The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site in the northwest coastal area of Western Australia. This protected area covers 705,015 hectares (1,742,130 acres) and is located about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) north of Perth along the East Indian Ocean. The Ningaloo Reef, which runs along the edge of the Ningaloo Coast, is 260 kilometers (160 miles) long. It is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef near a landmass. The Muiron Islands and Cape Farquhar are part of this coastal area.
The name "Ningaloo" comes from the Wajarri language, meaning "promontory," "deepwater," or "high land jutting into the sea." The Yamatji people of the Baiyungu and Yinigudura groups are the traditional owners of the land.
Each year, the reef attracts about 200,000 visitors. In 2011 and 2025, the reef experienced damage caused by warm ocean temperatures.
Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Site
In 2010, the site was officially listed on the Australian National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In 2011, the World Heritage status for the region was created and negotiated. The area included the Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters), Ningaloo Marine Park (State waters), Muiron Islands Marine Management Area (including the Muiron Islands), Jurabi Coastal Park, Bundegi Coastal Park, Cape Range National Park, and the Learmonth Air Weapons Range.
In 1987, the reef and surrounding waters were named the Ningaloo Marine Park. The reef is famous for whale sharks that visit from March to August. It also has many types of coral and marine life. During winter, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, and humpback whales travel through the area. The beaches are important for loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles to breed and find food. The reef is home to 500 fish species, 300 coral species, 600 mollusc species, and many other marine animals.
In some places, like Coral Bay, the reef is less than 0.5 kilometers (0.31 miles) from the shore. In 2006, scientists found sponge gardens in deeper parts of the marine park that may be new species. In 2015, a short-nosed sea snake, thought to be extinct for 17 years, was discovered on the reef.
In the early 2000s, there was controversy about building a resort at Mauds Landing, a key nesting area for loggerhead turtles. People worried the resort would harm the marine park. Author Tim Winton, who lives nearby, opposed the project. In 2002, he donated prize money from a book award to help save the reef. The resort was not built, but developers still show interest in the area.
The Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster, a research project started in 2007, is part of a larger initiative by the CSIRO. It includes scientists from the CSIRO, Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre, and universities like Curtin University, Murdoch University, University of Western Australia, Australian National University, and University of Queensland. The project aims to create a model that combines information about the environment and human activities in the region. This model will help develop tools for managing the area and using its resources in a sustainable way.
The study collects data about tourism and local communities in Exmouth, Coral Bay, and Carnarvon. It also looks at how human activities affect the environment, including use of natural resources, waste, pollution, and effects on plants and animals. The project works with many groups, including government agencies, local organizations, and researchers. It focuses on how tourism can be managed to protect the reef and its resources.
Specific reserved areas
- Bundegi Coastal Park
- Cape Range National Park
- Jurabi Coastal Park
- Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters)
- Ningaloo Marine Park (State waters)
- North Muiron Island
- South Muiron Island