We arrived in the early afternoon and found reception busy, with three staff members checking guests in and answering enquiries. After having a look around, it was easy to see why. This is a large caravan park and, during peak season, it handles a lot of visitors.

Coral Bay is a popular destination from April through to October, so booking well in advance is highly recommended if you want to secure a site.

Our Experience

Ningaloo Coral Bay Bayview felt more practical than spacious. It works well as a base for exploring Coral Bay, especially if you’re travelling with a dog and need one of the few pet-friendly options available. One of the biggest advantages is the location, with the beach, shops, bakery, tours, and other facilities all within easy walking distance.

We were allocated a site in the overflow section behind the shops. It is a little further from the pool, playground, and some of the main shared facilities, although these are not facilities we typically use anyway.

This section has its own amenities and washing machine. While the amenities are not the best we have seen, especially at this price point, they were reasonably clean and functional during our stay.

From what we could see, dogs are also allowed in parts of the main campground, although the number of pet-friendly sites may be limited during busy periods.

The sites were level and grassy, which made setup straightforward, and the Telstra reception was excellent, with full-strength 5G throughout our stay. On the downside, the sites are fairly tight and the campground feels quite packed in.

The water setup is another thing worth knowing before you arrive. There is no direct potable water connection to caravans. Artesian bore water is available throughout the campground, but it is not recommended for connection to your caravan. If you need drinking water, you will need to use the bulk filling station or fill containers from designated taps around the campground.

Fresh water for caravans is available from the filling station and is charged at $1 per 10 litres. First 20L free as part of your booking.

If you need pet minding services, there appear to be several options available in Coral Bay. However, be prepared for the cost, as prices seem to start at around $100 per day and increase from there.

This is an expensive place to stay, but once you arrive it is easy to understand why. The Ningaloo Reef is spectacular, and the remoteness of Coral Bay means that everything comes at a premium.

Activities

Coral Bay is all about the water. Swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and reef tours are the main attractions, and the town is set up around them.

The beaches have a gentle slope and are well suited to those who are less confident in the water. The protection provided by the reef also means there is generally very little wave action, making conditions calm and enjoyable for swimming and snorkelling.

During our stay we joined the Ningaloo Nature Tour half-day tour, which ended up running a little longer than expected, although that was not a bad thing.

If you enjoy snorkelling, Five Fingers Reef is worth a visit. Access is via a sandy track, so a 4WD is recommended. The effort is rewarded with excellent snorkelling opportunities.

You can also snorkel directly from the main Coral Bay beach. The reef is a little further offshore, but it is still easily accessible and gives visitors the chance to experience Ningaloo Reef without needing a tour.

Some Pics

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Thanks for reading Ningaloo Corla Bay Review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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