Exmouth Road Trip, Part III: Monkey Mia to Exmouth

Hi everyone! Just a quick life update: I’ve been getting settled into a new routine as an au pair, which is kind of like a live-in nanny role 🙂 I’m working for a family near Fremantle and am having a blast!

I know it’s been months since I went on this trip and I’m getting ready to go on another but wanted to share the last (and best) leg with you guys. Anyway, sorry for the long delay!

Coral Bay | Ningaloo Reef

Sadly, the Ningaloo is one of the world’s last healthy coral reefs. The reef is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna and is known for its’ annual visits from whale sharks.

Under the bright turquoise water of the Indian Ocean is an ecosystem of colorful coral, whale sharks, sea turtles, sea cucumbers, parrot fish, angel fish, reef sharks and many other sea creatures. We visited two sites. The first was called a cleaning station, where larger animals and smaller organisms engage a symbiotic relationship; tiny organisms and bacteria clean the teeth and gills of animals like sharks and turtles. Our second stop was to swim with a manta ray, located via spotter plane.

Snorkelling with a manta ray in the Ningaloo Reef was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It was surreal to hop off a boat and look into another world…I’m itching to do it again! Coral bleaching wasn’t a problem when I visited in April 2019.

Exmouth | Turquoise Bay

The town of Exmouth (1,200 km north of Perth) is surprisingly small, but the small family-run businesses and friendly locals made the experience homey. The town doesn’t have massive hotels or fancy casinos, but it does have the most incredible beaches I’ve ever seen and also has access to the Ningaloo.

It was pretty overcast the day we visited Turquoise Bay, and it didn’t have the same bright blue hue, but I did see a blue-spotted stingray!

We camped in the bush at Ned’s campground and…omg. No showers, running water, electricity, and ants the size of a housekey populated the red soil. This was real Aussie bush camping! If you enjoy going off the grid, this is the place for you! Otherwise, make sure you have good company. I also saw one of the most incredible sunsets here. 🌅

Exmouth | Oyster Stacks

So I really REALLY need to get a GoPro or other action cam, because I have no pictures of this place. But trust me when I say this: the Oyster Stacks are a must-see hidden gem (and it’s free). Just jump off the rocky shore and look down to see coral formations and swim amongst schools of tropical fish!

Thank you for reading!

Your Georgia peach,

Christina ❤️