4
Introductory to Moderate
Activities
  • 3 days sea kayaking and snorkeling
Accommodation
  • 2 nights beach camping
Meals
  • 2 Dinners
  • 3 Lunches
  • 2 Breakfasts

3 Days$1230AUD

Trip Code: EAN

Trip highlights


  • Travel this stunning coastline in your self-sufficient sea kayak - an amazing and unique way to immerse yourself in the ancient landscape and get back to nature
  • Snorkel different sites daily. You'll be amazed at the diversity and abundance of marine life that Ningaloo supports! The snorkelling is world-class, and not only do we visit the traditional sites such as Turquoise Bay, Oyster Stacks and Lakeside, but other ‘secret’ sites that aren’t on any map. Snorkelling from your kayak is a memorable experience, and it gives us access to some incredible areas of pristine reef
  • Camp at different, undeveloped beach camp sites in your very own 'million-star hotel' each night: enjoy the peaceful lapping of the waves, spectacular west coast sunsets and clear night skies

Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park are approximately 1260km north of Perth, Western Australia, situated on the border of the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions, 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 an expedition-style tour along the Ningaloo Coast for 3 days and 2 nights, camping on beaches as you go, carrying everything in the kayak with you. We usually paddle the section of coast between Osprey Bay in the south, and Ned’s Camp in the north. Join us to sea kayak in the sheltered, turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, snorkel different amazing sites each day, and in the afternoon land your kayak at a beautiful beach to make camp amongst the sand dunes, with the waters of Ningaloo mere metres from your tent. Watch the sun set, and sleep under the stars in Cape Range National Park. Dusk and dawn are amongst our favourite times to experience the Ningaloo coastline, so why not come and share the magic. Turtles, rays, dugong, dolphins, reef sharks, myriad reef fish are some of the abundant marine life that makes Ningaloo a brilliant place to kayak and snorkel. On land we can also see kangaroos, wallabies, emu, goanna and birds of prey. Three days exploring Ningaloo in a self-sufficient kayak = a sensational experience!

Activities:

Itinerary

7.45 – 7.55am – Depending on where you are staying in Exmouth, our guides will pick you up with the kayaks in tow, before departing town and making the hour-long journey into Cape Range National Park. Osprey Bay is our usual launch point for this tour, and upon arrival, your guides will brief you on the best way to assist them in unloading gear and kayaks; they’ll familarise you with your kayak; and you’ll learn the best way to pack your gear. Following a paddle briefing and safety talk, we’ll have a quick morning tea, a look over the maps and charts of the area whilst talking about the plan for the next few days, then it's off the explore the wonders of Ningaloo! Today we'll cover about 9.5km in the kayaks (going with the prevailing breeze), stopping at a couple of our guide's favourite snorkel sites, where you'll be amazed at the diversity of life on Ningaloo. Between snorkelling and lunch on the beach, the kayaking is divided into manageable sections, even for novices. We arrive at our wilderness beach camp site around 4pm in the afternoon, giving us time to set up our tents and have a quick dip before we dry off and settle in for a sundowner. A delicious dinner under the stars rounds out the day before we settle in for a satisfying nights’ sleep.

Meals:  L,D

Our day starts at 7am with an alfresco beach 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. It’s then time to pack down our tents and get prepped for another amazing day exploring Ningaloo. Today we paddle a beautiful stretch of Ningaloo coastline, encompassing some of the best shore-based snorkelling in the area. With 10kms to our campsite this afternoon, we can settle into the rhythms of nature and focus on immersing ourselves in the wonders of Ningaloo. Oyster Stacks and Turquoise Bay are 2 well-known sites that we will stop and snorkel along the way today, 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. During the paddle today, you might also 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.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is our last full day on the water, and we make the most of it! Our day starts again at 7am with a delicious breakfast, coffee and tea. Once out on the water, we have a total of 8.5kms to our tour end point. As we paddle out into the clear lagoon waters, look for turtles and rays under our kayaks. This section of lagoon is also good for spotting dugong in season (late May - August), so keep an eye 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 have a few more kms of paddling until we reach our end point, where it's then time to unpack our kayaks and load them onto the trailer. We’ll then make the 45-minute return journey to Exmouth town and your accommodation, where we’ll drop you around 4pm, with a promise to have the complimentary photos of your adventure, taken by your guide, available online as soon as possible. Guaranteed you'll be buzzing with the amazing experiences that you've just had whilst exploring Ningaloo and Cape Range, and even if you 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

