Getting to the Coral Coast will be a lot easier

It is about to get a whole lot easier to visit Ningaloo Reef and the Coral Coast of Western Australia.

Tourism Western Australia, the Shire of Exmouth and Qantas Australia have partnered to launch direct flights between Melbourne and Ningaloo (Learmonth Airport).

Starting in April 2023 for an initial six-month trial, two flights per week will directly connect the east coast of Australia to Exmouth in the UNESCO Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area.

Exmouth is the northern gateway to the Coral Coast region and was recently named Australia's Top Small Tourism Town for 2022.

It is a base from which to explore Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Coastal Reserves, the Ningaloo Reef and Monkey Mia.

The area is renowned for its marine interactions such as swimming with whale sharks, humpback whales and manta rays, its snorkelling and dive sites, turtle nesting areas, and the canyons and gorges of Cape Range.

David O'Malley, Australia's Coral Coast's CEO, welcomed the announcement.

“The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area is a world-class destination and the Coral Coast Highway between Perth and Exmouth is referred to as one of the greatest road trips on earth," he said.

"Qantas' new route will help to further increase accessibility to the region and support our regional towns and operators.”