Western Australia has no shortage of reef activities to suit the family, be it a glass-bottom boat or a guided kayak and wildlife cruise, an easy paddle on the beach or some shore snorkelling. Ningaloo Reef in the vicinity of Coral Bay and Exmouth are where most will put their money, with Rottnest Island off Perth a good bet for a more straightforward coastal break.
What you end up doing is not so much a question of the children’s age as of their confidence and swimming prowess, and then there are the wind, the currents and how much travelling time the family has to give. My advice, from years of putting travellers in the right spot, is to go with the option that is the easiest for all to partake in and leave the more adventurous stuff as a bonus. I am Tristan Bell and that is my practical rule.
The Right Reef Day
You do not have to opt for the costliest or longest affair to find the best of what Western Australia has to offer. When the children are run down or seasick, or hemmed in by gear they are not used to, a swim off a sheltered beach is preferable to an all-day on the water.
Proceed with the least taxing of options. Check the optimal WA reef visit time before heading out. Put in a call to an operator or one of the rangers, see what the water is like and only then consider upgrading to a tour or some kayaking if your confidence and the conditions warrant it.
| Destination | Best-Fit Activity | Typical Ability | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Bay | There is beach swimming and the odd glass-bottom trip. | From beginners to those who can hold their own in the water. | Bear in mind the popular services will be full in the school holidays. |
| Exmouth And Ningaloo | One can do boat tours and encounter wildlife or snorkel from the shore. | For a mix of abilities, depending on the site. | You will be exposed to the elements and have further to drive. |
| Turquoise Bay | Access to the beach and shore snorkelling | For the confident type at the right sections. | Some of the current is not for the beginner. |
| Rottnest Island | Swimming and cycling and a visit to a sheltered bay | For the experienced and novice alike. | A case of planning the ferry and transport on the island. |
| Cervantes | Coastal boating and the like | Varies with the day. | It does not replace what you get from the coral at Ningaloo. |
| Margaret River Region | Rock-pool viewing and other outings | Those who are cautious in the water or prefer to stay ashore. | The cold and southern swells have been known to take visitors by surprise. |
Families in WA
There are plenty of ways to put marine life in front of the family without having to put them all in deep water. Combine a bit of beach time with a tour and the cautious and the confident can make a day of it.
Then there is Ningaloo where the reef is practically on the shore; or for a compact base with the beach and services near at hand, Coral Bay. Rottnest is an accessible proposition for those in the Perth area.
Confidence is Key
A child may be a fine pool swimmer but not relish the salt or the waves or the poor visibility of a mask. Try the snorkel in something calm and shallow before you head out to the reef. Do not let an inflatable toy put up a front of confidence.
And “kid-friendly” is not a given for any beach. In a matter of hours the tides and swell can make of it a place you would rather not be.
Snorkelling With The Family
In Western Australia this is done best when there is no pressure to keep up and the adults are at hand. Ningaloo has its well-known shore-access spots but one has to judge the site on the day.
Turquoise Bay can be worth while for a capable family but the drift section is moving water. To the beginner clear water is not to be equated with calm.
Be circumspect at Turquoise Bay
Do not just put in for a drift snorkel, look for the more sheltered side of things. Make enquiries as to the safest way in and out, you do not want to miss an exit and have to make a hard return against the current.
Reality does not always match the photograph of one floating above the coral with ease. There is the matter of glare and masks to sort out and keeping the children in view and together.
Take Your Time At Ningaloo
Whether it is a reef cruise or some observation from the beach, Exmouth is good for the family with a car and several sites in mind; Coral Bay is better for a tighter base.
Make a morning of a 30-minute swim. An optimistic plan does not allow for the driving and parking, the sunscreen and equipment and the negotiations over snacks and the dunny stop.
A View Of The Coral
For the non-swimmer or younger ones, a glass-bottom boat in Western Australia is a means of seeing what is under the surface sans fins and mask. There is less of a physical demand on them, but passengers will have to contend with the sun and motion as well as getting on and off the boat.
In the case of guided reef tours they are an asset where adults do not know the area or would be hard put to oversee a number of children in the water. An operator will be on hand to set out the equipment, what is expected in terms of swimming and age before any payment is made.
