- August - October Season August - October
Enjoy an unforgettable experience swimming up-close with humpback whales. Interact closely with magnificent humpbacks and snorkel and swim within a safe distance of them.
Quick Details
Our Turtle Eco Adventure Tours is an affordable half-day excursion that gives you the opportunity to view a variety of ocean life from the comfort of our vessel before snorkeling over the magnificent Ningaloo coral reef lagoon.
On this shore-to-shore excursion on our luxury vessel, Wave Rider, you dedicate the first half of the tour to viewing marine life active during the time of your visit from the comfort of our deck. You have a great vantage point and the assistance of our experienced team who guide you on the tour.
Following the marine life viewing, we travel back into the Ningaloo Lagoon, the shallower sheltered inner area of the Ningaloo Reef. The lagoon is a wonderland for snorkelers, with an average depth of between 2 and 4 metres and warm waters. You are likely to view stunning tropical fish and many types of coral when you snorkel over the coral reef. The protected lagoon forms an important nursery for hundreds of types of fish, mollusks, and coral.
The Ningaloo Reef Eco Tour runs 01 November through to December every year. Please note that this tour offers the opportunity to view the creatures of the outer reef from the comfort of our vessel. It does not include a spotter plane or swimming with Whale Sharks or Humpback Whales. Please see our Swim with Humpback Whales Adventure Day and Swim with Whale Sharks Adventure Day for an extended full day tour options with swimming.
There is always something astonishing to see on Ningaloo’s outer reef and we will be offering our Ningaloo Reef Eco Tour 01 November through 30 December every year and part of March.
This intimate tour for a maximum of 10 guests is ideal for those who prefer to view marine life from the security of a vessel on the open ocean, before snorkelling in the protected waters of the lagoon. It’s perfect for families with children and for those looking for a shorter, relaxed half day tour option.
The snorkelling component is best for moderately competent swimmers over the age of 4 years who have snorkelled before. We may be able to accept children younger than 10 who are competent swimmers to snorkel and can also cater to some special needs and movement restrictions – please contact us to discuss. High-quality wetsuits and flippers, including children’s sizes, and flotation devices are provided as required.
We compare all our tours to an African Safari, where we search for animals in the wild. This tour is focussed on viewing Ningaloo marine life which is active at the time of your tour, and this can vary through the seasons. We do not use a spotter plane for this tour and cannot guarantee you will see a Humpback Whale, Whale Shark or any other specific marine life. For our tours that use spotter planes to track ocean life, please see our Swim with Humpback Whales and Swim with Whale Sharks tours.
Our luxury vessel, Wave Rider, departs from Tantabiddi Boat Ramp just north of the Cape Range national park entrance in Exmouth. Complimentary transfers are provided to and from Exmouth township for your tour. Advance Bookings for all tours are essential. Due to the small, intimate scale of our tours with a maximum of 10 places, we recommend booking several months in advance to avoid disappointment.
Want to make the most of your holiday? Booking a Private Ningaloo Reef Eco Tour with Live Ningaloo gives you the chance to create an unforgettable experience for you and your group. By retaining exclusive use of our vessel and crew for your private Exmouth boat charter you can customise a tour to you, your group or family needs. Whether for a day tour or a live aboard experience – our aim is always to exceed your expectations.
By retaining exclusive use of our vessel and crew for your private Exmouth boat charter you can customise a tour to you, your group or family needs. Whether for a day tour or a live aboard experience – our aim is always to exceed your expectations.
There are so many reasons to hire our vessel for a private Ningaloo Reef charter adventure for your group, including:
Or a combination of all the above!
Whale Shark Swimming Dates: mid-March – 31 July
Humpback Whale Swimming Dates: 01 August – 31 October
Eco-tours: 01 November – 31 December
Advance bookings for all tours are essential.
Between November and December each year, we offer a unique option for people who are travelling in low season but still want to experience all that the Ningaloo Reef has on offer.
Our 4 hour Private Ningaloo Reef Eco Tour includes:
Private Ningaloo Reef Eco Tours do not include a spotter plane to assist with wildlife swimming adventures. If you would like to book a private Whale Shark or Humpback Whale swimming tour for your group, you can find that under Private Whale Shark or Humpback Whale Swimming Tour.
Our private tours are suitable for single travellers, couples and small family groups through to larger groups (maximum 10) and tailored to your specifications. Depending on your choice of day tour or live aboard (multi-day/night charter) we may add an additional sleeping vessel to allow everyone to be accommodated in comfort. Additional costs will apply and can be quoted for you.
Our Private Ningaloo Reef Eco Tours are priced on factors including duration, accommodation and catering requirements per head. Day tours starting at $2000 for up to 10 people. Please contact us for availability and quotation.
Our luxury vessel ‘Wave Rider’ is a Black Watch 40, custom built for Live Ningaloo for Australian conditions. Comfortable interiors and a spacious back deck are matched with safety and reliability, to ensure you travel in comfort. Find out more about Wave Rider.
Enjoy an unforgettable experience swimming up-close with humpback whales. Interact closely with magnificent humpbacks and snorkel and swim within a safe distance of them.
Dreaming of an up-close encounter with either whale sharks? We tailor your excursion to create an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll treasure.