There are several options when looking for hotels in Exmouth and you can go from 4.5 star hotel to glamping and then just renting a house. The folks in Exmouth have made it easy to stay there. And since the onslaught of Covid-19, the town needed to increase their accommodation. With West Aussies not able to travel overseas or interstate the demand at places like Exmouth went through the roof.
So lets have a look at Exmouth, see whats there and check out our options.
Why go to Exmouth?
The obvious answer is for the water. Exmouth is paradise for divers and snorkelers. Ningaloo reef starts at Exmouth and is a world heritage listed site. The clarity and temperature of the water, the variety of corals, kelp’s and structures, and the sheer abundance of fishlife makes this an absolute dream for water lovers.
The Exmouth Navy Pier
The Exmouth Navy Pier is rated as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. I was a bit skeptical as I thought I’d seen some great sites which didn’t make the list. But the bride and I booked in went to get wet. Never have I seen so many fish. It’s like the most over stocked aquarium in the world. Don’t bother bringing a camera down there, there’s too many fish that keep getting in the way.
There is only one company that runs dive tours here as this is still an active military base. Every year or so the tender goes out and the dive companies each put in a bid to see who will get it next. You will need to provide photo ID which gets vetted by the Federal Police. This dive is a bucket list event that may ruin all other dives for you.
Exmouth itself is situated on a large peninsula, with the town being on the inside edge closer to the mainland, and reef out on the ocean side. Most of the snorkeling beach sites are on the ocean side. Even without going under the water the beaches themselves are spectacular and definitely worth a visit.
Whale Sharks
The whale sharks are a huge draw card for Exmouth and rightly so. To swim with these magnificent beasts is all at once intimidating, exhilarating, and ultimately humbling. The main season for whale sharks is roughly March till August.
There are several tour companies that will take you out to swim with them. Most of them use spotter planes to guide them into the path of a whale shark. Once there, there are strict guidelines to ensure that no-one is put in danger and that the animals are not stressed in any way. Life should be made up of a series of experiences, and this experience will stay with you forever.
Other attractions
At Yardie Creek there is a boat tour which runs for about an hour. The guides are proper Aussie characters and will point out an amazing array of wildlife that you would have never seen without them. Take you camera for this one.
So that’s the water side of things, what about folks who don’t like to get wet? Well there is hiking, horse riding, cycling and quad bike tours. Not to mention some excellent restaurants. The last time we went there I exclusively ate Reef and Beef dinners, to see which Restaurant was the best. And the winner was ………me. There were no bad meals.
While you’re planning a trip to Exmouth it’s also well worthwhile to look into Coral Bay. They are less than an hour apart by car and compliment each other really well. I have a post on Coral Bay as well, and you can read that here.
Getting Around
Unless you are part of a tour group, then you will need a car. My apologies to those folks who are able to cycle all over the country, but that’s not normal behavior. Like most of Australia, the distances are vast, and although there’s a lot to be said for slow travel, most of us have a fairly short window to enjoy our holidays and then get back to work.
I can’t wait to become a grey nomad and just get to sit and really take in these places in my own time. Most Aussies will bring their own car, but you can hire cars here as well, and you will achieve a lot more during your stay with your own mode of transport.
Hotels in Exmouth
So lets have a look at some of the accommodation in Exmouth. I have given a few options from 4.5 star to 2 star, but there are other options for large groups to just rent a house. If you have read my blog before you will know that I have three main criteria that I use for hotels.
It needs to have breakfast, or the ability to cook, as I don’t like to start my day hunting for food. It needs to have parking available that is not just park on the street. And lastly it needs to have laundry facilities. Normally this is because I like to travel light, which means I do laundry every few days.
In Exmouth however, we never travel light. We each have about 20kg of dive gear which needs to be stored. But we still need laundry here as we are in and out of the water each day, so it’s good to get the salt out.
Anyway, here’s a list of hotels that I would stay at. If the click on the hotel name, a link will open in a new window and take you to the hotel in Booking.com.
Cheers and happy travels
Exmouth Escape Resort
2 Cnr Welch & Murat Roads, 6707 Exmouth, Australia
Set among landscaped gardens, Exmouth Escape Resort offers luxurious self-contained accommodations with a patio and free on-site parking. Guests enjoy a large outdoor swimming pool with a children’s wading pool.
The spacious, air-conditioned apartments and villas feature a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities and a BBQ. All include a dining setting and a lounge area with a TV and DVD player.
Exmouth Escape Resort is located 1.2 mi from the town center and within walking distance to Town Beach and the Exmouth Marina. Learmouth Airport is a 25-minute drive away.
Exmouth Escape Resort also features a tour desk and boat parking area. WiFi access is available in the reception area.
Ningaloo Lodge Exmouth
Lot 1 Lefroy Street, 6707 Exmouth, Australia
Located in the heart of Exmouth, Ningaloo Lodge Exmouth offers free WiFi, an outdoor pool and free snorkeling equipment. Guests can share a meal using the BBQ facilities, or enjoy the games room.
Ningaloo Lodge is a 5-minute drive from Exmouth Golf Club and a 1-hour drive from Cape Range National Park. Guests can travel to Ningaloo Marine Park, Vlaming Head Lighthouse or Turquoise Bay.
All air-conditioned rooms feature a fridge, a desk and a radio. They have an private bathroom with a shower, and towels and linen are provided.
Guests can prepare a meal in the shared kitchen or book an activity through the tour desk. A guest laundry and airport shuttle are available.
Potshot Hotel Resort
561 Murat Road, 6707 Exmouth, Australia
Offering an outdoor pool and year-round outdoor pool, Potshot Hotel Resort is located in Exmouth. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Free private parking is available on site.
Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV. You will find a kettle in the room. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hair dryer.
There is a tour desk and a shared kitchen area.
Ningaloo Bed and Breakfast
29 Preston Street, 6707 Exmouth, Australia
Located in Exmouth in the Western Australia region, Ningaloo Bed and Breakfast features a patio and garden views. The air-conditioned accommodations is 1.7 mi from Exmouth Beach, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site.
The bed and breakfast is equipped with a flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are provided.
Guests at the bed and breakfast can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast.
Ningaloo Bed and Breakfast offers a barbecue. After a day of hiking, snorkeling or cycling, guests can relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area.
The nearest airport is Learmonth, 18 mi from the accommodations, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park
3 Truscott Crescent, 6707 Exmouth, Australia
Located at the gateway to Ningaloo Reef, this holiday park offers a variety of accommodations options, a swimming pool and children’s playground. Guests can enjoy an outdoor cinema in the high season.
Exmouth Cape Holiday Park accommodations options include private rooms, dormitory rooms and deluxe cabins. Some accommodations include a patio or private private bathroom.
Guests can play a game on the beach volleyball court or enjoy an outdoor meal at the covered BBQ area. There is also shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Exmouth Holiday Park is a 10 minute’ walk from local shops and dining options. Exmouth Golf Club is 4 minutes’ drive away. Ningaloo Reef offers fantastic snorkeling areas and is home to whale sharks, manta rays and turtles.