Cape Range National Park is the terrestrial part of the Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The submerged part of the North West Cape has a diverse and abundant marine life with colourful underwater scenery, whereas the park is formed by rugged and arid land. Red limestone cliffs, incised by deep gorges, are impressive. In the eastern part of the park, a road located twenty kilometres south of Exmouth follows the razor-backed ridges and provides breathtaking views of the Charles Knife Canyons. One could easily believe they were in the Grand Canyon. There are several lookouts along the way that provide fantastic photo opportunities. Photographers and nature lovers may have found their paradise here. The western part of the park, meanwhile, gradually flattens out as it approaches the coast, giving way to the pristine white sand beaches of the Ningaloo Reef. Both the wildlife and the flora are very rich. That said, a visit in late winter is preferable to be sure to see the animals and wildflowers.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).

In addition to our visit to Coral Bay, we joined a snorkelling tour in Exmouth. Like Coral Bay, Exmouth also offers the opportunity to snorkel on the Ningaloo Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were delighted to join Ningaloo Ecology Cruises on their Glass Bottom Boat tour which allowed us to get up close and personal with the natural wonders of the reef. As you glide through the crystal clear water you can marvel at the colourful and 1,000 years old coral, swim with turtles and tropical fish. They offer a few different tour options ranging from coral viewing and snorkelling to exclusive tours that can be tailored to your needs. The moment you book with them the tour is guaranteed regardless of numbers. This is how much your hosts, Alek and Gina, love their "office"! It is easy to see why and we have no doubt that you will enjoy this cruise as much as we did!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Ningaloo Ecology Cruises.

Exmouth is a small coastal town of 2,500 inhabitants located at the north end of the Ningaloo Coast. This small Western Australian town is a magnet for tourists from all around the world each year between April and July when they come to swim with the whale sharks. Its beaches and snorkeling sites are easily accessible throughout the year. Beyond the underwater wonders of the Ningaloo, note that Exmouth is a few minutes drive away from the grandiose landscape of the Cape Range National Park. Exmouth is also a communication base for the U.S. and Australian Navy and has been since the 60s. Better to have your own vehicle to explore the surroundings. Nature lovers are in heaven!

Termite mounds, which can be seen very easily along the roads in northern Western Australia and Northern Territory, are quite a spectacular and natural phenomenon that reminds us of the anthills of New South Wales. The bush is filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of what often resembles a new form of Pinnacles. Neither form nor color are regular. These mounds can reach up to two meters high, especially in the Litchfield National Park. Inside, the complexity of the structure of these nests, allowing temperature control is equally fascinating.

Coral Bay activities are mainly ocean oriented, but there is an exception. Coral Bay Ecotours, in addition to its Whale Shark Tour, Marine Eco Tour and Glass Bottom Boat Tours, also offers Quad Bike adventures. It is ideal for exploring the pristine beaches, bush tracks and sand dunes unknown to most tourists. Whether it is to admire the sunset on the horizon or to see turtles from cliff tops feeding in shallow waters just metres from the shore, each tour available offers interaction with nature. From our side, we tried the Snorkel Sunset tour. The quads are automatic, thus very easy to drive. A very pleasant activity that we recommend you try!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Coral Bay Ecotours.

Coral Bay is a marine paradise on the Ningaloo Coast. With its coral reefs and underwater species that roam the seabed a few hundred metres away from the coast, it is the ideal place to practice snorkeling. Rather than go blindly, you can join a tour organized by local tour operators such as Coral Bay Ecotours whose Marine Ecotour is an activity not to be missed (and we have not missed it!). Slip into your wetsuit, mask and snorkel and throw yourself into the water once your guides give you the green light. The coral reef is amazing. Approach and see hundreds of fish and turtles that evolve in their natural environment, it is something really magical. But this is nothing compared to the experience that awaits you later on this tour when you come to swim with the largest ray on Earth: the manta ray. Unlike whale sharks, manta rays are present on the reef all year round. Beyond this unique experience, this adventure lasts for a period of five to six hours and also includes the loan of all equipment, a hearty snack and refreshments. You will be blown away!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Coral Bay Ecotours.