The Fine Print
One should enquire as to whether there is a toilet, some shade, a place to view from that is sheltered, child’s life jackets and straightforward boarding. And if it is billed as “family-friendly”, make sure that entitles the children to be part of all the activities on offer and not just the boat itself.
It is not uncommon for tour operators to put up with the same old preventable issues: a family turning up late, a child who has not had a mask on before, or the onset of seasickness once under way. A bit of practice and some sound advice on motion sickness from your doctor or pharmacist can mean the difference between seeing the coral and inadvertently putting food in front of the fish.
Water Activities of a Gentler Sort
When a full reef tour is too much, kayaking and swimming allow a family to go at their own pace. These are well suited to mixed ages so long as the adults pick a route the most reticent among them can handle.
Boating and fishing might figure in the plans but come with their own licence and equipment demands and zones; local restrictions should be checked prior to anchoring or fishing.
Paddle Under Guidance
Families can get to grips with the wind and sidestep a bad launch point with a guide on a kayak outing. A sit-on-top model is inviting enough, yet making headway against the wind with a weary child is nothing like the easy going of the outward leg.
See that the life jacket is a proper fit for the one wearing it and not just by label. Put away the phones to keep them dry, stow the water bottles and hats and save some energy for the way back.
Make Swimming Uncomplicated
First time round, the calm waters close to shore are preferable. It is best for adults to be right there with any young or weak swimmers and not divide their focus among the camera, gear and the task of supervising.
If in doubt, a glass-bottom boat or a picnic in the shade is better than a swim. There is no loss in calling it off, it is simply good safety.
Wildlife On Your Terms
You may come across rays, turtles and the odd larger animal of the season as well as reef fish in Western Australia, but one cannot be assured of it. The day is more enjoyable when the whole experience is appreciated and not one particular sighting regarded as something you are owed.
For the most part families in Coral Bay will be on the beach and reef, whereas Exmouth lends itself to a more extensive driving itinerary. In Rottnest Island one can mix coastal bays with some land-based walking, cycling and wildlife watching.
Coral Bay Versus Exmouth
Opt for Coral Bay if the family is after some beach time in a compact setting. Exmouth is the answer if you want a greater choice of accommodation and supplies and to be in a position to visit the various Cape Range sites rather than being tied to one beach.
Expect both to be busy in the school holidays and prices for the likes of tours and lodging to be considerably higher than at other times. Get the figures in AUD and the cancellation policy down on paper before booking in for the drive or flights.
A Day on Rottnest
Those in Perth will find the island a sensible way to do some reef and beach. Ferries save a lengthy road trip but there are still the return service, luggage rules, bicycle hire and departure times to sort out.
With a single day to spare it is wiser to make for a couple of bays than put in a circuit of the island. It makes for a good story over a tinnie afterwards but is not as appealing when the ferry is not going to wait and everyone is famished.
No One Left Out
Even non-swimmers and beginners can have a proper reef holiday without donning a snorkel; there is shallow paddling, beachcombing and interpretation to be had.
Plan for the practicalities of food, toilets and shade. A fine beach is of little use to a toddler or someone with mobility problems if there are no facilities.
Abilities Should Dictate the Activity
With toddlers stick to the shore and some supervised time in the shallows. Have a beginner get used to breathing through a snorkel sans fins before venturing deeper. As for those who do not swim, boat viewing is to be preferred to making do with flotation gear.
Do not assume an activity is right for a child because he or she has reached the minimum age; peruse the medical questions and requirements of the operator. Some of the more exposed offshore or drift snorkels are not for novices.
Time Your Coastal Escape
What makes for the best time to be on a WA reef is a matter of latitude, wind and swell, water temperature and what you have in mind. The sort of conditions one would want at Ningaloo are not to be found around Perth or in the Margaret River Region by default.
It is better to look at the forecast in the run up to an outing than put stock in seasonal averages. Then there is the tropical cyclone season in northern Western Australia from November through to April when severe weather has been known to put a stop to coastal access, tours, flights and roads.
