Western Australia Tourism & Accommodation Guide

Exmouth - Whale Sharks and Ancient Landforms

One Of The World's Big Game Fishing Centres.

Exmouth, founded in 1967, is one of the newest towns in Australia - but it is already famous world-wide as a big game fishing centre. Few places on earth are blessed with the stark contrast of rugged ranges and a marine park on their doorstep. Take the time to move through Exmouth's two worlds for an unforgettable experience.

Nestling in the Exmouth Gulf by the North West Cape it is the closest sports fishing harbour in Australia to the Continental Shelf . This is a great advantage - the Shelf explains the abundance of fish and marine life in the surrounding waters.

Big game charter skippers sailing out of Exmouth know these waters well and serious sportsmen from Britain, the US, Europe, Japan and Africa come here to charter their boats and take advantage of the proliferation of fish. Commercial fishermen also take advantage of the port an its closeness to the Continental Shelf and a fleet of prawn trawlers use Exmouth as its base.

The area also provides ideal underwater diving for the experienced diver and there is also good surfing on Surfers Beach, 17 kilometres from the town. There is a wide variety of safari tours exploring the drama and grandeur of the coastline and the hinterland, and, in common with the North West coast, there are many beautiful safe bathing and fishing beaches.

The Backpackers Guide to WA says:-
Exmouth, nestled on the eastern side of North West Cape, has two "backpackers", seven caravan parks, two hotels and several lodges. Budget priced meals are available from a pizza bar, fish and chip shop, Chinese restaurant, and a local café, along with the usual counter meals.

The former U.S. Naval Communications station at North West Cape is a major tourist attraction with its huge communications towers dominating the skyline. The highest of the thirteen towers soars to 388 metres and is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere.

No trip to Exmouth could be complete without a visit to Cape Range National Park, forty two kilometres from Exmouth. The stark limestone ranges, gorges and sparkling blue ocean and white sand make for spectacular viewing. There are several safaris and bus tours of the park. Whilst there, a visit to the Mylering Visitor Centre is recommended.

Exmouth is a mecca for scuba divers and snorkelling for it is home to the giant whale shark and divers from all corners of the world visit the tiny north west town to see and photograph the world’s largest fish which come in to feed on the plankton and blooms from the coral in the reef from March through May.

Summer signals the start of the turtle nesting season when hundreds of turtles on their annual pilgrimage make their nests in the warm sand and lay their eggs. Regular tours are run to catch the activity. Another attraction is the giant manta rays that can often be seen cruising around the reef.

The Navy Pier has been voted one of Australia’s best ten diving sites. Here visitors can mix with schools of fish including huge groper (to 1500 lbs), moray eel and many others.

There is much more to do and see in and around Exmouth as well as a multitude of tours (both land and sea) that the local tourist bureau will advise on or make the appropriate bookings.

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