Ningaloo Marine Park

🇦🇺 Australia

🐢 Australia Best Sea Turtles
🌍 #56 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #1 in Oceania #2 in Desert & Scrub
Australia, Australia 627 spp. recorded

Ningaloo Marine Park stretches along the arid desert and dry scrub coast of Western Australia, where red dunes and limestone cliffs meet the Indian Ocean. This protected marine and coastal reserve is famous for its vibrant coral reefs sitting just offshore, creating a striking contrast between dry terrestrial habitats and rich marine waters.

-21.760° S   114.224° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

60–70% · Likely
Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Dugong ★
VU

Dugong

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dugong dugon

20–30% · Possible
Hawksbill ★
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Silver Gull
Endemic

Silver Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

70–80% · Very likely
Bluespotted Fantail Ray

Bluespotted Fantail Ray

Shark / Ray

Taeniura lymma

70–80% · Very likely
Singing Honeyeater
LC Endemic

Singing Honeyeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavicalis virescens

70–80% · Very likely
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

60–70% · Likely
Black-flanked Rock-wallaby
VU Endemic

Black-flanked Rock-wallaby

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Petrogale lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Crested Pigeon
LC Endemic

Crested Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ocyphaps lophotes

60–70% · Likely
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

60–70% · Likely
Pied Butcherbird
LC Endemic

Pied Butcherbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cracticus nigrogularis

50–60% · Likely
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

Shark / Ray

Mobula alfredi

50–60% · Likely
Broad Cowtail Stingray

Broad Cowtail Stingray

Shark / Ray

Pastinachus ater

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-throated Miner
LC Endemic

Yellow-throated Miner

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Manorina flavigula

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Dugong ★
VU

Dugong

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dugong dugon

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Black-flanked Rock-wallaby
VU Endemic

Black-flanked Rock-wallaby

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Petrogale lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Black Flying-fox
LC

Black Flying-fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pteropus alecto

30–40% · Possible
Wallaroo

Wallaroo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macropus robustus

30–40% · Possible
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
NT

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops aduncus

10–20% · With luck
Spinifex Hopping Mouse
LC Endemic

Spinifex Hopping Mouse

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Notomys alexis

10–20% · With luck
Australian Humpback Dolphin
VU

Australian Humpback Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sousa sahulensis

10–20% · With luck
Killer Whale

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

5–10% · With luck
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data
Blue Flier (Females)

Blue Flier (Females)

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macropus rufus

Insufficient data
Fat-tailed False Antechinus
LC Endemic

Fat-tailed False Antechinus

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis

Insufficient data
Stripe-faced Dunnart
LC Endemic

Stripe-faced Dunnart

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sminthopsis macroura

Insufficient data
Short-beaked Echidna
LC

Short-beaked Echidna

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tachyglossus aculeatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Silver Gull
Endemic

Silver Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

70–80% · Very likely
Singing Honeyeater
LC Endemic

Singing Honeyeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gavicalis virescens

70–80% · Very likely
Crested Pigeon
LC Endemic

Crested Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ocyphaps lophotes

60–70% · Likely
Pied Butcherbird
LC Endemic

Pied Butcherbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cracticus nigrogularis

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-throated Miner
LC Endemic

Yellow-throated Miner

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Manorina flavigula

50–60% · Likely
Little Corella
LC

Little Corella

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cacatua sanguinea

40–50% · Likely
Australian Kestrel
LC

Australian Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco cenchroides

40–50% · Likely
Eastern Osprey

Eastern Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion cristatus

40–50% · Likely
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

40–50% · Likely
Torresian Crow
LC

Torresian Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus orru

40–50% · Likely
Pacific Reef Heron
LC

Pacific Reef Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta sacra

40–50% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

60–70% · Likely
Hawksbill ★
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Long-nosed Water Dragon
LC

Long-nosed Water Dragon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Gowidon longirostris

40–50% · Likely
Children's Python
LC Endemic

Children's Python

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Antaresia childreni

20–30% · Possible
Perentie
LC Endemic

Perentie

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus giganteus

20–30% · Possible
Dwarf Bearded Dragon
LC Endemic

Dwarf Bearded Dragon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pogona minor

20–30% · Possible
Olive Sea Snake
LC

Olive Sea Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aipysurus laevis

20–30% · Possible
Northern Spiny-tailed Gecko
LC Endemic

Northern Spiny-tailed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Strophurus ciliaris

