3
Introductory

Traveller Rating

 

Activities
  • 5 days sea kayaking, snorkeling and walking
Accommodation
  • 5 nights base camping
Meals
  • 5 Dinners
  • 5 Lunches
  • 5 Breakfasts

6 Days$2345AUD

Trip Code: EAK

Trip highlights


  • Explore a different section of pristine Ningaloo coastline every day in your double sea kayak
  • Spot turtles, rays and schools of fish in the crystal clear turquoise waters - sometimes we even see dolphins and dugong
  • Snorkel different, world-class sites each day
  • Return each afternoon to our comfortable base camp, located within Cape Range National Park - the beach is only 300m away
  • Enjoy guided bush walks and marvel at the ancient landscape and stunning views of Mandu Mandu Gorge and Yardie Creek Gorge

Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park are approximately 1260km north of Perth, Western Australia; on the border of the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions; and adjacent to the town of Exmouth. The traditional custodians of Nyinggulu, the Yinigudera and Baiyungu people, are a saltwater people, and have over 36,000 years of history and culture along the Ningaloo Coast. In 2011, the Ningaloo Coast was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This World Heritage listing recognises the outstanding universal value of the area's diverse and abundant marine life, it's amazing cave fauna, and the spectacular contrast between the colourful underwater scenery and the arid and rugged land of the Cape Range. This tour is the ultimate way to experience the best of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park. Spend 5 days sea kayaking along the coast in the sheltered, turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, visiting numerous world-class snorkel sites along the way. You will travel in a one-way direction with the prevailing breeze, and return by vehicle each night to our comfortable off-grid base camp. Take some short bush walks to explore the spectacular gorges of Cape Range National Park, and visit the informative displays of the Milyering Visitor Centre. This tour is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the wonders of this incredible area.

Activities:

Itinerary

We will pick you up from your Exmouth accommodation at 2.45pm. Upon arrival, you will be kitted out with all the gear you will need for sea kayaking, snorkeling, and camping over the next 5 days. Your guide will help you fit/size snorkeling gear, PFD, long sleeve rashies, broad brim hat and kayaking gloves. We’ll then load all of our gear and personal effects into the bus, make a quick stop in Exmouth town for last-minute supplies if necessary (this includes a stop at the bottle shop), before journeying into Cape Range National Park (approx. 1 hour), to our base camp. After settling into camp, and a delicious dinner freshly prepared your guides, your guides will pull out some maps and brief you on the plan for next few days. Fall asleep tonight with a sense of excited anticipation about what the next few days will bring!

Meals:  D

We start the day around 7am with an alfresco brekky, including freshly brewed coffee and a selection of teas, before getting prepped for the day. We’ll leave camp in the bus with the kayak trailer around 8.30am, and make the 20 minute drive south to Yardie Creek, our launch site for the trip. After unloading our kayaks from the trailer, your guides will give you a briefing to familiarise you with your kayaks, paddle strokes and safety. You will have some time on the beach to organise your gear whilst your guides do a vehicle shuttle, so the bus is at our end point for the day, before they return to join the group. Then it's off the explore the wonders of Ningaloo! Today we'll cover about 10km in the kayaks (going with the prevailing breeze) and stop at a couple of our guide's favourite snorkel sites, where you'll be amazed at the diversity of life on Ningaloo. Stops on the beach for morning tea and lunch break the kayaking up into manageable sections, even for novices. When we reach the end point for the day, we’ll unpack our personal belongings and any gear we want to take back to camp, and then work in teams to carry the kayaks up into the dunes, where they’ll stay for the night, before boarding the bus to return to base camp around 4pm. Once back at camp, enjoy an open-air solar shower, walk on the beach, or settle in and read a few pages of a good book before grabbing some snacks and a drink to enjoy a west coast sunset. A delicious dinner under the stars rounds out the day before we settle in for a satisfying nights’ sleep.

