Latest News
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The peak season for Exmouth and Coral Bay is April through to the end of October. July is particularly busy for this area with availability limited. So if you are thinking of visiting the Ningaloo Reef in July PLEASE be sure to pre book your accommodation. This includes campsites - please note that bush campsites within the Cape Range National Park CANNOT be booked and are allocated on arrival only. School holidays for 2008 fall between the 4/7/08 - 20/7/08.
A little bit of forward planning could be the difference between a short stop or the time of your life.
Our website will provide a general guide to availability, with a confirmation received within 24hrs. Contact the friendly staff at the Exmouth Visitor Centre to find out more.
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Every year from approximately April to July following the mass spawning of coral, the world’s biggest species of fish congregate in the Ningaloo Marine Park. These are the whalesharks!
For more information on whalesharks, click here
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Exmouth & Coral Bay experiences a fantastic season of Humpback Whale Watching. There are many charter boats that operate on a daily basis and prices range from $65 per person. Humpback Whale season is generally July - November. The Exmouth Visitor Centre can help with all bookings and offers a FREE booking service. Call in and see our friendly staff to discuss your tour options.
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Manta Rays can be seen yearly, mainly at Coral Bay and from May till November in Exmouth. They migrate in huge schools feasting on zooplankton during these months. Tour companies depart daily from the Ningaloo Reef to snorkel with these beautiful creatures. All tours can be booked through the Exmouth Visitor Centre on 1800 287 328.
Thank you Baz from Ningaloo Digital Images for the use of the Manta Ray Photo.
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Marine Turtles can be viewed in their natural underwater habitat along the length of the Ningaloo Reef. From November to March each year, marine turtles nest on the beaches of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
The Department of Conservation will be conducting "Guided Turtle Activities" commencing Tuesday 15/1/08 and will be every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday starting at 7.30pm meeting at the Jurabi Turtle Centre. There will be no charge. These activities will be available until the end of the turtle season.
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Ningaloo leads the way in Whaleshark eco-tourism, therefore by learning all we can, we will be able to contribute in many areas in order to help preserve and protect the gentle giant. We are privaliged to be able to swim with these magnificent creatures and it is an exhilerating and truly memorable experience that will last a lifetime and create "Friends for Life"
The Whaleshark Festival is now a Bi Annual Event. Please stay tuned for next years dates.
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Opening Night Saturday 12th July 2008 at 6.00pm - Exhibition open July 13th to 16th. Details and Entry form from Exmouth Cultural Arts CentreInc/Dunes Gallery. <p> Art quest Open times - Saturday 12th 6pm-late, Sunday 13th 10am-2pm, Monday 14th 10am-2pm, Tuesday 15th 10am-2pm Wednesday 16th 6-9pm. <p> Contact details ecac@westnet.com.au
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The Exibald was created by Teressa Miller in 2006, member and founder of the Exmouth Cultural Arts Centre. The idea originated to inspire artists to depict and honour local community minded individuals whilst appreciating the hardships of progress in the Northwest. This event was launched under the banner of the 2006 Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival and has continued to be a highlight of this well advertised and popular event.
This year's theme will be a little more lighthearted and is titled "Pets with People". The idea of the theme is to showcase those peopole who are devoted to their pets in the North West and could not live without them. Pets provide well being and are a great asset in our isolated environment. All mediums are acceptable and Exibald Portrait Prize Packages can be obtained by contacting Teressa Miller on 0429 106 824 and they include the Canvas.
Exibald entries due in Wednesday 23rd April, Phone Teressa 0429 106 824 or drop off to 16 Learmonth Street.
Exibald Portrait Prize Exhibition Opening Night - Thursday 24th April - 6pm till late. Light supper, bar facilities and music provided.
Event sponsored by Horizon Power and Exmouth Nursery.
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GAMEX dates are March 8th - 15th March 2008
The continental shelf is within 10km of the coast. The tag and release of billfish is becoming more popular for sportsfishing enthusiasts, especially with the variety of species available and accessibility in waters so close to shore. For further information, please contact Kurt on 08 9949 4360 or for entry details please contact Jo Decker on 0408 892 018 or log onto www.egfc.com.au
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Exmouth Visitor Centre offer a free booking service for all local tours, accommodation,car hire and transfers. We can also offer direction with flights with Skywest. For further information please make a booking from this website or contact one of our friendly staff on 1800 287 328.
