Turquoise Bay

Turquoise Bay is inside Cape Range National Park on the Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The water really is turquoise, bright white sand drops into crystal clear reef lagoon, backed by the red limestone ridges of the Cape Range.

This is one of the few places in the world where you can snorkel a major reef system directly from the beach. The Ningaloo fringing reef sits just metres offshore, home to more than 200 species of coral and 500 species of fish. Green turtles and hawksbills cruise the shallows regularly.

There are two zones. The northern lagoon (Bay Loop car park) is calm and good for families and beginners. The southern end (Drift Loop car park) is where the drift snorkel happens. You walk south, enter the water, and the current carries you north over coral gardens. Exit before you reach the sandbar, look for the post with the life ring. The current is strong and gets worse in the afternoon, so go early, bring fins, and never go solo.

The beach is 60km south of Exmouth on a sealed road. No shops, no cafe, no shade. Bring everything from town including water, sun protection, and reef shoes.