  • Complimentary pick up from, and drop off to, Exmouth accommodation
  • Double sit-inside sea kayaks with rudder for comfortable cruising, paddles
  • PFDs (life jackets), spray decks and gloves
  • Long sleeve sun shirts and broad-brim hats
  • Camping gear includes: twin-share tents, pillows, self-inflating mattresses, sleeping bags and liners, camp chairs
  • Dry bags for packing clothing, sleeping gear, etc.
  • Snorkeling gear: snorkel, mask and fins, wetsuit in season
  • All meals - 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 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 to Moderate

4

This tour is suitable for those with at least an average level of fitness and mobility, and prior kayaking experience. Guests aged 60 years or over are required to complete a medical form signed off by your doctor stating that they are fit to undertake the tour as described. Group members will be asked to assist in carrying at least a 15kg share of loaded 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. Suggested preparation: We recommend 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise three times a week, from a minimum of three months period to your departure. This can include swimming, jogging, hard walking or cycling - good cardiovascular exercise. For treks, hill or stair walking with a 7kg daypack is also highly recommended at least once a week.


Departure dates


Notes

NB:
All pricing is on a twin-share basis. For those wishing to have a private 'solo' tent, a $50 single supplement applies. You are welcome to bring your own lightweight, hiking style tent to avoid the single supplement, as long as it is compact and will be appropriate for the trip (please provide details of the tent to confirm).
NB:
We are happy to cater for vegetarians and other special dietary requirements. Please note that there is a $15 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.
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:
Child pricing is for ages (12 – 17)

Priceper person from

Adult$1230AUD

Child$1105AUD** See right for further details.

Options & Supplements*
  • 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 Ningaloo Kayak Expedition 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

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

Minimum age for our multi-day tours is 12 years old. We have had younger children join our 3 day tour in the past, however once fully loaded, our large expedition kayaks can be heavy. A private tour or a custom 3 day base-camping tour may be an option for family groups. Please get in touch for more info.

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.

All levels of swimming ability are welcome. All of our guests wear PFDs (lifejackets) whilst kayaking and are welcome to wear them whilst snorkelling if needed. Our guides will run through the basics of snorkelling and are great teachers! However, to fully enjoy this tour, and not impede the enjoyment of other guests, we recommend at least a basic level of snorkelling and swimming competence.

We need a minimum of 4 people to confirm tour departure and take a maximum of 12 guests. Private tours or custom group tours are available, please contact us for details.

We usually paddle anywhere between 9 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, however we do recommend having at least an average level of fitness and agility to enjoy this tour. Our guides will give you the skills and info you need to safely paddle your sea kayak, as well as handy hints and tips along the way.

This tour is ‘expedition camp’ style, meaning we carry all of our gear with us in the kayaks, and set up camp on the beach with what we have brought with us in the kayaks. We provide all the gear to make you as comfortable as possible: quality tents, self-inflating mattresses (Thermarest-style), sleeping bags and liners, inflatable pillows, camp chairs. The campsites we use are un-developed with no established facilities; we carry our toilet with us. Access to fresh water for washing is limited as we carry all our fresh water in the kayaks.

Yes, if we have ample notice, it is no problem catering for specific dietary requirements, intolerances and allergies. There is a $15 surcharge for specific dietary requirements (not including vegetarian, but including vegan, gluten free, FODMAP etc), due to the costs associated with sourcing special products from our small remote town.

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.

No, we are completely off-grid on this tour. We recommend bringing spare batteries for camera and Go Pros and switching your phone to 'flight mode' to save battery. If you have a small power bank or solar charging device, these can be handy to bring along.

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.


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.

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