Located at the southern end of the Ningaloo Coast, Coral Bay and looks like a huge camping ground. This small-scale community is really relaxed. It is also one of Western Australia's premier family holiday destinations. One can walk easily around town and the schedule type of each visitor alternates between lazing on the magnificent pristine white beach of the bay, snorkelling around the coral reef or taking part in the various activities offered by local tour operators. We loved it and we ended up staying two days longer than originally planned.

Here is a new found love of exceptional beauty! Ningaloo Coast, recognized as one of the last great ocean paradises, stretches 300 kilometers between Shark Bay and Exmouth. From the shore, the banks offer dreamy scenery. Under water, where the colour could not be more perfect (photo), there are a multitude of marine species including barracudas, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, sharks and turtles. The region is also famous for hosting 300-500 whale sharks each year, the largest fish in the world. Between March and July, visitors from around the world flock to the Ningaloo Coast for the experience of a lifetime: a swim with whale sharks. This is the only place in the world where these giants of the sea are easily accessible and are returning in large numbers near the coast with the precision of a Swiss watch. Unfortunately we missed it because we were in the area out of season. Finally, the Ningaloo Coast is also famous for its world class reef composed of not less than 300 coral species, over 700 species of reef fish (including Nemo), about 650 species of molluscs, nearly 600 species of crustaceans and more than 1000 species of seaweed. A mask and snorkel are enough to observe all this at only a hundred metres away from the shore! For all these reasons, the Ningaloo Coast in 2011 became the 19th Australian site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

We started the beginning of our travels with a visit to Byron Bay, where the lighthouse is the easternmost point of Australia. Today, we are at Steep Point in Shark Bay. It is the westernmost point of Australia. But the place is also extremely famous because it is one of the world's most successful land based game fishing locations. Spectacular scenery with Zuytdorp Cliffs, almost 200 metres above the ocean, is the icing on the cake. Note that the access to Steep Point is by 4WD only. Unless you prefer to take off for a scenic flight (photo) which might take your breath away.

We have been sharing with you the most spectacular corners of Shark Bay that we have discovered lately. Today we take off and gain altitude with Shark Bay Air Charter to admire these from the sky. We feel privileged to fly over this breathtaking scenery, part of UNESCO World Heritage. The company based at Denham Airport offers eight different flights, lasting from 15 minutes to a full day. The overview of the birridas of François Peron National Park is particularly impressive. In the bay, the ocean is so clear and shallow that it is also possible to see sharks and other marine species which frequent the turquoise waters. Enough to blow you away! Flights are available 7 days a week, subject to weather conditions.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Shark Bay Air Charter.

Found inside the Francois Peron National Park many traces of gypsum claypans, better known as the birridas which were landlocked saline lakes when sea levels were much higher than at present. In some places, such as Big Lagoon (photo), the rise in sea level has however allowed the formation of shallow inland bays. The turquoise water makes the place beautiful. The best way to explore the area is probably a kayak ride. With a little more budget, you can also take to the air, and opt for a scenic flight over the park and Shark Bay departing from Denham Airport.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).

Francois Peron National Park is located on the road to Monkey Mia, four kilometres after Denham. Renowned for its dramatic landscapes, certainly the most stunning scenery you will see in Shark Bay, the park is accessible by 4WD only. If you do not have your own personal vehicle, do not hesitate to join a tour departing from Denham to be sure not to miss this natural show. Allow at least a day, if not two, for the visit. Actually you will find a few designated basic campsites in the park. After driving across the park, you will arrive at Cape Peron (photo), where striking rust red sand dunes give way to pristine white beaches and a crystal blue ocean. The place reminds us of this incredible beach located on Kangaroo Island. As in Eagle Bluff, it is also possible to view Shark Bay's abundant marine life from the top of the cliffs. During our visit, we attended a manta rays ballet. Truly a must see for nature lovers!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).

Two Indigenous Australians fishermen took the habit of throwing fish to the dolphins on their way back to the shore. Later, in the 60s, a visitor started to feed the dolphins from the beach, strengthening a little more the connection between dolphins and humans. Nowadays, the dolphins seem tame and swim to shore to interact with humans on a daily basis in Monkey Mia (30 kilometres North East of Denham). This daily ritual, which it is possible to attend and take part in, gives Monkey Mia its worldwide fame. As these bottlenose dolphins are wild, the time of their visit varies. However, they usually visit the shore two to three times per day between 7:30 and 12:00. There is a small fee to enter the reserve, but the activity itself is free. This is the only place in Australia where this phenomenon happens and it is with no doubt one of the most popular experiences in Shark Bay!

