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Embark on an unforgettable Adventure with Western Australia's Women's Ningaloo Reef Sea Kayaking and Whale Shark Trip! This is one of our most popular and exciting trips and we are excited to take you on an incredible journey to explore the beautiful Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef.
Experience the best of the area with a 5-night base camp in the Cape Range National Park, located just west of Exmouth, and an unforgettable full-day of snorkeling with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef. Our packages are designed to provide you with an adventure-filled experience that you'll never forget!
Duration of trip: 8 days/7 nights
Grade: For beginners with a good level of fitness. Recommended for those with kayaking experience
Location: Exmouth airport/Learmonth
Activities: Swimming with whale sharks, snorkeling, camping, hiking, kayaking
Accommodation: 2 nights at Manta Rays 4.5 Star Resort in Exmouth (twin share) + tent camping
Group size: 12 to 13 women
Women’s Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef Sea Kayaking Adventure - 5 Days of Sea Kayaking on West Australia's Ningaloo Marine Park. This important coastal zone protects one of Australia’s most important tracts of reef - the Ningaloo Reef.
It is one of the longest fringing reef systems in the world and only one of two coral reefs in the world that have formed on the western side of a continent. The Ningaloo Marine park stretches from Bundegi Beach near Exmouth for 260 km along the West Coast to Amherst Point south of Coral Bay. The name 'Ningaloo' comes from the local Aboriginal people and means a 'promontory' or 'point' of high land jutting into the sea.
Our Adventure is placed at the optimum time for viewing Whale Sharks and the clear Waters of Ningaloo Reef. Quality Sea Kayaking, Snorkelling at every opportunity and some great inland gorge walks in ancient river canyons makes this adventure the trip of a lifetime where quintessential Australian landscape meets the Ocean in an explosion of life and colour.
You don’t need any previous kayaking or camping experience, just a basic to good level of fitness and willingness to be outdoors and moving your body! Most women who attend our trips, attending individually. We are a very welcoming community and support everyone who attends.
SUMMARY
Day 1: Fly to Perth and onto Exmouth. Transfer to private bush base camp
Day 2-5: Sea Kayaking Snorkelling Adventure in the Ningaloo Reef lagoon
Day 6: Head to the MantaRays Resort for a 2 night luxury 4.5 star stay - twin share
Day 7: Whale Shark Expedition and swimming (whole day) + farewell dinner
Day 8: Depart Exmouth for return to Perth
* All prices are per person and listed in Australian Dollars (AUD). All prices shown are GST inclusive where applicable.
Meet at Perth Airport for your Flight to Exmouth.
Upon arrival in Exmouth, the group will by picked up at the airport and driven to the Base House where we kit you out with gear. We have masks, snorkels, fins, paddle gloves, hats and lots more provided.
After gear fit out, we will stop in town for any last minute supplies, including alcohol. Then drive 55kms (1hour approx) to our priviate campsite in Cape Range National Park at Bungelup.
After a campsite orientation, we prepare dinner and enjoy a glass of BYO wine or beer watching the sunset and enjoy each others company and conversation. Your leaders will update the group on conditions and plans for the week. Tonight, enjoy the fabulous desert night sky and stars, stars, stars!
Accommodation: Swag/tent camping at Cape Range National Park
Meals: Dinner and afternoon snacks
*Please note that weather and water conditions may cause our plans to change. If the prevailing wind is forecast to be northerly, the trip will be undertaken in reverse.
After a nourishing breakfast, the group will travel to Yardie Creek, and getting set up in your kayaks and a safety briefing, we paddle north to Osprey Bay, 10kms. Your kayaks are double Barracuda Duos. Snorkel offshore, which involves jumping out of the kayaks (which are anchored) and enjoy your first look at the Reef. It has a shallow sandy bottom with coral bombies and heaps of fish. Lunch will be on an un-named beach before we kayak northward. Another highlight will be snorkelling the amazing offshore Osprey Sanctuary Zone sites. These have two specifically sited kayak moorings we can attach to, before exploring these beautiful pools within the reef. Back to base for dinner.
Accommodation: Swag/tent camping at Cape Range National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks
Today we will kayak from Osprey Bay to South Mandu, 9.5kms. Kayak across Sandy Bay, you will be amazed at the stunning turquoise lagoon and crystal-clear water. Turtles are common in this area, and you may also spot rays resting in the shallows. The next snorkel site is Pilgrammuna bombies which is an easy swim straight off the beach. Other snorkel options are the world class Blue Lagoon which is inside the lagoon about 700 meters offshore.
Accommodation: Swag/tent camping at Cape Range National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks
Our kayak route for today will take us from South Mandu to Tulki, approx 7kms, stopping along the way for some great shore based snorkels - the South Mandu drift, Oyster Stacks drift and Turquoise Bay - there are loads of options. Oyster Stacks and Turquoise Bay are the most popular shore-based snorkel sites in the area, and for good reason, you will discover an amazing array of corals and fishes at these sites, mere metres from the beach. This afternoon, we may take the opportunity to travel back to Yardie Gorge, to enjoy a sunset walk along the edge of this beautiful water-filled gorge, the only permanent water source in all of Cape Range National Park. Look for black-footed rock wallabies as they leave the safety of the gorge to feed at dusk, and the massive Osprey nest tucked into the gorge wall.