Meals:  B,L,D

Our day again starts at 7am with an alfresco brekky. Early risers will smell the coffee drifting to their tent and may wish to come and grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a sunrise walk on the beach. Following breakfast, get prepped for another amazing day exploring Ningaloo. We return to the kayaks by vehicle, work in teams to carry them to the shoreline, and again you will have time to organise your gear whilst your guides shuttle the bus to our end point for the day. Today we paddle a beautiful stretch of Ningaloo coastline, encompassing shallow turquoise lagoon waters and some beautiful snorkeling. During the paddle today, you might marvel at the stunning contrast between reef and range: the juxtaposition of turquoise waters, deserted sandy beaches and coral reef with the arid shrublands and ancient gorges of Cape Range: uniquely beautiful. You’ll find yourself settling into the rhythms of nature and the time will fly by. Before you know it, we have reached our destination for the day, and it’s time to carry the kayaks up into the dunes and return to camp.

Meals:  B,L,D

Once out on the water today, Oyster Stacks and Turquoise Bay are 2 well-known sites that we will stop and snorkel along the way, and we have other sites that we can snorkel from the kayaks if we feel like it too! Our guides know the reef like the back of their hand, and the nature of our small group tours mean they can customise them to our guests. Today we aim to be off the water a little earlier than previous days, so we can return to camp and have some down time before we don our hiking clothes and drive to Yardie Gorge, the only waterfilled gorge in the entire Cape Range National Park, for a sunset hike. The Yardie Gorge walk is a 2km return walk that takes about an hour, and provides plenty of time for wildlife spotting photo opportunities. You may also see black-flanked rock wallabies here, as well as myriad bird life, including a massive osprey nest. Your guide will point out ancient fossilised corals beneath your feet, and if you look out to sea, you’ll see the gap in the fringing reef where the creek used to flow out to sea at a time when the sea level was much lower than present day. The trail here is a short 2km return, and there are some sections of steep, uneven terrain and rock scrambling. As the trail goes out and returns on the same path, you can choose to sit out any sections that you aren’t comfortable with, and the group will meet up with you on the return journey. The pace is relaxed so we can enjoy the views, and our staff are on hand to provide assistance when necessary. When we return to camp this evening, it’s all hands on deck to prepare dinner before we turn in for the night.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning you have the option of a cooked breakfast: your guides will be up early scrambling eggs, frying bacon and getting the toast cooked for a hearty start to the day, before we again don the hiking gear, and head off with our day packs to explore another of Cape Range National Park’s awe-inspiring gorges and wildlife. We are headed for Mandu Mandu Gorge, where we take a 3km loop walk (we allow 2 hours here) that explores both the dry riverbed and rim of this spectacular gorge: home to endangered black-flanked rock wallabies and lots of bird life. There’s no need to rush here as we negotiate some rocky scrambles, spot wildlife, and marvel at the forces of nature that have carved this gorge over millennia. We’ll then make our way to the Milyering Visitor Centre (the national park visitor centre), where you’ll have time to enjoy the interpretive displays and do some souvenir shopping whilst your guides prepare a picnic lunch. Following lunch, we change back into our paddling clothes and return to the kayaks to do a few watery kms in the turquoise waters with a stop for another beautiful snorkel before we return to camp.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is our last day exploring the wonders of Ningaloo! After a 7am continental brekky, you’ll have time to back up your personal belongings while your guides pack up the communal areas of our camp. We load luggage and all our gear on the bus and take it with us when we depart, as we’ll be returning to Exmouth town this afternoon. Once out on the water, we paddle out into the clear lagoon waters, looking for turtles and rays under our kayaks. This section of lagoon is also good for spotting dugong in season (late May - August), so keep a look out! We've got one of our favourite snorkel sites saved for our last day, a beautiful shore-based site teeming with life. After a snorkel and lunch on the beach, we reach the end point of our journey. After a big CONGRATULATIONS and a recap of our journey, it's then time to unpack our kayaks and load them on the trailer, before making our way back into Exmouth town. Your guides will drop you off at your Exmouth accommodation around 4pm, with a promise to have the photos of your Ningaloo adventure uploaded as soon as they can. Guaranteed you'll be buzzing with the amazing experiences that you've just had whilst exploring Ningaloo and Cape Range, and even though you may feel a tad weary, you'll feel energised and inspired by your Ningaloo memories. As a highly recommended activity, we suggest considering a whaleshark tour if you are in town prior or post your tours departure. This can be seamlessly added to your tour either during the booking process or by consulting with your reservations consultant, ensuring a hassle-free and memorable experience.