We continue our discovery of Shark Bay's wonders part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. After leaving Shell Beach, we head closer to Denham. On the way, we stop at Eagle Bluff. A very short walk takes you on top of a cliff, where you have access to a quite extraordinary coastal scenery. The bay directly under your feet is so shallow and the water so clear that you can actually view all the marine life of the area. It is one of the best places in Shark Bay for this kind of viewing. Thus in a few minutes, no need to wait for too long, we saw rays, turtles and sharks.

Shell Beach is an extraordinary place, halfway between Denham and Hamelin Pool. This beach stretches for over 120 kilometers. At first glance, one would think it is made ​​of pristine white sand. In reality, it is a beach made up entirely of billions of tiny cockle shells which have been drifting in for about 4,000 years. There are so many of them that this rather unusual surface can reach up to ten meters deep. In the past shells were used to construct some buildings which has become historical in Denham. Being located in the heart of Shark Bay, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1991, it is now forbidden to remove any of these shells. On a still day, the water at Shell Beach transforms into a palette of the most intense greens and blues. A must see!

Shark Bay is located in Western Australia approximately 800 kilometers north of Perth. The region, part of UNESCO World Heritage List, is home to many many protected areas and conservation reserves. At the southern part of the bay, 90 kilometers from Denham, is Hamelin Pool. This site is well known around the world for hosting stromatolites (photo), colonies of micro-organisms that resemble the oldest and simplest forms of life found on earth around 3.5 billion years ago. A boardwalk allows you to get really close to the best show of its kind on the planet. Note that it is not possible to touch the stromatolites or swim in this environment. Swimming is possible at Shell Beach, an incredible beach which is only 50 kilometers north.

Kalbarri National Park, located about 500 kilometers north of Perth, occupies an area of ​​183,000 hectares a few kilometers away from impressive coastal cliffs. This is one of the most spectacular parks in Western Australia. Nature has carved breathtaking landscapes including Murchison River Gorge which is over 400 million years old. Short walks provide easy access to lookouts overlooking the wilderness. There are also many longer trails available for hiking enthusiasts. One of the park's main attractions is probably Nature's Window (photo), a natural arch with a beautiful view over the valley. Be careful, as often in the outback, there is no drinking water in the park. So do not forget to always carry your own, especially here, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

Kalbarri is seven hours drive north of Perth, where the outback meets with the Indian Ocean. With its warm and sunny days, its incredible scenery and its tranquility, the region is a popular destination for the people of Western Australia. Make sure to venture along spectacular coastal cliffs a few kilometers south of the city. These rock formations are also reminiscent of the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. If possible, visit this part of the Coral Coast between July and October. Not only you can watch the colorful show offered by more than 1,000 varieties of blooming wildflowers, but you will certainly be lucky enough to see humpback whales migrating with their calves.

We love going off the beaten track during our road trip around Australia. You should consider it as well during your travels. Tourist guides are ok but they do not tell you everything. And between you and us, we have seen the Sydney Opera House at great length. Luckily, iPhoneography Oz is here for you to discover places unknown to the general public. Do you remember the colorful cliffs of Red Banks on Kangaroo Island? Well after the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, here is another coloured lake that has caught our attention. Hutt Lagoon is a salt lake that lies north of the Pinnacles, near the coast between Geraldton and Kalbarri, more than 500 kilometers north of Perth. Its pink colour is striking. It is mainly due to the significant presence in the water of... carotene. Which is reassuring! We almost thought it was due to pollution after coming across a gate, on our way there, signed with the logo of a major international chemical group.

Hidden around Australia are some surprises that are just as unusual as they are beautiful. The Pinnacles are one of those wonders of nature which really pose the question of how they got there. It is located in the Nambung National Park, easily accessible, two hours drive north of Perth. Standing there is like being on the moon in front of a fascinating natural show, perhaps one of the most impressive in Australia. There are thousands of limestone formations, like natural standing stones made from seashells forming needles like structures from a few centimeters to five meters in height. Their age is estimated to be over 30,000 years. Photographers will appreciate the light at sunrise or sunset.