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Closed since 2023 for an unprecedented redevelopment costing more than $70M, RAC Ningaloo Reef Resort is about to nudge Coral Bay into a new era.
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The countdown is on for the opening of RAC Ningaloo Reef Resort, after a thorough transformation involving more than $70M in upgrades. When it opens – touted to be towards the end of 2026 - the beachside property will be partly running on green energy, have an increased occupancy to a maximum of 270 people, and a seriously raised standard.
The new resort will be a far cry from the accommodation of old. The Coral Bay Hotel was built on the site in 1968, nearly 60 years ago. Purchased by RAC in 2015, it operated until October 2023, when the property closed for full demolition. Wrecking balls began swinging from early 2024. The completed RAC Ningaloo Reef Resort will soon command its place on roughly the same parcel of land, facing north towards Bill’s Bay and beyond, to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef.
Along with the luxury of a heated pool and the conviviality of a new beer garden, the resort’s Club House restaurant will offer a casual dining experience with beachfront seating, as well as Solis, a more elevated dining experience with an a la carte menu showcasing WA produce and wines.
“There’ll be casual and a la carte dining and a beautiful bar overlooking one of the most beautiful spots in Coral Bay,” says Dean Massie, general manager of operations for RAC Parks & Resorts. “We’ve put a lot of work into the design. Most rooms will get a glimpse of the ocean. There’ll be large verandas so people can get out and enjoy the views. It’s practical, comfortable and typically West Australian.”
The Coral Coast’s natural elements – sun and wind – will power the resort, with no gas on the entire property. Even the kitchens will use induction stovetops, illuminated by energy-efficient LED lighting, while heat pumps will manage the temperature for hot water systems. A number of electric vehicle chargers are being installed to support EV recharging. Meanwhile, the old resort’s cotton and date palms are being replaced with less-thirsty local vegetation, reducing water needs.
“We’re conscious we’re in a windy environment, so we’ve designed the building so that it’s got natural ventilation to cut down on air conditioning,” says Massie. “That and insulation creates a cooling design and a reduction in power use.”
There will be 90 rooms to choose from, up from the original 34. Resort rooms will be dressed in timber and light colours, and walls decorated with the work of four local photographers. “The images are all of Coral Bay by drone and of landscapes and the ocean, with manta rays and stingrays, sharks, turtles, and whale sharks,” says Massie. Standard rooms will have queen and single beds, while premium versions get a king. There will also be two and three-bedroom apartments.
While the resort won’t be using a star rating, Dean says the standard and facilities will be the equivalent of a 4.5 star – in keeping with what the market is indicating it wants. “We surveyed our members and this pattern has been moving for a while,” says Massie. “With our refurbishments of our properties, the quality and standards of the rooms is at a high level and this resort will be the same.”
There will be no camping at the Coral Bay property, but for those wanting a more rustic experience, RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park has 314 camp and caravan sites, which still get the luxury of two pools, ensuite options, and a camp kitchen.
The best time to visit Coral Bay is March to October, when days are warm and sunny and wildlife swarms. If the goal is to see the “big three” of whale sharks, manta rays and humpbacks, visiting from July to August gives you the best odds of seeing all three. Otherwise, join a whale shark swim experience in either Coral Bay or Exmouth between March and June, and a humpback swimming or watching tour from July to November. Manta rays are the most reliable marine species in Coral Bay, frolicking in the clear waters year-round. Snorkelling is almost always exceptional, but the ocean is at its clearest and calmest from April to July. For those days where you need a break from salt encrusted skin, head inland for wildflower spotting, most prolific from July to September. From October to February, winds whip and temperatures peak.
Being perched opposite the ocean means that a short stroll delivers Coral Bay’s best activities – all for free. The waters here count some 500 species of fish clustering around about 250 coral species. Snorkelling to coral bommies in the translucent shallows can be a daily delight – one Dean Massie indulges in when he’s inspecting the works in progress at the resort. “I like going straight out the front at Bill’s Bay,” he says. “I also like snorkelling off to the west side of the resort; Five Fingers Reef is one of the best places to visit, in my opinion.”
