Ningaloo Reef Facts: 20 Things You Might Not Know
Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s last remaining true paradises. An untouched wonder of vibrant coral and rich ecosystems, this rising star of the snorkeling and diving scene.
Discover a few things about Ningaloo Reef you probably didn’t know with our Ningaloo Reef facts list:
The Ningaloo Coast, upon which Ningaloo Reef rests, is a listed World Heritage Site. It was established in 2011 for its rich biodiversity.
The reef makes up 50% of all the coral living in the Indian Ocean.
Ningaloo Reef stretches for 162 miles from the tip of Australia's west coast.
Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing reef. A fringing reef is a reef that sits along the coastline. This means you can reach the reef simply by swimming from the beach.
Some areas of Ningaloo Reef lie only a few metres from the shorelines.
There are over 1500 different species of marine life living across the reef.
Ningaloo Reef plays host to one of the largest gatherings of humpback whales anywhere in the world. Over 40,000 whales visit between June and October.
At least half of all humpback whales on Earth visit Ningaloo during some point of that year.
The waters of Ningaloo are around 22-26’C - the equivalent of a cold bath.
Ningaloo is a great place to swim with turtles. There are over 6,000 sea turtles living on the reef at any one time
During turtle nesting season, even more turtles visit Ningaloo, with over 10,000 nest sites recorded annually.
250 species of coral live on Ningaloo Reef. This includes 200 species of hard coral and 50 species of soft coral.
There are 69 threatened or endangered species of animal living on Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo Reef is visible from space!
Around 400 whale sharks visit Ningaloo Reef during the summer to feed.
The Ningaloo Coast sees around 320 days of sunshine a year, making it a year-round destination for travellers.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the only places in the world where you can see the dugong.
Every year, over 180,000 people visit Ningaloo to swim, dive and relax on the golden beaches.
The beaches of Ningaloo are considered some of the most beautiful in all of Australia.
In 2004, a large-scale marina project was stopped following outcry from thousands of people. Ths public campaign is credited as saving the reef and conserving a vital part of the Indian Ocean’s ecosystem.
These incredible Ningaloo Reef facts demonstrate just how exciting a travel destination this corner of the Australian coastline is. For more details on the reef, make sure you read our Ningaloo Reef wild guide.