Accommodation: Swag/tent camping at Cape Range National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks
We plan to do the Mandu Mandu Gorge walk in morning, straight after breakfast before it gets too warm. It takes about an hour and a half. We will follow the ancient river bed, spotting black-footed rock wallabies in the sheer gorge walls, before the path takes us up on top of Cape Range where there are fantastic views over the coastal plain, lagoons, fringing reef, surf and the big blue ocean.
Following our walk, we will head to the Milyering Visitor Centre, where there are various interesting interpretive displays, as well as the opportunity to purchase some souvenirs, and perhaps an ice-cream. This afternoon we kayak from Tulki to Lakeside, an enjoyable afternoon paddle of 4km. Snorkel options include the amazing Tulki hole, one of the best offshore sites, before heading north to Lakeside, a favourite shore based snorkel, just before our end point for the day. This area is where we are most likely to sight Dugong if we are lucky.
Accommodation: Swag/tent camping at Cape Range National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks
We pack up our Bungelup base camp and head off to kayak the last section of the Park. We paddle from Lakeside to Neds Camp, 5kms, or possibly (if tide and conditions allow) Mangrove Bay, an amazing shallow bay full of rays, turtles and small sharks, 8 kms. Following the conclusion of our trip we load the kayaks on the trailer and drive back to Exmouth town. Depending on how things go, we expect to drop you off at the Manta Rays Ningaloo Resort around 3-4pm to have a nice hot shower and get ready for dinner and drinks.
Accommodation: Manta Rays 4.5 Resort twin share
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. (Dinner at groups own cost)
Whale Shark Expedition! This is a once in a lifetime adventure swimming and snorkelling with these incredible creatures. Protected in Australia, the whale sharks cruise the Ningaloo Reef eating plankton from the surface enabling the perfect interaction for us to get up close and personal to these unbelievable fish. A full day of adventure including return transfers from Exmouth, breakfast snacks and lunch.
Accommodation: Manta Rays 4.5 Resort
Meals: Breakfast on board the boat, lunch and afternoon tea on board the boat and farewell dinner (drinks not included)
Depart Exmouth for return to Perth. Airport transfers are provided and will collect ladies departing on this date at the required time at the resort. Feel free to relax by the pool or head into town to pick up some whale shark souvenirs before leaving.
Meals: Breakfast (usually we head into town) at groups own cost.
Airport transfer: We will orgnaise a shuttle to the airport around 11am.
This easy trip is suitable for women who are new to adventure and want to start off gently while still getting outside. Even though the pace is slower and there are breaks, it is still an adventure and requires a basic to good level of fitness. Participants should be prepared for physical exercise, including kayaking for at least 3-4 hours and snorkeling/swimming for up to an hour each day. This means that a minimum of 2-3 weekly exercise is required. Be ready for some fun, as there may be days of high wind and carrying kayaks. This trip is not suitable for those who are not ready for physical exercise and have limited mobility.
Once you place your deposit, we'll send you an email with more details. You'll need to fly into Perth Airport and catch a Qantas flight to Exmouth (Learmonth) that arrives between 2:10-2:35pm. We'll be there to greet you at the airport or pick you up at Learmonth/Exmouth Airport. On the last day of the trip, we'll provide an airport shuttle service and drop you off at the airport between 1-2pm, in time for the afternoon flight back to Perth. Note that flight numbers may change, please check with the airline for updates.
Not at all! Some women choose to stay longer in Exmouth. However, please note that we do not provide airport transfers after the trip.
Our trips are for women over 18 years old, with an average age of 45. There is always a mix from women in their 30's to mid 60's.
Most women book individually, it's a great way to make new friends!
We have 6 single tent options available with an additional $100+gst charge. Please let us know on your booking form, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Yes, it's twin share. However, we do have a limited number of single supplement rooms available, only if Mantarays Resort has space. This is at a full rate cost of a single standard room.
Bring a large duffle bag or travel bag and a small daypack. We'll transport your gear to our base camp, so your bag doesn't need to fit in a kayak.
Of course! If you don't have a mask and snorkel, we'll provide them for you.
We'll start kayaking between 8:30am and 9:00am and finish between 2:30pm and 3:30pm. We'll return to camp around 4pm each evening, with kayaking distances averaging 8-12km.
Please download the FAQs document on the booking page, and let us know if we can assist further.
Robyn Topp
30/06/2019
Robyn Topp - NSW
"I don't know where to start. This trip changed me! I have never seen so many varieties of fish before and LOVED snorkeling each day. Exactly what I needed for an adventure holiday! Thank you to Neri and Monique who were outstanding leaders. I'm going to try their recipes at home because the food was so good!"
Peta Williams
19/07/2018
Peta Williams - VIC
I don't have words, just the best memories EVER! I feel so very luck to have been on this adventure. I loved every minute of it and the whale shark was something I will never ever forget. From the laughs at camp to kayaking and camping, it really doesn't get any better. I can't recommend this trip enough. Do it! Best time of my life!
Sarah OConner
17/07/2018
Sarah OConner - NSW
The Ningaloo trip was perfection. Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef are just beautiful. The trip leaders were awesome. Personable, knowledgeable, supportive and amazing cooks. The facilities and the food, for the fact you are in the middle of nowhere were outstanding. The pace was very Goldilocks, not too busy, not too slow, but Just Right. Plenty of time to relax while still seeing so many sights. Nothing was too strenuous and the trip leaders made you feel confident that you could participate safely in both the snorkeling and kayaking. Ending with two nights at the resort and an amazing whale shark experience. Who could ask for more.© Copyright 2024 Women Want Adventure. All rights reserved.
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