Australian Travel Destination
Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range
National Park and the Pilbara
Australian Travel Destination 10
The huge and sparsely populated, arid and spectacular Travel Destination based on Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park and the Pilbara Region of West Australia is about as far Outback in Australia as you can get. From a travel point of view, the best entry point is the Learmonth Airport if you are flying, or the long drive up Highway #1 before turning off towards the coast and Exmouth to the north of Carnarvon. There is excellent accommodation in Exmouth. You will be at least 1,000Kms (600 miles) north of Perth by the time you get to Exmouth. It takes a real effort of both time and money to get way out here, but the payoff in terms of spectacular scenery, remote location, Cape Range National Park, incredible beaches, unspoiled Ningaloo Reef and the sense of isolation from the rest of the world make the trip worthwhile.
For more detail, see the map of the full area on the Map of Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Whale Sharks, The Pilbara, Western Australia. For a close up look at the Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park in close-up, also see the Map of Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Whale Sharks, Cape Range National Park
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History of Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park and The Pilbara
Early Dutch and English explorers were active in the area from the late 1600's onward, but the forbidding, arid nature of the interior discouraged inland settlement, and the region remained an outpost of small coastal communities until Exmouth was developed as a Military Submarine Base during the Second World War. In the 1960's, the discovery of substantial iron ore deposits in the Pilbara at Mt. Tom Price and in the Hamersleys gave new impetus to the region, while the last 10 years have seen the development of tourism based on the beaches and Ningaloo Reef. Exmouth has about 2,000 regular residents, this swelling to over 6,000 during the tourist season from May to October, the Southern Hemisphere winter. Hotels and accommodation are available at Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth.
More Information on Ningaloo Reef Hotels: >>> Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef Hotels.
Geography of Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park and The Pilbara
Spectacular, red rock interiors are fringed by equally incredible beaches and coral reefs as the Indian Ocean meets the coastline of Western Australia. This is a semi arid area, with the 260 mm (10 inches) of annual rainfall spread evenly throughout the year. The summers are hot and dry, the winters are warm and dry. The Pilbara Region stretches forever inland. The major area of the coast for tourism is the peninsula running from Coral Bay in the south to Exmouth in the north, with a backbone formed by the Cape Range National Park, and fringed by the Ningaloo Reef. This is an area of "Range to Reef" lansdcape, a place of dramatic contrasts.
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Ningaloo Reef
Fringing the Cape Range National Park, and accessed through Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef is easily accessible on any number of day trips from Exmouth. Ningaloo Reef has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the home to Whale Sharks, Dugongs, Manta Rays and Dolphins. Swimming in the wild with the "Gentle Giants" of the seaworld, the Whale sharks, is available during the May to October Tourist season. Accommodation is available in Exmouth and at the Ningaloo Reef Resorts.
Compare Prices on Ningaloo Reef Accommodation: >>> Australian.com - Hotels in Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is accessed by air through Learmonth Airport, and is the centre of services for the Ningaloo Reef and the Cape Range National Park. A good range of hotels, resorts and accommodation is available in Exmouth and it is from here that you will most likely base your stay in the region.
Cape Range National Park
Forming the backbone of the North West Cape Peninsula, the Cape Range National Park is an area of low (up to 314 metres or 1,030 feet) limestone plateaux riddled with canyons and caves, and bordered by the Ningaloo Reef. The beaches are pristine, the population low, and the nature and wildlife prolific. Cape Range National Park is home to over 100 species of native birds and 80 species of reptiles. It is also populated with Rock Wallabies, Red Kangaroos and Emus. Over 700 caves and the 600 or so species of wildflowers make this a naturalists delight.
The Pilbara
The large, dry and thinly populated Pilbara Region of Western Australia is the home to huge deposits of iron ore, natural gas and petroleum. It is also an area of arid, red rock and sand landscapes, dramatic ranges and gorges, and far flung, remote cattle stations that offer a look at the pioneering life that was a part of the development of Western Australia. Marble Bar, one of the regions most remote townships is regularly the hottest place in Australia, with temperatures reaching 45 deg. C. (113 deg. F.) in summer.
