Updated: 10/16/20 | October 16th, 2020
We all have our own version of The Beach — that spot in the world where all is perfect and all is paradise. I found my version back in 2007. It’s a small town in Western Australia called Coral Bay (population 207). It’s a one-road town with one bar, one supermarket, three restaurants, and three hotels. This is a small town.
There’s not much to do.
And that’s why I love it.
Coral Bay is my paradise. From the first time I visited, I fell in love with this idyllic little beach town in the middle of nowhere. On one side, it’s barren, arid cattle country, where sheep roam and truckers dodge kangaroos. On the other, it’s turquoise blue water, white sandy beaches, and the Ningaloo Reef with its abundance of marine life.
And, in between those environmental extremes, is a little town that’s home to one hotel, an RV site, a bunch of backpackers, and some beach bums enjoy the tropical beauty at the end of the world.
Everything in this town revolves around one giant white sand beach with turquoise blue water that stretches out endlessly into the horizon and a reef system so close to the land, you can swim to it from the beach. When I was there in 2007, I woke up every day, swam with turtles, relaxed on the beach, and worked on my tan. At night, the setting sun would light up the sky in fiery tones of red and orange while I cooled off with a cold beer and good friends.
Life in Coral Bay is idyllic perfection. I could have stayed for weeks and I longed to go back and visit because a quiet beach town is all I want in life. Now, eight years later, I got to return thanks to a partnership with Tourism Australia. (They’d invited out to visit Broome and I made visit Coral Bay a condition of saying yes.)
Tourism in Western Australia has grown in recent years and I wondered if this sleepy town had been spoiled. Would I return to my one-road paradise just to find multiple roads, more hotels, and more restaurants? After years away, I was glad to see the town was still quiet and peaceful.
Whatever Coral Bay looked like now, I planned on doing more this visit than just sitting on the beach. To begin with, it was off to explore the outback that surrounds Coral Bay. While I was in the countryside, kangaroos jumped all around, eagles and other birds flew above, and there was wildlife everywhere.
Then we went down to the beach and spotted parrotfish jumping in the shallows and reef sharks circling for food. Snorkeling and swimming around the reef for a second time, I realized this is the best reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef gets all the attention, but the Ningaloo Reef is much better. There’s brighter coral and more wildlife, including whale sharks, turtles, and dolphins. It hasn’t been spoiled by overdevelopment or overfishing. While the Great Barrier Reef looks amazing from the air, it’s what we see underwater that matters, and I see far more underwater action here than I do on the Great Barrier Reef.
During March and April, whale sharks migrate up the coast, and large manta rays can be found around the reef. It being off-season, I had to settle for the manta rays. I took a half-day snorkeling trip around the reef; about an hour outside of Coral Bay, we spotted some large manta rays.
These creatures were huge! It was amazing to swim with them and watch them glide effortlessly through the water. I never realized how big these creatures were. In my mind, they were as big as a person. In real life, they’re as big as three!
This isn’t your standard Aussie tourist destination. It’s that very isolation that keeps most tourists away, leaving the place so peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. This is a spot for mostly Australians and people driving around in campervans. There are no hordes of people ruining the beaches or wildlife. It’s a world away from the busy East Coast.
If you ask me, there’s nothing in eastern Australia that equals the beauty of Coral Bay. Forget Cairns, Noosa, Magnetic Island, or Bondi Beach. If you want to experience the beaches you see in ads for Australia, come to Coral Bay.
While part of me wants you to go there, part of me wants it all to myself. Paradises are all eventually lost but I want to hold onto mine just a bit longer.
If you make it there, you’ll see what I mean.
How to Visit Coral Bay
Coral Bay isn’t an easy place to get to. It’s located in the middle of the western coast, making it far off the beaten trail. The closest airport is located a couple of hours away in Learmonth. Shuttle buses are available from Coral Bay Airport Transfers for 95 AUD per person (one way). They run round-trip service with a flexible schedule based around the arrival and departure of flights.
Integrity Coach Lines also have service from Learmonth to Coral Bay, though they only operate a few days a week in the area. One-way tickets are 50 AUD per person.
If you plan to drive from Perth, expect the journey to take at least 12 hours each way. If you’re coming from the other direction, the trip is a solid 14-hour drive from Broome.