Five Fingers Reef is usually reached via a drive; it’s 4.5km south of town. Back at Bill’s Bay, you can swim or kayak to a massive coral formation known as Ayre's Rock. Popular with the town’s glass bottom boat operators, it sits about 300m out from the northern end of the beach. It’s visible at low tide, but you can ask at local businesses if you need help locating it. Another fun, free activity is to bring a torch and shine it in the shallows at Bill’s Bay at night to uncover spotted lagoon rays.
A reef shark nursery can be found to the north of Bill’s Bay, about a 20min walk away. Best seen from September to March, it’s a captivating, knee-deep lagoon teeming with life. Experienced swimmers should try the drift snorkel off Paradise Beach, best visited in the early morning. Follow the sand south, past the cliffs and enter the water near the naturally forming point. Swim out about 50m from shore to gaze at coral gardens and masses of fish. With ocean temperatures around 19-22 degrees Celsius in peak season (winter), a snorkel is always a good idea. Out of the water, the 2km Coral Bay Walk Way trail traces the coastline and delivers some of its most breathtaking views. It also passes through the Pioneer and Naturalist Parks and suits most abilities.
Getting up close to the reef’s mega marine life generally requires a boat trip into deeper waters. Ningaloo draws one of the world’s largest aggregations of whale sharks close to land, making it a reliable place to see them, and while Exmouth may be known as the whale shark watching hotspot of the West, a number of vessels also run tours out of Coral Bay. Expeditions in search of the gentle giants run full days, usually about eight to 10 hours. Spotter planes target the creatures’ whereabouts and snorkellers enter the water in groups of up to 10. Strict guidelines exist to ensure no one gets too close to a whale shark. The region’s ethical approach to interactions makes it one of the most sustainable whale shark experiences on the planet.
On most whale shark tours, you’ll also get to swim with the largest species of ray in the world, the manta ray. The barbless pelagics are particularly fond of Coral Bay’s waters, and many tours offer swims alongside them as they tumble and twist as though executing a slow, graceful ballet. Standalone manta ray safaris run for half or full days, allowing more time to float in awe.
It's believed some 40,000 whales migrate past Coral Bay each year, most of them humpbacks. Ningaloo reef is the only place in WA where in-water cetacean interactions are allowed and responsibly managed. Swim tours depart town and run the whole day, with every activity guided by the whale’s whims; some are curious and playful, others are shy. Not a confident swimmer? Join as an observer instead, for a lesser fee. If you prefer to stay dry, take a glass bottom boat or subsea explorer (semi-submersible vessel) tour and gaze at Ningaloo’s wonders while seated.
There’s plenty more to do beyond Coral Bay’s must-see activities. Kayaking is ideal when winds are gentle and the water is tabletop flat. It’s easy to hire kayaks from Coral Bay’s main beach, as well as paddle boards, glass-bottom canoes, snorkels and fins. Explore at will or follow the Coral Bay Kayak Trail by setting up to four buoys in your sights. You can tie up at each of them and slide in for a snorkel; all are placed at interesting snorkel spots in the Maud Sanctuary Zone, between 300 metres and 1.8km from the shore. If you opt to do the lot, set aside about four hours.
Coral Bay also has a number of fishing charters, there are popular four-wheel drive beach buggy tours rolling over sand dunes and outback tracks, and several good four-wheel drive routes for self-drive exploration. Choose from Oyster Bridge Reef, Five Finger Reef or the off-road tracks through to Yardie Creek, towards Exmouth.
Coral Bay is a 12-hour drive north of Perth (break it up with an overnight at Geraldton or Kalbarri), or you can fly direct to Learmonth Airport, outside of Exmouth. From there, Coral Bay is about a 1.5-hour drive south.
