Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area

On 24 June 2011, the World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe the Ningaloo Coast on the World Heritage List, acknowledging it as one of the outstanding natural places in the world.

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage nomination was submitted to the World Heritage Committee by the Australian Government in January 2010, with the support of the Government of Western Australian. During 2010 and early 2011, the nomination was assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Heritage Committee.

What is the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area boundary?

The boundary of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area (604,500 hectares) includes:

• Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth and state waters)
• Cape Range National Park
• Muiron Islands Marine Management Area
• Muiron Islands Nature Reserve
• Jurabi and Bundegi coastal parks
• Learmonth Air Weapons Range.

 Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area boundary map (7.23 MB)

What is World Heritage?

World Heritage listing is the highest global recognition of the importance of a site. World Heritage listing does not change the way lands and waters are managed or change existing land uses and activities.

World Heritage listing does not change day to day life in Exmouth, Coral Bay and Carnarvon. People can continue to enjoy fishing, camping, snorkeling, diving, hiking or exercising their dog in the World Heritage area. Visitors and locals can continue to enjoy the range of activities available on Ningaloo Coast.

Why was the Ningaloo Coast included on the World Heritage List?

The Ningaloo Coast was inscribed on the World Heritage List for its natural beauty and biological diversity. In particular, the Ningaloo Coast was included on the World Heritage list in recognition of its:

• aesthetically striking coastal and terrestrial environment of the Ningaloo Reef adjacent to the Cape Range
• the lush and colourful underwater scenery and its contrast with the arid and rugged land
• annual aggregation of whale sharks, one of the largest in the world
• important aggregations of other fish species and marine mammals
• high marine diversity, including an unusual diversity of marine turtle species
• rare and diverse subterranean creatures
• diversity of reptiles and vascular plants in the drylands.

Where can I get more information?

More information is available in the following documents:

•  Ningaloo Coast World Heritage fact sheet (449 kB)
•  Ningaloo Coast WH nomination - Questions from the community (2.19 MB) 
•  World Heritage Consultative Committee Final Report 18 October 2004 (4.9 MB) 

Other links

• WA welcomes Ningaloo Coast's World Heritage listing
  - WA Premier and Environment Minister's announcement
• World Heritage listing for Australia's Ningaloo Coast
  - Commonweatlth Environment Minister's announcement
• UNESCO - Ningaloo Coast
  - World Hertiage Convention
• Australian Government - Ningaloo Coast
  - Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
• Shark Bay World Heritage Area
• Purnululu World Heratige Area