Scenic flights
Scenic flightsLift off from the Exmouth airstrip and see the full sweep of Ningaloo from above — turquoise lagoons, ribbon coral, and the dark shapes of whale sharks and whales below.
From the ground the near-300 km reef is dazzling but hard to grasp; from the air the whole picture snaps into focus — the reef edge marked by white surf, the lagoon’s gradient from aqua to deep blue, the red flank of Cape Range, and the contrast between arid land and brilliant water.
Small fixed-wing aircraft from the Exmouth light aircraft strip trace the coast at low altitude, with pilots who double as marine spotters. A typical flight passes Yardie Gorge, Turquoise Bay, the lighthouse, the shipwreck, the VLF towers, the Navy Pier and town; longer "cape to cape" flights push south to Point Cloates and the old Norwegian Bay whaling station.
The magic is the perspective on wildlife — whale sharks and whales that are elusive from a boat are often easiest to appreciate from above, and pilots bank the aircraft so everyone gets a look.
When to go
Year-round; wildlife-spotting best aligned with the marine calendar — whale sharks ~March–August, humpbacks ~June–October (July–August the standout). Sunset flights are popular in the warmer months.
See the full when-to-visit calendar →Experiences
How it works
- Operated by charter companies (Ningaloo Aviation is the main Exmouth specialist) — pilot-guided, no self-guided option.
- Options range from ~60-minute reef flights to a ~90-minute 'cape to cape'; sunset flights too.
- Small aircraft (a window seat for everyone); weight limits and pre-booking apply.
Book a tour
Ningaloo AviationNingaloo Aviation — scenic flightsFixed-wing reef flights from the Exmouth strip — 60 min to Cape to Cape.Tour operator
Birds Eye ViewBirds Eye View NingalooOpen-cockpit microlight flights over the reef — 30–90 min, wing-cam photos included.Tour operator
Independent listings.
More things to do
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