Looking at the reef from a boat
Coral Bay is a small town on the southern end of the Ningaloo reef, and the reef starts close to the beach. A glass bottom boat gives you a view of the coral and the fish below without a snorkel. That suits guests who do not want to swim, or who want to look first and swim later.
The local operator Ningaloo Coral Bay runs the boat Miss Coral Bay III. It offers a 1-hour cruise for viewing only and a 2-hour cruise that adds snorkelling. A second operator, Coral Bay Eco Tours, runs a 3-hour glass bottom boat trip that looks for turtles.
Miss Coral Bay III: fares compared
Published fares for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Prices are in Australian dollars.
| Fare | 1-hour viewing cruise | 2-hour viewing and snorkel |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | A$75 | A$105 |
| Child, 6 to 15 years | A$55 | A$70 |
| Child, up to and including 5 years | Free | Free |
| Senior | A$68 | A$99 |
| Family, 2 adults and 2 children | A$250 | A$330 |
On the 2-hour cruise the equipment is included, and a refundable deposit of A$50 applies. The 1-hour cruise needs no snorkelling at all.
Our picks: glass-bottom boat and reef trips
Reef viewing from the boat, with or without snorkelling.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Three-hour turtle eco tour on Ningaloo Reef
Snorkelling gear, hot drinks and biscuits are included. A wetsuit is not included.
Check availability →Two-hour coral viewing and snorkelling
Snorkelling gear is included. The boat leaves from the beach, so you wade out through shallow water.
Check availability →
One-hour glass-bottom boat trip
A professional guide on a one-hour trip over the reef. You board from the beach by wading through shallow water.
Check availability →Reef and boat trips from Coral Bay
Glass bottom boats, snorkel cruises and wildlife trips, with live prices and availability.
Which trip suits you
Three choices.
The 1-hour viewing cruise
This is the shortest option. You stay dry, and you look through the glass at the coral. It works for a family with small children, since children up to and including 5 years travel free.
The 2-hour cruise with snorkelling
You look through the glass first and then get in the water. Snorkel equipment is included. Be sure to read the sea conditions advice from the crew on the day.
The 3-hour turtle trip
Coral Bay Eco Tours lists a Turtle Eco Tour of 3 hours. It is a glass bottom boat trip with turtle watching, a view of the coral and snorkel stops. Snorkelling gear is included. Wetsuits are not. You may see turtles feeding, but nothing about a sighting is guaranteed.
Rules for turtles come from the park agency's operator handbook, in force from April 2026. When snorkelling or diving, operators keep at least 1 m from a turtle, do not touch, ride or chase it and keep its path to the surface open. You should do the same if you swim on your own.
Times, sea conditions and the state of the reef
What the published pages do not settle.
Departure times
The operator's page gives fares and lengths, not a fixed daily timetable. Check the current timetable before you go, and book the time you want.
Sea conditions
Swell and wind can change a boat day. Ask the operator what happens to your booking if conditions are poor.
The reef itself
The Australian Institute of Marine Science documented serious heat damage to parts of Ningaloo in 2025, with differences between regions. The southern reef was affected less than the northern and central parts. This does not tell you what a given spot looks like today, so expect variation.
Sun and sunscreen
A local operator asks guests to use sunscreen it calls reef safe. That is advice, not a legal rule, and not a guarantee of no harm.
What a family pays
Worked examples from the fares above.
Family of four, 1 hour
Two adults at A$75 and two children aged 6 to 15 at A$55 come to A$260 when paid one by one. The family fare is A$250.
Family of four, 2 hours
Two adults at A$105 and two children aged 6 to 15 at A$70 come to A$350 one by one. The family fare is A$330.
With a small child
A child up to and including 5 years travels free, so a toddler adds nothing to the fare on either cruise.
Costs outside the boat
Entry to the marine park is free, while tours are charged separately. The refundable A$50 deposit on the 2-hour cruise comes on top of the fare.
Plan the rest of your trip
If you want to get in the water yourself.
Snorkelling in Coral Bay
Bills Bay, Five Fingers and safety.
Bills Bay
The beach, the sanctuary zone and the rules.
Swimming with manta rays
Season, tours and behaviour.
Looking for more? For the other side of the reef, see the Ningaloo guide. For a comparison of all day trips, see Coral Bay tours compared.
Glass bottom boat in Coral Bay: frequently asked questions
Do I need to snorkel on a glass bottom boat?
No. The 1-hour cruise on Miss Coral Bay III is for viewing only. The 2-hour cruise adds snorkelling for those who want it.
How much is the glass bottom boat in Coral Bay?
For the tariff period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, the 1-hour cruise costs A$75 for adults and A$55 for children aged 6 to 15. The 2-hour cruise costs A$105 for adults and A$70 for children aged 6 to 15. Children up to and including 5 years travel free.
Is there a family fare?
Yes. Two adults and two children pay A$250 for the 1-hour cruise and A$330 for the 2-hour cruise, in the same tariff period.
Will I see turtles?
Turtles can be seen on the reef, and a separate 3-hour trip looks for them. No operator can promise a sighting.
What time does the boat leave?
The published page does not give a fixed daily timetable. Check the current timetable before you go and book the departure you want.