Visit Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia

This astonishing marine park is famed for its massive fringing barrier reef that stretches for 200 miles.

Long white sandy beaches typify the coast and the reef almost brushes the shore, making the warm turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Whale sharks

Among the abundance of marine life, perhaps the most distinctive is the huge, gentle whale shark, a seasonal visitor between March and June.

Through carefully monitored trips it is possible to swim with these gentle giants and, as they swim near the surface, you don’t even need to be a diver to join in.

Humpback whales

Humpback whales appear between June and November, whilst manta rays sashay through the waters year-round.

Turtles nest on the beaches between December and March and night walks offer the chance to see these sombre creatures make their arduous journey up the beach to nest.