Exmouth is jam packed full of activities and things to see and do! Please CLICK HERE to download our 2008 Exmouth Planner (7MB)
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January 26th 2009
Activities during the day:
Join a Family Day out at the Pool. Admission is free from 8am - midday. The aqua run will be up and there will be lots of competitions and prizes. Competitions include a diving comp off the new diving board and best dressed Aussie themed costume. The "Fireflys" from Perth will be providing entertainment with 2 sets of choregraphed dance, flag and baton twirling, clowning and stilt walking. Enjoy the antics as they perform their circus tricks, face painting and be amazed at their balloon creatures.
A free Aussie breakfast will be provided for all attending. Also the Australia Day Active Citzenship Awards for Exmouth will be announced and presented mid morning.
Activities during the evening:
Celebrate the day at the Exmouth Yacht Club. There will be live music and a great party atmosphere. This is a ticket event only.
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One of the most spectacular natural events in the Ningaloo Marine Park is the annual mass spawning of corals. Over 250 species of coral have been identified to occur in the Ningaloo Marine Park and the majority of these species mass spawn.
Most coral species are colonial animals made up of millions of anemone-like creatures called polyps. Most are hermaphrodites (i.e. having both male and female gonads) but some are either male or female. During the mass spawning events, coral eggs and sperm are released into the water and float to the surface. Fertilization then takes place and the process of larval development begins. The larvae continue developing for the next 4-6 days while at the whim of the ocean currents until they are ready to find a place to settle on the ocean floor. At this time the larvae actively swim down to the seabed and search for a suitable place to settle. Upon attachment to the seabed the larvae change their form to that of the adult animals known as polyps.
The major period of coral mass spawning on Western Australian reefs mainly occurs after the full moon in March or April. Minor spawning events also occur after the full moons in February and May and after the new moons from February to May. In some years spawning is ‘split’ between the March and April full moons. Spawning can occur on any of several nights from between 4 -14 nights after new or full moons. However, most often spawning occurs 6-10 nights after the moons (i.e. on neap tides).
For people wanting to observe the phenomenon this year in Ningaloo Marine Park, 7-9 nights after the full moon in March or April are the best dates. On these nights spawning will begin around 8pm and last until about 10pm. Dates of major spawning may vary slightly at different reefs along the WA coastline. The major coral-spawning event this year is expected to occur between:
27th - 30th April 2008 Mass spawning is a mechanism to facilitate successful reproduction. By spawning at the same time and when water movement is minimal (i.e. neap tides), corals maximize the concentration of eggs and sperm thereby increasing the chances of fertilization. The simultaneous spawning of many different species at night ensure enough coral larvae, or planulae, survive by inundating predators with an excess of food over a short period, thereby minimizing the impact of predation by fishes on the survivorship of larvae.
Coral mass spawning coincides approximately with the autumn intensification of the southward flowing Leeuwin Current which flows poleward along the continental shelf break (i.e. 200m bathymetric contour) off the Western Australian coastline. The Current transports the larvae of corals and other animals down the WA coastline providing a mechanism potentially connecting reefs in the tropical north, such as at the Montebello Islands, to reefs, such as Ningaloo Reef, which are further south. This mechanism is also responsible for the occurrence of coral reefs, such as the Abrolhos Islands, at latitudes where they do not typically occur.
CORAL SLICKS
Coral spawning often occurs during periods of calm seas and light on-shore winds that are typical of the autumn period in WA. These conditions can result in coral spawn not being dispersed leading to the formation of coral spawn slicks which are often pushed onshore by winds and currents. This may cause the surrounding water to become oxygen depleted due to biological processes in the water column causing death of coral, fish and other biota. Reefs near Coral Bay have had major recorded major mortality events in 1989 and 2002 due to this process. Monitoring of the reef by CALM and the Australian Institute of Marine Science scientists is providing information on the capacity of Ningaloo Reef to recover from catastrophic events such as these.
Coral slicks are often confused with the naturally occurring blue-green algae (Trichodesmium) blooms and can form large slicks stretching for kilometres. They can occur throughout the year along the WA coastline usually in calm, hot weather. They are frequently reddish-pink or brown when they start decomposing. At this stage they are often confused with oil slicks. They are commonly referred to as red-tides or sea sawdust. True coral slicks will only be seen in narrow windows of 7-11 days after the full moon. The two are easily distinguished by shape when observed very closely, Trichodesmium are splinter-like whereas planulae are globular.
MANAGEMENT
Observations on coral spawning in Western Australia have been carried out each year since 1984. Previous observations by the public along the W.A coastline have provided a valuable insight into the geographical synchrony of coral spawning in W.A and the variability between years at the same location. It is important to continue these observations each year, as this information is important to the long-term management of W.A coral reefs.
