You would have heard of the Great Barrier Reef on the well-developed east coast of Australia. However, have you ever got a chance to check out the ‘other’ great reef that’s on the west coast? Yes, there is something amazing on the west coast too and it’s known as the Ningaloo Reef. A stretch of about 160 miles along the Australian west coast starts from around 700 miles north of the city of Perth. Although you may reach your destination flying, but moving on an adventurous road trip would be a marvelous experience in itself. When you get to see this stunning tableau under the waters at the end of this peninsula, you’d even forget your hours-long journey through the scorching heat!
This ‘other’ great reef is totally in contrast to the Great Barrier Reef, which attracts millions of tourists each year but is now overcrowded and exhausting to be visited. You would usually find the Ningaloo Reef empty with all varieties of colorful tropical sea creatures swimming under. On both sides of the coastline, you’d get a mesmerizing view of tricolor stripes – a pure white beach, red dune cliffs, and a bright blue sky. From the platform at the edge of the cliff, you might get to watch frolicking dolphins, moving sea turtles, dugongs, and even sting rays and unlimited number of sharks!
Once you have chosen to start your journey to this reef, you would totally enjoy your on-the-way experiences of running on the smooth highway, while occasionally glancing through the coastline on your left and the red desert on your right. Nevertheless, if you plan to travel during summers, it may get somewhat sweaty for you. Passing through deserted national parks and coastal cliffs, you would reach the boundaries of the Shark Bay. Here, a great attraction to check out is the Shell Beach, which offers you to step-on the cockleshells’ layer with a thickness of about 30 feet. In addition, a pod of dolphins on the edge of the beach would be ready to leap along and play with you.
You may also visit Monkey Mia, an amazing attraction in Shark Bay. The peninsula’s upper protected part is called the François Peron National Park, which is only accessible through a long track with soft sand. Go on this 30-mile track only if you have a high-clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive. You may also book a tour to visit the park whose view is completely unforgettable, especially after you reach the ocean at the end of the cliff and gleefully observe dolphins, rays or sharks there.
Further, on your journey, you would reach the Coral Bay at the reef’s south end. It also has some campgrounds and a hotel. However, when you finally touch your destination, the Ningaloo Reef, make sure to go on a Zodiac boat tour if you so like or get on a kayaking tour. Swimming at the safer points with tropical fish and sea turtles around can be so much fun! Plan on this road trip and you would get to know why it’s worth visiting the ‘other’ great reef.