Coral Coast & Pilbara

Introducing Coral Coast & Pilbara

The tranquil blue Coral Coast is named after the colourful coral beds that make up marvellous Ningaloo Reef. The national marine parks are devoted to preserving this delicate reef and the abundance of marine life that call it home. If snorkelling and diving these gorgeous waters isn’t enough for you, the Coral Coast is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark, as well as watch whales, manta rays, turtles and rare dugongs. If even that’s not enough, there are great waves to surf, calm waters to swim, beautiful beaches to laze about on and delicious fresh seafood to enjoy.

The rugged red-dirt Pilbara – a vast region of arid land with a parched skin and a big heart of iron-ore – couldn’t be in greater contrast. It’s the dusky dirt within the rich earth that has massive machines tearing into the ranges, remarkably long trains rolling through the desert, and tidy lush green towns like Tom Price and Newman developing incongruously in the middle of nowhere.

What these amazingly different regions do have in common are two of WA’s most spectacular national parks: Ningaloo Marine Park and Karijini National Park, and lots of wide open space to drive through to get between them!

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009