Ningaloo

Declared in 1987 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, Ningaloo is one of the few coral reefs in the world that runs directly parallel to the mainland shore, rather than being separated from land by a wide lagoon as on the Great Barrier Reef — which means the reef can be reached by walking straight off the beach, with no boat needed. Every year between March and July, the mass coral spawning draws one of the greatest concentrations of whale shark in the world, the largest fish on the planet, making Ningaloo one of the few places anywhere where swimming alongside these giant filter feeders is well documented and regulated for responsible ecotourism.