Coral Bay, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coral BayWestern Australia |
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Coral Bay
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 Coral Bay
Location in Western Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 6701 |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Time zone | AWST (UTC+8) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Carnarvon |
| State electorate(s) | North West Central |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Coral Bay is a small town on the coast of Western Australia. It's about 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) (745 miles) north of Perth. This special place is right next to the amazing Ningaloo Reef. Many people visit Coral Bay because of its beautiful nature and exciting wildlife tours.
What makes Coral Bay so cool is that the reef is super close to the shore. This means you can easily go snorkelling and see colorful fish and corals! The weather here is usually dry, but the ocean water stays warm all year. In 2016, about 207 people lived in Coral Bay.
Contents
Exploring Coral Bay's Location
Coral Bay is found on the North West Cape in Western Australia's Gascoyne region. It sits right next to the Ningaloo Reef. This reef is the world's largest "fringing reef" system. It covers a huge area of 604,500 hectares (6,045 km2) in the Indian Ocean. The reef stretches for over 300 kilometres (190 mi) along the coast.
The closest towns to Coral Bay are Carnarvon, which is 238 kilometres (148 mi) south. Exmouth is 152 kilometres (94 mi) to the north. To the east, Coral Bay is next to the Lyndon pastoral station. A wetland system called Lake Macleod is about 43 kilometres (27 mi) south. You can reach the town by Coral Bay Road, which connects to Minilya–Exmouth Road.
What the Land is Like
The ground in Coral Bay is mostly sandy. This area is part of the Carnarvon Basin. Here, you'll find rolling sand plains that gently slope towards the ocean. The coastline nearby has flat limestone areas.
The natural plants in the area include spinifex, wattle, and poverty bush. There are also many mangrove trees, especially a type called Avicennia marina. Buffel grass is also very common. In the Ningaloo Marine Park, you can find over 200 kinds of coral. Many amazing animals live here too, like green and hawksbill turtles, humpback whales, dugongs, and whale sharks.
A Look at Coral Bay's Past
The Thalandji Aboriginal people were the first to live in the Gascoyne region. Experts have found signs that Indigenous people have been in the Ningaloo area for over 32,000 years. The world's oldest beaded necklace was found here. It was discovered in a rock shelter, along with old campfires.
The first Europeans to see the North West Cape were sailors on a Dutch ship in 1618. Later that year, another Dutch captain landed here. But the area stayed mostly empty for many years because it was so dry and far away.
The earliest European activity in the Coral Bay area was at Mauds Landing. This was a shipping point for wool, sheep, and cattle from 1884 to 1946. The port was named after a ship called Maud. Its captain found the spot about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of where Coral Bay is now. A jetty was built there in 1896, along with a tramway and a wool-shed. A hotel and store were open from 1911 to 1921. But in 1947, Mauds Landing closed because it needed too many repairs and money.
The land around Mauds Landing became Cardabia Station. This station included a cove called Bills Bay. The cove was named after Ruby May French, who was known as "Auntie Billie." In 1933, the first building was put up by Jack McKenna as a holiday spot.
Coral Bay didn't really become a town until the late 1960s. That's when Ken Ryan bought part of Cardabia Station. He built a caravan park, a hotel, and a service station. The town probably got its name from the Coral Bay Hotel. In 1973, Bill and Alison Brogan visited and saw how popular the area could become. Bill bought a building, a charter yacht, and a sight-seeing boat called Miss Coral Bay I. In the 1980s, more houses were built, and people started using underground water.
What Drives Coral Bay's Economy
Coral Bay's economy mainly relies on tourism because it's so close to the Ningaloo Reef. In 2016, reports showed that over 70% of the local jobs were in tourism or related industries.
Coral Bay is promoted as a top holiday spot. The town offers many fun activities for tourists. These include whale watching, snorkelling, and swimming with manta rays. To protect the Ningaloo Reef, there are limits on how many visitors can stay overnight. This helps keep the reef healthy.
You can take Glass-bottom boat tours all year round. Whale watching tours are available from June to October. Tourists can also go reef fishing or beach fishing outside of special protected areas. Manta ray snorkel tours are very popular. Other activities include scenic flights, quad bike tours, and catamaran tours.
Some other cool places to visit nearby are:
- Oyster bridge
- Paradise Beach
- Bills Bay
- Skeleton Bay Reef Shark Nursery
- Purdy Point
- Point Maud & Mauds Landing
Services and Facilities in Town
Coral Bay gets its water from underground wells. This water is treated to make it safe for homes. The town uses three wind turbines and a power station for electricity. There are also systems for waste-water and sewerage.
The town has a small airstrip for light planes. There's also a place for boats with a double ramp and jetties.
For places to stay, Coral Bay has two caravan parks and a resort. There's a small shopping area with a supermarket, a bakery, and tourist shops. The Coral Bay Nursing Post provides healthcare for everyone. A doctor visits once a week for residents. You can also find several restaurants in town.
Special Places and Buildings
Some places in Coral Bay are listed for their heritage or natural importance:
- Site Of Mauds Landing
- Ningaloo Marine Area
- Ningaloo Coast
- French's Shack