Meals:  B,L


Inclusions

  • All transport - in our comfortable air-conditioned bus
  • Double sit-inside sea kayaks with rudder for comfortable cruising, paddles
  • PFDs (life jackets), spray decks, gloves and dry bags
  • Long sleeve sun shirts, broad-brim hats
  • Snorkeling gear: snorkel, mask and fins, wetsuit in season
  • Comfortable camping gear
  • All meals - 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners + Snacks
  • National Park entry and camping fees
  • Qualified and experienced guides
  • Group first aid kit, risk management, emergency planning and communications
  • Complimentary tour photos taken by your guide

  • Flights to and from departure points
  • Pre or post tour accommodation
  • Travel insurance
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Alcoholic beverages (BYO welcome)

Accommodation


Suitability

Introductory

3

This tour is suitable for those with at least an average level of fitness and agility, and prior kayaking experience. Our kayaks have a maximum weight limit of 110kg/person. Group members will be asked to assist in carrying a 10kg share of the sea kayaks up and down the beach each day, sometimes over soft sand with short inclines, and helping to carry group gear to and from the kayaks each morning and afternoon. The gorge hiking involves some rock scrambling, and areas of steep, uneven ground. Gorge hikes areoptional, and your guide is on hand to provide support and assistance where required. Suggested preparation: We recommend 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (fast walking, jogging or cycling) three times a week. For trekking, hill or stair walking with a 5-7kg daypack is also highly recommended at least once a week for leg strengthening and aerobic fitness. Walking in variable weather conditions is advisable. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended. On our adventures which feature paddling, confidence and rhythm are more important than speed.


Departure dates


Notes

NB:
All pricing is on a twin-share basis. For those wishing to have a private 'solo' tent, a $100 single supplement applies (limit of 6 per departure). Experienced sea kayakers may request exclusive use of a single kayak for the duration of the tour (limit of 4 per departure) for an additional supplement of $100. You may be asked to provide evidence of past multi-day experience successfully paddling a fully loaded single expedition sea kayak in a variety of sea conditions for this option.
NB:
Child pricing is for ages (12 – 17)
NB:
Secure parking inside our fenced yard, at 24 Pelias St, is available for $10/day. This is not undercover – your vehicle will be exposed to the elements. Parking is available on the verge outside our premises free of charge.
NB:
We are happy to cater for vegetarians and other special dietary requirements. Please note that there is a $25 surcharge for dietary requirements (other than vegetarian) including vegan, gluten free/coeliac, FODMAP etc, due to the costs of sourcing special ingredients from our small, remote town. You are welcome to bring your own alternatives to avoid this surcharge. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Priceper person from

Adult$2345AUD

Child$2010AUD** See right for further details.

Options & Supplements*
  • Single Supplement - TentAUD$100
  • Single KayakAUD$100
  • Whale Shark Tour (March - July) - Observer Only (stay onboard boat)AUD$250
  • Off Peak Whale Shark & Ningaloo Reef Tour (August - October) - Child (up to 17 years old)AUD$350
  • Off Peak Whale Shark & Ningaloo Reef Tour (August - October) - AdultAUD$400
  • Whale Shark Tour (March - July) - Child (up to 17 years old)AUD$410
  • Whale Shark Tour (March - July) - AdultAUD$480
*Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed Kayak, Snorkel and Walk Ningaloo trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead.


