Ningaloo Coast


World Heritage Identification Number: 1369

World Heritage since: 2011

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Continent: Oceania

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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Exploring the Biodiverse Ningaloo Coast: A Unique Marine and Terrestrial World Heritage Site

The Ningaloo Coast, located in the remote northwest coastal region of Western Australia, is a remarkable World Heritage Site that boasts a unique combination of marine and terrestrial landscapes. Spanning over 705,015 hectares, the Ningaloo Coast is situated approximately 1,200 kilometers north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The 604,500 hectare marine and terrestrial property of Ningaloo Coast, on the remote western coast of Australia, includes one of the longest near-shore reefs in the world. On land the site features an extensive karst system and network of underground caves and water courses. Annual gatherings of whale sharks occur at Ningaloo Coast, which is home to numerous marine species, among them a wealth of sea turtles. The terrestrial part of the site features subterranean water bodies with a substantial network of caves, conduits, and groundwater streams. They support a variety of rare species that contribute to the exceptional biodiversity of the marine and terrestrial site

Encyclopedia Record: Ningaloo Coast

The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia. The 705,015-hectare (1,742,130-acre) heritage-listed area is located approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. The distinctive Ningaloo Reef that fringes the Ningaloo Coast is 260 kilometres (160 mi) long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass. The Muiron Islands and Cape Farquhar are within this coastal zone.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 705,015 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity

Coordinates: -22.5625 , 113.8102777778

Image

Image of Ningaloo Coast

© W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Shark Bay, Western Australia
327 km — Australia
Murujuga Cultural Landscape
370 km — Australia

Country Information: Australia

Flag of Australia

Official Name: Commonwealth of Australia

Capital: Canberra

Continent: Oceania

Population (2024): 27,204,809

Population (2023): 26,652,777

Population (2022): 26,014,399

Land Area: 7,692,020 sq km

Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Ningaloo Coast are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Ningaloo Coast, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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