What to do in Coral Bay at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. The first five ideas cost nothing beyond your gear and a fuel tank: beaches, a kayak trail and two 4WD reef stops. Ideas 6 to 8 are tours with animals that depend on the season. Ideas 9 to 12 are boat and quad trips. Prices are for adults in Australian dollars, as listed in 2026, and can change.
No idea on this page comes with a promise. Mantas, whale sharks, humpback whales and turtles are wild animals, and weather can limit a trip. Entry to the Ningaloo Marine Park is free, but tours and camping are charged separately. Check the current timetable and conditions before you go.
Beach, kayak and reef stops (1 to 5)
Places you reach on your own, some of them only with a 4WD.
1. Snorkel at Bills Bay
The park authority names Bills Bay for snorkelling from the beach. The bay lies inside the Maud Sanctuary Zone, where fishing and taking marine life are not allowed. Wind and swell can strengthen the current, so stay within your own ability.
Bills Bay →2. Swim at Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is named for swimming and for time on the sand. At the boat facility on the southern part of the beach, swimming and snorkelling are prohibited according to the official boating guide. That is not a ban for the whole bay.
Snorkelling rules →3. Paddle the Coral Bay Kayak Trail
The trail has 4 mooring buoys in the Maud Sanctuary Zone, between 300 m and 1.8 km from shore. Those are distances over water, not swimming distances, so bring a kayak or join a guided paddle.
Snorkelling guide →4. Drive to Five Finger Reef
Five Finger Reef is a 4WD destination, and the tracks are not sealed. Ask locally about conditions and tide before you go, and do not plan the trip in a normal car.
Five Fingers →5. Visit Oyster Bridge
Oyster Bridge is another coast stop with 4WD access. Bring your own water and sun protection, and keep to the same rules as at the other reef sites: do not stand on or touch coral.
Reef rules →Our picks: things to do
A boat trip over the reef, a turtle eco tour and whale watching from the boat.
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 →
Whale watching boat cruise
A small-group boat trip with a local crew to watch whales from the boat. It is not a snorkelling tour, and photos are not included.
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 →Coral Bay tours and day trips
Manta ray and whale shark swims, reef trips, glass bottom boats and quad treks, with live prices and availability.
Tours with animals (6 to 8)
Seasons are set by the operators and are not guarantees.
6. Snorkel with manta rays
Ningaloo Marine Interactions lists a Manta Marine Adventure from A$315 per adult, about 7 hours, with lunch, snorkel gear, a wetsuit, drinks, photos and a spotter plane. The operator describes mantas in the area all year. The price was listed in October 2026 without a tariff year.
Manta rays →7. Swim with a whale shark
The park authority gives March to August as the best time on Ningaloo. The local operator offer runs April to June and takes about 9 hours. One operator lists a 2026 safari that meets at 07:30 at its Coral Bay office. No sighting is guaranteed.
Whale sharks →8. Watch or swim with humpbacks
Humpback whales pass Ningaloo from June to November. The local operator sells its Coral Bay trip from July to September: whale watching from A$220 per adult, a swim option from A$600, about 7 hours with lunch. Depending on the whales, you may only watch from the boat.
Tours compared →Boats and quads (9 to 12)
Trips that work without swimming skills, or add an hour on land.
9. Ride the glass bottom boat
The Miss Coral Bay III offers a 1-hour coral viewing trip for A$75 per adult, A$55 per child aged 6 to 15 and A$68 for seniors on the 2026/27 tariff (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027). No snorkelling is needed. Children up to 5 are free.
Glass bottom boat →10. Take a guided quad trek
Coastal Adventure Tours lists treks of about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Departures are listed daily at 09:00 and 12:30, plus a sunset slot that depends on the season. You need a valid P-plate or full licence, not a learner permit.
Quad bike tours →11. Join a turtle eco tour
Ecotours lists a 3-hour glass bottom boat trip to watch turtles feeding, with coral viewing and snorkel stops. Snorkel gear is included, wetsuits are not. Turtles are not guaranteed.
Tours compared →12. Book a sunset quad trek
The sunset trek is its own variant of the quad program and the only one timed for the evening light. Ask the operator for the start time on your date, because it moves with the season.
Quad bike tours →The twelve ideas side by side
Prices are adult prices as listed in 2026. A dash means no price is listed here.
| Idea | When | Length | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5. Beach, kayak trail and 4WD reef stops | All year, weather permitting | – | Free entry to the marine park |
| 6. Manta ray snorkel tour | Mantas described as present all year | About 7 hours | From A$315 |
| 7. Whale shark tour | April to June (local operator) | About 9 hours | A$600 or A$650, the page lists both |
| 8. Humpback whales | July to September (local operator) | About 7 hours | Watch from A$220, swim from A$600 |
| 9. Glass bottom boat | Check the timetable | 1 or 2 hours | A$75 or A$105 |
| 10. Quad trek | Daily at 09:00 and 12:30 | 1.5 to 2.5 hours | – |
| 11. Turtle eco tour | Check the timetable | 3 hours | – |
| 12. Sunset quad trek | Sunset, by season | – | – |
The whale shark row shows both prices because the operator page lists A$600 in one place and A$650 in another. Confirm the price when you book. Exmouth, Turquoise Bay and Cape Range have their own guide: see the Ningaloo Reef guide.
Go deeper
Pages for the ideas that need more detail.
Things to do in Coral Bay: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Coral Bay for free?
Entry to the Ningaloo Marine Park is free, so you can swim and snorkel at Bills Bay and Paradise Beach from the shore at no charge. You pay for your own gear, for tours and for camping. See the snorkelling page for the rules.
Can I see manta rays without a tour?
The manta tours run by boat, and the operator uses a spotter plane to find the animals. Plan on a boat trip and read the manta ray page for the rules.
How many days do I need?
That depends on how many tours you book. A manta or whale shark day takes 7 to 9 hours, a glass bottom boat trip 1 or 2 hours and a quad trek about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Two days cover one big tour plus the beach and a short trip.
Is anything suitable if I do not want to swim?
Yes. The glass bottom boat needs no snorkelling, a quad trek stays on land, and the humpback trip can be watching from the boat. Turtles, mantas and whale sharks are never guaranteed on any of them.
Are there places I should not swim?
Yes. Swimming and snorkelling are prohibited at the boat facility on the southern part of Paradise Beach. Keep clear of boats and moorings elsewhere, and use the marked boat channel. Details are on the Bills Bay page.