The total solar eclipse is coming in April 2023, and Exmouth, in Western Australia’s ‘Coral Coast’ region is one of the best places to see it.
Exmouth, Western Australia 20 April 2023: ‘The Ningaloo Ecplise’ is a total solar eclipse set to take place on April 20, 2023, visible from Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef region of Western Australia. This is a rare and spectacular event, and over 40,000 people are expected to converge on the tiny town of Exmouth.
While the process of the moon moving across the face of the sun takes three hours (from 10:05 am to 1:05 pm), the brief moment of totality when the sun is completely obscured by the moon will only last a total of 62 seconds (at around 11:32 am) on Thursday, 20 April 2023. Special solar filters are needed for safe viewing.
Observers can expect to see the sun’s bright disc slowly being covered by the silhouette of the moon to produce a diminishing solar crescent. Eclipse chaser, Kryss Katsiavriades from the UK, told SBS News, “The sky colour starts to change and birds start to behave strangely. I like the colours of that time, so I tend to be looking around. Then, the shadow of the moon can be seen moving quickly across the earth”.
Read more about the solar eclipse on the official website.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs and is home to a wide variety of marine life, including humpback whales, manta rays, and whale sharks. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding on the reef. The Cape Range National Park is also worth a visit, where you can see stunning canyons, gorges, and wildlife.
The journey to Exmouth from Perth is about 1,200 km. The best way to get there is by car. The drive takes about 12-15 hours, but the scenery along the way is spectacular. It passes through some of Western Australia’s most remote and beautiful country, including the outback and the rugged coastal regions of the Coral Coast. Read more about it in our guide, 100 Things To See On Australia’s Coral Coast + Karijini and the Pilbara.
Prepare for your trip with our ‘100 Things To See’ guidebook.
The Coral Coast is big and wild, and the best bits are still local secrets. 100 Things To See On Australia’s Coral Coast + Karijini and the Pilbara taps into locals’ knowledge and showcases the must-see places to visit during your time here, according to people who live here. Some of them are well-known, but others are the sort of places travellers, not tourists, seek out.
The guide also showcases the best local cafes, shops, campsites, accommodation options and cultural experiences. It’s A5 in size and over 220 pages long; perfect for the glove box or inside your backpack as you explore. Expect unique local advice, including tips on free-diving and how to explore the corals and reefs on a single breath of air for longer; the best places to walk straight off the beach for world-class snorkelling with turtles and manta rays; and tips on where and when’s best to find wildflowers.
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