape Range, which is why the water looks like the water at Turquoise Bay and why the marine rules still apply when you get out of the vehicle.
If you go, go early
Two things are worth doing before the drive rather than after it.
Check the marine warning. Between November and April, WA Parks warns that box jellyfish and Irukandji can appear in these waters, and that warning covers the beach you are driving to, not just the one outside town.
Check the fuel and the water before you leave. The distance is short; the services between the two towns are not continuous, and the return leg is the one where people notice.
Leave Exmouth early and allow enough time to complete the return drive before dark. Check the actual route and distance before you set off.
Explore from here
- Bills Bay
The sheltered beach inside the sanctuary zone, and the usual snorkel entry.
- Skeleton Beach
The calm side of the bay when the wind is up on the main beach.
- Maud's Landing
The boat ramp end of the settlement, where the dive boats leave.
- Five Fingers Reef
Coral formations north of the settlement, reached along the beach.
Questions people ask before booking
Can Coral Bay be done as a day trip from Exmouth?
Yes. It is about 150 km each way, so roughly 300 km for the day. It works best with an early start and an afternoon return rather than a late one.
Is the road to Coral Bay sealed?
The route south of Exmouth is a highway rather than a park track, and it is driven by ordinary two-wheel-drive vehicles. Check current road conditions before you go if there has been weather.
Do you need a park pass for Coral Bay?
Cape Range National Park entry fees apply inside the park. Coral Bay is outside Cape Range; check current access and fees for the places you plan to visit.
When is the water safest for swimming?
Whale sharks are most reliable from March to July and humpbacks pass between May and October. From November to April, WA Parks warns that box jellyfish and Irukandji can appear, so check the marine warnings for the week you are there.
Sources and further reading
- Coral Bay distance: approximate, third-party travel sources (not an official figure)
- WA Parks: Cape Range National Park
- WA Parks: Exmouth region and marine safety
Distances are approximate and vary by route and starting point. Check current road and park conditions before travelling.