If you are interested in monitoring these events please contact Karen Wheeler of the Marine Conservation Branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on (08) 9336 0123, for the relevant methods and data sheets from the Manual. Alternately, if you are visiting Ningaloo Marine Park, contact the DEC Office and they will provide you with this information, 20 Nimitz St, Exmouth 6707, Tel: (08) 9947 8000.
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Exmouth Visitor Centre offer a free booking service and we can also assist with flights with Skywest. For further information please make a booking from this website or contact one of our friendly staff on 1800 287 328
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You can also make further enquiries into the navy pier by calling Ningaloo Reef Dreaming. Only certified divers may dive the navy pier.
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The Exmouth Visitor Centre is open 7-days a week from 9am-5pm in the peak season and during the low season Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat-Sun 9am-1pm. The Visitor Centre stocks local arts and crafts and has a selection of local tour and accommodation operator t-shirts, local DVD's on the Ningaloo Marine Park, magnets, postcards, picture frames, hats, hat badges, stickers, local pearls and jewellery and much much more... We also stock information on tours, accommodation in the Exmouth area and also information on places travelling north and south.
So, when your next in town, please come meet the friendly staff at the Exmouth Visitor Centre.
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A picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully these pictures of Exmouth and surrounding areas in the Coral Coast will entice you to start planning your next holiday. Front picture courtesy of Craig Kitson.
Please click here to view photos of our area.
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The Betta Electrical Billfish Bonanza is a tag and release billfish tournament only.
If you are interested in participating please contact Kurt Decker on 08 9949 4360.
Sections:
1) Champion Team
2) Champion Team Runner Up
3) Champion Angler - most tagged marlin
4) Champion Angler - most tagged sailfish
Entry fee
SENIOR: $60
JUNIOR: $25
MEMBERSHIP :$80
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This is a fantastic opportunity for visitors wanting to come to see the beautiful Ningaloo Reef over Summer.
Return discounted Skywest Perth to Learmonth, 2 or 3 nights accommodation in Exmouth from $415 per person.
Skywest are also offering Return discounted Skywest Perth to Learmonth, 2 nights accommodation in Coral Bay from $444 per person.
Travel is valid from the 1st April 2007 until 31st March 2008. Last date of travel is 31st March 2008. Package prices are cash, per person twin share. Taxes, levies and surcharges extra $117.14 as at 28th February 2007. Payments on Mastercard/Visa, Diners/Amex will attract a surcharge. Packages based on Skywest WOXR fare conditions and availablility. If W-Class not available, surcharged H, O and E fares may be available. Airfare to be paid within 72 hours of booking. Air ticket non-refundable but date changes permitted subject to approx $38 reissue fee. Packages subject to availability and conditions apply.
For more information, please contact Skywest on 1300 66 00 88 or www.skywest.com . Alternatively Great Aussie holidays on
1300 368 168
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DriveWA can help you with all your planning needs for your next self drive holiday – from itinerary ideas to booking your accommodation. So fasten your seatbelt and see what DriveWA can do for you. DriveWA.com is a website all about self drive holidays in Western Australia. The website, www.drivewa.com provides comprehensive information on the various towns to visit in Western Australia including their accommodation options, attractions, points of interest and eating establishments. Also get daily weather forecasts for each town. DriveWA can provide you with interactive maps and driving directions to help you find your way to and from anywhere in Western Australia. So you will never get lost again. Check out the array of planned itineraries to suit a variety of interests, vehicle requirements and holiday destinations. So whether you are 4WDriving or 2WDriving, snorkelling or diving, walking or cycling, fishing or whale watching, visiting wineries or visiting historic sites – DriveWA has the itinerary for you and if we don’t we’ll help you plan it. DriveWA also allows you to book your accommodation online in properties around the State and receive instant confirmation. Being a DriveWA Highway or Freeway member you will also receive a DriveWA membership card and discount voucher book that provides loads of discounts with tourism operators around the State. For other great discounts to use with your DriveWA card check out our Hot Deals section. So no matter where you’re planning your next Western Australian adventure log on to www.drivewa.com to plan your escape. Click here to view a DriveWA package for the Coral Coast
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The Sunday Markets will be on every Sunday from April until October, from 8am until 1pm. The locals markets are located in the mall area, near the supermarkets and they feature locals arts and crafts. If you are interested in having your own stall, please contact Renae Adamsons on 9949 4600.
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