As for accommodation, there are a couple of hotels in the area as well as a hostel to stay at. If you’re driving, you’ll find some RV parks too.
Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
If you’re looking for more places to stay, here are my favorite hostels in Australia!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Australia?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!
Photo credit: 1 – Chris Fithall
Kristina Luna
Haven’t been to Coral Bay specifically, but I still maintain that Australia as a whole is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. So much to do, so much diversity.
Andi
Looks like Paradise for sure! Ahhhh, I miss Oz so much!!!
Ashley
San Blas, Panama is my paradise
mumun
I’m sorry, but reading this really makes me want to see it 🙂 I really would love to see western Oz and the arid deserts. And now I have to add Coral Beach to it. I promise not to damage it and keep it as you left it when I do visit there (fingers tightly crossed).
Dave
I love beaches so much, so it’s hard not to love them all (also, I’m indecisive). This post got me even more excited for my short visit to Australia in March, even if I wont witness the great Coral Bay, yet.
Jessy
I have to strongly agree with this one. Also the beaches just south of there in Shark Bay are truly amazing as well. Dolphins swim to you as well as sea turtles, its paradise!
Belinda
Nicely written! It comes across as a special place indeed 🙂
NomadicMatt
I love Cape Tribulation up north. It’s stunning and relaxed. Just watch out for jelly fish!
Bonny
Coral Bay is my paradise dream place too. When I think about it and recall the snorkeling all the millions fish and colours, and the contrast between harsh desert and clear turquoise ocean and the wild life everywhere you look, it seems too amazing to be real as if it’s a recurring dreamscape rather than somewhere up the coast that I like to go to for holidays every couple of years.
swanny
Hey Matt
realise this is an old post now but I just have to say how good Coral Bay and the whole Exmouth peninsula is.
I am a West Aussie local from Freo and head up to Ningaloo each year for a fishing trip around April.
Whilst Coral Bay is fantastic if you travel 50km north from it on a 4WD track you will come to Ningaloo Reef national park and will find Turquoise Bay. Here it is even better than Coral Bay, more untouched, big Nor’west Snapper everywhere, Turtles, Stingrays, Sharks (but not Great Whites, they live down south!). You need a tent or campervan. This is where us locals go! It is one of my favourite places on Earth. Next time you visit Coral Bay at least head up for a day trip snorkelling and fishing.
Also by the way Virgin Australia runs direct flights from Perth to Learmonth Airport only 15 min from Exmouth and an hour from Coral Bay.
Aaron
I’m glad you appreciated Coral Bay so much; I love it for the same reasons. We have spent several weeks there over the years and can’t get enough of it. I always seem to find Exmouth is a bit too busy for my liking!
jack
Thanks for the shout out and love for Western Australia ! Ningaloo is a gem and its best to keep it a secret from the world for ourselves 😀
Ann Burg
We were at Coral Bay in August 2018 and it has not changed since you were there. The most beautiful place with turquoise water and the remoteness is wonderful. We stayed in a cabin opposite the water with 2 bedrooms with all the amenities we needed. I would happily go back there anytime. We also went to Exmouth as well which is bigger and a small town but it was beautiful as well. You can grout into the national park there where the are beautiful beaches as well with turquoise water. There are emus that walk around and even walk into the shopping centre. There are no fast food outlets like MacDonalds or KFC in either of these towns. We now have a caravan and maybe be can. Entire back to these places in our travels. Both places are a little piece of Heaven.
Justin
Great read having been there myself for 5 days a few years ago you couldn’t of explained it better it’s Aus best kept secret so yes stop telling people about it ?I will only tell people if there willing to take me with them
I can’t wait to go back one day
Spencer
I’ve not been to WA. Once lockdown has finished I will try and get there. I really want to get up to Esperance to the beaches round there. They are meant to be breathtaking!
Sue
We visit Coral Bay at least once every 5 years and I totally agree with you, we loved it the first time we visited. We drive our motorhome from Perth and park it at Peoples Park Caravan Park and then go for walks every day up the beach. Our favourite is the baby shark nursery and when we were there in August 2020 we came across so many of the baby sharks and took so many wonderful pictures. Coral Bay hasn’t really changed, thankfully over the years and we never get sick of going as it’s our little paradise.