Exmouth at a glance
Exmouth is a small town on the North West Cape in Western Australia. The Shire of Exmouth gives its distance as 1,270 km north of Perth. Most visitors use it as a base. Tour boats leave from the Boat Harbour, many tours collect guests at town accommodation, and Cape Range National Park is a drive away from town.
This page covers the town, the harbour, the distances to the main sights and what is worth confirming before you come. The sights themselves have their own pages, linked below.
Distances from Exmouth
Published distances, not door-to-door driving times.
| Place | Distance from Exmouth | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Learmonth Airport | About 36 km | Qantas flights from Perth. Not the same as the Exmouth Aerodrome. |
| Exmouth Boat Harbour | About 2 km south of the centre | Fishing, charter and leisure boats, public boat ramp |
| Charles Knife turn-off | About 22 km, 20 minutes south | Winding mountain road with a gravel section |
| Milyering Discovery Centre | About 54 km | In Cape Range National Park, open daily 09:00–15:45 |
| Perth | 1,270 km | Distance as published by the Shire |
For flights, the Perth bus and the road from the south, see getting to Exmouth and Ningaloo.
Our picks: tours from Exmouth
Reef days with hotel transfer and a flight from the Exmouth aerodrome.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Introductory microlight flight over the reef
A one-hour introductory flight with a qualified instructor, flight training and a photo package. The A$80 return transfer is extra and depends on availability.
Check availability →
Guided full-day snorkel adventure on the reef
Seven hours with guide photos, snorkelling gear including a seasonal wetsuit, snacks, a picnic lunch and hotel transfer. Sunscreen and a towel are not included, and at least four people are needed for it to run.
Check availability →
Half-day kayak and snorkel tour
Four hours in a double sea kayak with life jacket, snorkelling gear, wetsuit, dry bag, snacks and hotel transfer. At least four participants are needed for it to run.
Check availability →Ningaloo tours from Exmouth
Whale shark and humpback swims, reef snorkelling, kayaking and Cape Range trips, with current prices and availability.
Exmouth Boat Harbour
The Boat Harbour is about 2 km south of the town centre. It is used by commercial fishing boats, charter boats and leisure boats. There are two sealed public car parks north of the harbour and a public boat ramp. The toilet and shower block at the charter berths is for berth users only, not for the public.
The state transport department lists repair works at the harbour after Cyclone Narelle. The harbour stays open while the work goes on, and individual access points or activities may be restricted from time to time. That is not a closure of the whole marina area.
Some island snorkel trips leave from Bundegi instead. The Shire posts short road closures for maintenance on the road that leads to Bundegi Beach and the Bundegi boat ramp, so check the current notices if your trip starts there.
What is on around Exmouth, and when
Seasons are windows, not promises. Sources do not always agree, so the table shows both.
| Wildlife | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Whale sharks | March to July on one park agency page, March to August on another | See the whale shark guide |
| Humpback whales | June to November for whales in the area, August to December for migration | Swim tours run roughly August to October and are licensed. See humpback whales |
| Manta rays off Exmouth | Most animals from May to November | Not a year-round swim from Exmouth |
| Turtle nesting | November to March | Nesting beaches lie south of Vlamingh Head |
| Stingers | Possible from November to April | Ask locally before you swim |
Learmonth Airport, the nearest weather station, averages a daily high of 38.1 °C in January and 24.5 °C in July. The official cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. The weather and best time page has the full month table.
After Cyclone Narelle
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle struck earlier in 2026. The Shire reports that road access restrictions were lifted on 8 April 2026, that the Learmonth terminals reopened and that Qantas scheduled flights resumed. It also asks visitors to confirm their accommodation before they travel, because rebuilding and limited capacity can continue. See where to stay in Exmouth.
That does not mean every campground or sight is open. Some park campgrounds on the station coast are closed with no reopening date, and you should check each place you plan to visit. On the reef, a research institute modelled waves of up to 11 m at the northern Ningaloo reef during the cyclone and expects severe damage. That is a model result, not a survey of the whole reef. A marine heatwave in 2024 and 2025 had already caused heavy bleaching at some Ningaloo sites, so do not expect a fully recovered reef everywhere.
Beyond the town
Where to go next from Exmouth.
Swimming with whale sharks
Season, rules and what a tour includes.
Cape Range National Park
Fees, gorges, beaches and camping bookings.
Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
A sunset lookout north of the town.
Canyon views are on the Charles Knife road, and the full list of activities is on the things to do page. If you want a second base further down the coast, Coral Bay has its own guide, including its manta ray trips.
Exmouth: frequently asked questions
Where is Exmouth?
On the North West Cape in Western Australia. The Shire of Exmouth gives the distance as 1,270 km north of Perth.
Is Learmonth Airport the same as Exmouth Airport?
No. Qantas flights from Perth land at Learmonth Airport, about 36 km from Exmouth. The Exmouth Aerodrome is a separate airfield. Check which one your booking uses.
Do I need a car in Exmouth?
Tours that collect guests at town accommodation cover tour days. One operator does not collect from Cape Range campgrounds and uses the Tantabiddi boat ramp as the meeting point. For self-guided days at the beaches, arrange your own transport and check what is available before you arrive.
What does it cost to enter Cape Range National Park?
Published in 2026: A$17 per vehicle with up to 12 people, A$10 reduced. Passes and other rates are on the Cape Range National Park page.
When is the best time to visit Exmouth?
It depends on what you want to see. Whale sharks, humpbacks, mantas and turtles have different windows, and summer is hot and falls in cyclone season. The weather page compares them.