20–30% · Possible
Mulga Snake
LC Endemic

Mulga Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pseudechis australis

20–30% · Possible
Common Prickly Gecko
LC Endemic

Common Prickly Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Heteronotia binoei

20–30% · Possible
Common Knob-tailed Lizard
LC Endemic

Common Knob-tailed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Nephrurus levis

20–30% · Possible
Tree Dtella
LC Endemic

Tree Dtella

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Gehyra variegata

20–30% · Possible
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

20–30% · Possible
Western Spiny-tailed Gecko
LC Endemic

Western Spiny-tailed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Strophurus strophurus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Main's Frog

Main's Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Ranoidea maini

5–10% · With luck
Tawny Frog
LC Endemic

Tawny Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Neobatrachus fulvus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Bluespotted Fantail Ray

Bluespotted Fantail Ray

Shark / Ray

Taeniura lymma

70–80% · Very likely
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

60–70% · Likely
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

60–70% · Likely
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

Shark / Ray

Mobula alfredi

50–60% · Likely
Broad Cowtail Stingray

Broad Cowtail Stingray

Shark / Ray

Pastinachus ater

50–60% · Likely
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus melanopterus

40–50% · Likely
Zebra Shark

Zebra Shark

Shark / Ray

Stegostoma fasciatum

30–40% · Possible
Tasselled Wobbegong

Tasselled Wobbegong

Shark / Ray

Eucrossorhinus dasypogon

30–40% · Possible
Sicklefin Lemon Shark

Sicklefin Lemon Shark

Shark / Ray

Negaprion acutidens

30–40% · Possible
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Galeocerdo cuvier

30–40% · Possible
Jenkins' Whipray

Jenkins' Whipray

Shark / Ray

Pateobatis jenkinsii

30–40% · Possible
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

30–40% · Possible

Animal Events

🦎

Green Turtle Nesting Season

JanJunNov

Female green turtles come ashore to lay eggs on the park's beaches, creating nightly nesting events.

Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Humpback Whale Migration

JunJulAugSepOct

Humpback whales travel to Ningaloo's warm waters to breed and give birth, producing spectacular breaching displays.

Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
🦌

Dugong Feeding Period

JunJulAug

Dugongs graze on the rich seagrass meadows of the lagoon, often seen surfacing to feed.

Dugong
VU

Dugong

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dugong dugon

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
Green Turtle
70–80
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
40–50
Humpback Whale
20–30
5–10
5–10
<5
10–20
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
5–10
5–10
Dugong
<5
<5
<5
10–20
30–40
10–20
30–40
20–30
<5
10–20
<5
20–30
Hawksbill
<5
<5
<5
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
10–20
30–40
<5
10–20
<5
Silver Gull
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
Bluespotted Fantail Ray
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
40–50
90–100
80–90
Singing Honeyeater
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
50–60
Whale Shark
30–40
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
20–30
60–70
Black-flanked Rock-wallaby
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
30–40
Crested Pigeon
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
Whitetip Reef Shark
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
80–90
80–90
60–70
Pied Butcherbird
60–70
30–40
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Reef Manta Ray
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
60–70
Broad Cowtail Stingray
20–30
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
40–50
30–40
Welcome Swallow
30–40
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
20–30
50–60
40–50
Yellow-throated Miner
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
Animal Events
🦎 Green Turtle Nesting Season
🦌 Humpback Whale Migration
🦌 Dugong Feeding Period

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐢 Australia Best Sea Turtles

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
310
🐒 Mammals
78
🦎 Reptiles
184
🐸 Amphibians
11
🦈 Sharks & Rays
44
627 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
29 Threatened 277 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
63%
📊
Coverage (190 species at ≥5% of 627 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
30%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (5 bird, 5 elasmobranch, 1 reptile, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
85%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
91
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
19
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Ningaloo Marine Park?

The most likely sightings are Silver Gull (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Bluespotted Fantail Ray (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Singing Honeyeater (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Green Turtle (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Whale Shark (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 627 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Ningaloo Marine Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Green Turtle in Ningaloo Marine Park?

Yes — about 67% of wildlife watchers report a Green Turtle sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 196 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Humpback Whale in Ningaloo Marine Park?

Yes — about 38% of wildlife watchers report a Humpback Whale sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 59 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Dugong in Ningaloo Marine Park?

Yes — about 21% of wildlife watchers report a Dugong sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Hawksbill in Ningaloo Marine Park?

Yes — about 17% of wildlife watchers report a Hawksbill sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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