Ningaloo Marine National Park is a unique destination on the remote Western Australian Indian Ocean coast. The appeal of this remote area and the reason for the National Park is the the fringing coral reef. The reef is Australia’s only large reef positioned very close to land. Located 1200km north of Perth, remote Exmouth is quietly starting to attract the adventurous end of the luxury traveller market.
Snorkeller, Ningaloo Reef
With the best will in the world the land of the prosaically named North West Cape region is dry and barren: a hostile landscape and not particularly attractive. What is the appeal? What draws an increasing number of international tourists isn’t the land – its what lies under the ocean. The stunning turquoise sea is not just spectacular, its the home for an amazing number of exotic animals, the most spectacular of which is, without a doubt the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. Whale sharks can grow to a length of 12.2 m. (40 ft.) and weigh up to 13.6 tonnes (15 short tons). From April to July the whale sharks congregate on Ningaloo Reef. These harmless giant creatures swim at snorkel depth so anyone with the most basic swimming skills can snorkel and swim among them.
Beach near Exmouth, Western Australia
Even if you are not at Ningaloo at the right time of the year for the whale sharks you may still see manta rays, turtles dudongs, whales, dolphins, and sharks.
The main town in the area, Exmouth, is more an air base than a tourist town. Including all the basic services and the usual accommodation options: but luxury hasn’t been on the list – until recently.
Sal Salis is a luxury camping option (also known as glamping) from the same people who brought us Bamurra Plains Safari Camp in the Northern Territory Located around 1 hour’s drive south of Exmouth in the Cape Range National Park. The tents are situated just 50 metres back from the beach amongst the low lying coastal dunes. With only 5 rooms, sorry tents, this is an intimate experience in a huge landscape. Each spacious tent comes with its en-suite complete with (compositing) toilet and a very comfortable bed, 100% cotton linen, a pillow selection, and soft bath towels. Be warned though this is an ecologically sensitive luxury camping venue so no air-conditioning: which might be a bit much in the height of summer in January and February. Telephones and TV’s are definitely NOT included. Instead Sal Salis describes their property as:
“The main camp building is raised above the sand and coastal scrub with views out to the reef and breakers beyond. Dinner is hosted against a back-drop of rich orange sunsets over the Indian Ocean and in the cool of the evening kangaroos and wallaroos appear from the bush for their evening graze. A bar and open lounge area with a small reference library provides a great spot to sit out the heat of day or enjoy a quiet sundowner. Our chef provides contemporary Australian cuisine with hints of bush food and native produce, guests may help themselves to the self-service bar at any time.
To be honest if you want all the mod-cons you would be better off checking into a more traditional luxury resort such as Qualia on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef If you want to see some of the most spectacular underwater scenery and wildlife anywhere in the world – be one of the first to check into Sal Salis and Ningaloo Reef.
Photo Credit: Moving to Australia
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A new operator is now offering another luxury option on the Ningaloo Reef. Enjoy an overnight sailing tour aboard Shore Thing with Sail Ningaloo (www.sailningaloo.com.au) with all your meals and activities included.