Ningaloo Reef Trip
JBK's Matt and Ross and some of our JBK Paddlers Club Members are back from an unforgettable week paddling and snorkeling the Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth in northwest WA.
JBK's Matt and Ross and some of our JBK Paddlers Club Members are back from an unforgettable week paddling and snorkeling the Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth in northwest WA.
Syd balancing on the kayak after an offshore snorkel.Great Face.
After a couple of comfortable flights from Sydney up to Exmouth, Monday saw us embark on our adventure into the Cape Range National Park to set up our 'home sweet home' base camp just 100m behind the sand dunes that protect the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Reef Lagoon. We were pleasantly surprised with some of the creature comforts on offer, especially a couple of Eskies full of ice to keep our drinks cool after a long day's paddling. There was no sitting around though once home base was organised, as it was straight into 5k warm up paddle and offshore snorkel to give us a taste of the week that was to come. It was certainly a new experience for Matt to anchor his kayak 2km offshore, tie a couple of others onto it, them jump out and swim away!
Taking a break at Sandy Bay
On
Tuesday and Wednesday the group was treated to some of the finest
paddling and snorkeling Australia has to offer as we made our way
northwards along the fringing coral reefs that characterise this
special part of the world. We put in around 15km each day, punctuated
by great food at each break, beautiful beaches and fantastic snorkeling sites which kept getting better as the week progressed. 
I
think I can speak for everyone in saying Thursday was one of the
highlights of the week (not just for the bacon and egg breakfast).
It's not just about paddling in this part of the world, some of the
walking tracks that take in the ancient gorges that slice through the
Cape Range are more than worth seeing. After a spectacular 2hr trek
through the Munda Munda Gorge it was back into the water for a quick
snorkel, a well deserved icecream at the Milyering Visitors Centre,
and a bit more paddling to my favourite spot of the week, the
Lakeside Bomboras, where we had some close encounters with a couple
of the friendliest turtles you could ever meet.
Sunrise
on Friday morning was a treat. As most of our intrepid group of 11
had opted to sleep under the stars in a swag, we were greeted with
the sight of a purple then red then orange then yellow sky as the sun
slowly rose over the range. We reluctantly packed up the campsite and
paddled for the last time, ticking over our 50th km of the
week as we pulled into Mangrove Bay, a haven for stingrays, turtles
and a diverse range of birdlife including Osprey and Sea Eagles.
We were all a bit sad to come to the end of the paddling trip, however there was a sense of great anticipation as Saturday was the day of the Whale Shark snorkeling cruise with 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive. An experience snorkeling with Whale Sharks is on many travelers' 'bucket list', and despite the slightly stiff breeze on the day, there was no shortage of excitement as our lauch the Draw Card motored through the outer reef in search of the giants. As the spotter plane circled overhead, excitement reached a peak when an 8m male Whale Shark was spotted and our group slipped into the water in front of it for a sight we won't ever forget as the shark gracefully cruised past.
We were all a bit sad to come to the end of the paddling trip, however there was a sense of great anticipation as Saturday was the day of the Whale Shark snorkeling cruise with 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive. An experience snorkeling with Whale Sharks is on many travelers' 'bucket list', and despite the slightly stiff breeze on the day, there was no shortage of excitement as our lauch the Draw Card motored through the outer reef in search of the giants. As the spotter plane circled overhead, excitement reached a peak when an 8m male Whale Shark was spotted and our group slipped into the water in front of it for a sight we won't ever forget as the shark gracefully cruised past.
We swam with two more sharks before the day was
finished, another male which was nearly 9m long, and a very friendly
girl shark which kindly circled our group allowing for everyone to
get a fantastic view and some photos that will go straight to the
pool room!
JBK Paddlers - Swimming with Whale Sharks
It
was a wonderful end to what had been a huge week for all of us. The
Team at JBK would like to thank all of those on who accompanied us on
the trip; Peter T, Karen, Bev, Peter H, Barry, Angela, Di and Sidney.
Ross and I both had a great time and I'm sure everyone will agree we
couldn't have asked for better traveling friends.
We
would love to also thank Neridah, our guide from Capricorn Sea
Kayaking whose expert knowledge of the Ningaloo Reef, chef quality
cooking skills, eagle eyes and tireless attention to the smaller
details made the trip so enjoyable.
Best Regards
Matt Goodwin - JBK Sea Kayaking Instructor / Guide
Best Regards
Matt Goodwin - JBK Sea Kayaking Instructor / Guide