Frequently Asked Questions

Minimum age for our multi-day tours is 12 years old. We have had younger children join our 5-day tour in the past, it really depends on the activity level of the child, and also the parent - as the parent, you will be doing the majority of the work in the double kayak if you are paddling with a child under 12. Please contact us if you wish to discuss.

All levels of swimming ability are welcome. All of our guests wear PFDs (lifejackets) whilst kayaking and are welcome to wear them whilst snorkeling if needed. However, to enjoy this tour and ensure that other guests aren’t impacted, we recommend at least a basic level of swimming ability and snorkeling competence. Our guides will run through the basics of snorkeling and are great teachers for more advanced skills as well!

We need a minimum of 4 people to confirm tour departure, and take a maximum of 16 guests, however groups are generally smaller than this.

We usually paddle anywhere between 6 and 12 kms over the day, depending on how the group is travelling and prevailing weather conditions. The daily itinerary is designed so that we travel with the prevailing breeze. We aim to provide the opportunity for 2 snorkels at different locations throughout the day. This, along with stops on the beach for morning tea and lunch, means that the paddling is broken up into manageable sections, with usually no more than 1 hour spent in the kayak at any one time. No previous sea kayaking experience is necessary. Our guides will give you the skills you need to safely paddle your sea kayak, as well as handy hints and tips along the way.

This tour is ‘base camp’ style, meaning we return to the same comfortable camp site every afternoon via vehicle. The camp is equipped with a toilet, solar showers, fridge, sheltered communal area, and lockable storage rooms. Tents are set up prior to your arrival, and are spacious tents that you can stand up in. Tent accommodation is twin-share; if you would like your own private tent, a $100 single supplement applies.

Yes, as long as we have ample notice. We are happy to cater for vegetarians and other special dietary requirements. Please note that there is a $25 surcharge for dietary requirements (other than vegetarian) including vegan, gluten free/coeliac, FODMAP etc, due to the costs of sourcing special ingredients from our small, remote town. You are welcome to bring your own alternatives to avoid this surcharge. Please contact us if you have any questions

There is limited mobile phone reception in the tour area, we carry a satellite phone for emergencies. This is usually reserved for outgoing calls only (to preserve battery life). If you need to be contacted urgently, our office can be contacted on 0477 685 123, and if necessary, someone will drive out to deliver a message.

Limited facilities are available at base camp for charging of devices. Our camp is 'off-grid'; all of our power for running our fridge etc comes from a dual battery set up, topped up by solar power. We ask that you please arrive with your devices fully charged, and switch phones to 'flight mode' once at camp (as there is no phone reception here) to save battery. Please bring spare batteries or power banks if you have them, and USB charging cables.

Please note that we don’t see Whale sharks on this tour, as we generally paddle inside the fringing reef, and Whalesharks are outside the fringing reef. However there is an optional Whale Shark tour, available for inclusion in your itinerary prior or post your scheduled tour departure. Additional costs apply. For pricing details and bookings, kindly consult your reservations consultant. The boat company provides standard adult rates, family rates, and observer-only (non-swimming) rates for your convenience. Whale Sharks are more common in the area between March and July.

Luggage storage is available at our office in Exmouth. We have a luggage storage room and a safe for valuables.

Sometimes, you will park the kayaks on the beach then snorkel, while other times you will anchor/attach to a buoy and go snorkelling. If you are out in the water, there is a technique to getting out of the water and back into your kayak that your guides will show you, which is easy to manage.


Trip reviews


Positive Impact Travel

By joining this trip you are directly supporting positive impact projects in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We’ve offset the carbon emitted by this trip by purchasing credits that support important projects that address the UN’s seventeen SDGs, like reducing poverty, affordable and clean energy, reducing hunger, clean water and climate action.

Proceeds from this adventure purchase carbon credits through the world’s largest and most awarded carbon project developer, South Pole, which are invested into projects accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources in developing countries.

Supported projects are based on internationally recognised standards and are third-party audited. They entail a series of positive impacts on the ground, which benefit local communities and ecosystems, that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.