Ningaloo to Rowley Shoals
Western Australia
Manta Rays • Turtles • Remote Reefs
Duration: 14 days
Departs: September to November
From: 11.500 AUD / 6.500 EUR pp
Subject to seasonal availability, flight schedules, accommodation category, and final itinerary design.
Along the western edge of Australia, the desert meets the sea in a collision of colours. From the turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo to the remote atolls of the Rowley Shoals, this journey follows one of the most spectacular coastlines on Earth: a world of red cliffs, clear water, and coral reefs so remote that few divers ever reach them.
It begins in Perth, before flying north to Exmouth, gateway to Ningaloo Reef. Here, the reef begins just metres from shore, an ancient coral system where seasonal whale sharks, humpbacks, mantas, and turtles roam through shallow lagoons. You’ll swim alongside mantas as they feed in the current, drift over coral gardens alive with parrotfish and stingrays, and dive the Exmouth Pier, one of the richest artificial reefs in the country.
The road north to Broome cuts through a landscape of silence and scale, endless horizons, red sand plains, and salt flats that shimmer like mirrors. In Broome, time slows down. Cable Beach stretches for kilometres, camels cross the sand at sunset, and the biggest tropical tide in the worls rises and falls with the pull of the moon. From here, the true expedition begins.
Aboard your liveaboard vessel, you’ll sail into the Indian Ocean toward the Rowley Shoals, a chain of coral atolls that rise from the ocean floor more than 300 kilometres offshore. Few people ever see them. The reefs form perfect circles of turquoise water surrounded by vertical walls that plunge into deep blue. Diving here feels like entering another world, visibility often exceeds fifty metres, the coral is untouched, and the only sounds are your bubbles.
Drift through narrow channels lined with giant clams, swim with reef sharks patrolling the reef, and watch turtles swim in the blue.
This is Western Australia at its purest: vast, raw, and alive. It’s a journey that moves from reef to reef, from desert to deep ocean.
Every Strada Expeditions journey can be customised. These itineraries are starting points: to find inspiration. The best way to build yours is to reach out and tell me what you’d like to experience, and I’ll design the perfect trip to your taste.
All itineraries are the intellectual property of Strada Expeditions and cannot be reproduced or distributed without our consent.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Perth
Arrive in Perth and settle into your hotel near the river or the beach. Spend the afternoon walking along Elizabeth Quay or visiting Kings Park for views across the city and the Swan River. In the evening, enjoy a relaxed dinner by the water and take in your first sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Day 2: Flight to Exmouth
Fly north to Exmouth, gateway to Ningaloo Reef. The flight takes about two hours, following the coastline where red desert meets turquoise sea. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and take the afternoon to explore the area, visit Cape Range National Park or enjoy a quiet swim at one of the beaches near town.
Day 3: Mantas and Turtles
Join a full day boat trip on Ningaloo Reef. You will snorkel in clear, shallow lagoons where manta rays circle gracefully and turtles feed over colourful coral. Between swims, relax on deck and watch the coast drift by. It is an easy day on the water and one of the best ways to experience the reef up close.
Day 4: Diving the Exmouth Pier
Today you will discover one of Western Australia’s most famous dive sites, the Exmouth Navy Pier. This artificial reef attracts an incredible variety of marine life, from schools of trevally and batfish to moray eels and reef sharks resting on the sand. Non divers can spend the day exploring local lookouts or walking through the gorges of Cape Range National Park.
Day 5: Turquoise Bay Drift Snorkel
Spend the morning at Turquoise Bay, one of the most photographed beaches in Australia. Let the current carry you gently across coral gardens alive with reef fish, rays, and turtles. After lunch, return to town for a relaxed afternoon or join an optional sunset cruise to spot humpback whales during the migration season.
Day 6: Scenic Drive from Exmouth to Broome
Set out early for a full day road trip by car or coach through Western Australia’s outback coast. The landscape changes constantly with red sand dunes, wide plains, and salt flats that shimmer in the heat. Stop along the way for photos or short walks before reaching Broome in the evening. Watch the sunset over Cable Beach as the sky turns orange and pink above the Indian Ocean.
Day 7: Explore Broome
Take the day to rest and explore this small tropical town. Visit Gantheaume Point at low tide to see dinosaur footprints in the rock, browse local art galleries in Chinatown, or simply relax sun tanning at Cable Beach. As evening comes, enjoy dinner with a view of the ocean and the warm breeze of the tropics.
Day 8: Boarding the Liveaboard
Today you begin the ocean expedition. Board your liveaboard vessel in Broome, meet the crew, and settle into your cabin as the boat heads west into the open sea. The water soon turns a deep luminous blue. After a safety briefing and dinner on deck, relax under the stars as the coast fades into the distance.
Days 9 to 13: Diving the Rowley Shoals
Spend five unforgettable days exploring the Rowley Shoals, a chain of three coral atolls more than 300 kilometres offshore. Visibility often exceeds fifty metres, and the reefs are alive with reef sharks, turtles, and countless tropical fish. You will dive vertical walls, drift through narrow channels, and snorkel calm lagoons filled with giant clams and bright coral gardens. The days follow the rhythm of the ocean: dive, eat, rest, repeat. Evenings are spent sharing stories on deck under skies full of stars.
Day 14: Return to Broome and Departure
After breakfast, begin the cruise back toward the mainland. The red cliffs of the Kimberley coast appear slowly on the horizon. Arrive in Broome by afternoon and disembark, either staying overnight or continuing to your next destination. The feeling of space, colour, and calm from this coast will stay with you long after you leave.
Optional Extensions
The Kimberley or Cape Leveque
For travellers wanting to continue their journey, the adventure does not have to end in Broome. From here, the road north leads into the Kimberley, one of the last true wilderness regions on Earth. It is a land of red sandstone gorges, hidden waterfalls, and vast tidal flats where the desert meets the sea. Travel by 4WD along the Dampier Peninsula to reach Cape Leveque, a place of deep cultural significance to the Bardi people, where white sand beaches meet red cliffs and the ocean stretches endlessly to the horizon.
You can choose to spend a few extra days exploring this region, staying in remote lodges or small coastal camps that overlook turquoise bays. Enjoy a scenic flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago, cruise through Horizontal Falls, or simply rest on the beach where the only sounds are the waves and the wind.
This extension adds a deeper sense of scale to the journey, connecting the reefs of the Indian Ocean with the ancient heart of the Australian outback. It is the perfect finale for those who want to see Western Australia at its wildest and most beautiful.
This journey can be extended with any of the experiences and destinations offered by Strada Expeditions. You might combine it with a major city stay or an iconic Australian destination to create a seamless journey from coast to outback.
Strada takes care of every detail from the moment you land in Australia to the moment you depart, including accommodation, transfers, domestic flights, and hand-picked experiences. Every element is coordinated to create a smooth and memorable journey that feels effortless from start to finish.
Visit the Experiences page for inspiration, or reach out directly to Strada Expeditions to share your interests, travel dates, and preferences. Together we will design a complete itinerary tailored to you, ensuring every part of your trip captures the best of Australia.