Plan Around Real Conditions
Ningaloo draws crowds in the cooler months for the sake of wildlife tours and land temperatures that are more to one’s liking, though the timing of the wildlife is not exact. In the warmer months those about Perth and Rottnest Island will be inclined to go for a swim, but with the afternoon winds it is often more agreeable to do so in the morning.
Further south the water can be colder, the swell stronger and conditions are apt to change in a hurry. Elsewhere in the state summer road access may be hampered by bushfire closures; families are well advised to heed official alerts.
As for park alerts, visitor guidance and any closures, the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is the place to go. Fees, safety advice and tour schedules are subject to change, so make sure of them near to the time of departure.
A Safer Reef Day
Any day on the reef worth having is planned before the sand is even in sight. See to the conditions first, then pick an activity and pack for sun, wind and the odd delay.
There is no glamour in a good safety plan: it means drinking water, skin protection and keeping the children at hand, and getting out of the water well before anyone is tired. Tristan Bell would say you should reserve half your energy for the way back.
- Make a point of checking tides, wind, marine weather and local warnings as well as park alerts.
- See that parking, beach access and toilets are in order and know your return route.
- Have on hand reef-safe clothing, hats, broad-spectrum sunscreen, food and water.
- Where it is called for, life jackets should be properly fitted.
- Masks and snorkels ought to be tried in shallow water prior to going out to the reef.
- One adult should be on supervision duty, not behind a camera.
- Coral and marine animals are not to be touched, stood on or taken.
- If the weather, visibility or confidence wanes, leave the water.
Budget Without Nasty Surprises
Once you have put aside the cost of transport and gear, swimming from the shore is not expensive. Guided snorkelling, a glass-bottom boat or a wildlife cruise will be a bigger line item. With remote accommodation, fuel and food at places like Ningaloo the activity itself may not be the largest part of the bill.
We cannot in good conscience put 2026 figures to this and risk misleading anyone given that prices change. Put in for an itemised AUD total that includes booking and cancellation fees, transfers, hire, park entry where due and covers all the adults and children.
Follow A Simple Map
In Ningaloo you have two bases: Exmouth to the north and Coral Bay to the south. From Exmouth you can drive to Cape Range sites. Do not consider them adjoining suburbs; allow for realistic driving time and see to fuel and food in between.
For a break from Perth one might make for the ferry to Rottnest and from there put in some walking or cycling to get to a bay or two. But a day trip to both the Margaret River Region to the south and Cervantes to the north is not to be done in a rush.
Some Questions on the Reef
The following are to help with the decisions most families come to before they book. They should be taken as a framework for planning, not a guarantee for any given day, since operator rules and conditions are what count.
Err on the side of an easy exit, shelter and supervision if in any doubt. The coral is not going anywhere once the wind has died down.
Suitable Activities for Families?
You will find shallow beach swimming, a glass-bottom boat or a guided kayak outing to be strong options as will a wildlife cruise of an age-appropriate nature and shore snorkelling under watch. Go with what suits the least confident of the party.
Is it possible for children to snorkel at Ningaloo?
They can at the right locations provided they can swim, the conditions are right and there is an adult close by. Minimum ages and competency standards are set by the tour operators, so confirm the rules with them.
Non-swimmers and coral?
The family option in Coral Bay is a glass-bottom boat. Some tours will let non-swimmers stay on board while others go in, but you will need to check before you book.
Exmouth or Coral Bay?
Families wanting a compact, beach oriented stay will do better in Coral Bay. For a wider driving itinerary and more services Exmouth is preferable.
Reef activities in the vicinity of Perth?
Rottnest Island is a ferry ride away and has coastal wildlife, kid-friendly snorkelling and the like. There are metropolitan beaches to be had too, but the day’s conditions will tell you if snorkelling is on.
Enjoy the Day
A good reef trip is one where the children are left with their curiosity intact and none the worse for wear. Be simple in Coral Bay, varied in Exmouth, measured in your approach to Turquoise Bay and of Rottnest make a manageable part of the Perth holiday.
Be flexible, let the weather have its say and follow the official line. Pack some snacks, give the life jackets a once over and expect to find sand in the car before you have made it out of the car park.